This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall discuss the turnaround at the Bombers, from a “lost year” in 2020 to Saturday night’s phenomenal win. Dreamtime will be a massive game in the context of the season, with Essendon breathing down Richmond’s neck in the finals race. Plus, criticism of the Pies' game style, change looming at Carlton, the Dees cement premiership favouritism and much more.

Read Michael Gleeson's column on the Bombers. 
Read Jonathan Brown's comments on Collingwood's ball movement. 
Read Peter Ryan's interview with Ben Johnson. Read Jake Niall's piece on the soft cap exemptions. 

Got a question about your club? Send it to realfootypod@theage.com.au for our hosts to answer. 

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to The Age today.

Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out more great podcasts from The Age & SMH.

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall discuss the turnaround at the Bombers, from a &ldquo;lost year&rdquo; in 2020 to Saturday night&rsquo;s phenomenal win. Dreamtime will be a massive game in the context of the season, with Essendon breathing down Richmond&rsquo;s neck in the finals race. Plus, criticism of the Pies' game style, change looming at Carlton, the Dees cement premiership favouritism and much more.
Read Michael Gleeson's column on the <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/four-points-the-rise-of-the-bombers-a-young-tigers-forward-takes-his-chance-20210530-p57wfh.html">Bombers. </a> Read Jonathan Brown's comments on <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bullish-buckley-reveals-scott-pendlebury-is-carrying-an-injury-20210529-p57wb4.html">Collingwood's ball movement</a>. <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bullish-buckley-reveals-scott-pendlebury-is-carrying-an-injury-20210529-p57wb4.html" data-stringify-link="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bullish-buckley-reveals-scott-pendlebury-is-carrying-an-injury-20210529-p57wb4.html" data-sk="tooltip_parent"></a> Read Peter Ryan's interview with <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/magpies-flag-star-slams-egm-push-says-players-need-new-voice-20210526-p57v6a.html">Ben Johnson.</a> Read Jake Niall's piece on the <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/little-austerity-relief-for-afl-clubs-but-part-of-coach-s-pay-could-be-exempt-20210528-p57w0f.html">soft cap exemptions. </a>
Got a question about your club? Send it to <a href="mailto:realfootypod@theage.com.au" data-stringify-link="mailto:realfootypod@theage.com.au" data-sk="tooltip_parent">realfootypod@theage.com.au</a> for our hosts to answer. 
Follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/agerealfooty">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/">Facebook.</a>
And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to <a href="https://subscribe.theage.com.au/">The Age</a> today.
Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/artist/the-age-and-sydney-morning-herald/1458168652">more great podcasts from The Age &amp; SMH.</a>

The best footy writers from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald bring you the weekly lowdown on all things AFL.

If you like the pod, please take the time to rate & review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We love to hear from you and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find us.

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The best footy writers from The Age and Sydney Morning Herald bring you the weekly lowdown on all things AFL.
If you like the pod, please take the time to rate &amp; review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. We love to hear from you and it makes it easier for the rest of the podcast world to find us.
And, why not become a subscriber? Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe <a href="https://subscribe.theage.com.au/">https://subscribe.theage.com.au/</a> or <a href="https://subscribe.smh.com.au/">https://subscribe.smh.com.au/</a>

News, analysis and insight on the AFL from The Age sports team.