The AFL has released its 2027 Gather Round fixtures, with Adelaide and South Australia hosting a weekend of football. The Crows are expected to open proceedings on Friday night and Port Adelaide to close on Sunday afternoon. Some supporters had feared the draw would include weak matches, but the writer argues the league has delivered strong contests. Highlights include Adelaide against Brisbane, Collingwood against Sydney, Carlton against Melbourne, and Port Adelaide against the Western Bulldogs, featuring Zak Butters' return. Only two games were judged less appealing.
A media report claims the Sydney Swans could open the 2027 AFL season against the Geelong Cats on Wednesday, March 17, at the SCG. The AFL has not yet released its Round 1 fixtures, and the match has not been confirmed. All 18 teams will play on the same weekend to open the season, after Opening Round was scrapped. The Cats have added Toby Greene and Rowan Marshall, while the Swans are expected to remain strong under Dean Cox following a deep finals run in 2026.
Thierry Henry was nominated nine times for the Ballon d'Or, football's top individual prize, but never won it. He came closest in 2003, finishing second to Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved. In 2006 he finished third, behind defender Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Henry won a long list of team honours during his career, but received relatively few individual awards.
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Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has revealed that a handwritten note from Channel 7 commentator Hamish McLachlan moved him to tears after his brother's death earlier this year. Speaking on the Dyl and Friends podcast, Dawson paid tribute to his wife Milly and to his club for their support. Jaryd Dawson was found dead in Robe in South Australia's south east in April. Dawson said teammates drove almost four hours to be with him, and that former Geelong captain Joel Selwood and former teammate Sam Jacobs had also helped him through the loss.
Former Port Adelaide forward Daniel Stewart, aged 37, has tragically passed away due to an unexpected health episode. His former teammate and friend Kane Cornes expressed shock and grief, describing Stewart as a brilliant and caring teammate. Stewart, known as Snowy, co-founded the fitness empire Body Fit Training (BFT) with Matt Thomas. His wife, Laura, confirmed the devastating news, requesting privacy as they mourn their loss. A GoFundMe page has been established to support Stewart's family, raising over $65,000 at the time of writing.
Port Adelaide's Dougie Cochrane is tipped to go first in a mock AFL National Draft, after Essendon places a bid on the 195cm utility. Father-son and academy selections are expected to feature prominently in the top 10. Ethan Drever is projected second to Essendon, which needs to rebuild its midfield after losing Zach Merrett. Cody Walker is expected to join Carlton as a father-son selection, while Mitch Harris is tipped to Melbourne as the best key defender in the draft.
AFL Gather Round will return to Adelaide from Thursday, April 8 to Sunday, April 11, 2027. Nine games will be played at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Barossa Park. Tickets and prices have not yet been confirmed. Fans can book flights with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar, and accommodation through All Accor, the AFL's official accommodation partner. A parade through the Adelaide CBD, with 10 players from each club, is a new attraction.
Brisbane have been given a primetime Thursday night opening match at Gather Round in 2027, against co-hosts Adelaide on April 8. The round closes on Sunday night with Zak Butters facing his former club Port Adelaide, now as a Western Bulldogs player. Brisbane have won all four of their past Gather Round matches, by an average of 38.5 points. Other grudge matches include Rowan Marshall facing former club St Kilda, and Essendon meeting North Melbourne after facing Melbourne in recent years. The round is played across four days in South Australia.
The AFL 2027 fixture is likely to be announced on Thursday, November 12, based on the league's recent pattern. It will come in the days before the AFL National Draft, which starts on Thursday, November 19. The 2027 season is set to begin on either Wednesday, March 17 or Thursday, March 18 with Round 1. There will be no Opening Round, with all 18 teams playing in the first round. The start has been pushed back a week because of the 150th Anniversary cricket Test at the MCG from March 11 to 15.
Essendon head into next month's AFL Draft holding the No. 1 overall pick, and attention is turning to how they will use it. Cody Walker and Dougie Cochrane are the leading candidates, though Carlton and Port Adelaide are expected to be strong contenders for them. Draft analyst Kevin Sheehan said Essendon have a clear incentive to act early on one of those players, because they would earn an extra pick at the start of the second round. Given the club's need for talent, pursuing one of them and forcing a matching bid could be a logical approach.
Zach Merrett has joined Hawthorn this offseason, a year after an earlier attempt to move failed. Hawks forward Jack Ginnivan believes Merrett should play a mix of wing, back and midfield. He suggested half-back as a spot where Merrett's use of the ball and speed would help. Many see midfield as Merrett's best role, alongside Jai Newcombe and Will Day. Coach Sam Mitchell faces a balancing act as he works out where to play the star midfielder during preseason.
The Brisbane Lions are still searching for a replacement for Chris Fagan, who left after leading the club to three straight premierships. Cameron Bruce is widely seen as a favourite, but former Collingwood great Nathan Buckley has said he wants to return to coaching. According to the Herald Sun, Buckley will formally present his case for the role next month. The writer suggests the race is mainly between Buckley and Bruce, with Buckley having previously missed out on roles at Tasmania and Melbourne and pulled out of the North Melbourne process.
Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan has said Tasmania may find it hard to recruit young players from Melbourne. Speaking on SEN's Summer Run, Ginnivan said he could not see himself living in Tasmania and that Melbourne and the Gold Coast offer a lifestyle young players are used to. He said the task would be challenging but added that coach Ken Hinkley could manage it.
Former Australian sprinter Jake Doran has been charged with indecent treatment of a child in Queensland. Police charged the 26-year-old last week. Doran was the 2022 Australian 100m champion and won the 200m at the 2023 Australian Athletics Championships. Australian Athletics says it has imposed a provisional action on him, banning him from club, member association and national events, as well as athletics training. The body said the safety of participants is paramount and that the matter is now with police.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to question head coach Michael Carrick's tactics after a 4-1 defeat to Como. Asked what went wrong, Fernandes said the decision not to press man to man had allowed opponents too much of the ball. When asked directly whether Carrick had got his tactics wrong, he said that was for the manager and staff to judge. Carrick later defended his approach, saying the side had tried to press at one point and conceded a goal from it. The club sits 13th in the Premier League after a poor start to the season.
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St Kilda face intense scrutiny ahead of the 2027 AFL season, despite a relatively quiet offseason. Coach Ross Lyon is on the final year of his contract, and the club's future direction is closely tied to the season's outcome. Commentator Sam Edmund rated the Saints 6.5 out of 10 and described the year as massive, noting they have not won a final since 2020. He called the signing of Jake Stringer a sign of desperation.
Collingwood signed Lachie Neale and Jesse Hogan instead of adding young players during the offseason. The moves address two key issues that have hurt the club over the past couple of seasons. Having finished ninth in 2024 and 2026, fourth in 2025 and first in 2023, the club has been inconsistent. Commentators argue the veteran additions make a premiership push credible in 2027, though much depends on Nick Daicos. With an ageing list, the writer suggests the 2027 season could be a one-year premiership window for the club and coach Craig McRae.
The AFL is considering a blockbuster matchup to kick off the 2027 Gather Round, potentially featuring Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs. This follows Zak Butters' high-profile move from Port to the Bulldogs, creating a compelling revenge narrative. Traditionally, Adelaide Crows open the weekend, with Port Adelaide closing it, but the league may switch the format. A Friday night clash at Adelaide Oval would capitalise on Butters' return, promising intense fan engagement. The AFL appears to have been handed an ideal fixture opportunity, with this matchup set to draw significant attention.
The Western Bulldogs are now seen as premiership favourites for the 2027 AFL season after signing Zak Butters, provided they stay healthy. Past seasons have ended in disappointment, with injuries derailing their last push. The writer argues the club's core players will remain strong beyond 2027, but says failing to reach at least a preliminary final could raise doubts about their premiership hopes. The pressure to perform is significant, with the writer suggesting that falling short could cost jobs at the club.
Former Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan could reportedly join Collingwood in a future football role. SEN's Sam Edmund said he was hearing the claim but was not reporting it as fact. Edmund said Fagan wants a full-time position rather than one or two days a week. The exact role is not known. Edmund acknowledged the claim was speculation. Fagan, who walked away after winning three straight premierships, is reported to be returning to Melbourne to be closer to family.
