The match review panel’s decision to offer new Magpies skipper Nick Maxwell three weeks was seen as the end of football as we know it by some, and the cries increased when he went to the tribunal and copped four matches.
But then the Magpies appealed, and he got off altogether. This led the AFL to rewrite the rule, which means Maxwell is likely to be the last to escape punishment for that type of action.
The return of Cousins has been one long-running soap opera. The latest instalment saw an intra-club game where a thousand or so fans – and opposition coaches – watched the Brownlow Medallist in action wearing yellow and black for the first time. Then he played a ‘real’ game in the NAB Cup, which led to more hysteria – and hospitalisation with concussion.
If not for the bump and the Cuz, the deliberately-rushed behind might have taken centre stage, with Saint Sam Fisher believing it would change football. Adrian Anderson said it and other trial rules for the NAB Cup could be adopted for the regular season.
Four field umpires – three on the ground at any one time – was also tried in the NAB Cup, with any abuse towards them able to be referred straight to the tribunal. Among other changes to footy, the countdown clock at the ground was tested for the last few games.
Plenty of bushfire fund-raising went on, led by Richmond’s team-photo exercise, and including an appeal match between Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.
If Nick Maxwell's tribunal case was the one that changed footy, it was rivalled in 'water cooler conversation' status when Setanta O'hAilpin was clobbered by the AFL and his club for clocking Cameron Cloke.
In injury news, Geelong skipper Tom Harley and young Tiger Trent Cotchin are unlikely to be fit for round one, Bomber Andrew Welsh will miss a large chunk of the season after breaking his leg, Andrew Carrazzo has the Blues after injuring his left forearm during the intra-club game, Lion Simon Black broke his hand and Tiger Mark Coughlan copped another whack on his knee. The most curious injury of the pre-season was news that Essendon draftee Michael Hurley had his gall bladder removed.
In better news, Tiger Graham Polak looked good in Richmond's intra-club, Matty Maguire is back for the Saints, and Domenic Cassisi scored the captaincy at Port Adelaide.
The Gold Coast still has no licence, although progress is being made. At one stage it looked like they might have their CEO when Saints chief executive Archie Fraser resigned, but he’s going back to his roots running the A-League. Tasmania, meanwhile, is still pushing for a team.
The Swans have worked on their skills, the Eagles on their attacking mindset, Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna on his Mick Malthouseness, Barry Hall on his behaviour, the Tigers on their new Craigieburn base, and the Hawks on their Cup defence.
In the NAB Cup, the first round saw Collingwood beat West Coast, the Western Bulldogs defeat Essendon, Richmond fall over the line against Fremantle, Carlton clobber North Melbourne, Hawthorn win with five seconds to spare against Melbourne, Geelong cruise home over Adelaide and Port Adelaide thrash Sydney.
The quarter-finals saw Collingwood belt Richmond, Essendon scrape home against Brisbane, Geelong account for Port and Carlton romp home over Hawthorn.
And don’t forget the AFL Dream Team – will you take a punt on a recycled player?
