The legend of the Bloods
Sydney's players are required to play "Bloods footy", putting the team ahead of the individual, with a premium on discipline. Full report

Crows gamble on McLeod, Burton
Adelaide goes into the preliminary final against West Coast with its strongest line-up in weeks. Full report

Pair brought swaggers, not daggers
Instead of knifing the coach, Mark Harvey and Robert Shaw have given Fremantle vital self-belief. Full report

Davis learns his lesson after a dip in the reserves
If the Sydney leadership group was united over the expulsion of Nick Davis, none was more determined than the quietly cultish Brett Kirk that the talented but cocky 26-year-old serve his penance. Full report

Tony Shaw tells how he would coach Fremantle
The 1990 Collingwood premiership captain and Collingwood coach from 1996 to 1999 says Freo needs to break open the game with its superior leg speed. Full report

Swans to keep eye on Traralgon boy
Sydney's premiership full-back Leo Barry identifies 21-year-old Traralgon product Ryan Murphy as the key plank in Fremantle's shot at history. Full report

Dean Laidley on how he would coach Sydney
The 1996 Kangaroos premiership player and Kangaroos coach since 2003 says the key match-up in the game is Adam Goodes. Full report

FINALS FLASHBACKS
How a Swan passed into history
Wade Chapman battled hard for his 51 games with Sydney, constantly being forced to overcome injury or concussion before being moved on after six seasons. Full report

Kennelly: team has faith in its system
Tadhg Kennelly reveals why Sydney is filled with a quiet confidence as it prepares for another AFL preliminary final in its premiership defence. Full report

NOTEBOOK
Red and white, but will the right code prevail?
It will be 30 degrees in Sydney today, a fact that will drive most people into the sub-tropical uniformity of T-shirts and shorts. Full report

Blues fight bids to claim young stars
If there is such a thing as a fraternity among AFL clubs, Carlton, it seems, knows little of it. Full report

Study makes case for third WA team
As Western Australia continues to position itself as the centre of the footballing universe, a Perth economist says WA could "easily" support a third AFL team. Full report

Demetriou backs Cats
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou throws his support behind embattled Geelong president Frank Costa, and questions the value of upturning the Cats' board. Full report

Codes unite to tackle anti-siphoning laws
The AFL, the NRL and Football Federation Australia plead with the Federal Government for individual sports to be made the masters of their own broadcast destinies. Full report

THE MONGREL PUNTER
Hold the tiny phone, it's time to 'bone'
It's a child's dream, a silly dream, but sometimes I dream I'm the president of a football club. Full report

Shades of 2005 for unflappable Swans
No news is good news for Sydney, almost certainly the most durable team in the AFL. Full report

Pies reject Clokes, are uncertain on Tarrant
Collingwood tells Cameron and Jason Cloke their football futures are likely to reside elsewhere. Full report

No *** for grand final
Stephen Quartermain and Anthony Hudson will call Channel Ten's fifth grand final, with Tim *** sidelined in what the network describes as one of its toughest decisions. Full report

Richmond leads in the chase for Polak
Richmond heads the list of clubs interested in acquiring Fremantle's under-utilised key position player Graham Polak. Full report

Crows are fit and raring to go
Key midfielder Simon Goodwin says Adelaide cannot be better prepared for Saturday's preliminary final against West Coast at AAMI Stadium. Full report

Johnson leads the way at Tigerland
Capping off his second season as Richmond captain, Kane Johnson is awarded the Jack Dyer Medal as the Tigers' best and fairest. Full report

Chin up, Victorian footy fans
Stop the bleating, Victorian fans. Surely you've all got something to look forward to in 2007. Full report

Doctors lost for words to cure voiceless Eagle
All is quiet on the western front for Andrew Embley, whose paralysed vocal cords could cost him his finals berth. Full report

JAKE NIALL
Out of Plugger's shadow, Hall has made his marks
The rock-steady nature of Sydney's forward has placed him into the same bracket as the champion who turned the club around. Full report

Back in business
Adelaide's Graham Johncock says he has learned from last season's disappointment. Full report

Doubts linger over key Eagle's fitness
Star West Coast defender David Wirrpanda says he is doing "everything I can" to beat a hamstring injury to play against the Crows. Full report

SPORTING LIFE
Brownlow's all-Australian team
Grand final teams not attending Brownlow night counts have become an annual nightmare for the AFL but spare a thought this year for Channel Ten, the host broadcaster. Full report

Daniher's men choose to stay with Demons
Two of Neale Daniher's most trusted lieutenants have committed their services to the Demons despite lucrative offers from other AFL clubs. Full report

Thornton, Fisher at odds with Blues
A youth policy edict from the Carlton board is announced on the day it is revealed has a struggle on its hands to retain two of its better young players. Full report

FINALS FLASHBACK
Pie great made his finals mark
Collingwood's tradition of springing surprises at the selection table during finals includes former ruckman Len Thompson's debut in the 1965 against preliminary final. Full report