AFL Round 4 – Hawthorn v Fremantle: 50 Shades of Purple

It is amazing how our passion for this mighty game, the one-eyed devotion to one team and everlasting faith in reaching that holy grail, makes us blind to past results and fanatical towards the next game, writes Fremantle fanatic Dianne Waddingham.

How Lucky We Are

Matt Zurbo knows what footy means to people.

AFL Round 4 – Sydney v Geelong: An Occasion

The ordinary life of Family Harms intersects with the life of an extraordinary football team, its skipper, and a rising star.

AFL Round 4 – Richmond v Collingwood (Haiku Bob): shine of the dying sun

Haiku Bob on Round 4.

DA Puzzle of the Round (5)

Three more current players to figure out this week, hidden in DA’s wordplay. All three play for the one club, with clues arranged from friendly to fiendish.

AFL Round 5 – preview: Time to sook up!

Don’t be afraid to sook; to blubber; to shed a tear. Sal Ciardulli, who has a new poster boy in Brendon Goddard, has been doing it all week.

AFL Round 4 – Sydney v Geelong: Footy is kicking goals again

Pete Edwards says fast and attacking football is now being spotted on a regular basis, even at games involving teams coached by poster boys of the defence-is-everything academy. He is pleased.

AFL Round 4: Grab a bucket and head to the well

Saints fan Tom Greenaway continues his seasonal glance at Richmond’s fortunes. He’s adamant the Tigers’ season starts….now.

AFL Round 1 – Hawthorn v Geelong: Old Rivalries and Chance Encounters

A chance encounter with a fellow Geelong fan leaves a lasting impression on Paul Spinks.

AFL – Round 4: The 2013 ‘Mopsy’ Fraser Cup

Perched high in the SCG Members’ Stand, Earl O’Neill watched the Sparkies dismantled by the Pivotonians Premiership Quarter.

AFL Round 2 – St.Kilda v Richmond: No avocado, please

After two wins to start the season, Richmond supporters felt a strange emotion: Elation.

AFL Round 4 – West Coast v Carlton: Night of my nemeses

Carlton playing West Coast to me is like following a Liberal leadership battle or watching Chelsea playing Manchester United in a cup final…I don’t want to see a winner.

AFL Round 4 – Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: When all else fails, there’s always schadenfreude

It’s amazing how you can rationalize a win for your team as you agonize over your tips each Thursday, writes Neil Anderson.

Crio’s Racing: ANZAC Day

The St Leger meeting is at Flemington on ANZAC Day but Crio’s tip is to head to Avoca – a ripper venue and a great little meeting with a vibrant two-up school out behind the stand.

AFL Round 4 – Hawthorn v Fremantle: We talked about Dad

Sasha Lennon’s daughter, Molly, reminds him of her Grandad when they’re at the footy. They raised a glass to him, and the mighty Hawks, after their annual trip to Tassie.

AFL Round 4 – St.Kilda v Essendon: (Red and) Black Magic

Jake Norton, solely responsible for Essendon’s epic loss to St.Kilda last year, is filled with trepidation when asked to cover this year’s match. A moment with Black Caviar puts him at ease.

Round 4 – North Melbourne v Brisbane: Last stop, North Melbourne

Andrew Starkie alights from the train at North Melbourne and walks to Etihad Stadium, taking in Melbourne’s history on the way.

AFL Round 4 – St.Kilda v Essendon: Mare-thee-well

David Downer has his final dalliance with the “other woman” at Caulfield, before watching Essendon continue their own Black Caviar style dominance over the Saints.

AFL Round 4 – Sydney v Geelong: A superb SCG innings

In the manner of a great Test batsman, who will leave some balls, defend others and pounce on the loose balls for boundaries, Geelong suffocated Sydney, locked it in, yet took their chances and ran wild when the opportunity presented itself.

AFL Round 4 – Richmond v Collingwood: Shaking the loser mentality and the return of the anti-supporter

Steve Exon sights a classic Richmond anti-supporter and is unimpressed.