Meet our additions to the Footyology team as we broaden our approach to write about the other passions in all our lives!

The Footyology website and brand is now a little over three years old. We hope we’ve been able to bring you an informed, intelligent look at AFL football through our writings, podcasts and videos.

But we’re growing up. In a dangerous time, admittedly, and sadly also one in which legacy and mainstream media are consistently proving unable or unwilling to rise to the challenge of keeping people informed free of agendas, posturing, and with respect for your intelligence.

That applies to football. But it also applies to most subjects, current news events or the world of popular culture, be it music, movies or TV.

So starting this week, Footyology won’t just be a way of looking at our favourite game, but a way of looking at life. And we’ve got some of the very best in the business to help us do it.

We’re proud to announce that among our first new contributors, is MARTIN FLANAGAN, one of Australia’s finest writers. Flanagan’s words go to the heart of how we live. Essential reading.

SHELLEY WARE is a proud Yankunyjatjara and Wirangu woman who has worked in football media for more than a decade. Now she’s joined the Footyology team, along with respected author and journalist ANGELA PIPPOS.

Their forthright views on social issues, be it gender in sport or the workplace, Indigenous welfare or domestic violence, will be pointed and thought-provoking. It might not always be comfortable reading. But we hope it will help start positive discussions on important matters.

And because we know that even hardcore football fans don’t exist in a vacuum, and may be just as passionate about what’s on their screens and what’s coming out of their speakers, we’re also welcoming two of the finest commentators on their passions, FRANCIS LEACH on music and “TV Freak” SCOTT GOODINGS to talk about what’s on the box.

Yes, we’re still called Footyology. But as ROHAN CONNOLLY, managing editor, frequently observes on social media, we’ll never “just stick to sport”. Footyology will be passionate and engaged, whatever the issue, and won’t treat you like a simpleton. We’ll be welcoming more writers to our stable over coming weeks, too, so please stay tuned to this site and social media for details.

As for the footy, one of Australia’s finest, longest-serving and most-respected AFL journalists MICHELANGELO RUCCI is also now writing for us. The “Rooch” isn’t backward in coming forward with an opinion, but always one considered and, most importantly, well-informed. We think you’ll be interested in what he has to say.

We will continue to keep you up to date and with a different perspective on all that’s going on in the world of AFL, via our regular writers Connolly, SHAYNE HOPE, RONNY LERNER and ELLIOT CARTLEDGE with his always-interesting “Friday Report”.

There’s our twice-weekly Footyology Podcast featuring Connolly and MARK FINE, the Footyology Final Siren post-game show, live on Twitter, on Thursday and Friday nights, and our Footyology Match Dispatch video match reports.

Check it all out right here, and if you like what you see, please consider becoming an official Footyology patron by supporting us with a small, regular donation via our page at Patreon (HERE’S THE LINK). We hope you’ll think what we have to offer is worth a small monthly pledge.

That’s because we know you as a media consumer deserve more than you’ve been getting lately. And because at Footyology, we’re committed to giving you more. As this exciting new era for our venture begins, we want you on board for the ride.