WHILE the second expansion team, Greater Western Sydney, continued to struggle, the powers-that-be at the AFL can take some delight from the performance of the first true expansion team since 1995, Gold Coast.

In each of the Gold Coast’s first two seasons they won three games: against Richmond (twice), Port Adelaide, Brisbane, GWS and Carlton. In eight rounds this year, they’ve already won four – and have added St Kilda, Melbourne and now the Western Bulldogs to the list of teams they’ve beaten

Football Nation’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH gives us his take and his picks on the first games of Round 8.   West Coast vs North Melbourne Friday 8:40 Patersons Stadium Round eight kicks off with what is, on paper, a very interesting game. Both West Coast and North Melbourne are currently sitting outside the top eight with

              WEST COAST EAGLES v NORTH MELBOURNE Friday May 17, 6:40pm, Patersons Stadium West Coast B: Brennan, Glass, Schofield HB: Hurn, Mackenzie, Waters C: Rosa, S Selwood, Gaff HF: LeCras, Darling, Masten F: Hill, Kennedy, Kerr Foll: Naitanui, Priddis, Shuey I/C: Sheppard, Wellingham, Cox, A Selwood Emg: Brown, Dalziell,

GOLD Coast’s first win at the MCG was a phenomenal one against Melbourne by 60-points. It may well have huge ramifications for coach Mark Neeld and even the president Don McLardy on Monday but right now the Suns have their second win of the season and are in a good place

GEELONG CATS v ESSENDON Friday 10th May, 7:50pm, Etihad Stadium Geelong B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright HB: Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Taylor Hunt C: Mitch Duncan, Jimmy Bartel, Steven Motlop HF: Allen Christensen, Steve Johnson, Billie Smedts F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, James Kelly Int: George

A DEPLETED Fremantle Dockers team came away with the four points after a 45 point win over the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

Led by Michael Waters four goals and Jon Griffins 31 hit outs and three goals, the Dockers took control of the match early a despite commendable efforts by the Suns were able to win comfortably

  Football Nation’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH gives us his take and his picks on the first games of Round 6.   Collingwood vs St Kilda Friday 7:50 Etihad Stadium Collingwood’s opponent last week, Essendon, is certainly in dazzling form. But few would have predicted the Bombers to so run over the top of the Magpies towards

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Fremante Dockers

WHEN: Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 7:40pm AEST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)

IN a game that ultimately featured the second highest total score of the year, the Gold Coast Suns piled on eight goals in the final term to run away as 44-point winners over the GWS Giants at StarTrack Oval in Canberra yesterday afternoon

Greater Western Sydney Giants
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 1:45pm EST
WHERE: StarTrack Oval (ACT)
Final Score: GOLD COAST 21.22 (148) def GWS GIANTS 16.8 (104)

Greater Western Sydney Giants
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 6:45pm AWST
WHERE: StarTrack Oval (ACT)

Round 4 is in the books, so without further ado let’s look at the match reports for each game:   GEELONG 19.10 (124) def SYDNEY 16.7 (103) GEELONG remain undefeated in season 2013 after a 21 point win over the Sydney Swans at the SCG. After an exhilarating opening term, which saw 15 goals kicked between

THE Gold Coast Suns started strongly, applying heaps of pressure early withstanding Port’s good start after the visitors kicked the opening two goals. However, The Suns, superbly led by Gary Ablett Jr with 15 first quarter touches, were able to apply some scoreboard pressure of their own to surprisingly lead at quarter time

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Port Adelaide Power

WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 7:40pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)
Final Score: PORT ADELAIDE 16.8 (104) def GOLD COAST 9.12 (66)

Football Nation’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH gives us his take and his picks on all of the games in Round 4.   Sydney vs Geelong Friday 7:50 SCG There are five undefeated teams heading into this weekend, but by later tonight that will be cut to four as the reigning premier faces its toughest test yet against

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Port Adelaide Power

WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 7:40pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)

WELCOME to the latest instalment of Football Nation’s unofficial AFL injury list as we approach Round 4 of the 2013 season. We continue to trawl the web, looking at each club’s website, the AFL site and the main news sites in order to put together our best guess for a league-wide report. It’s not perfect but then again what

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: North Melbourne coach BRAD SCOTT is insisting on a more four-quarter performance from his Kangaroos as they attempt to avoid slipping from finals contention just a month into the AFL season

IN a busy day the AFL’s Match Review Panel has issued the following findings for incidents that occurred during Round 3: Fremantle vs Essendon On the night when he was supposed to be celebrating his 200th game for the Dockers, Fremantle’s Luke McPharlin was involved in a nasty collision with Essendon’s Paddy Ryder early in the first

SOME leading commentators said after Geelong’s finals loss to Fremantle in September last year that its premiership window was well and truly closed. But the Cats have a talented young brigade that has them charging back up the ladder quicker than expected,

THE Brisbane Lions have defeated the ever improving Gold Coast Suns by only 2 points in a thriller at Metricon Stadium.

In a scrappy affair, due in part to the wet conditions, it was the experience of Jonathan Brown who kicked a game high five goals which ensured the Lions prevailed in front of a disappointing crowd of 12,961. Brown also won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for Best on Ground

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Brisbane Lions

WHEN: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 7:40pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)
Final Score: BRISBANE 13.16 (94) def GOLD COAST 13.14 (92)

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Brisbane Lions

WHEN: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 7:40pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Essendon chairman David Evans says fresh allegations against his club, including the bombshell claim that Bombers coach James Hird had injected a WADA-blacklisted drug, are “extremely serious and very distressing”

THE reigning premiers don’t exactly look like the reigning premiers at the moment. The cushy start to season 2013 for the Swans shouldn’t come back to bite them – better to play the expansion teams in rounds one and two than rounds 22 and 23 – but it is evident that Sydney is working its way back into form

Sydney Swans
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 1:45pm AEDT
WHERE: SCG (NSW)
Final Score: SYDNEY SWANS 17.12 (114) def GOLD COAST 11.7 (73)

Sydney Swans
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 1:45pm AEDT
WHERE: SCG (NSW)
LAST TIME: Round 18, 2012: Sydney 19.12 (126) d Gold Coast 8.6 (54) at Metricon Stadium

WITH the split-round that opened the season now over we now move to our regular slate of nine games and Football Nation’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH gives us his take on all of them

JUST 18 months since their last premiership victory the football public had largely assumed that Geelong would be the underdog against Hawthorn last Monday. Underdog or not they took care of business and the Hawks yet again.

It’s amazing how quickly we forget

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: The Swans know the key to their round two AFL match will be taming Gold Coast’s GARY ABLETT

AFTER months of waiting the 2013 AFL season is now well and truly underway.  Round 1 was a split round marathon but Football Nation’s team of writers provided a detailed report on all the action and outcomes from all the games.   ESSENDON 18.9 (117) def ADELAIDE 11.16 (82) ESSENDON’S 35-point win over Adelaide at AAMI

ORIGINAL POST: 31 Mar 2013 at 6:39pm THE split round to open the 2013 AFL season is almost over so with one game to go we thought it may be opportune to post the ladder as it currently stands. Subject to tomorrow’s game being the tight contest that we expect, we will see Port Adelaide

GOLD Coast skipper Gary Ablett was the talking point of the Suns’ shock 13-point win over the Saints at Metricon Stadium last night. It has Suns coach Guy McKenna suggesting that Ablett is now better than his champion father after his 34-disposal night which included four goals including three in the last quarter. Also on

Gold Coast Suns
vs
St Kilda Saints

WHEN: Saturday March 30, 2013 at 6:45pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)
Final Score: GOLD COAST 13.12 (90) def ST KILDA 10.17 (77)

Gold Coast Suns
vs
St Kilda Saints

WHEN: Saturday March 30, 2013 at 6:45pm EST
WHERE: Metricon Stadium (QLD)

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: The Demons face tough decisions on million-dollar forwards Mitch Clark and CHRIS DAWES this week after they combined for just 100 minutes of football in the pre-season

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Collingwood’s DALE THOMAS could make a last-ditch bid for Round 1 selection if he returns in the VFL tomorrow night

Werribee Tigers Coach: Scott West Key Player Arrivals: Addam Maric (Richmond), Brett Meredith, Jarrad Moore (Sydney), Scott Clouston (Brisbane Lions), Kris Pendlebury (Collingwood), Ben Brown (Glenorchy), Ben Warren (North Melbourne) Key Player Departures: Matt O’Dwyer, Travis Tuck, Brad Mangan, Nathan Ablett, Kyle Hartigan Last Year’s Finish: 4th This year’s prediction: 2nd And why?: Although it

TRIAL MATCH
Gold Coast Suns
vs
Melbourne Demons

WHEN: Saturday March 16, 2013, 11:30 am EST
WHERE: Southport, QLD
Final Score: GOLD COAST 12.7 (79) def MELBOURNE 8.7 (55)

THE clock is ticking for Guy McKenna who enters his third season at the helm of the Gold Coast Suns with pressure from above (chief executive Travis Auld and the board want to see a winner this year) and from below (the GWS Giants, one year into their existence already look like they’re ready to eclipse the Suns)

TRIAL MATCH Gold Coast Suns vs Melbourne Demons   WHEN: Saturday March 16, 2013, 11:30 am EST WHERE: Southport, QLD   Gold Coast will play a practice match against Melbourne this Saturday, March 16, at Southport with the game commencing at 11:30am local time. All club and AFL members are entitled to receive access free of charge

IT’S that time of the year where we make predictions about where the pecking order may stand for VFL-listed players. It’s important to remember that list is created and judged on a three tier criteria. Firstly, their 2012 form is looked upon, secondly we look at their importance to the team they’re at, and the

THERE is still plenty of improvement to come from the Gold Coast but the story of the season may be how patient the club and its fans can be.

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Geelong has put Josh Cowan and Lincoln McCarthy on its long-term injury list, clearing the way for the Cats to promote Josh Walker and Mark Blicavs

STILL no improvement on the injury news from around the league with some teams (eg Collingwood) doing a much better job than others (eg West Coast). In spite of that here at Football Nation we continue to do our best in assembling a report for every club. With the start of the ‘real” season upon

LET me start by saying that you don’t know how hard this is until you actually do one. I’d almost go as far as saying I feel sorry for Mike Sheehan, but I really don’t

Gold Coast Suns
vs
North Melbourne Kangaroos

WHEN: March 2, 3.30pm, EST
WHERE: Townsville Football Ground, QLD
FINAL SCORE: NORTH MELBOURNE 2.13.6 (102) def GOLD COAST 1.11.14 (89)

Gold Coast Suns
vs
North Melbourne Kangaroos

WHEN: March 2, 3.30pm, EST
WHERE: Townsville Football Ground,

PLAYING and winning at home against Hawthorn is a significant achievement for the Gold Coast Suns irrespective of the fact that it was only an opening round NAB Cup game. Entering year three, the club has accumulated enough talent over the last few years to warrant better expectations and they certainly started the night that way against

GAME 1: GOLD SUNS 0.4.6 (30) def HAWTHORN 0.4.5 (29)
GAME 2: BRISBANE 0.4.8 (32) def HAWTHORN 0.1.5 (11)
GAME 3: BRISBANE 2.6.3 (57) def GOLD COAST 0.3.6 (24)

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: The Crows are ready to unleash Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield in a practice match against the Dockers

The flow of information information from clubs and the AFL is not at it’s regular season best yet but we continue to do our best in assembling a team by team injury report. There’s not a lot of detail available at the moment we’ve tried our best to assemble the list from various sources. New

            Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn Hawks vs Brisbane Lions   WHEN: Sat 23 Feb 2013, from 6:40pm EST, 7:40 EDT WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD GAMES: Gold Coast v Hawthorn (6:40pm EST, 7:40 EDT) Brisbane v Hawthorn (7:45pm EST, 8:45 EDT) Gold Coast v Brisbane (8:50pm EST, 9:50 EDT)   BRISBANE LIONS 1.Sam

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Tigers coach Damien Hardwick has quashed social media rumours surrounding DUSTIN MARTIN and denies the young midfielder is on the verge of being sacked

Our first look at the team by team injury reports for 2013 is ready to go and while there’s not a lot of detail available at the moment we’ve tried our best to assemble the list from various sources. Return dates are approximations and best guesses but don’t place any bets based on them! We’ve tried

HAWTHORN star Lance Franklin committed himself to the club verbally yesterday but it will take until the end of the season to perhaps put it down on paper. And so the speculation will remain but clubs are somewhat pessimistic that Buddy will actually leave. Such a turnaround in attitude may conclude to being the biggest

THERE were a record eight players reaching million dollar contracts in the AFL last year. We reveal who those lucky eight players are. 1. Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) – The top earner in the AFL is Gold Coast’s Gary Ablett who won the AFL’s richest contract after crossing from Geelong. 2. Tom Scully (Greater Western

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: The Suns have abolished their leadership group and have appointed Gary Ablett as the club’s skipper for the third consecutive season, with two deputies.

  JOSH Caddy’s timely inclusion into the Geelong midfield is expected to help keep the Cats in the top echelon of teams competing for a flag in 2013. In a season touted to be one of the most even in the history, the Cats have replenished their list over the pre-season adding young gun caddy

Continuing our end of the year top five series, we take a look back on the year that was and give you our opinion on the top 5 Individual Performances of the 2012 AFL season.   5. Gary Ablett (GC) v North Melbourne – Ablett had a blistering start to the season and even registered

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Indigenous educator Gerard Neesham says AFL clubs should keep faith with talented Aboriginals, pointing to Sydney star Lewis Jetta as the poster boy for second chances

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Suns captain Gary Ablett believes the Suns can meet their goal of a premiership within the next three years

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Pictured: Frank Costa and Cameron Mooney say Gary Ablett could finish his career back at Geelong if Gold Coast does not make finals by the end of

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Collingwood: Magpies premiership captain Tony Shaw says midfielder Scott Pendlebury is ready to succeed Nick Maxwell as
skipper

AS we approach the 2012 AFL Draft on November 22, Football Nation guest writer Ben Woods takes a look at the players that have made it into the AFL after playing in the TAC Cup competition. The data below shows us the  stats for players that were selected from the Gippsland Power as at the end of the

AS we approach the 2012 AFL Draft on November 22, Football Nation guest writer Ben Woods takes a look at the players that have made it into the AFL after playing in the TAC Cup competition. The data below shows us the  stats for players that were selected from the Geelong Falcons as at the end of

AS we approach the 2012 AFL Draft on November 22, Football Nation guest writer Ben Woods takes a look at the players that have made it into the AFL after playing in the TAC Cup competition. This year the Bendigo Pioneers have two top rated prospects in Taylor Garner, Jason Pongracic and the player many expect to be

Football Nation’s Trade Week feature providing our readers with a complete summary of player movements and signings for every team

UPDATE: 25/10/12 – NORTH MELBOURNE is now confident of reaching a deal for Melbourne midfielder Jordan Gysberts, who may be used in a swap for Cameron Pedersen. The Demons were banking on the Brisbane Lions giving them a second round draft pick for Stefan Martin but the Lions will only pass a third round selection.

Here is the Football Nation full list of club award winners for 2012, from Best and Fairest to best clubman and leading goalkicker

THE AFL off-season continues with free agency moving into week two and the beginning of the trade week period. The rumours fly and player transactions continue so for those of you that missed it, here’s a quick run down of what we know after the second week of player movements and trade activity.   The Demons get

THE Geelong Football Club has beaten out rival clubs to sign a deal for Gold Coast midfielder Josh Caddy. In an announcement just posted to their website the Cats have announced that they will “send its compensation pick (received for losing Gary Ablett) to Gold Coast, and the clubs will ultimately exchange a number of

SEE the full list of all the club best and fairest winners for 2012 here as Sam Mitchell collects his fourth medal at the Hawks

AFTER telling the Gold Coast Suns he wants to return to Victoria, promising young midfielder Josh Caddy is attracting interest from numerous teams. The former first-round pick will find out where he’ll continue his career as soon as next week, with the AFL Trade Period commencing on October 8. Favourites to secure the 20-year old

IN a year of balloting that featured a wide-open field of deserving winners, Essendon captain Jobe Watson last night emerged the victor. Watson raced out to an early lead in the vote count, recording votes in 12 of the first 14 Rounds and, at 26 votes after that burst, taking a commanding 8 point lead over the

IT’S 10 years since Port Melbourne and Geelong played in one of the great VFL-VFA Grand Finals. Port Melbourne, partially aligned with the Sydney Swans, appeared headed for a massive upset as they led the more fancied Cats by 14-points at three quarter time. Geelong had barely been troubled throughout the Home & Away matches

IN an AFL star-studded gala last night, 15 new players made their debut in the Four’N Twenty All Australian team.

But the event was as memorable for the players that didn’t make as it was for those that did

(DAILY ONE LINERS) Western Bulldogs: Ruckman Will Minson is set to reject the lure of free agency and re-sign at the Western Bulldogs

WERRIBEE coach Scott West says both Travis Tuck and Nathan Ablett are in the mix to play in tomorrow’s preliminary final against Geelong at North Port Oval. Both players have endured injury interrupted seasons and West admits it is a factor that it has had to weigh up at the selection table. “Both of them

GEELONG wants the AFL to schedule Collingwood or Essendon at the redeveloped Simonds Stadium next season as it undergoes a significant development that will enhance its capacity to 34,000. “I’d like Collingwood to come down, or Essendon,” Cats chief Brian Cook told 3AW. “It would be nice to get them down, but I don’t think

Preliminary Final 1: Port Melbourne v Williamstown, 2:10pm Saturday at North Port Oval WILLIAMSTOWN breathes excitement heading into this year’s preliminary final against Port. Its youngsters, with an average age of 20, have managed to string together eight consecutive wins including last week’s impressive win over Casey. But for as much as there is to like

RELIEF. Gary Ayres felt it, the entire playing group felt it and so did those loyal Port Melbourne fans. Certainly this Geelong team was the biggest obstacle in the reigning premier’s way of another grand final berth. Sure, it will have to get over the winner of Casey and Williamstown in a preliminary final but

Adelaide Crows
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday September 1, 1.40pm
WHERE: AAMI Stadium, SA

ADELAIDE 22.21 (153) def GOLD COAST 9.8 (62)

FN’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH previews all the action in Round 23, the final round of the 2012 AFL home and away season, including the players to watch in your SuperCoach and DreamTeams.               Hawthorn vs West Coast Friday 7:50 MCG Hawthorn’s superior percentage will ensure they don’t fall farther than

Adelaide Crows
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Saturday September 1, 1.40pm
WHERE: AAMI Stadium, SA
LAST TIME: Gold Coast 10.8 (68) def by Adelaide 19.23 (137), round 1, 2012 at Metricon Stadium

Qualifying final 1 – Casey Scorpions v Werribee Tigers 2pm Sunday at Casey Fields Casey has finished on top of the ladder but you get the feeling that most of the football world are yet to be convinced that it can actually win the flag. The Scorpions are slowly proving it could do it even

WITH what began as a one-horse race for the flag has ultimately ended in some cracks in reigning premier Port Melbourne’s armour and its gallant attempt to become the first stand alone club to win back-to-back flags in an AFL-dominated environment. Casey, Werribee and Geelong appear to be its main threats and Williamstown appears to

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Carlton Blues

WHEN: Saturday August 25, 7.40pm
WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD

GOLD COAST 15.8 (98) def CARLTON 11.20 (86)

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Carlton Blues

WHEN: Saturday August 25, 7.40pm
WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD
LAST TIME: Carlton 26.15 (171) d Gold Coast 7.10 (52), round 2, 2011, at the Gabba

FN’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH previews all the action in Round 22 of the AFL including the players to watch in your SuperCoach and DreamTeams

Hawthorn Hawks
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Sunday August 19, 4.40pm
WHERE: MCG, VIC

HAWTHORN 19.15 (129) def GOLD COAST 10.5 (65)

Hawthorn Hawks
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Sunday August 19, 4.40pm
WHERE: MCG, VIC
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 16.10 (106) d Gold Coast 14.13 (97), round 24, 2011 at Metricon Stadium

FN’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH previews all the action in Round 21 of the AFL including the players to watch in your SuperCoach and DreamTeams.         Geelong vs St Kilda Friday 7:50 Etihad Stadium Absolutely crucial game between these two sides heading into finals Geelong needs to win to keep itself on track for

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Greater Western Sydney Giants

WHEN: Saturday August 11, 4.40pm
WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD

GOLD COAST 16.13 (109) def GWS GIANTS 12.7 (79)

FN’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH previews all the action in Round 20 of the AFL including the players to watch in your SuperCoach and DreamTeams.                 West Coast vs Geelong Friday 8:40 Patersons Stadium To think just a few weeks ago these teams seemed a world apart. West Coast was

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Greater Western Sydney Giants

WHEN: Saturday August 11, 4.40pm
WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD
LAST TIME: Greater Western Sydney 13.16 (94) d Gold Coast 9.13 (67), round seven, 2012, at Manuka Oval

Melbourne Demons
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Sunday August 5, 1.10pm
WHERE: MCG, VIC

MELBOURNE 16.12 (108) def GOLD COAST 9.12 (66)

FOOTBALL Nation’s roving reporter DANIEL PAPROTH previews all the action in Round 19 of the AFL including the players to watch in your SuperCoach and DreamTeams

Melbourne Demons
vs
Gold Coast Suns

WHEN: Sunday August 5, 1.10pm
WHERE: MCG, VIC
LAST TIME: Melbourne 17.10 (112) d Gold Coast 12.10 (82), round 23, 2011 at the

Gold Coast Suns
vs
Sydney Swans

WHEN: Saturday July 28, 7.40pm
WHERE: Metricon Stadium, QLD

SYDNEY 19.12 (126) def GOLD COAST 8.6 (54)