That's the verdict from Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Jimmy Bartel as they preview the season. Also on the agenda in our first episode of 2019: rule changes, how they'll work and why players and coaches should have no problems with them. Plus: he hasn't played in a while, but Gary Ablett snr's official goal tally has changed; we chat to AFLW players about the conference system, finals and the league best and fairest; and how many goals will it take to win the Coleman Medal this year?

That's the verdict from Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Jimmy Bartel as they preview the season. Also on the agenda in our first episode of 2019: rule changes, how they'll work and why players and coaches should have no problems with them. Plus: he hasn't played in a while, but Gary Ablett snr's official goal tally has changed; we chat to AFLW players about the conference system, finals and the league best and fairest; and how many goals will it take to win the Coleman Medal this year?

We bring you all the stories behind the game - reviewing, previewing and analysing footy in a way only The Age knows how. Join host Michael Gleeson and regular guests Caroline Wilson, Jake Niall, Bob Murphy and Jimmy Bartel. Send us your feedback to realfootypod@fairfaxmedia.com.au or follow us on Twitter (@agerealfooty) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/).

We bring you all the stories behind the game - reviewing, previewing and analysing footy in a way only The Age knows how. Join host Michael Gleeson and regular guests Caroline Wilson, Jake Niall, Bob Murphy and Jimmy Bartel. Send us your feedback to realfootypod@fairfaxmedia.com.au or follow us on Twitter (@agerealfooty) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/).

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

Real Footy

We bring you all the stories behind the game - reviewing, previewing and analysing footy in a way only The Age and SMH know how. Join host Michael Gleeson and regular guests Caroline Wilson, Jake Niall and Jimmy Bartel.

We bring you all the stories behind the game - reviewing, previewing and analysing footy in a way only The Age and SMH know how. Join host Michael Gleeson and regular guests Caroline Wilson, Jake Niall and Jimmy Bartel.

Real Footy Podcast

Richmond are the team to beat

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the Bulldogs' disappointing return to football. How did the club end up with such a young team, four years on from a premiership? Have they over-committed to coach Luke Beveridge? Or is it a problem with the players on the field? Also this week, why Gillon McLachlan was wrong to call the review of the Jack Higgins mark a brave decision, the "poor call" on Shaun Burgoyne's sling tackle, praise for the Suns and their young guns and much more.

Footy is back! Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 


Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you. Why not email us here, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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 https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the Bulldogs' disappointing return to football. How did the club end up with such a young team, four years on from a premiership? Have they over-committed to coach Luke Beveridge? Or is it a problem with the players on the field? Also this week, why Gillon McLachlan was wrong to call the review of the Jack Higgins mark a brave decision, the "poor call" on Shaun Burgoyne's sling tackle, praise for the Suns and their young guns and much more.
Footy is back! Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 
Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you.&nbsp;<a href="mailto:realfootypod@fairfaxmedia.com.au">Why not email us here,</a>&nbsp;or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/agerealfooty" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/agerealfooty&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3C0vSAAE61mraNv8pXZNIZlV0Og">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHGdxLZXNXnCddDTBNQh3kFaCHfnA">Facebook.</a>
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&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.theage.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.theage.com.au/</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.smh.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.smh.com.au/</a>

'The worst performance of the weekend'

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall discuss which team might be most affected by changes to the coronavirus-hit season – and whether it will have an impact on who wins the flag. Plus: has the game lost supporters during the shutdown? Did the AFL make the wrong call in starting the season with Collingwood v Richmond? And is a new broadcast deal close?

Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 


Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you. Why not email us here, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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 https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall discuss which team might be most affected by changes to the coronavirus-hit season &ndash; and whether it will have an impact on who wins the flag. Plus: has the game lost supporters during the shutdown? Did the AFL make the wrong call in starting the season with Collingwood v Richmond? And is a new broadcast deal close?
Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 
Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you.&nbsp;<a href="mailto:realfootypod@fairfaxmedia.com.au">Why not email us here,</a>&nbsp;or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/agerealfooty" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/agerealfooty&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3C0vSAAE61mraNv8pXZNIZlV0Og">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHGdxLZXNXnCddDTBNQh3kFaCHfnA">Facebook.</a>
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&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.theage.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.theage.com.au/</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.smh.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.smh.com.au/</a>

Which club will be most affected by the new season structure?

This week, Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Sam McClure talk about the state of the game today and how it compares to footy from decades past. Plus: discussion of the looming pay war between the AFL and its players, including the letter that has left the AFL unhappy and why there could be pressure on the league to allow third-party deals going forward.

Footy might be on hold, but this podcast is not. Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 


Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you. Why not email us here, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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 https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

This week, Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Sam McClure talk about the state of the game today and how it compares to footy from decades past. Plus: discussion of the looming pay war between the AFL and its players, including the letter that has left the AFL unhappy and why there could be pressure on the league to allow third-party deals going forward.
Footy might be on hold, but this podcast is not. Make sure you subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to get every episode as it drops. 
Get in touch! - We'd love to hear from you.&nbsp;<a href="mailto:realfootypod@fairfaxmedia.com.au">Why not email us here,</a>&nbsp;or follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/agerealfooty" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/agerealfooty&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3C0vSAAE61mraNv8pXZNIZlV0Og">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/agerealfooty/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1584669742634000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHGdxLZXNXnCddDTBNQh3kFaCHfnA">Facebook.</a>
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&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.theage.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.theage.com.au/</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://slack-redir.net/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribe.smh.com.au%2F&amp;v=3" aria-describedby="slack-kit-tooltip">https://subscribe.smh.com.au/</a>

Richmond are the team to beat

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