SACKED: AFL

Kevin Sheedy reined over Windy Hill for 27 years. After a clumsy and messy search, the Bombers found a replacement in Matthew Knights. Essendon's new coach wanted to create his own legacy, but did so by pushing out a club great. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 22, 2001, Essendon did the impossible from 69 points down, and were just months out from establishing a dynasty. But in reality, it was the start of the downfall of a powerhouse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There wouldn’t be many more qualified candidates for the final SACKED AFL episode of season six than Scott Cummings. The laconic goal kicker cycled through four clubs in three states across a nine year career that promised a great deal but ended due to injury at the age of just 28. And yet Cummings could really play. He was the leading goal kicker at three of his four clubs and kicked 95 goa...

Ben Brown shares the highs and lows of his AFL career, from going undrafted to becoming a premiership player with Melbourne. Hear how he overcame adversity and self-doubt to reach the pinnacle of the sport. In this episode of Sacked, Ben Brown opens up about his AFL journey. From getting drafted by North Melbourne at pick 47 after being overlooked in previous drafts, to becoming their leading goal...

Hannah Mouncey shares her experience as a transgender athlete fighting for inclusion in professional sports. Get an inside look at the challenges and discrimination she has faced. Overview: Hannah Mouncey, former Australian men's handball player, opens up about her journey as a transgender athlete. She talks about realizing her gender identity as a child, coming out to her family, and beginning ho...

Former AFL star Jaidyn Stephenson opens up about the highs and lows of his short-lived career, from winning a Rising Star to getting caught up in a gambling scandal that derailed his promising start at Collingwood. Overview: In this candid interview, Stephenson reflects on his rapid rise to fame as a teenager, the pressures of being in the spotlight, and how off-field mistakes led to his untimely...

Greg Williams was one of the greatest AFL players of his time, winning 3 Brownlow Medals and a Norm Smith Medal. But his road to stardom wasn't easy - he was rejected by Carlton twice as a teenager before getting his shot at Geelong. In this episode, Williams takes us through the highs and lows of his incredible career, from his rocky start to premiership glory with Carlton. Get the inside story o...

Stuart Crameri was one of 34 Essendon players caught up in the infamous supplements saga that rocked the AFL. In this raw and revealing chat, the former Bomber opens up about the highs and lows of his career, including the supplements scandal that derailed the Bombers and the heartbreak of watching his Bulldogs teammates win the 2016 flag while he was sidelined. Crameri takes us inside the Bombers...

When Andrew Russell was called into Kevin Sheedy’s office at the Hilton Hotel as a teenager and offered a job, not in his wildest dreams would he have been able to predict the three decade high performance career that included six premierships across three clubs that was to come. Russell was there at the end of the Bombers dynasty, Port’s ‘04 choke-breaker and the start of the Ha...

Players - yes, coaches - definitely. But recruiting new high performance managers wouldn’t usually get the fans excited. And yet, when Andrew Russell made the shift from a four-premiership winning stint at Hawthorn to Carlton, it was seen as joining the missing link holding the Blues back. So why, five years later, did the 26 year AFL industry career of Andrew Russell end in disappointment?...

Sheedy, Clarkson, Malthouse, Pagan, Thomas, Frawley, Blight, Bailey, McCartney, Lyon. To close out season 5 of Sacked: AFL, we’ve gone back and delved deeper into the 10 greatest modern coach sackings since 2000. And who better to come on that journey than a pair of esteemed journos who saw it all happen up close, and, at times, were the first to know. Jon ‘Ando’ Anderson was there at some of the...

Damian Drum spent more time as the next AFL coach in waiting than he did in the hot seat given he was up for roles as coach of the Swans, Demons and almost had the Collingwood job before moving to Fremantle. In one of the most notorious coach axings in AFL history, Drum learned of his sacking on live TV -  just 9 games into his third season in the top job. And yet, it allowed the former shed build...

Damian Drum was a late-bloomer when he was plucked out of bush footy by Geelong at the age of 20 and spent eight frustrating seasons battling to 63 games. And yet, it was only another injury sustained in the 1989 Preliminary Final that denied him the notorious role on Dermott Brereton eventually performed by Mark Yates in the opening moments of the famous 89 Grand Final. Drum would eventually beco...

Mal Michael played 238 games including the historic three-peat of premierships with the Brisbane Lions. But it might never have happened in the first place. PNG born Michael was brought from his hometown of Brisbane to Collingwood with no promises and very little money but was able to turn himself into the fearsome full-back of the Lions dynasty. And yet, it is the one that got away - their chance...

 Alastair Lynch played over 300 games for Fitzroy, the Brisbane Bears and then the Brisbane Lions in a career that spanned 16 years. It was a career that had incredible highs, devastating lows and one five minute brain fade right at the end. A three time premiership player with the Lions, Lynch spent much of the mid to late 90s in bed with chronic fatigue having previously broken Roys fans hearts...

Nathan Burke has been involved in elite football across five decades and was involved in some of the biggest stories in that time. Towards the end of his playing career, Burke had a seat at the table for the incredible recruitment of Malcolm Blight as senior Saints coach and he was at the Saints through the tumult that was the Thomas and Lyon eras. Burke was also at the business end of the early d...

Nathan Burke played 323 games with St Kilda across three decades, and took the field with some of the best of the modern era - Lockett, Frawley, Harvey, Winmar, Loewe. He captained the club and played in a heartbreaking Grand Final loss in 1997 but was in teams that finished in the bottom four as much as they spent in contention. And when his playing career was over, it was a seat on the Saints bo...

Daniel Harford was a top 10 draft pick and Vic Metro under 18 captain when he was taken by the Hawks. Harford went on to play 153 games in the brown and gold (and nine in a single season with Carlton). He was cocky and sure of himself with a good dose of self deprecation, that made Harford a favourite of the footy variety shows of the late 90s and early 2000s.  The larrikin nature prepared him per...

Paul Roos played 356 AFL games for Fitzroy and Sydney as well as many in the Big V for Victoria across 17 years as a player. And as a coach he delivered the Swans a 72 year drought-breaking premiership in 2005 and was instrumental in the rebuild of Melbourne that ultimately culminated in the 2021 flag. In this episode, Roos details his journey from Fitzroy to the Swans and Ralphy’s part in his ann...

David Noble played just two games of AFL footy with Fitzroy in the early ‘90s, but it was off the field that he truly made his mark as an assistant coach, recruiter and administrator and finally the monumental task of coaching cellar dwelling North Melbourne. In this episode, Noble details his football and personal journey from Hobart to Brisbane and the challenges he and his family have faced alo...

Tony Jewell commenced his senior football career with Oakleigh, in 1963. He tried out with St Kilda but failed to impress and was turned away. Richmond, however, decided to take a punt on him and he went on to give them good service, mainly as a half back flanker or back pocket, in 80 VFL games between 1964 and 1970.  After a two-year stint as coach of the Richmond reserves, which included oversee...

As Victorian opposition leader from 1982 to 1989 and then again from 1991 to 1992 before becoming the 43rd Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett has guided and divided many during his time in politics. Post political life Kennett became the inaugural chairman of Beyond Blue and in December 2005, replaced Ian Dicker as president of Hawthorn. In this episode Kennett opens about his relationship with 4-t...

Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore Tony Cochrane. As Chairman of the Board Tony Cochrane is best known in his role as boss of the Gold Coast Suns.  A successful businessman who didn't bother to finish school, Cochrane has been involved in event promotion since the 1970s, and has promoted or produced tours for several international and local artists. In March 2014, Cochrane joined...

A powerful forward with an unpredictable streak, Cameron Mooney was a nightmare matchup for backmen during his 221-game career. Drafted to North Melbourne during an era of dominance, Mooney broke into the North side during the 1999 season, where he'd become a premiership player without even touching the ball! Traded to Geelong in the preseason of 2000, Mooney would make his name with the Cats as G...

Trent Croad had an almost immediate impact when he was recruited to Hawthorn in 1998. At the end of 2001, Hawthorn would shock the football world, trading Croad who was then 21 and one of the Hawk's blue chip youngsters to Fremantle for the number 1 pick which would eventually secure Luke Hodge.  After two years at Fremantle, Croad became the Prodigal son of Hawthorn, returning to Glenferrie...