It’s been one of those weeks in footy — the kind where the headlines won’t slow down, the phones don’t stop buzzing, and every second person suddenly thinks they’ve cracked the code on what’s “really” happening at your club.

In this Thursday night edition of Footy Lowdown, Ash sorts through the chaos with his usual mix of sharp analysis, side-eye at the overreactions, and a few grounded truths the wider footy world seems to have misplaced.

From major storylines across the AFL, to the latest team sheets, injury updates, selection curveballs, and debutants you’ll want to keep an eye on — this episode breaks down the ins, outs and everything in between without spoiling the twists still to come.

And yes… Ash’s tips are back too.

Some bold.

Some safe.

Some that might just upset a few supporters.

If you want the full picture without the noise, this is the episode to press play on.

🦁 Injury shocks.

🦁 Tribunal fallout.

🦁 Contract rumours.

🦁 It’s been one of those weeks at the Lions — and Ash has plenty to say about what really matters, what definitely doesn’t, and what might change everything.

🦁 Just… don’t expect all the answers straight away.

🏉 Prepare for a rare, unbroken, long-form deep dive into one of the most seismic chapters in Australian sport.

🏉 A story of ambition, secrecy, power, and the fallout that reshaped a club — and the league around it.

🏉 Across this forensic documentary, we trace the meteoric rise of James Hird, the vision that set Essendon on a bold new path, and the chain of decisions that would ultimately unravel its high-performance program.

🏉 From federal investigations to media warfare, boardroom fractures to an unprecedented legal showdown in Switzerland, this is the saga that consumed the AFL.

🏉 You’ll feel the human cost too — the heartbreak, the lost accolades, the lives changed forever — and the long shadow the aftermath still casts on the game.

🏉 This isn’t just a supplements scandal.

It’s a story about loyalty and ambition, oversight and betrayal, identity and consequence.

🏉 Opening Round is done and dusted — but the early clues for the 2026 AFL season are already starting to emerge.

🏉 In this episode of Footy Lowdown, Ash breaks down every match from the opening slate, unpacking the tactics, momentum swings and trends that shaped the first five games of the year.

🏉 There’s also a look at standout individual performances, the emergence of several exciting young players, and the moments that may prove more significant as the season unfolds.

🏉 Along the way, he shares his votes from each game, unveils the first Team of the Week, and reflects on the broader themes already shaping the competition.

🏉 Plus, Ash runs through the things he loved about the return of footy, the frustrations that come with the modern media cycle around the game, and the talking points that will carry into the next round.

🏉 With plenty of early storylines already bubbling away and a few clubs sending strong messages to the rest of the league, the 2026 season is only just getting started — and there’s a lot to unpack.

🏉 If you love footy and want to look beyond the scoreboard, this is your Opening Round deep dive.

🦁 The 2026 season began under the brightest lights — a packed Gabba, a premiership flag rising into the Brisbane night, and a crowd expecting another chapter of Lions dominance.

🦁 But footy rarely follows the script.

🦁 In this episode of Lions Lowdown, Ash breaks down an Opening Round that had just about everything: early momentum swings, moments where the Lions looked every bit the reigning powerhouse… and a final stretch that left plenty of supporters staring at the scoreboard wondering how it slipped away.

🦁 There’s media grumbling, strange broadcast decisions, and a few eyebrow-raising umpiring narratives doing the rounds.

🦁 There’s also the usual Lions Lowdown staples — Best Players, fan questions, Weird Stats, Ticks & Crosses, Media Watch and the odd bit of commentary gold that somehow made it to air.

🦁 And then there’s the moment everyone is talking about. A collision. A decision. And the fallout that could shape the next few weeks of the season.

🦁 Add in injuries, suspensions, selection puzzles, and some unexpected bright spots from new faces and returning players, and suddenly Opening Round becomes a lot more complicated than anyone expected.

🦁 It’s not all doom and gloom — but it’s definitely not straightforward either.

🦁 If you want the deep dive, the honest Lions-fan perspective, and a few questions the mainstream coverage might be skimming past… this one’s worth a listen.

🦁 The 2026 season starts with a Saturday night at the Gabba… but this one carries a little more weight than just Opening Round.

🦁 A milestone match.

🦁 New faces in new colours.

🦁 Old rivalries in familiar places.

🦁 Ash breaks down the numbers, the matchups, the tactics, and the small details that might decide whether the premiers begin their defence the right way — or whether the Bulldogs have a surprise waiting.

🦁 Some battles are obvious.

🦁 Others might decide the game before anyone realises they’re happening.

🦁 Either way… the road to the 2026 premiership starts here.

🏉 The 2026 AFL season opens with five massive clashes — and even bigger questions.

🏉 In this round-by-round analysis, Ash breaks down everything that matters (and a few things that probably shouldn’t) heading into Opening Round: shock debutants, surprise late injury clouds, tactical mismatches, club-by-club chaos, and the kind of storylines that only March footy can produce.

🏉 From Sydney’s statement game under lights, to Geelong’s injury riddles, to a Gabba showdown that could set the tone for Brisbane’s entire season — every match comes with its own pressure points, hidden narratives, and potential flashpoints.

🏉 Who’s ready?

🏉 Who’s pretending they’re ready?

🏉 And which club is about to shock the competition?

🏉 Five games.

🏉 Dozens of questions.

🏉 One very spicy Opening Round.

🏉 Hit play.

🏉 Let’s pull it all apart.

A legend has left us, and today’s episode becomes something different: a walk through the life of Dennis Cometti, the commentator who turned football into theatre.

Part tribute, part history, part reflection — and a reminder of why his voice will echo long after the final siren.

🏉 This week, Ash unpacks the wild rise and sudden death of the VFL’s infamous 10-Year Rule — a loophole, a gamble, a controversy, and a turning point the league never saw coming.

🏉 Was it genius?

🏉 Was it madness?

🏉 And why does its shadow still linger over today’s AFL?

🏉 Hit play to decide for yourself.

G’day footy fans — Ash is in the house with the first episode of a bigger, busier addition to the Lowdown universe.

This week: pre-season shake-ups, off-season retirements, early-round dramas, and a few eyebrow-raising moves that might just set the tone for the season ahead.

From league-wide transfers to club-by-club previews, nothing is quite as simple as it seems. Injuries, suspensions, hype, and a hint of chaos — who’s ready to rise, and who might stumble?

Hit play and decide for yourself.