Through the Banner

Can the Dockers and Lions bounce back? and what can the AFL learn from the NFL's incursion onto our shores.

Swans sex scandal update, North looking for a new coach, Adelaide could be about to do the same, and the Opening Round is gone but Wildcard could be here to stay - all that and more.

A plea for the footy public to support the AFLW players after a difficult week for the code, and can Brisbane end North's streak? all that and more.

The AFL world is rocked by the biggest scandal in years and possibly decades. Plus, Carlton has a new head coach and Essendon tries to get off the bottom of the ladder.

the final two weeks of the home and away season are here, and that means games become more important and it also means legends of the game announce their retirements.

A new AFLW season is underway with a disjointed round 1, and a Kangaroos team looking to go once again undefeated throughout the season.

A huge round with massive finals ramifications matched by an equally massive off-field story involving Geelong and one of their players.

After a brief and unplanned break, the podcast is back and there is a lot to discuss from the Essendon coaching search to the AFL fixture nightmare and more.

Two big stories about concussion could force the AFL to introduce more changes, and why Essendon 'deserve' a priority pick.

IN this episode, Caspar gives his thoughts on the proposals for the AFL fixture structure for 2028 onwards, and his opinion on those who gatekeep sport.

In this episode, Caspar takes a deep dive into the fractured relationship between old and new forms of media, particularly in terms of how fans are getting their footy fix.

A lot of topics are covered in this week's episode, including the touching tribute to a legend of the game, the terrible Kangaroos, and the Brody Mihocek injury.

Lots to talk about across the past two weeks, including the lasting legacy of a giant of the game and a heroic Australian, as well as the potential return of Essendon's favourite son... with some heavy baggage.

An episode with a lot to talk about, from Indigenous names for teams to Scott Pendlebury's record, and to whether or not the Kangaroos can finally record a win against a good team this season.

More homophobia drama in the AFL, plus the conclusion to the Elijah Hollands-Carlton saga.

A big ANZAC Round produced some memorable talking points, including whether the ANZAC Day match up should change, and the ARC review system.

After days of controversy in the world of AFL, ANZAC Day is now upon us. Several teams have potentially season-defining games this round, as the country pauses to reflect and give thanks.

In this episode, Caspar McLeod talks about the Nick Foot-Zak Butters controversy, as well as the importance of mental health, and Essendon's drought-breaking victory. All that and so much more.

Adelaide again becomes the centre of the AFL universe, and several teams head to South Australia with plenty to prove.

After a delayed start to the 2026 season, the Through the Banner podcast is back. In this episode, Caspar McLeod discusses his thoughts on why the Bulldogs are impressing, why the Bombers and Blues are struggling, as well as the Lance Collard and Tom Atkins controversies.

Once again, North Melbourne and Brisbane will play against each other in the Grand Final of the AFLW competition, this time to see who will also be crowned the best team of the 2020s so far, to go with the title of Premiers.

After a marathon of a season which included everything from a cyclone to continued tension between players and the media to one of the most top-heavy ladders in recent memory, we're finally here: Grand Final Day and the battle to determine who is the best team of the decade so far - Brisbane or Geelong.

The finals continue to inch closer, with more games set to have an outsized influence on the final make up of the ladder.

Midway through this AFLW season, and besides from the indestructible Kangaroos, there have been some notable surprises.

And then there were 4.

After a pretty disappointing and boring end to the home and away season, the finals are finally here, and it promises to be a fascinating series. Also, a former AFL player has come out as bisexual, and Caspar discusses why the news shouldn't be buried in the finals mayhem.

It wouldn't be the AFL without an extremely stupid scandal breaking just before finals.

For this episode, Caspar is joined by the incredible Gemma Hooper to relive the history of the AFLW up until this point, before previewing season 10 of the competition.

Just 19 games to go before finals, and the stakes are as high as ever.

A pretty stock standard and uninteresting round of footy on field except for one or two games... the same cannot be said for news off field.

Hard to remember a round with so many one-sided results producing so many amazing story lines as Round 20. Hopefully Round 21 will produce some closer games... hopefully.

Round 19 ended up providing some huge talking points, from Jake Stringer's domination against the Dons, Charlie Curnow reportedly wanting to head North, and the suddenly wobbling Pies.

As an Essendon fan, Caspar McLeod does not think this game is going to go well... Jake Stringer might end up kicking more goals than the entire Essendon team... please go easy on us Jake 😭

Round 17 was a monstrous weekend off the field more so than on it, with controversy surrounding a new proposal for an in-season tournament... seriously.

The bye rounds are finally done and we finally get to watch all 18 teams play.

In this episode, Caspar McLeod talks about the major round 15 story lines, including the dominance of Luke Jackson, the disappointing Blues, and the return of the Swans, before previewing Round 16.

Midway point of the bye rounds and the upsets keep on rolling in the world of AFL.

A busy week with lots to talk about in the world of AFL, including an update on Tasmanian politics and how it looks likely to impact the new stadium and the Devils as a whole.

The last week in football has produced a lot of talking points, all of which are covered in this episode. Including the future of Tasmania's AFL team and why it might be in deep trouble, the apology Adelaide gave the Swans even though no one was asking for it, and a huge clash between the two worst teams in the competition in Bunbury.

The mayhem of the bye rounds begin. Over the next five weeks, good luck trying to figure out which team is better than others when some have played 12 while others have played 14.

In this monster episode, Gemma Hooper returns as she discusses with Caspar the tragedy surrounding Adam Selwood, the news about a possible James Hird return and why this has been a wasted year for Port Adelaide, before previewing round 11.

In this slightly disfunctional episode, Caspar is joined by an old friend of the podcast Liam, as they talk about all things to do with Round 9, including the umpiring controversy out of the Pies win and the AFL's response to it, before previewing Round 10.

In this episode, Caspar McLeod previews round 9, which is set to feature a lot of important games including the injury Grand Final between the battered Bombers and Swans at Marvel Stadium, and a Showdown with big implications. And he manages to get an episode out despite the internet dropping out.

After an unexpected two-week break, Caspar McLeod is back. And there are lots of juicy match ups to dive into, including potentially the most interesting Q Clash in years.

In this episode, Athos Sirianos joins Caspar McLeod in previewing Gather Round, which starts with a huge clash between the Crows and the Cats.

Indigenous listeners are advised this podcast contains reference to a First Nations person who has passed away. In this solo episode, Caspar McLeod celebrates the career of Andrew Krakouer, takes a look at what has gone wrong for Melbourne, and previews a huge clash on the Gold Coast between the rising Suns and the soaring Crows.

One of the best news readers in the country joins Caspar McLeod in this episode as they dissect all the big action from a huge round 2, including the bad Bombers and the disappointing Demons. They also preview round 3, including the fascinating Western Derby which finishes the weekend.

What a wild season 2025 is proving to be so far. Caspar McLeod looks at round 1 and gives his analysis as to why each team that won won and why each team that lost ended up losing. He also gives his thoughts on who is going to win round 2, including a critical game for both the Swans and Dockers and what should be a dominant win for Brisbane over West Coast.

Now the Opening Round is in the books, the other 14 teams get to join in the fun. In this episode, Caspar is joined by the great Gemma Hooper from 3WBC 94.1 FM to talk all things commentating, as well as the AFLW and AFL mens competitions.

Well, after one of the most chaotic off-seasons in recent memory, the AFL world has finally arrived at the 2025 season. Thanks to a cyclone there's only two games, and in this episode, Caspar McLeod previews those two matches and explains why he thinks Opening Round is kinda bad as a concept.