Sport

DRAFT BUNGLE‘Calamitous f--- up’: When Hawks drafted wrong Suckling

One is an AFL premiership hero. The other will play suburban footy in Melbourne this year. This is the remarkable story of the day Hawthorn drafted the wrong Matthew Suckling and the fallout from when the ‘mistake’ was fixed.

Sam Landsberger

TennisTop seed Barty eases through on Doha debut

Australian top seed Ashleigh Barty has moved into the third round of the Qatar Open after seeing off the dangerous Laura Siegemund in straight sets.

Big questionDo the Blues really want to get out of pokies?

Rivers of gold have flowed into Princes Park for decades thanks to generous gaming licence entitlements gifted to the club, so when Blues bosses say they’re looking at exiting the lucrative industry, do they really mean it?

Michael Warner

Busy scheduleAussies face puzzle over how to protect prized asset

With the IPL just around the corner, the Aussies will sit down with Pat Cummins after the South Africa tour to map out a plan for how his body is best managed over the coming months.

Ben Horne

New stablesTrainer switch just the tonic for Material Man

Connections are optimistic the $1.7 million stake-earner, formerly trained by Justin Warwick, can regain top form he showed when competing at Group 1 level.

Ernie Manning

All guts, no...Glory middle man ‘gets cold feet’

Almost as quickly as the sale fell apart, one of the protagonists erased all mention of his links to the shady crypto-firm that wanted to build a global soccer empire, starting with Perth Glory.

John Flint

He’s backHe’s back! Nic Nat returns for pre-season clash

“We’ve managed his minutes when he trains. But he’s available this week,” West Coast coach Adam Simpson told Melbourne radio yesterday.

Mark Duffield and Braden Quartermaine

NBL semi-finalsVlahov urges refs: Don’t cry foul

Vlahov said it was important they are allowed to play to their strengths and that meant the referees had to put the whistle away.

Craig O'Donoghue

Search continuesSage to re-launch co-owner hunt after LFE fail

Sage, who has been looking for a partner for two years, told The West Australian: “Nothing changes. In the new world of A-League I need a partner.”

Nick Taylor

EXCLUSIVEChristian players ‘muzzled’ from supporting Folau

Former teammates of Israel Folau say Rugby Australia stopped them from showing their support for the ex-rugby star, court documents show. READ THEIR AFFIDAVITS HERE

Jamie Pandaram

Young starMeninga will do whatever it takes to land Fifita

The Titans will have a “red-hot crack” in their attempts to lure star Broncos forward David Fifita to the Gold Coast with Mal Meninga signalling his intent to chase the young phenom.

Peter Badel, Amy Price

Nasty injuriesTrainer recovers after horse kick to head

Trainer Nathan McPherson thought he had escaped without too much damage when he was kicked in the head by a weanling filly, but he soon realised the extent of his injuries, played out on television on Tuesday night.

Michael Manley

WATCHSage: ‘I never saw it coming’

Tony Sage has spoken exclusively to 7NEWS following today’s news of the failed bid to sell 80 per cent of the Perth Glory to the London Football Exchange.

Bonnie Raynor

Why I said itBarlow: Here’s why Freo will finish bottom in 2020

“Sorry Fremantle fans but I am sticking to my guns.” Here’s why Michael Barlow believes the Dockers will finish 2020 as wooden spooners.

Michael Barlow

SandpapergateChappell: Warner was unfairly treated

Whether Steve Smith will ever captain Australia again remains unknown, but the fact he can and David Warner can’t is a decision Ian Chappell says the Cricket Australia board based on a popularity contest.

Ben Horne

Magic returnMungrup Stud delight after magical $1.8m payday

Mungrup Stud has been recognised as WA’s top vendor after a $1.8 million payday at the Magic Millions Perth yearling sale

Cameron Newbold

Giant defeatEagles slip to third loss in Giant territory

West Coast Eagles have slipped to a third straight loss in their first AFLW campaign, falling to Greater Western Sydney Giants

Cameron Newbold

ExclusiveWolfpack in queue to tackle Kangaroos

Five teams, including three Super League heavyweights and Sonny Bill Williams’ new team, are fighting for the right to play the Kangaroos during their end-of-season tour of Great Britain.

Dean Ritchie

Pace settersWinning double seals title for Ferguson

Terry Ferguson all but wrapped up Albany Harness Racing Club’s trainer of the year title after notching a double last Friday night

Cameron Newbold

The ScoreBlues party on at ‘cracker’ AGM

Footy club AGM’s are known to be dour affairs, but the Blues tore up the script this week, using a professional MC and allowing players to take centre stage, with Eddie Betts reminiscing about the club’s infamous booze cruise.

Scott Gullan

Pie hopesWill De Goey, Stephenson be ready for Round 1?

One came back below peak fitness, while the other was struck by glandular fever but Collingwood stars Jordan De Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson are beginning to ramp up their training in a bid to be in the Pies’ Round 1 side.

Jon Ralph

Coaching callWho’s calling the shots at Essendon?

Essendon’s coaching conundrum between lead man John Worsfold and his heir apparent Ben Rutten will play out for the first time when the Bombers take on West Coast in the Marsh Cup. It promises to be fascinating.

Russell Gould

Good getIn form Petracca signs on with Demons

The explosive midfielder/forward was due to come out of contract at season’s end but has put pen to paper on a two-year extension.

Anna Harrington

TalentSouths stars want Fifita to build a super team

If South Sydney can somehow lure David Fifita from Brisbane and squeeze him into their salary cap, the Rabbitohs’ indigenous stars are right behind signing “one of the best players in the world”.

Staff writers