Kick to Kick

Round 12 2026 Preview

Round 12 is officially upon us, with bye rounds now back in the mix! In this episode, we break down a good weekend of footy highlighted by top-eight shakeups and cross-town civil wars. As always we turn back the clock to where it all began, digging into the archives to look back at the very first time these fierce rivals ever faced off on the field.

Round 11 2026 Preview

Round 11 is almost here, and the stakes are only getting higher! In this packed episode, we look at a massive weekend of footy defined by season-defining blockbusters and bitter grudges. We take a trip down memory lane to uncover the origins of these classic football matchups.

Round 10, 2026 Preview

There is plenty to get through in this loaded episode as we preview the high-stakes matchups of Round 10 and dig into the storied rivalries taking center stage. We dive into the Brisbane vs. Geelong blockbuster at the Gabba, a Friday night lights clash between Sydney and Collingwood, and a trip to the Top End as the Suns host Port Adelaide in Darwin (So we talk about the Sun's first ever win). Plus, in the case of Melbourne vs. Hawthorn, we’re looking back at the 1920's. 

Round 9 2026 Preview

There is plenty to get through in this loaded episode as we prepare for a Round 9 slate that promises both high-stakes drama and historical intrigue. We’re breaking down the modern-day rivalries while digging up some of the strangest buried treasure in the league’s archives.

Round 8 2026 Preview

There is plenty to get through in this loaded episode as we preview the upcoming round and revisit some historic first encounters. We dive into the Showdown, inaugural clashes, grudge matches, and the Expansion Cup. Plus, in the case of Geelong vs. North Melbourne, we’re actually looking at the second time they met—it’s a much more interesting story.

2026 Round 7 Preview

In this week's episode, we aren't just looking ahead to the Round 7 matchups; we’re traveling back to the very first time these clubs stood across the chalk from one another. We dig through the archives to uncover the forgotten stories of the inaugural meetings that set the stage for this weekend's clashes. The ANZAC clashes, the Suns heading down to Tassie to face the Hawks, the Giants and North in the states capital, and more. 

2026 Round 6 Preview

As the dust settles on Gather Round, the 2026 season marches on with Round 6, and we are back to dig through the footy vaults. This week, we’re looking at a slate of matchups with deep historical roots and some truly bizarre origin stories.

Whether it's a grudge match decades in the making or a modern rivalry still finding its feet, we’ve got the archives open and the tapes running. Grab a drink, settle in, and let’s take it back to where it all began.

2026 Round 5 Preview (Gather Round)

As we gear up for Gather Round, we look back at the first time these teams played each other. This week, the entire AFL world descends on South Australia for a festival of footy. But before the first bounce in the Barossa or the lights go up at Adelaide Oval, we’re digging into the archives to uncover the origin stories of these Round 5 matchups.

From the very first clash between the Crows and the Blues to the early days of the Suns and Swans rivalry, we explore the games that set the stage for this weekend’s blockbusters.

2026 Round 4 Preview

The stage is set, the early-season hype is meeting the reality of the grind, and the ladder is already starting to tell a story—welcome to Round 4 of the 2026 AFL Season!

Brisbane Lions vs. Collingwood: We travel back to 1997, 

North Melbourne vs. Carlton: We return to 1925 

Melbourne vs. Gold Coast Suns: We revisit 2011

2026 Round 3 Preview

The stage is set, the early-season hype is meeting the reality of the grind, and the ladder is already starting to tell a story—welcome to Round 3 of the 2026 AFL Season!

The Kick to Kick Podcast is back to find the soul of this week’s matchups by obsessive time-traveling. We’re stripping away the 5G stadium tech to revisit the mud, the heritage, and the very first sparks of these rivalries.

• Collingwood vs. GWS Giants: We revisit Round 18, 2012, at the MCG for the first-ever meeting between the league’s oldest powerhouse and its newest expansion. It was a "welcome to the big leagues" masterclass from a prime Magpies outfit against a GWS side full of teenagers still finding their AFL feet.

• Fremantle vs. Richmond: We return to Round 1, 1995, for the Dockers' inaugural AFL match at the MCG. The Tigers spoiled the newcomers' debut by a mere five points, sparking a cross-continental rivalry defined by three decades of heart-stopping finishes and "what-if" moments.

• Port Adelaide vs. West Coast: We look back at Round 15, 1997, when the SANFL giants met the AFL’s first interstate powerhouse for the first time. Played at Subiaco, it was a brutal, defensive grind that proved the "New Port" wasn't just joining the league to participate—they were there to challenge the established order.