Still, there's been some colour footage of the Saints' 1966 win discovered, which might provide some consolation for fans.
Brendan Fevola was put up for trade by the Blues, after they fined him $10,000 for making a drunken spectacle of himself at the Brownlow and he then withdrew from the grand final motorcade and the Blues' B&F. Essendon youngster Michael Hurley also got into alcohol-related trouble, and Alastair Clarkson copped a $5000 fine after his onfield spray after round 22.
There were any number of retirements, but none bigger than Essendon champ Matthew Lloyd, who was given the option to go on despite his suspension, but finally decided to pull the pin.
Also gone: Max Hudghton, Anthony Rocca, David Wirrpanda, Adam Hunter, Tyson Stenglein, Tim Notting, Tim Boyle, Scott Welsh, and Toby Thurstans.
Some were still to decide what the future holds: Tom Harley and Darren Milburn at the Cats, Brad Johnson at the Dogs.
New stadium deals were finally inked with the MCG and Etihad Stadium.
Chris Judd was in the news - he was offered a couple of weeks' suspension for fishing around the face of an opponent in their losing final at the Gabba, but elected to go to the tribunal, lost, then went to appeal and lost. All of which means he'll miss the first three rounds next year.
Club B&Fs were run and won: Brett Deledio at Richmond, Darren Glass at West Coast, Ryan O'Keefe at the Swans, Judd at Carlton.
Other awards took place; Gary Ablett won most of them, including the Brownlow. Daniel Rich won the NAB Rising Star, but only because Ablett wasn't eligible. Tom Hawkins won the Army Award. The All-Australian side was dominated by Saints and Cats.
There was movement in assistant coach territory: Dean Laidley to the Power, Ken Hinkley to the Gold Coast, Adam Simpson to the Hawks. Brad Gotch left the Dogs, Brendon Lade and Justin Leppitsch went to the Tigers, Jade Rawlings and Craig McRae to the Lions, while Chris Johnson, Wayne Brittain and Craig Brittain left the Lions.
Pre-trade-week deals were floated: Shaun Burgoyne nominated the Hawks, Brock McLean the Blues, Barry Hall the Dogs, while an expanding salary cap appeared likely to force the Cats to the trade table. Brent Staker began the search for a new home.
As ever, there were re-signings - Ben Cousins, Deledio, Rhys Palmer, Dean Solomon, Kepler Bradley, Tim Ruffles and Ryan Crowley, Austin Wonaeamirri and Colin Sylvia, while the Hawks got a new CEO.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
