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AFL overreactions: Scott Pendlebury deserves a statue at the MCG, ASAP!
There are plenty of talking points after Round 8 of the AFL, including whether Scott Pendlebury deserves a statue at the MCG -- soon! -- and if it's time to scrap draws from the regular season.
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TOP HEADLINES
ESPN AFL
ESPN's rolling AA after Round 8: A shake-up in the ruck
ROUND 8 REVIEW
Stocks: Let Brayden cook; Yeo's bizarre post-game comments
Boyhood Crow Brayden Cook lived out every child's dream, but Elliot Yeo might want his post-game media interview back. Here's whose stocks are up and down after Round 8.
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Brisbane's 'Whiteboardgate' wasn't outrageous, despite what media will tell you
There's voyeuristic interest in getting a rare look inside the famed 'four walls' of a footy club, but the media-driven thirst for 'outrage bait' blew the Brisbane whiteboard saga out of proportion, writes Rohan Connolly.
ESPN AFL
Battle lines being drawn? Is the AFL chasing cash at the cost of its soul?
ESPN FOOTY CENTRAL
Agree/disagree? The stand rule needs to go
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Top Headlines
- Carlton cop big fine for Hollands mishandling
- AFL Round 9: Everything you need to know
- Star Lion defends culture after 'Whiteboardgate'
- AFL umpire Nick Foot ends betting agency role
- Woman accuses AFL great of 'petrifying' assault
- Magpies back Pendlebury's golden guernsey
- Lion sorry for anti-gay slur amid crackdown
- Blues under blowtorch ahead of daunting R9 task
- Injury-plagued Saints star learns hamstring fate
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Keep up to date with the latest news from across the sporting world. Be it at home or abroad, we've got it covered in our weekly newsletters.
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Expert tips, best tips for Round 9 of the AFL
Who should you be tipping in Round 9 of the 2026 AFL season? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPN Footytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!
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Listen to our AFL podcast - the ESPN Footy Podcast with Champion Data
Join ESPN's footy team for some of the best AFL analysis and insight on the ESPN Footy Podcast.
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ESPN's Brownlow Medal predictor and tracker - every vote for 2026
The Brownlow Medal is the highest individual honour in the AFL. In 2026, ESPN is giving you an advantage with our one-of-a-kind predictor.
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Who has played the most games in AFL history? How many has Scott Pendlebury played?
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury is closing in on North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey's league games record. Will he break it in 2026?
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'It's a scam': What the AFL and city of Adelaide won't tell you about Gather Round
Everyone loves to rave about Gather Round. But unless you're in the financial 1%, this weekend-long football festival just isn't meant for you.
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We're misty-optically: Paying tribute to Dennis Cometti, a footy commentary icon
It's inevitably the witticisms which first spring first to mind when think of Dennis Cometti, but, more broadly, he was Australian football's greatest ever caller and will be sorely missed, writes Rohan Connolly.
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Hold your horses: AFL's Origin revival was real, but its long-term future is not
AFL Origin's return was a clear success, but one brilliant night is not enough to prove it's truly back for good.
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Ranking every AFL after-the-siren winning goal since 2000
Since the turn of the millennium, there have been 32 after-the-siren goals kicked which have won the game. We've ranked them -- taking into account shot difficulty, context of the match, conditions, and more to determine which clutch kick rules them all.
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AFL player record holders, statistical leaders, and more
Who has played the most AFL games? Who has kicked the most AFL goals? Here are the league leaders in history for all the stats that matter.
