Follow AFL round 17 scores, results, odds, squads and start time from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne at 12.35pm AEST. Followed by Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers at GMHBA Stadium, Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide Power at the Gabba in Brisbane, St Kilda Saints vs Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium

Essendon Bombers vs Gold Coast Suns LIVE: Follow AFL round 17 scores, results, odds, squads and start time from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne at 12.35pm AEST. Followed by Geelong Cats vs Richmond Tigers at GMHBA Stadium, Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide Power at the Gabba in Brisbane, St Kilda Saints vs Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium

Essendon versus Gold Coast AFL LIVE: The first of two chances for Suns to dine out on Dons

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Key posts

12.56pm

Goal: Gold Coast have two

This time it’s Ethan Read. Gold Coast are up and going now.

12.55pm

Early fan feedback

12.50pm

Goal: Gold Coast’s quick reply

Bailey Humphrey on the board for Suns. A snappy reply. He’s having a good season, Humphrey. He showed his dynamic play here.

Q1, 10.51: Essendon 1.0 (6) level with Gold Coast 1.0 (6)

12.48pm

Goal: Dons snare the opener

It took forever. After more than nine minutes of footy, Ben Hobbs puts the Bombers on the board. Nic Martin and Zach Merrett have been busy for Essendon, while Suns Touk Miller and Daniel Rioli are picking up touches.

12.44pm

Flat as a pancake so far at Marvel

Flat atmosphere for this 12:35pm start on a Saturday. I don’t blame them. It’s early for senior football, and there’s not much to get enthused about so far this game. Eight minutes in, we’re still locked at 0-0.

12.38pm

Up and going at the Docklands

Gold Coast go in as favourites, but it would surprise nobody if Essendon came away with the four points today.

A quick reminder that today’s clash will be the first of two home-and-away games between the Suns and Bombers (the first clash early in the season was rescheduled due to weather conditions in south-east Queensland).

12.36pm

Setting the scene

It’s an intriguing clash between Gold Coast (boasting a 9-5 record but just outside the top eight) and Essendon (a 6-8 record after languishing in 13th spot). Bright sunny conditions in Melbourne but this game is under the Marvel roof.

12.30pm

And the word from the visitors

12.29pm

The word from the Dons

12.27pm

Financial losses: Why the league is worried about AFLW

By Caroline Wilson

The AFL has told the 18 clubs that the women’s game is losing $50 million a year and that the No.1 priority for AFLW in its pivotal 10th season is for on-field performances to improve.

In a lengthy presentation this week to the 18 club chiefs, AFL boss Andrew Dillon and his team acknowledged the significant challenges presented by the rapid and costly expansion of the nine-season-old competition, which has endured diminishing TV audiences and crowd numbers.

Five club bosses contacted by this masthead described the two-day conference run by Dillon and his team over Tuesday and Wednesday as the best-prepared and most impressive they had attended.