The top eight system, although maintaining interest and generally guaranteeing exciting ends to the home and away season, often promotes mediocrity.

Collingwood's Dane Swan has again extended his lead on the ABC Footballer of the Year standings following the voting from round 17 of the AFL.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

Hawthorn's Luke Hodge has moved into outright second position on the ABC Footballer of the Year award standings following round 16 of the AFL.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL and SANFL

Collingwood's Dane Swan has established a substantial lead in the ABC Footballer of the Year award voting following round 15 of the AFL.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL and SANFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL and SANFL

Grandstand's Dan Lonergan believes there are only five genuine chances remaining to win the AFL flag this season.

Michael Barlow's hopes of securing the ABC Footballer of the Year award have been extinguished after he suffered a broken leg in round 14 of the AFL.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL and SANFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

Fremantle's Michael Barlow holds a one-vote lead following the split round 13 of the AFL.

Geelong's Gary Ablett and Hawthorn's Luke Hodge share the lead folowing round 12 voting in the ABC Footballer of the Year.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL

ABC TV Grandstand brings you all the action from the state football leagues again this weekend - check out the fixtures and see what our experts make of the TV Games of the Week in our exclusive video previews of the VFL and SANFL

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL

Former rugby league international Karmichael Hunt makes his Australian rules debut this afternoon and the ABC will screen it live in Victoria at 1:00pm on ABC1, in addition to streaming it live at http://www.abc.net.au/tv/.

Fremantle's Michael Barlow has snared a share of the lead in the ABC Footballer of the Year award following voting from round 11 of the AFL.

All the results from the state comps around the country, as well as video highlights from the ABC TV Grandstand Games of the Week in the VFL, TSL, SANFL and WAFL