AFL Round 1 – Gold Coast v St. Kilda: A master and a mystery

US correspondent Glenn Brownstein says there are many questions hovering over his Saints but there seem to be few answers in sight.

AFL Round 1 GWS v Sydney: The Vigil

Holy Saturday. The day of vigil. Kath Presdee and other Giants glimpsed their future against the Swans.

Holidays,overdosing on ‘beach food’ and the desperate search for a footy haven

For the first time in a while the family had planned a trip to Rosebud/Sorrento during Easter, and so with our cousins, two packed cars bursting with food, bags and alcohol, off we went.

AFL Round 1 – Hawthorn v Geelong: Body language

This was more than just another loss to Geelong for Hawks fans, writes Stephen Cooke.

The Wrap (I): The Tipsters’ Nightmare

In a typical Opening Round, the Village Idiot and the Drover’s Dog topped just about every tipping competition in the land.

AFL Round 1 – North Melbourne v Collingwood: A Bogan Weekend

North fan Smokie Dawson felt strangely at home surrounded by Collingwood supporters at Etihad.

AFL Round 1 – Melbourne v Port Adelaide: A splash of Teal on Tatau Island

After spreading the gospel of the glory of the Power to workmates, Dan Hansen caught the first banana boat from the PNG island of Tatau to Simberi Island gold mine to listen to the game. (He showed more dedication there than all of the Melbourne players.)

AFL Round 1- North Melbourne v Collingwood: The kids are alright

Luke Reynolds has concerns about this Collingwood side. How are they going to fit Thomas, Beams and Shaw in the side now?

AFL Round 1 – Melbourne vs Port Adelaide: The Power to Boo

Mick Jeffrey took in the Port-Melbourne game as a neutral fan and was shocked at what he saw.

AFL Round 1 – Carlton v Richmond: Tigers in spite of themselves

Round one is the round of hope, where every team begins with a clean slate and all lies ahead. This is the theory. In reality, no club enters any given season unencumbered by the baggage of what preceded.

AFL Round 1 – Carlton vs Richmond: No Mas.

A few seasons ago I made the snide remark that I didn’t feel the season properly underway until the ritual slaughter of the Tigers was complete.

AFL Round 1 – Footscray v Brisbane Lions: Hope Versus Hope

There’s various levels of hope for each footy fan and dependent on the stage of the season, isn’t there?

AFL Round 1 – North Melbourne v Collingwood (FPS report): Footy’s back!

After a long off-season, the footy is back and the Pies delivered for Paul O’Connell.

AFL Round 1 – Western Bulldogs v Brisbane: Fluffy’s Heavenly Afternoon

Fluffy the Dog is a Scragger for the afternoon as he reports from Doggy Heaven.

Sunderland, Carlton and the drive to succeed

Pete Fuller has a keen eye. Here he asks whether the fortunes of two of his teams invite us to contemplate what generates success in contemporary top-level sport.

AFL Round 1 – Western Bulldogs v Brisbane: Pride (in the name of the litter)

Footscray’s win over Brisbane was a triumph for Brendan McCartney and 22 desperate individuals, writes Mick Jeffrey.

AFL Round 1 – Melbourne v Port Adelaide: What was that?

Chris Weaver sighs his way through Round 1.

AFL Round 1 – Carlton vs Richmond: Sensory overload

Richmond fan Sam Steele wonders what Thursday nights result signifies for each team. He’s not sure.

AFL Round 1 – GWS v Sydney: Give Bolton the free

Tom Bally gets himself off the couch for the Battle of the Bridge, but his Swans don’t.

AFL Round 1 – Western Bulldogs v Brisbane: I’m Single Again

The romance of the 2013 season was lost in less than a quarter for Phil Hill.