The AFL is set to announce the significant changes to the draft and its bidding system.

Where will Gather Round be held beyond 2026? Will the AFLW earn a chance to host the weekend festival of football?

And where does Bailey Smith's contract sit?

All that and more from media buzz.

Why Kane Cornes is "conscious" of overstepping the mark

AFL analyst and arguably one of the biggest names in the media, Kane Cornes has opened up as to why he may have toned down his immense criticism since joining Channel Seven's team ahead of the 2025 season.

Cornes, frequently referred to as the 'Volkaneo', was a constant pillar of feedback for players and clubs, and for the most part he was right.

But before his time at the AFL's major broadcaster, Cornes had no restrictions on what he could say on Channel Nine, utilising his spot on Footy Classified and the Sunday Footy Show to share his opinions.

"There were a few issues that arose which we all know about on the broadcast which I hadn't ever done before," Cornes told the Herald Sun.

"I could pretty much say whatever I wanted on Nine, there was no real pushback.

"I'm a bit more relationship wise (about Seven), they're partners with the clubs, partners with the AFL, that's not to say that I will dial it back too much but I'm conscious of the ecosystem and what Channel 7 deals with as a broadcaster and rights holder.”

Cornes wasn't denied access to North Melbourne rooms in 2025 as part of the broadcast after his criticism of Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin. A frosty relationship that has since smoothed.

"I caught up really briefly with Jen Watt (CEO) from North and she was really lovely, I had never met her, she introduced herself and that was the first time I had spoken to anyone at North since I got banned from the rooms," Cornes said.

"Most clubs invited me to their pre-season briefing, I didn't have much of a relationship with Melbourne in the past but they were open to putting their hand out and we had some laughs.

"I think everyone in footy is pretty good, they understand that if you're not doing a good job you're going to be criticised and they're open to that, even guys at the AFL understand it as well.

"I feel all but one club I am really good with, maybe not really good with but I have a relationship where I can pick up the phone if I needed anything and have a chat."

Former Pies flag hero takes aim at AFL fixture

Dale Thomas has made his feelings known about the AFL's controversial fixture to date, which has drawn plenty of criticism given the staggered start and return from byes.

“So the Brisbane Lions, right ... they get themselves a nice opportunity to come off a bye. Yeah, sweet. We'll send them to Marvel, then we'll send them to a five-day break and (into a game) against the Pies who had a bye, then a six-day break," Thomas said on The Agenda Setters.

“You can have Adelaide in there, too, who had to go to the Cattery (to play Geelong on Thursday night after their Friday game) and then go back to Adelaide (to front up again on Good Friday for a game against Fremantle).

"It is a mess. Get me to Gather Round, get me to the Barossa, and I'll sort it out in 15 minutes."

AFL draft bidding changes close to verification

Significant changes to the AFL draft and its bidding is set to take effect sooner rather than later, with the news on how it will look in 2026 all but confirmed on Footy Classified.

A loading will be applied to clubs who finish in the top four, with the minor premiers and second place set to pay an extra 25 percent for players linked to their club, while third and fourth will add 20 percent to the figure.

The discount will be removed, while clubs must match bids on father son and academy prospects with two picks, maximum.

Carlton, Essendon and Port Adelaide will feel the pinch the most given their father-son and academy guns set to join their clubs in 2026 and 2027.

Star Cat purring his way to improved contract

Geelong gun Bailey Smith is set for a big payday despite already being contracted until the end of 2030.

Smith's return at the Cats has been fruitful to day, earning the AFLCA award and an All-Australian blazer last year, whilst his strong form in 2026 has continued.

On Footy Classified, it was revealed that the former Bulldog will be close to earning top dollar.

Pie unsure why club walked out pair of forwards

Collingwood heart-and-soul player Brayden Maynard is still unsure why the club got rid of forwards Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox.

"We obviously got rid of a five-time leading goalkicker in ‘Checkers'," Maynard said to News Corp.

"No-one wanted him gone, I don't know what happened there, but anyway. Then Coxy (Mason Cox) went (to Fremantle) and we had to figure out a way to score and we do have boys down there that can score.

"I do miss him a lot, I had a really good relationship with ‘Checkers', a real unique one. I love him very much, so did everyone. But that is football, that is the industry we live in and he is doing really well at Melbourne and it's good to see."

Gather Round in SA? And will we see it in the AFLW?

South Australia is tipped to earn an extension of Gather Round beyond the initial four years since owning the concept from 2023.

The raging success of the festival of football has seen fans and supporters turn up in droves across the state, with games played across multiple eye-catching venues, including the Barossa Valley and the famous Norwood Oval.

Former Carlton captain reveals painful truth

Sam Docherty has taken to 3AW to reveal the hidden pain behind Carlton's poor record, and it simply relies on one statistic.

The former Blues captain spoke about the contested possession, saying that when Carlton wins the category, they win 70 percent of games. That number is close to consistent contenders such as Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood.

When those three teams lose contested possessions, their win rate drops to 50-60 percent, says Docherty.

"Carlton's drops to seven percent. It highlights the importance of winning the contest for Carlton."

 

 
 
 
 
 
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 Fix one problem, cause plenty more

Former AFL umpire Ray 'Razor' Chamberlain says the introduction of the new rules has set the game on the right path, but the microscopic lens to ensure every call is correct is causing more harm than good.

In the wake of the 'lasso' rule and subsequent use, or non-use of the ARC in Round 3, Chamberlain said that the need to intervene is becoming an issue.

"There's prior, there's reasonable time, genuine attempt, you can mount arguments for everything," he said on AFL360.

"There will be error – there will be player error, there will be coach error, there will be umpire error … that's part of sport.

"I think we spend way too much time trying to solve one thing and we create 50 other things.

"It seems that's how it's unravelling at this stage."

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