Steven May asked Melbourne’s medicos not to tell him the extent of his hamstring injury from the preliminary final. The star Demons defender then re-injured his hamstring during the grand final but played the game out, becoming a premiership player as the Dees crushed the Western Bulldogs by 74 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday. Steven May celebrates with Michael […]

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has declared the Demons’ drought-breaking 2021 premiership as the salve everyone connected to the club needed to heal the wounds caused by failure and tragedy. He said winning the flag was “everything you would think it is” as he celebrated in the rooms with the players, officials and former players after watching the team demolish the […]

First published in The Age on September 21, 1964 “CRAZY” MOVES GAVE DEMONS WIN Ray Gabelich’s Dash in Vain Melbourne captain Ron Barassi receives the 1964 VFL premiership cup from Sir Kenneth Luke.Credit:The Age Archives If ever a V.F.L. Grand Final should go down in history as a “crazy” premiership win, then Melbourne’s thrilling four points victory over Collingwood at […]

For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Before the pandemic, nothing would stop Annyta Adams from travelling to see her beloved Panthers. Rain, hail or shine, you were guaranteed to find the 39-year-old Jordan Springs resident at every home-and-away game, and she would even travel as far as New Zealand to watch her boys play. Annyta Adams has […]

This year’s grand finalists have built their lists in a very similar fashion. The basic template is: Nail top 10 draft picks in consecutive drafts Have some father-son luck Develop some mid-range draftees Boldly trade out a brilliant but high-maintenance player with market value Fill holes by trading experienced players into the side Don’t waste a crisis Leave St Kilda […]

Essendon have landed in-demand assistant coach Dale Tapping, with the former Brisbane Lions and Collingwood assistant coach set to join the Bombers. Tapping spoke to several clubs after deciding to return to Melbourne for family reasons but Essendon have secured his signature as they look to add experience around senior coach Ben Rutten. Tapping was well regarded at both Collingwood […]

When you make it to the last day of footy in September, there’s very little you don’t know about your opponent. Their gameplan, personnel, and any ducks and drakes they’re capable of have generally been well exposed. But if there’s one coach who has the ability to throw the magnets around it’s Luke Beveridge – and that’s certainly not the […]

South Sydney enforcer Jai Arrow is the first to admit he is not a fighter. “I wouldn’t be able to fight my way out of a wet paper bag,” Arrow tells the Herald. “But I do love the physicality of the game, I love the aggression, I love the challenge and the passion. “I’ll put my hand up every time […]

Oliver Gildart has a clear message for Wigan’s doubters – don’t write us off yet. Last year’s Grand Finalists have stumbled through much of this season, losing key attacking players to injury and scoring fewer points per game than any other team. But the Warriors still clinched a top four spot and now stand just two wins away from Old […]

Michael Barlow remembers it well. It was a Tuesday and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had just announced 11 new cases at her daily press conference. Then the phone rang – pack your bags, get to the airport. “I crammed as many things together as possible and was told, expect to be back in two to three weeks,” he said. “I’ve […]