Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury after they broke the record earlier this season for the most games played together as teammates.

The difference between this Good Old Collingwood and last year’s

Star Magpies ruckman Darcy Cameron says two factors are behind his side’s improvement in the opening stages of the season:enhanced belief,and the addition of seasoned recruits.

  • Jake Niall

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Power electrify Hawks at Adelaide Oval.

Power fans get the last laugh as Hawthorn’s epic comeback falls short in Gather Round finale

Ken Hinkley said he was checking the time left in the match and acknowledged some trepidation in the coach’s box when the Hawks cut his side’s margin to 22 points.

  • Angus Delaney,Jake Niall andPeter Ryan
James Sicily leads a dejected-looking Hawthorn from the field at Adelaide Oval.

Hawks flop,then fight back,then lose in Port’s last laughing matter

It cannot be said the Hawks will have gained confidence from their second-half charge. Rather,Hawthorn might have gained a necessary touch of humility.

  • Jake Niall
Hawks star Jai Newcombe.

The sausage,not the sizzle:How ex-tradie Newcombe is building something real with the Hawks

These “Hollywood Hawks” paint more than just a pretty footy picture. They’ve got real substance,and leading the way is a former apprentice carpenter from Poowong in South Gippsland.

  • Jake Niall
Simon Goodwin and his Demons are desperately in search of answers,and fast.

‘I’ve got the credentials to do the job’:Goodwin stands firm after Dons whip Dees

Melbourne could only muster one good quarter and are now one of only two winless teams. At 0-5,Simon Goodwin was compelled to say he was still the coach for the job.

  • Jake Niall
Christian Petracca and Nick Bryan.

Rising Bombers fear young ruck has serious knee injury after big win over Demons

Carlton,Gold Coast,the Brisbane Lions and Essendon each recorded wins on Super Saturday of Gather Round,but the news wasn’t all positive for Bombers fans.

  • Roy Ward,Peter Ryan,Jake Niall andSteve Barrett
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Former AFL CEOs Gillon McLachlan (left) and Andrew Demetriou (right) with current league boss Andrew Dillon at Neil Mitchell’s departure from 3AW Mornings last year.

Demetriou’s comeback:How the ex-CEO has returned to the AFL world

Andrew Demetriou has quietly returned to football and is helping to introduce a program designed to develop new administrators for the AFL.

  • Jake Niall
Bailey Smith starred for the Cats.

A Cat above:Dangerfield,Cameron and Smith show Crows what it takes to be contenders

There are another eight games remaining in this Gather Round,but it’s doubtful that any will exceed the quality of the first.

  • Jake Niall
Matthew Nicks.

‘It had an impact:’ Why it took so long for Crows to recover from camp,grand final disaster

The Adelaide chairman,a former premier of South Australia,on the future of coach Matthew Nicks,and how the Crows will chase out-of-contract stars.

  • Jake Niall
Blues coach Michael Voss says pointed conversations would be held this week with players struggling to perform.

‘It means you’re stuffed’:These Victorian powerhouses are in the AFL’s no man’s land

It can be said there are four stages of a team’s development:Contending,rebuilding,building,and no man’s land. We run an eye over every club,and just where they sit.

  • Jake Niall