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Caroline Wilson

Caroline Wilson

Caroline Wilson is a Walkley award-winning columnist and former chief football writer for The Age.

Leigh Matthews, Nathan Buckley, Bruce McAvaney and Dennis Cometti on Seven’s Friday Night Football in 2009.

Dennis Cometti brought joy to the commentary box, but there was one thing he loathed

Working alongside the legendary caller, I was introduced to another side of his analytical brilliance.

  • Caroline Wilson

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Port Adelaide chairman David Koch (left) is steering a $20 million property investment to secure the club’s future, backed by the AFL.

This AFL club was described as a ‘carcass’. Now it’s investing millions to build a new suburb and secure its future

Inside the secret proposal to transform an AFL club’s heartland through a complex property buy-up and redevelopment that has the financial backing of the league.

  • Caroline Wilson
AFL executives Greg Swann, Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane.

‘Teething problems’, or something untenable? Behind the brewing tensions at AFL House

Tensions between the AFL’s two key football lieutenants have threatened to destabilise Andrew Dillon’s senior team just months into his controversial head-office restructure.

  • Caroline Wilson
Bailey Smith starred on the field for Geelong in 2025, but off the field was another matter.

Bailey Smith’s social media post about me was insulting and sexist. How dare he?

I probably wouldn’t have had a major problem with Max Holmes dressing up as me on Mad Monday, but I did have a problem with Smith’s social media post, and judging from the response that’s followed, I wasn’t alone.

  • Caroline Wilson
Veteran Geelong coach Chris Scott has done an outstanding job at keeping the club regenerating and competing on the run.

Why Chris Scott went off the grid, then went to war with the AFL

The dual Geelong premiership coach is great company, but intensely private. He has endured personal tragedy, which he never talks about, but is well known for private acts of kindness to others who are suffering.

  • Caroline Wilson
Brad Scott and Zach Merrett in May.

How Zach Merrett’s escape plan blew up Essendon’s fragile rebuild

The Bombers have long worshipped at the shrine of the individual, so it is fitting that a controversial exit strategy by its driven but individualistic captain has piled pressure on David Barham’s board.

  • Caroline Wilson
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Three central figures in the AFL Commission power play: outgoing chair Richard Goyder, and contenders Peter Gordon and Jeff Browne.

Clubs demand secret ballot on Brownlow day amid ‘embarrassing’ AFL power struggle

Behind the scenes, influencers on both sides of this AFL power play are working the phones and crunching the numbers.

  • Caroline Wilson
Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning are both leaving the Blues, bound for St Kilda.

‘We needed to stand up for ourselves’: Inside St Kilda’s ruthless rebrand and the great player raid

St Kilda supporter groups saw the Saints as meek. Here’s how they changed things, and ruffled feathers doing it.

  • Caroline Wilson
AFL power couple Murray Davis and Bree Brock

Why this AFL power couple uprooted their lives to chase premierships with different clubs

She built a dynasty at the Brisbane Lions. He helped transform the Crows into minor premiers. They live 2000 kilometres apart.

  • Caroline Wilson
Goodwin at the August 5 press conference at the MCG. He wasn’t helped by internal divisions at the Demons.

Awkward scenes in Simon Goodwin’s kitchen, and a power play in the boardroom

President Brad Green intends to hang on to the Demons’ presidency until December, raising questions about the planned handover to former MCC president Steven Smith.

  • Caroline Wilson