6 h. ago AFL finals: why every finalist can – and can’t – win the 2025 premiership | Martin Pegan

A weekend off has given the eight remaining teams time to work on their strengths and weaknesses – and us an opportunity to assess their chances The AFL finals race went down to the wire with early pacesetters limping to the line and other sides flying home, before Gold Coast booked the last spot for this year and their first in club history with a win in the game that finished the home-and-away season.An evenly-matched finals series is now on the cards; only three wins separate minor premiers Adelaide from Hawthorn in eighth place – just the second time the gap has been so narrow since the top eight was introduced 31 years ago.Ahead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Pat Cummins no certainty for first Ashes Test due to ongoing back issue

Australia captain to miss home white-ball series against IndiaMitchell Starc retires from T20Is as squad named to tour New ZealandPat Cummins is no certainty to captain Australia in the first Ashes Test as he deals with stress in his back.The star quick will miss the upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand and back-to-back home white-ball series against India due to lumbar bone stress.Ahead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Pat Cummins faces race to be fit for first Ashes Test due to ongoing back issue

Australia captain to miss home white-ball series against IndiaMitchell Starc retires from T20Is as squad named to tour New ZealandPat Cummins is no certainty to captain Australia in the first Ashes Test as he deals with stress in his back.The star quick will miss the upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand and back-to-back home white-ball series against India due to lumbar bone stress.Ahead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Marathon great Eliud Kipchoge: ‘Above all, I’m running for humanity’ | Martin Pegan

The Kenyan on the transformative experience of distance running, inspiring the next generation and a ‘beautiful and unique’ Sydney courseEliud Kipchoge knows he has nothing left to prove. The Kenyan running great dominated marathons like no athlete before him after crossing the line first in his debut race in Hamburg in 2013. Kipchoge has since won 14 more marathons including at back-to-back Olympic Games, twice set a world record in the event, and is still the only person to run 42.195km in under two hours.As he passes 40 years of age and his running powers begin to wane, Kipchoge is embarking on an even greater mission – to inspire more people to not only run, but to get themselves to the starting line for the most mentally and physically demanding of events. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Boos ring out at Ibrox after Rangers and Celtic grind out draw

Perhaps it was inevitable that a game which would supposedly endorse firm opinion about either Rangers or Celtic would end in stalemate. A grim, miserable stalemate at that. It seemed incredible to think that both of these teams had Champions League ambitions a matter of weeks ago.Rangers will be the happier with their point, notwithstanding the problems associated with four draws to start their Scottish Premiership campaign. Russell Martin has been under such pressure, as only intensified by the 6-0 drubbing against Club Brugge, that he will cling to any form of salvation. Rangers offered more threat here against a Celtic team who were woefully punchless. Continue reading...

Politics

69 h. ago Records fall as Sifan Hassan and Hailemaryam Kiros win Sydney marathon

Dutch star and Ethiopian run fastest times on Australian soilKenyan running great Eliud Kipchoge finishes ninthDutch multi-distance phenomenon Sifan Hassan has set a race record to claim victory in the first running of the Sydney Marathon as a world majors series event.Hassan clocked a women’s winning time of two hours 18 minutes and 22 seconds as Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge fell short of the podium in the men’s category on Sunday.Ahead of AFL finals sign up for our free weekly newsletter Continue reading...

Sport

8 d. ago NRL player Brandon Smith hit with drug supply and betting charges

South Sydney star issued with summons by Queensland Police29-year-old hooker set to appear in court on 18 SeptemberNRL star Brandon Smith has been charged with drug supply and using inside knowledge for betting.The South Sydney hooker was questioned by police when he arrived in Queensland ahead of their 10 August clash with Gold Coast, but released without charge.Ahead of AFL finals sign up for our free weekly newsletter Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Fremantle meet the moment as AFL’s final round unfolds in dramatic fashion | Jonathan Horn

The Dockers shrugged off intense pressure to secure a fully-deserved place in this year’s finals, but for the Bulldogs it was the same old storyAhead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletterI’ve never been one to run with the “let’s just stick to football” line. But every person has their breaking point. Mine came this week when Andrew Dillon – a man who’d spent the previous four days weighing and measuring a slur, and four days negotiating five weeks down to four – carved out a good chunk of his press conference reminding us that Snoop Dog was “a grandfather and a philanthropist”. A few hours later, footage emerged of a less than grandfatherly and less than philanthropic headline act, accompanied by the headline “Snoop Dog’s Dig at Gay Parents”. That was it for me. Within a few hours, the AFL had appointed one of the state’s preeminent spin doctors and crisis managers. She could deal with this sort of stuff. The rest of them could just step out of the way, take their le...

Events

2 w. ago Red Bull era takes flight after Newcastle break record for season ticket sales

Energy drink company planning considerable investment as anticipation for success sets in sports-mad regionNewcastle Falcons already had wings, but after their purchase by Red Bull a club that have long been in freefall should once again take flight.Within 24 hours of the takeover completing on Tuesday, the rebranded Newcastle Red Bulls had already sold more season-tickets than for the whole of last season, with Wednesday’s sales figure the highest for a single day in the club’s 29-year professional history. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Celtic ease past Aberdeen but Brendan Rodgers wants more support for Adam Idah

The Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, predicts Adam Idah will be better if he can get some competition up front. The champions eased to victory at Aberdeen thanks to goals in each half from the midfielders Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate, but Idah struggled to make an impact in the centre-forward position.The 24-year-old was expected to kick on after Kyogo Furuhashi left in January, but Daizen Maeda took on the mantle of Celtic’s main goalscorer after moving inside from a wide position, although the Irishman still finished on 20 goals. Continue reading...

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