AFL.com.au

2 days ago | afl.com.au | Riley Beveridge

TOM McCARTHY never harboured AFL dreams. Not many trying to get a kick in the second division of the Southern Football Netball League really do. That was, of course, until a Highett teammate and gym buddy of his noticed flashes of his immense potential. Jarrad Kay, who played and trained with McCarthy in Melbourne's bayside area, was in a unique position to spot such talent.

2 days ago | afl.com.au | Callum Twomey |Riley Beveridge |Josh Gabelich

Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trades, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the AFL.com.au team. KOZZY TO TAKE TIMEKYSAIAH Pickett is happy to take his time on a decision on his future as Melbourne throws up a range of options to extend his stay at the Demons.

3 days ago | afl.com.au | Martin Pegan

THE race for a place in the top four heats up with three clashes in round 13 between sides each aiming to be involved at the pointy end of the season. Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn have been included among the early premiership fancies but are suddenly locked in a battle just to stay in the top eight on Thursday night. Adelaide will get a better indication of whether it is a genuine contender against Brisbane the following night, and Geelong can knock Gold Coast down a peg or two on Saturday.

3 days ago | afl.com.au | Riley Beveridge

NORTH Melbourne will fly into Busselton in south-west Western Australia on Friday ahead of its nine-night stint away from home, as the club prepares for the start of a deal it hopes will net around $7.5 million over the next three years. The Kangaroos are preparing for a lengthy stint in Western Australia as part of an agreement they secured last November, selling successive 'home' games against West Coast and Fremantle across the next fortnight.

4 days ago | afl.com.au | Nathan Schmook

FREMANTLE star Shai Bolton says he is growing more comfortable by the week as a key connector of the Dockers' midfield and forward line, with the gun recruit flourishing since a key turning point one month ago. Bolton has quickly emerged as the game-breaking star the Dockers invested heavily in last year, moving into the midfield more prominently since round nine and booting three goals in critical road wins against both Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast.