33m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:28amEssendon vs Carlton scoreboard
7m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:54am
George Hewett snaps an easy one from the stoppage
Not a whole lot of defending going on from the Bombers there. A very casual stoppage in the forward pocket, and as Langford dozily wandered away from Hewett the ball spilled right into the Blues midfielders’ lap.
Easy snap, another easy goal. Dons looking rough now.
12m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:49am
Will White gives Carlton the lead
The Bombers are getting opened up the other way on turnover much too easily. Straight through the guts again, Cripps could have had a shot from 50 but chipped it to White instead.
White made sure of it from 25 out to give the Blues the lead.
15m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:46am
Jesse Motlop with the instant response!
There was a free kick in the ruck for… something (a block, fair to say). Nobody quite knew who it was for, but Hewett and Motlop took the chance and the advantage and were rewarded.
Motlop streaked through the 50 and banged it home on the run. Lovely goal.
16m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:45am
Peter Wright kicks the opening goal of the game
Took 10 full minutes of game time, but finally we have a goal. A turnover on the wing opened the door for Essendon to charge through the middle of the ground, and the kick to the leading Wright was lovely.
Bombers probably looking the brighter of the two teams so far.
20m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:41am
Not a classic so far
Probably won’t shock you to learn this one has started pretty slowly. We’re 10 minutes in and one behind to Carlton is all the scoring we have to bring to you.
The ball is moving pretty quickly from defence to half-forward, and is then being promptly turned over so the other team can have a crack. On repeat.
30m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:32am
Ready to rumble at the MCG
(Getty Images)
It’s been a big day for the AFL, and I’m sure league HQ will be very relieved to see a game of footy tonight, even if it is this one.
(Getty Images)
Essendon skipper Zach Merrett is playing game 250 tonight, which surely must be motivation enough for the Bombers to put in a performance. It’s been a tough year for both, and it’s coming to a head tonight.
Ball is in the air, away we go.
41m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:20am
Tom De Koning – 100 and out?
(Getty Images)
Carlton big man Tom De Koning is tonight playing his 100th AFL game, but most expect it also to be his last in a Blues guernsey.
If you believe the reports, TDK is headed for St Kilda in this year’s trade and free agency period. But tonight he will suit up at least one more time for the club that drafted him, and who I’m sure would love to be keeping him around for another 100 games.
51m agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:10am
An MCG blockbuster tonight?
(Getty Images)
Essendon vs Carlton in primetime under the MCG lights? Sounds like one of the biggest games of the year, doesn’t it?
Tonight, not so much. Both the Bombers’ and Blues’ seasons ended many months ago, and this game has been given Thursday night billing only because the Dons have to play against against the Suns next Wednesday. Crowds are not expected to be massive and who can say what sort of game we get tonight, but footy is footy, right?
Maybe we’ll be in for a surprise.
1h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 8:41amBombers make two late changes for Blues game
(AFL.com.au)
Moving on to tonight’s game, we begin with some not-so-great news for Bombers fans.
Both Sam Durham and Jayden Laverde are out for this one, replaced by Zak Johnson and Saad El-Hawli.
No late changes for Carlton. Johnson is Essendon’s sub and Lucas Camporeale will start in the vest for Carlton.
1h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 8:25am
ICYMI: Izak Rankine banned for four games for ‘highly offensive’ slur
The news we had been waiting all week for finally dropped a little after 3.30pm today, bringing with it confirmation Izak Rankine will miss four games after being found guilty of using a homophobic slur during Adelaide’s game against Collingwood.
The ban means Rankine’s season is over, unless the Crows were to lose their first qualifying final but still win through to the grand final. In that instance, Rankine would be eligible for the grand final.
Get the full story below:
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:57am
Homophobia’s impact sees people sidelined for much more than four weeks
As Izak Rankine prepares to miss a month of footy, there is plenty of evidence — both empirical and anecdotal — that homophobia keeps many Australians from participating in sport for far longer than that.
Marnie Vinall looks into the effect of homophobia in sport …
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:36am
That concludes Tim Silvers’ press conference
Both the AFL and Adelaide Crows chief executives have spoken now. Quotes are in the blog below.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:33am
Silvers flags ‘extenuating circumstances’ in Rankine case
Silvers was asked if he thought there was any excuse for homophobia. He said “none”.
He then said:
I think in the heat of battle, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances. But, you know, we accept that he did the wrong thing.
I think we’ve copped a lot of bad PR over the past few days, and we are losing one of our star players, but as I said before, he deserves to be sanctioned.
I am disappointed that we had to deal with leaks throughout this process, because it is supposed to be confidential.
We went through due process, we reached an outcome we think is satisfactory. I think we’re all losers here in a way.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:29am
Silvers says Crows did not reference Snoop Dogg in defence
More Snoop Dogg discussion:
That wasn’t part of our submisison. We’re striving to be in the grand final, but I don’t think we’re too focussed on the grand final entertainment.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:27am’Carrot’ of possible GF good for Rankine’s mental health: Silvers
Silvers was asked if the Crows are pleased Rankine may be able to play in a grand final.
This has been a distraction this week. We’ve got a game against North Melbourne on the weekend, so we’re probably not looking that far ahead.
In terms of Izak the individual, I think it’s nice that there’s a carrot for him and that it means his season is potentially not over, and I think that’s good for his mental health.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:25am
Silvers defends Crows’ seeking of reduced ban
We were looking for some leniency in the length of the ban, but we didn’t condone it. What he did was wrong, so he was always going to be sanctioned.
We were looking at a slightly reduced sanction, it’s not that we were accepting he had done something wrong.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:24am
Silvers apologises to the LGBTQIA+ community
We don’t stand for what was said. We’ve got a number of supporters and fans who are a part of that community. I apologise to them.
We want to have an inclusive environment which they are a part of, and I hope to see a number of those fans, including the Rainbow Crows, at our game at Unley on the weekend.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:23am
Silvers queries the definition of ‘self-reporting’
It’s an interesting discussion how you consider self-reporting. Izak, when he was approached by the footy club, he made the decision to reach out to the Collingwood player to apologise on the Sunday morning.
How you determine self-reporting is up to you. Once he became aware and he thought it through, he came forward and apologised.
2h agoThu 21 Aug 2025 at 7:21amIzak Rankine is ‘doing it tough’
More from Silvers:
Izak is doing it pretty tough. He put himself in this position and is deeply remorseful, but he is doing it pretty tough. He basically hasn’t left his house for a few days.
Yes he’s done the wrong thing, but still support him and care for him. He’s still part of our extended family and we’ll support him through that.