After the completion of the 2012 AFL season the league will be revolutionised by the introduction of free agency. For eligible players this will give them the ability to leave their current club, bypassing the draft and trade periods, and essentially pick their next employer themselves. For the AFL, this will be an unprecedented change. In the lead

Essendon reveals $20 million plan in bid to keep Bombers at traditional home for the long-term future

The Bombers, football’s ‘lucky losers’, were undaunted but ultimately outclassed

The Bombers are not afraid to give young defender Tayte Pears big jobs, and he’s had a few

PREVIEW Blues and Bombers promise another cliffhanger

Port downs the Bombers in solid start to a pivotal year for the club

Hurley is a versatile key position player who won All-Australian honours in both 2007 and 2008 and is an AIS/AFL graduate. Trademarks of his game include strength over the contested ball and long kicking – attributes which saw him play both forward and back for Vic Metro and the Northern Knights. Hurley has previously said

Zaharakis nominated for the 2007 AFL draft and was unsuccessful, but selectors saw something different in the mid-sized onballer in 2008. He kicks with penetration and is quick and agile, and he had a good campaign with Vic Metro in the U18 Championships. A leader at the Northern Knights, Zaharakis is an “in and under”

Highlights from the 2009 NAB Cup semifinal match between Collingwood and Essendon

Mark McVeigh takes a speccy against Carlton in round three,

Although Essendon recorded only eight wins in 2008, rookie coach Matthew Knights would have been pleased with the development of his young players. Bachar Houli, Kyle Reimers, Jarrod Atkinson and Sam Lonergan came along strongly last year, and exciting key position prospect Michael Hurley could be thrown into the mix in 2009. The Bombers start