THE START of the season is a time of change for many AFL clubs. And the same is happening here at afl.com.au.

We're making some big changes for the 2008 season. Some of those changes, like the new navigation and new look, will be apparent now, while others will follow in the weeks to come.

Overall, we're making the site faster, simpler and easier to use. Users told us they wanted quicker-loading pages, easier navigation and improved usability, and that's what we'll be delivering.

You also told us you wanted richer stats, more video and more exposure for the news of the day. Again, that's what you'll see on afl.com.au this year.

Of course, all the most popular features of 2007 will be returning – like Game Day Live, Tipping, Mark and Goal of the Year and more. And Dream Team addicts stay tuned – we've got some exciting surprises in store for you soon.

So here's a quick rundown on what’s happening on the site for 2008.

What's new now?
    * The design – lighter, simpler, cleaner and with a 'newsier' feel
    * The navigation – easier to use
    * Personalise the afl.com.au home page to get the latest news and videos from your club whenever you visit the site
    * Increased usability
    * Better cross-platform compatibility (including Mac browsers)

What else is coming?
In the weeks and months ahead you'll also see:

    * The return of your favourite competitions – plus a few new ones!
    * Brand new club sites
    * Video highlight packages every week
    * New text and video content. More news and features than ever before, plus new video shows.
    * Exclusive, behind-the-scenes videos and articles featuring some of the game's biggest names – giving you unrivalled access to your club and its players.
    * Interactive ladders and stats that will allow you to dig deeper into the numbers behind the game
    * Opportunities for you to have your say and get involved
    * An all-new, comprehensive AFL broadcast guide.

There will be more new things added to the site at the start of the season, but new features and enhancements will continue to be added before then, and throughout the 2008 Toyota Premiership season.

So have a look around and check out what's new on afl.com.au

If you've got any feedback, questions or comments, just hit the ‘contact us’ link in the footer of the site and tell us what you think. We’d love to hear from you.