2024 is almost over, with the year - from an AFL lens - packed with drama, excitement and controversy.
Reflecting on the year that was, we've listed our biggest moments and stories from the past 12 months that combined to make 2024 a memorable one for the AFL.
From in-game drama to off-field headlines, these are the nine biggest AFL stories of the year...
9. DBJ's last-minute major sinks Hawks
What turned out to be a prequel to an entertaining semi-final, the Round 10 clash between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval had everything.
The Power were out to consolidate a positive start to 2024, whilst the Hawks had begun to turn around their disappointing 0-5 start.
A young and brash Hawthorn outfit stormed out to a 41-point lead late in the third term thanks to Blake Hardwick's five goals.
However, a pair of majors from Willie Rioli and Dan Houston before three-quarter time reduced the margin to a manageable 28 points.
As the heavens opened up and the rain started to descend onto Adelaide Oval, the comeback feat looked more and more farfetched, especially as Port Adelaide kicked the ball on either side of the goal.
With less than a minute remaining and an 11-point margin keeping the home side at bay, the commentator's curse struck Hawthorn as fans witnessed something historic.
Rioli's second major trimmed the deficit to single digits before a Zak Butters clearance set up a Darcy Byrne-Jones strike off the ground, breaking the hearts of Hawthorn fans.
Byrne-Jones' heroics weren't the only dramatic dying-minutes moment of the 2024 campaign.
In Round 22, Gold Coast wunderkind Mac Andrew joined the rare club of slotting match-winning goals after the siren, putting Essendon's finals chances in jeopardy.
A fortnight later, St Kilda small forward Jack Higgins put the club on his shoulders in the dying moments of their Round 24 clash with Carlton, snapping a goal with seconds to go.
But for all the heroics during the long and arduous season, there's also the failure that comes with it. Let's set the scene...
Scott Pendlebury's 400th AFL game. Collingwood-Carlton at the MCG. The Pies had taken a commanding lead and looked all but certain to secure the four premiership points against their arch-rivals.
However, the Blues willed themselves back into the contest with five unanswered goals to trail by three points before a Mitch McGovern mark inside 50.
From a similar spot seven years before, McGovern had slotted the goal to draw with Collingwood when he played for Adelaide.
This time, he wasn't able to. Pendlebury celebrated his 400th game in style as the Blues squandered and began to consider what their September would look like.
