Home
Search
thewest.com.au‌‌
SportChevron Right Icon

AFL

Neale’s ban has been upheld by the AFL tribunal. Nigel Hallett

AFLPremium‘Great legacy’: Young Lion pays tribute to Neale

Lachie Neale’s career at Brisbane seems over after his striking ban was upheld, with teammate Jaspa Fletcher revealing what the departing star has meant to him.

Marco Monteverde

Riley Bice, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey and James Jordon are expected back at the Swans. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremiumSydney Swans prepare for banned five's return to club

The five suspended Sydney Swans players will return to the club's headquarters this week for exit meetings and are expected to address the playing group.

Joanna Guelas

Neil Erasmus says the young Dockers have 'a job to finish' in the grand final against Brisbane. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremiumWhy Docker Erasmus knocked back Eagles and Dogs

Neil Erasmus is in career-best form and on the cusp of flag glory, but life would have been very different had he decided to join West Coast or the Bulldogs.

Tristan Lavalette

Justin Longmuir, Senior Coach of the Dockers and Isaiah Dudley of the Dockers celebrate during the 2026 AFL Second Preliminary Final.

analysis
analysis
AFLPremium
analysis
LAIDLEY: Success was always coming

AFL expert Danielle Laidley revisits the controversial Fremantle 2024 call that forecasted their success long before their Flagmantle charge became a reality.

Danielle Laidley

Fremantle celebrate

exclusive
exclusive
AFLVideoPremium
exclusive
Uncompromised Freo list is an inspiration: Ex-AFL chairman

Fremantle will field a team without any hand outs on Saturday and face a Brisbane team filled with father-son, Academy and free agent selections. The AFL’s former chairman says the Dockers are an inspiration.

Craig O'Donoghue

Sean Darcy and Mason Cox at Dockers training

exclusive
exclusive
AFLVideoPremium
exclusive
‘I’ll be the biggest cheerleader’: Darcy’s selfless approach

Dockers stalwart Sean Darcy looms as a Freo hard-luck story of this year’s grand final as he remains behind Mason Cox in the ruck pecking order. But he says he still has a key role to play.

Mitchell Woodcock

Lachie Neale's suspension from the AFL grand final has dominated the lead-up to the MCG spectacular. (Joanna Kordina/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremiumKey quotes from the AFL tribunal hearing of Lions star

Some key quotes from the AFL tribunal hearing that upheld the one-game ban of Brisbane ace Lachie Neale, ruling him out of the grand final.

Steve Larkin

Lions' LachieNeale remains banned from the grand final following a "gut-punch" in the Hawks match. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremium'Neale knew the consequences': tribunal on Lion's ban

The AFL tribunal had no trouble finding Brisbane's Lachie Neale guilty. The hard part was if to apply a clause that would have cleared him for the grand final.

Steve Larkin

Lincoln McCarthy's being praised as helping drive Brisbane's training standards despite not playing. (AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremium'Firecrackers' behind Lions' insatiable title hunt

For all the silverware collected by the Brisbane Lions, there remains a handful of luckless players without a flag not forgotten by their premiership teammates.

Murray Wenzel

Dockers legend Shaun McManus has been announced as Fremantle’s premiership cup presenter should the club win on grand final day.

opinion
opinion
AFLVideoPremium
opinion
Heart and soul of Freo a fitting choice for GF honour

Shaun McManus was brought to tears when Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick told him live on air on during his Nova breakfast radio show on Monday he’d been selected to present the premiership cup.

Glen Quartermain

Lachie Neale has been suspended for the grand final.

analysis
analysis
AFLVideoPremium
analysis
The past caught up with Neale at the worst possible time

Lachie Neale wanted the AFL Tribunal to look at his glittering career and clear him for the grand final under exceptional and compelling circumstances, but the panel looked at other behaviour and said no.

Craig O'Donoghue

Justin Longmuir has been voted as the coach of the year.

AFLVideoBest in the league: Longmuir earns flowers for record season

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has brought the Dockers to the edge of history, with his fellow coaches acknowledging him for an outstanding season.

Jake Santa Maria

Josh Treacy and Jaeger O'Meara celebrate Fremantle’s preliminary final win against Sydney.

AFLVideoPremiumBad timing set to cost O’Meara chance at grand final glory

Fremantle veteran Jaeger O’Meara has conceded he got injured at the wrong times this year as he prepares to watch the Dockers play for a maiden premiership on Saturday.

Mitchell Woodcock

Lachie Neale court sketch from the tribunal.

AFLVideoInside Neale’s bombshell tribunal: Everything that unfolded

Lachie Neale has spent this afternoon attempting to be cleared to play in the grand final after being offered a one game ban for striking. Here’s what happened at the tribunal.

Craig O'Donoghue

Fremantle Dockers fan Owen Woolcock at the New York Stock Exchange

AFLVideoPremiumFrom New York Stock Exchange to grand final in one wild day

Passionate Dockers fans are attempting incredible trips to be at the AFL grand final, but none sound as wild as Owen Woolcock who is at a conference in New York all week.

Craig O'Donoghue

Jordan Clark of the Dockers celebrates on the final siren at the 2026 AFL Second Preliminary Final between the Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Dockers.

FootballPremiumAlbany’s Clark in spotlight as Dockers reach grand final

It’s been quite a year for Albany’s Jordan Clark, who will step out for his first grand final appearance when the Fremantle Dockers tackle Brisbane in the season showdown on Saturday.

Claire Middleton

Education Minister Sabine Winton celebrating Fremantle's win, in Wanneroo, on Friday night.

EducationPremiumMinister’s warning for Dockers fans planning to skip school

WA’s Education Minister has warned against Dockers fans pulling their children out of school early to fly to Melbourne for the Grand Final.

Jessica Page

The umpire who called Jarman Impey for holding the ball has been recognised with a grand final spot. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremiumAFL backs whistleblowers for grand final duties

Hayden Meyer and Nick Foot will officiate in the AFL grand final between Fremantle and Brisbane despite being caught up in controversies this season.

Shayne Hope

Brennan Cox will need to impress at main training tomorrow to play for Fremantle in the grand final.

AFLPremiumLast chance grand final saloon for Cox after calf setback

Regular first-choice defender Brennan Cox is preparing for one final chance to earn a spot in Fremantle’s grand final side to take on Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday.

Mitchell Woodcock

Will Wharfie Time be used in the grand final?

AFLPremiumAFL boss reveals latest on ‘Wharfie Time’ at grand final

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has provided an update as to whether Fremantle’s activation ‘Wharfie Time’ will be able to be used by the Dockers in their grand final against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday.

Mitchell Woodcock

Luke Jackson of the Dockers celebrates a goal.

exclusive
exclusive
AFLVideoPremium
exclusive
Dockers ruckman hits peak finals form

Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson has brought an “edge” to his September domination which has inspired teammates, according to co- vice-captain Caleb Serong.

Glen Quartermain

Lachie Neale at Brisbane training on Tuesday morning.

AFLVideoRECAP: Neale learns fate after marathon hearing

It’s the biggest question of grand final week: Will Lachie Neale be freed to play after a marathon four hour hearing we have our answer.

Jake Santa Maria

The AFL has handed the Bombers two additional rookie list spots for the 2027 season. (Hamish Blair/AAP PHOTOS)

AFLPremiumNo draft pick for lowly Bombers after assistance plea

The AFL has stopped short of granting Essendon draft assistance, with the wooden spooners to instead get two extra rookie spots for next season.

Callum Godde

Mark McVeigh will have just two additional rookies to work with in his debut season as Essendon coach. Michael Klein

AFLPremiumBattling Bombers issued minor lifeline

Essendon has been granted list assistance by the AFL – but it doesn’t hold the same weight as previous packages.

Tyler Lewis