Friday May 24 21:01 AEST

Hird plans long-term Bombers reign

James Hird says he plans on coaching Essendon for a long time despite suggestions he should follow Ian Robson in resigning from the club.

Interim CEO: Bombers name Gunston

Dees co-captain: Trengrove reveals saga strain

Potential recruit: Freo won't talk about Watts

Hawks star Franklin defends bar outburst

Hawthorn have closed the book on their investigation into a confrontation between Lance Franklin and a woman.

Full preview: AFL - Round nine

Crows coach: Johncock still a valued player

Aiming high: Suns wants to be the best

Essendon chief quits amid drugs scandal

Essendon's supplements scandal has claimed its first victim at the club, with CEO Ian Robson quitting.

Quit praise: AFL commends exiting Bomber

Poach talk: Demons keen to retain Watts

Race relations: Krakouer expresses relief

Essendon's Nathan Lovett-Murray. (Getty)

Stabbed Bomber lucky not to be worse off

Essendon's Nathan Lovett-Murray lost a lot of blood but could have been much worse off after being stabbed.

New level: Grand final helped Hannebery

'No chance': Naitanui trade not an option

Honesty session: Home truths spark Lions

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney. (Getty)

Bulldogs close to winning: McCartney

Western Bulldogs coach predicts wins will start coming for his club quicker than outside observers expect.

Indigenous round: Focus on good news

Hawks clash: Gold Coast to sit AFL exam

AFL CEO: We want to win back trust

Essendon's Lovett-Murray stabbed

Essendon expect utility Nathan Lovett-Murray to make a quick and full recovery after being stabbed.

Tigers defender: Grimes suffers new setback

Melee role: AFL fines Demons over runner

Racism stand: Thomas recalls Winmar incident

Experts

Wayne Carey

AFLTalk is cheap in football, there's only so much a coach can do. Andrew Johns

LeagueNRL is fast
enough
without changing the rules. Andrew Slack

UnionRobbie Deans' excuses about Quade Cooper are flimsy
at best. Ayrton Woolley

AFLSomething has to change, umpiring has hit a horrible new low.

More AFL headlines

Magpies' Thomas says AFL season not overCollingwood's Dale Thomas has dimissed fears he won't be back from ankle surgery this AFL season. Freo not in market for Jack Watts - yetFremantle are rumoured to be one of eight clubs who are keen to snare Melbourne's Jack Watts at the end of the AFL season. Saints coach praises Winmar's courageFormer St Kilda star Nicky Winmar returned to the club this week to speak to the team, 20 years after his iconic show of defiance against racism. AFL's Bombers name Gunston interim CEOEssendon have appointed former Tatts Group official Ray Gunston as their interim chief executive. Port punt on Butcher against Cats in AFLPort Adelaide have summoned John Butcher for his first AFL game since last July as a late replacement for Matthew Lobbe against Geelong on Saturday. Hird Bombers' AFL coach for long timeEssendon AFL coach James Hird says he plans to stay in the job for a long time. Trengove reveals strain of AFL scandalMelbourne co-captain Jack Trengove says he's expecting to be interviewed by anti-doping authorities as part of the AFL's supplements scandal. Clarke back but no Shaw for MagpiesMartin Clarke has been added to Collingwood's side for their AFL clash with the Swans but a back complaint keeps Heath Shaw on the sidelines. Swans aim to crack down on KrakouerCollingwood small forward Andrew Krakouer can expect some close attention from the Sydney defence in Friday night's MCG blockbuster. Hawks star Franklin defends bar outburstHawthorn says no further action after investigation into a confrontation between their star Lance Franklin and a woman at a Melbourne bar. Tigers sick of AFL big-game let-downsRichmond captain Trent Cotchin says the Tigers have let themselves down in some previous big AFL clashes, but plan on changing that against Essendon. Robson quits as Bombers CEOEssendon have left open the question of whether football department staff will eventually follow chief executive Ian Robson out the door of the AFL club. Suns young gun O'Meara aiming highComparisons to some of AFL's biggest names don't bother teenage Gold Coast player Jaeger O'Meara because that's the type of player he aspires to be. Demons will do their best to keep WattsMelbourne AFL coach Mark Neeld isn't surprised clubs are interested in Jack Watts and says they'll do their best to keep him. Johncock still a valued player: Crow coachAdelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says Graham Johncock still has a big role to play despite the veteran again being overlooked for the Crows. AFL boss commends Robson decisionAFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says Ian Robson had accepted responsibility for breakdowns in Essendon's management by resigning.

Footy ClassifiedMonday nights our expert panel debates AFL's real issues. Catch the highlights online.

Victory's Rojas heads to GermanyMay 24, 2013: Departing Victory star Marco Rojas says he will consider a return to Melbourne if his ...

Doping saga continues to haunt Bombers

McGuire hits out at Buddy claims

Minichiello still rates struggling Storm

Webber says F1 needs to change

Webber says F1 needs to change

Deans denies Cooper grudge

Victory's Rojas heads to Germany