Victoria Police will not lay charges against Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Nick Blakey following an investigation into allegations at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel. Teammate Riley Bice was previously cleared and treated as a witness. The players had been stood down by Sydney for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae will coach South Australia and Fremantle counterpart Justin Longmuir will lead Western Australia in an AFL Origin match at Optus Stadium on 27 February 2027. McRae becomes SA's first Origin coach since Graham Cornes in 1999, selected ahead of Adelaide's Matthew Nicks. Longmuir takes over as WA senior coach from Dean Cox after serving as his assistant.
Collingwood is close to securing long-term contract extensions for star pair Ash Centra and Lucy Cronin, according to AFL.com.au. Both players are already contracted for 2027 but have held productive talks to commit further. Gold Coast has also emerged as a suitor for Adelaide defender Sarah Allan, while rival clubs are showing interest in Suns player Lily Mithen.
Richmond has confirmed its AFL coaching structure for the 2027 season under senior coach Adem Yze. Chris Newman has shifted to head of development, while Jack Ziebell moves to a line coaching role overseeing the midfield alongside Sam Lonergan. Blake Caracella will now coach the forwards, with Brett Ratten commencing as head of coaching and strategy.
Bodie Ryan has revealed his trade from Hawthorn to Melbourne on Deadline Day depended on Trent Rivers leaving the Demons. Ryan, who had been delisted by Hawthorn after five games, joined Melbourne for pick No. 107 in the final 15 minutes of the trade period following Rivers' move to West Coast. The 21-year-old had completed an online medical while travelling overseas.
Greater Western Sydney defender Cambridge McCormick has requested a trade to Carlton for the second year in a row, according to AFL.com.au. The Giants offered the All-Australian a three-year deal to stay, while Melbourne and Hawthorn also showed interest, but McCormick has chosen the Blues. GWS previously blocked a trade request from McCormick to Carlton in 2025.
GWS midfielder Alyce Parker has won the 2026 Gabrielle Trainor Medal, claiming the Giants' AFLW club champion award for a record fifth time. The 26-year-old polled 35 votes on Tuesday night to edge out captain Rebecca Beeson on 33 and Tilly Lucas-Rodd on 32. Parker, who previously won in 2020, 2021 and twice in 2022, returned this season after missing 2025 with an ankle injury.
Former AFL midfielder Tom Mitchell has criticised West Coast after photos emerged of players collapsed on the ground during their first pre-season session on Monday. In a video shared on Instagram, the Brownlow medallist said the players displayed mental weakness and poor body language after completing running drills. West Coast began pre-season training this week with first-to-fourth-year players and senior recruit Jack Viney.
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli says the arrival of Zak Butters and greater squad depth will allow him to share the workload and prolong his career. Bontempelli, who turns 31 this month, expects his role to evolve with more flexibility between the midfield and forward line. He said timing his run to peak at the right time each season will help him play for as long as possible.
Gold Coast has announced two list changes following the 2026 AFLW season, delisting Georgia Clayden and Sienna McMullen. Clayden departs after 44 games across five seasons, having sat out 2026 due to pregnancy. Suns Academy product McMullen managed three matches across three seasons for the club.
The Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel found sufficient evidence against the Essendon players and placed them on the register of findings, a day before the AFL issued infraction notices.
Harry Dean born
Carlton, 22 games (2026)
# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 789 | 320 | 246.6 | 44 | |
| 2 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 871 | 484 | 180.0 | 44 | ||
| 3 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 715 | 405 | 176.5 | 40 | ||
| 4 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 554 | 416 | 133.2 | 36 | ||
Top 8 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 609 | 458 | 133.0 | 36 | |
| 6 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 606 | 527 | 115.0 | 36 | ||
| 7 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 495 | 448 | 110.5 | 32 | ||
| 8 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 580 | 513 | 113.1 | 28 | ||
Bottom 10 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 422 | 454 | 93.0 | 24 | |
| 10 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 477 | 489 | 97.5 | 20 | ||
| 11 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 528 | 544 | 97.1 | 20 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 504 | 502 | 100.4 | 16 | ||
| 13 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 459 | 656 | 70.0 | 16 | ||
| 14 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 714 | 65.5 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 479 | 691 | 69.3 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 386 | 646 | 59.8 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 350 | 646 | 54.2 | 4 | ||
| 18 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 332 | 711 | 46.7 | 4 |
NTH+1.8Nick Blakey in, traded from Sydney
HAW+1.5Zach Merrett in, traded from Essendon
GEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, traded from St Kilda
WCE+0.4Trent Rivers in, traded from Melbourne
ADE-1.3Taylor Walker out, retired
SYD-1.6Nick Blakey out, traded to North Melbourne
MEL-2.2Steven May out, retired
GWS-3.8Lachie Whitfield out, traded to CarltonVictoria Police will not lay charges against Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Nick Blakey following an investigation into allegations at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel. Teammate Riley Bice was previously cleared and treated as a witness. The players had been stood down by Sydney for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae will coach South Australia and Fremantle counterpart Justin Longmuir will lead Western Australia in an AFL Origin match at Optus Stadium on 27 February 2027. McRae becomes SA's first Origin coach since Graham Cornes in 1999, selected ahead of Adelaide's Matthew Nicks. Longmuir takes over as WA senior coach from Dean Cox after serving as his assistant.
Collingwood is close to securing long-term contract extensions for star pair Ash Centra and Lucy Cronin, according to AFL.com.au. Both players are already contracted for 2027 but have held productive talks to commit further. Gold Coast has also emerged as a suitor for Adelaide defender Sarah Allan, while rival clubs are showing interest in Suns player Lily Mithen.
Richmond has confirmed its AFL coaching structure for the 2027 season under senior coach Adem Yze. Chris Newman has shifted to head of development, while Jack Ziebell moves to a line coaching role overseeing the midfield alongside Sam Lonergan. Blake Caracella will now coach the forwards, with Brett Ratten commencing as head of coaching and strategy.
Bodie Ryan has revealed his trade from Hawthorn to Melbourne on Deadline Day depended on Trent Rivers leaving the Demons. Ryan, who had been delisted by Hawthorn after five games, joined Melbourne for pick No. 107 in the final 15 minutes of the trade period following Rivers' move to West Coast. The 21-year-old had completed an online medical while travelling overseas.
Greater Western Sydney defender Cambridge McCormick has requested a trade to Carlton for the second year in a row, according to AFL.com.au. The Giants offered the All-Australian a three-year deal to stay, while Melbourne and Hawthorn also showed interest, but McCormick has chosen the Blues. GWS previously blocked a trade request from McCormick to Carlton in 2025.
GWS midfielder Alyce Parker has won the 2026 Gabrielle Trainor Medal, claiming the Giants' AFLW club champion award for a record fifth time. The 26-year-old polled 35 votes on Tuesday night to edge out captain Rebecca Beeson on 33 and Tilly Lucas-Rodd on 32. Parker, who previously won in 2020, 2021 and twice in 2022, returned this season after missing 2025 with an ankle injury.
Former AFL midfielder Tom Mitchell has criticised West Coast after photos emerged of players collapsed on the ground during their first pre-season session on Monday. In a video shared on Instagram, the Brownlow medallist said the players displayed mental weakness and poor body language after completing running drills. West Coast began pre-season training this week with first-to-fourth-year players and senior recruit Jack Viney.
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli says the arrival of Zak Butters and greater squad depth will allow him to share the workload and prolong his career. Bontempelli, who turns 31 this month, expects his role to evolve with more flexibility between the midfield and forward line. He said timing his run to peak at the right time each season will help him play for as long as possible.
Gold Coast has announced two list changes following the 2026 AFLW season, delisting Georgia Clayden and Sienna McMullen. Clayden departs after 44 games across five seasons, having sat out 2026 due to pregnancy. Suns Academy product McMullen managed three matches across three seasons for the club.
# | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | % | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top 4 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 789 | 320 | 246.6 | 44 | |
| 2 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 871 | 484 | 180.0 | 44 | ||
| 3 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 715 | 405 | 176.5 | 40 | ||
| 4 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 554 | 416 | 133.2 | 36 | ||
Top 8 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 609 | 458 | 133.0 | 36 | |
| 6 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 606 | 527 | 115.0 | 36 | ||
| 7 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 495 | 448 | 110.5 | 32 | ||
| 8 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 580 | 513 | 113.1 | 28 | ||
Bottom 10 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 422 | 454 | 93.0 | 24 | |
| 10 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 477 | 489 | 97.5 | 20 | ||
| 11 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 528 | 544 | 97.1 | 20 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 504 | 502 | 100.4 | 16 | ||
| 13 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 459 | 656 | 70.0 | 16 | ||
| 14 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 468 | 714 | 65.5 | 16 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 479 | 691 | 69.3 | 8 | ||
| 16 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 386 | 646 | 59.8 | 8 | ||
| 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 350 | 646 | 54.2 | 4 | ||
| 18 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 332 | 711 | 46.7 | 4 |
The Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel found sufficient evidence against the Essendon players and placed them on the register of findings, a day before the AFL issued infraction notices.
Harry Dean born
Carlton, 22 games (2026)
NTH+1.8Nick Blakey in, traded from SydneyHAW+1.5Zach Merrett in, traded from EssendonGEE+0.8Rowan Marshall in, traded from St KildaWCE+0.4Trent Rivers in, traded from MelbourneADE-1.3Taylor Walker out, retiredSYD-1.6Nick Blakey out, traded to North MelbourneMEL-2.2Steven May out, retiredGWS-3.8Lachie Whitfield out, traded to Carlton
PAD
ESS
CAR
RCH
GCS
BRL
STK
COL
FRE
WBD
