David Spriggs, also in Lorne, jumped from a ledge at a pub at night, landed awkwardly on a beach and missed all of 2002 with a knee injury. The four Daniher brothers from Ungarie – Terry (captain), Neale, Chris and Anthony – played together for the first time in their career, before they also did for Essendon.

Let’s discuss these one by one. A great day for AFL in NSW. There has been tremendous community response to this bushfire season and the AFL is no exception, having revived the State of Origin concept for a fundraiser. Bookies had them at $7 outsiders, with a 50-point line, yet while a torrential downpour at the SCG on that Tuesday night made conditions difficult, the win was no fluke. As was the case back in the day, eligibility rules were a bit rubbery, with anyone who played for the Sydney Swans deemed eligible. "A game of footy can't change what has happened but it is a way for all of our clubs, our players and our fans to acknowledge the incredible sacrifice that so many have made in battling the fires and to support those communities that have been impacted by the bushfires.". Alastair Lynch, Nigael Lappin, and Darryl White reflect on the 2002 Grand Final. It also allows the AFL to showcase other areas of our great game. We want to see it! The NBA this season consisted of 82 games – 41 home and 41 away. Brisbane Lions players will take part in a State of Origin match on February 28th to raise funds for the Australian bushfire disaster. If we started to think more along the lines of how good it could be to see the stars shine on what could be the brightest stage of all, we’d be better off for it. The changing of the seasons from winter into spring brings more sunshine, the smell of cut grass and anticipation for the best of what football has to offer as we enter September. Steve Johnson needed surgery after rupturing a tendon trying to get into his bag to answer his phone. Anthony Daniher, a 233-game veteran with a plethora of highlights, nominated it as his greatest moment on the football field. Players can also injure themselves playing in the state leagues, which many would be doing during the AFL bye rounds to try to maintain fitness or match simulation in the comeback of an injury setback. The match – to be played during the second weekend of the pre-season Marsh Community Series – will see players selected in a process still to be determined. Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is punting on injury-prone defender Ryan Burton in Thursday night’s AFL qualifying final against Geelong. After decade in which only one team failed to make the finals at least once, and with four of the six most successful teams of the decade going around again, did this topsy-turvy, everyone-plays-everyone-once season really throw up any anomalies? You only have to cast your mind back to March when Swans big man Sam Naismith did exactly that and was ruled out for the whole 2018 season. I would play AFL State of Origin matches on the Wednesday of the 1st 2 weeks of finals. THE AFL has announced a landmark State of Origin match to raise funds for the Australian bushfire disaster in addition to a monster donation to support relief efforts. Brad Ottens missed games after impaling himself on a garden stake after falling from a tree putting up a hammock, and he also made contact with a propeller of a motorboat while waterskiing. I was unfortunate enough to be too young to witness the interstate rivalries in its glorious heyday, and I rely on nostalgic grainy footage and yarns from Dad to fill my void. This year is also the first women’s State of Origin match, which was an overwhelming success. It is an absolute honour to be chosen and represent either the Blues or Maroons, and not only do players want to play, the clubs release them and let them play. Victoria will play an All Stars line-up on Friday February 28, with money raised to boost a Community Relief Fund set-up by the AFL to help rebuild football facilities ripped apart by the national crisis. No! Sport builds bonds within communities and we want people to know they have the support of the entire football industry and that we will be there to help them rebuild facilities and programs and ensure people continue to come together. Either devise some ideas about what could be done to make it work, or assess the strategies below in …

Levi Greenwood broke his big toe when he got it caught in his trackies and twisted it walking down the stairs. Victoria vs South Australia, or Western Australia? Then there is no incompatibility with Home and Away Matches. I didn’t think we’d make it all those months ago, but look at us – we’ve made it to the finals. The Week 1 fixture could comprise: This would give the players playing in the match between 14 and 16 days off and the players not playing between 21 and 23 days off, which is more than they get now with their current one-week bye.

This would be a chance to showcase the talent on offer from the AFLW as well as filling a void with the light-hearted relief of the EJ Whitten Legends match. Essendon's trip to face West Coast at Lathlain Park in the Marsh Series – also fixtured for February 28 – has been move to the day before. Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? Zac Clarke injured his PCL while at Falls Festival in Lorne. Take a look into how the Lions prepare on the training track. Stay tuned to lions.com.au over the coming weeks and months for further information on how the Lions plan to raise more money for the bushfire relief. In May 1990, New South Wales recorded one of the greatest Origin victories – a win for the ages – against Victoria. Being from a non-rugby state I never knew how incredible State of Origin was until I was in … “But what about the lack of football in those weeks?” you may ask. There are strong cases for and against both of these time frames, but I like smack bang right in the middle of the season. Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick will lead the Victorians and Sydney counterpart John Longmire will coach the All Stars in the match to be staged at Marvel Stadium. League chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he was blown away by the reaction to the cause. By having the hall of fame, AFLW, and under-18s over these weekends it gets to showcase and acknowledge the achievements of past players, future players and the Indigenous and women’s game while the AFL is on a break, allowing them to take centre stage, as there is always so much going on these events are often in the shadows when they deserve a much brighter spotlight. We could talk about every player this season who has injured them self at training or in the state leagues, but we would be here all day, the majority of the story is that injuries don’t just happen in round matches of AFL football. Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? Players selected from teams not playing finals. Talks remain ongoing over the possibility of re-scheduling the AFLW match between Collingwood and Melbourne fixtured for Friday February 28 at Victoria Park. Everything you need to know about the AFL's State of Origin bushfire relief match taking place at Marvel Stadium on February 28.