Stephen Hill

Young forward Tyson Stengle, 23, has officially been delisted. He was originally drafted by Richmond in the 2017 rookie draft and played two games before being traded to Adelaide at the end of 2018. However, he has had several off-field indiscretions. He was originally stood down last December but was officially stood down from the club this past March and has been playing with Woodville-West Torrens since. The Adelaide Crows released a statement confirming that the player and club had come to an agreement to end Stengle's employment. Stengle kicked 15 goals in 16 games for the Crows.

The bye rounds are over, and as we head into round fifteen the battle for the coveted top four spots and the race for the finals is well and truly on. Geelong moves to top spot on the AFANA AFL Power Poll despite dropping a game on the road to an impressive Port Adelaide, while Collingwood continues to win despite not being at its best in recent weeks. 

The big movers are the Adelaide Crows, moving from 8th to 5th on the back of a three game winning streak while Fremantle and Port continue to look the most likely to take a spot in the final eight unless Richmond can end its free fall down the AFL ladder.

Boris Kilpatrick, special to AFANA from Australia

Almost a third of the way into the 2018 season and round seven gave us some answers while it also gave us plenty of questions. The West Coast Eagles are for real, Richmond are showing no signs of the dreaded “premiership hangover” and the Sydney Swans have seemingly lost their home ground dominance. Hawthorn is once again a contender after moving out the old and adding some ready- made talent.

The Dockers had produced abysmal football in the first two rounds of the season and it was expected that the ferocious Bulldogs would easily account for the Dockers, who were sitting at the bottom of the ladder after folding to Port Adelaide the previous weekend. In a tumultuous week, the Dockers had swung the selection axe by chopping six senior players. It was the injection of youthful enthusiasm and a determination to run and pressure which blindsided the Dogs.

The West Coast Eagles survived an early scare from the Fremantle Dockers, to win the 44^th Western Derby comfortably.

The difference between the two teams was Josh Kennedy, who thrived in the windy conditions to kick seven goals to stretch his lead at the top of the AFL goal kicking table.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium Perth, Australia.

In a fierce and uncompromising game, Geelong managed to overcome the determination of Fremantle to win and restore their top four credentials, at least for a few hours. With the congestion at the top end of the standings, they may still find themselves in sixth or seventh by the end of the weekend.

Chris Kowald reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium, Perth, Australia

The Greater Western Sydney Giants showed growing maturity to stave off a spirited Fremantle, to record their first ever victory against the Dockers at Domain Stadium. It was another indicator of the progress that GWS is making and of the disaster that has become the Dockers season.  It is hard to imagine that the same Dockers club was considered a real premiership threat the past several seasons.

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Domain Stadium, Perth

Michael Walters’ four goals were the difference in the Fremantle Dockers narrow win over the Collingwood Magpies at Domain Stadium in the west in Round 13. It was a hard fought game and the result was contested right up to the final siren. Walters kicked his first goal within 30 seconds of the bouncedown but from there on the Magpies had the upper hand.

Victorian teams have taken a leaf out of the Richmond playbook when they travel west to take on Fremantle at home.

Rick Browner reporting from Perth for AFANA

It was a pity that the only rain Perth had seen for many months happened to fall at the start of what could have been a closely fought contest had it been played in dry conditions. Rain bucketed down as the ball was bounced and turned the match into a scrambling and largely uninteresting display. The Gold Coast Suns were nothing if not determined to take the game right up to the Fremantle Dockers. Their fearless attack and swarming defense had the Dockers on the back foot in the opening stages. With the first two goals on the board for the Suns, they were off to a fast start.

Fremantle eventually settled and - with the help of two unnecessary, undisciplined and ultimately costly 50 meter penalties - slotted the next four goals to start stamping some authority on the match.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA

Shaun Burgoyne (HAW, traded from PA) became the 29th player in League history to win a Premiership with two different clubs after the Hawks won the Grand Final. Most recent players to reach this milestone are Darren Jolly (SYD and COL), Stuart Dew (PA and HAW), Cameron Mooney (NM and GEEL), Jason Ball (WCE and SYD), Byron Pickett (NM and PA), Damian Hardwick (ESS and PA), Gavin Wanganeen (ESS and PA), Martin Pike (NM and BRIS) and Blake Caracella (ESS and BRIS).