Updated June 13, 2019 18:54:05
![]() Before he was a multi-millionaire athlete dating a Kardashian, NBA player Ben Simmons was a regular student at a nondescript public school in Melbourne's suburbs. Key points:Box Hill Senior Secondary College has produced 120 US college basketballersIts most famous former student is NBA superstar Ben SimmonsCoach Kevin Goorjian is credited with much of that success That high school has become the stuff of legend. As well as the basketball superstar, Box Hill Senior Secondary College has churned out more than 120 US college players. The man credited with much of that success is coach Kevin Goorjian brother of former Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian. "I think it's quite incredible the amount of kids who have gone on and they've represented their country," he told 7.30. "There's no school in Australia that produces as many players as this school produces." Californian-born Mr Goorjian has been at the school for 17 years and seen many talented players on its court. But he says one player in particular put the school on the map. "I got to see Ben [Simmons] play when he was in eighth grade and we didn't have a year nine basketball program at the time," he said. "I thought he could be one of the best players this country's ever produced, possibly, so I went into the principal's office and said I need a year nines basketball program." Ben Simmons was so good the principal agreed, but even coach Kevin couldn't have anticipated what was to come. "I thought he was going to go a long long way but I didn't see him being the NBA number one pick and then going on to Rookie of the Year," he said. "He's gone above and beyond and he's still climbing." Following in Simmons's footsteps ![]() Much to his parents' initial dismay, Keli Leaupepe moved from his local school five minutes from home to follow his idol's footsteps. "It's like an hour trip to get here, so Mum was like, you're crazy," he told 7.30. She has since changed her tune. Keli has earned a full scholarship to study at a college in Los Angeles worth about half a million dollars and has represented Australia in junior basketball. "Before I came, I didn't really know much about college basketball or anything that I've really achieved I never thought I'd be able to play for Australia," he said. "It's just like a dream come true." Sharing that dream is classmate Tyler Robertson, who scored a scholarship to play basketball and study at a college in Washington state. "I couldn't be more excited," he told 7.30. "My goal had always been to go to college, so I thought the best opportunity for me to do that was going to be under Kev." Both Tyler Robertson and Keli Leaupepe are also about to represent Australia at the Under-19 World Cup. 'Public schools can achieve anything' ![]() After humble beginnings, Box Hill Senior Secondary College's basketball program now fields a total of 14 teams in various competitions that is 140 players, or about a third of the student population. Director of Student Management Andrea Wood is keen to stress that what happens in the classroom is just as important. "We really emphasise that they're student athletes, so their academics come first and then the athletics come alongside it," she told 7.30. "So you find that they're really motivated in the classroom to achieve academically and then on court as well." Ms Wood said she hoped what had been achieved at Box Hill would inspire other schools. "Public schools can achieve anything," she said. "Obviously, resources are very, very helpful and we'd all like more resources." "But if you can surround yourself with people that are passionate and really there to develop the student, not just academically but as a whole person, public schools can achieve anything." Simmons 'hasn't forgotten his roots' ![]() Coach Kevin Goorjian says the school's biggest success story, Ben Simmons, still takes a keen interest in what happens at Box Hill. "Ben is somebody that hasn't forgotten his roots," he told 7.30. "When he gets off the plane to come to Melbourne, this is the first place he comes. "He comes and sees all the ex teachers and comes in and sees me and works out in the gym and scrimmages with the boys." That is part of the reason coach Kev finds it hard to talk about retirement. "Every time I think about [retirement], a new year 10 kid comes in here and gets you all excited. "My dad coached till he was 70 and my brother's coaching professionally in China at 66. "The whole family is basketball, we're junkies." Topics:education,sport,basketball,box-hill-3128,australia,vic,melbourne-3000 First posted June 13, 2019 18:04:57 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-13/box-hill-senior-secondary-college-basketball-dream-factory/11195980
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Cricket World Cup organisers defend not having reserve days as matches keep getting washed out6/12/2019 Updated June 12, 2019 13:01:53
![]() Rain, rain, go away. Except in England this week, it appears that it will not. Key points:There has been three washed-out matches at the Cricket World CupOrganisers did not schedule reserve days for group matches and have blamed "unseasonable weather"Aaron Finch said the washouts might impact qualifications for the semi-finals The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been forced to defend its policy of not scheduling reserve days for group-stage matches after a second successive match was abandoned due to "unseasonable" wet weather in England. The Cricket World Cup has been blighted by a third washed out game in the past six matches when Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were unable to deliver a single ball at a soggy County Ground in Bristol overnight. The abandoned match came hot on the heels of a no result being declared between South Africa and the West Indies the day before, when just 45 balls were bowled at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. It was the second time in as many matches that the weather got the better of a day's play in the west-country city, after Pakistan's clash with Sri Lanka last Friday also succumbed to the weather. Rain may yet play a part in Australia's upcoming contest against Pakistan, scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Taunton. ![]() Rain is forecast for the morning, before clearing in the afternoon. With three games already forfeited due to the weather, this World Cup has set an unwanted record of having the most matches abandoned of any tournament, with 32 matches still to be played over the next month. Organisers bemoan 'unseasonable weather' Contrary to popular perceptions of English summertime weather, Cricket World Cup boss Dave Richardson said the amount of rain was unexpected. "This is extremely unseasonable weather," he said. "In the last couple of days we have experienced more than twice the average monthly rainfall for June, which is usually the third driest month in the UK." Although some may chuckle at the suggestion rain in England is ever unseasonable, this assertion is backed up from the last time England hosted the World Cup in 1999. In that tournament, only one game was abandoned due to rain, the group-stage match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Headingley in Leeds. ![]() Two previous tournaments have had two matches washed out. The Australia/New Zealand hosted tournament in 1992 saw matches in Mackay and Adelaide washed out, whilst the Southern Africa-hosted tournament of 2003 had games in Bulwayo and Benoni abandoned. Why are there no reserve days? Previous incarnations of the World Cup have factored in reserve days for group matches, but Richardson said this was not an option in England. "Factoring in a reserve day for every match at the World Cup would significantly increase the length of the tournament and practically, would be extremely complex to deliver," he said via an ICC statement. "There is also no guarantee that the reserve day would be free from rain either." Citing difficulties of pitch preparation, team travel, accommodation, staffing and spectator concerns, Richardson said reserve days were factored in for the semi-finals and final. "We have reserve days factored in for the knock-out stages, knowing that over the course of 45 group games we should play the large majority," he said. There is a risk some teams may be affected more than others. Sri Lanka will take on Australia having not played in 11 days after successive abandonments. Pakistan will be in a similar boat if Wednesday's clash against Australia is washed out ahead of a highly anticipated clash against India on June 16. Finch warns of major impact ![]() Australia captain Aaron Finch said the weather would be a major factor in the coming days and the impact of washouts would likely be felt later on in the tournament. "It might play a huge part actually in the next few days," Finch said from Taunton, where the Australian team was forced to train indoors due to the wet weather. "I think next week it starts to fine up and looks good across the country for the remainder of the tournament. "But it's important that you get early wins on the board because if they do play a part, you don't want to be on the wrong end of a couple of washouts that might leave you just outside that top four." Stoinis side strain leads to Mitch Marsh call up Australia will be without Marcus Stoinis for Wednesday's clash after the all-rounder suffered a side strain. Mitch Marsh has been flown out early as emergency cover should Stoinis be ruled out for the tournament. ![]() Finch said Australia would not change its approach ahead of the Pakistan match, adding it was dangerous to assume the rain would shorten the match. "You've just got to make sure that you're as well prepared as you can be," he said. "You never bank on rain, you always prepare for the full 50 overs, and you work on the spot. "Your team might change if it's a really delayed start or something like that. "Everyone has to be prepared to shuffle their roles about a bit and be really adaptable." Topics:sport,cricket,united-kingdom,england First posted June 12, 2019 12:24:29 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-12/cricket-world-cup-washouts-pose-problems-for-organisers-icc/11201622 Updated June 12, 2019 10:51:41
![]() Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been named the world's highest-paid athlete for the first time, earning $US127 million ($182 million) in the past year. Key points:Footballers ranked as the top three earners in sport for the first time, while Lionel Messi was one of 38 non-American athletes on the listAthletes from 10 sports made the top 100, NBA stars led the way with 35 of their playersSerena Williams was the only woman to make the list, coming in at 63 Basketball and football dominated Forbes's top 100 list of the highest-paying sports, and there was a wide variety of nationalities amongst the top athletes. Forbes calculates the athletes' earnings by adding up their prize money, salaries and endorsements between June 2018 and June 2019. The top 100 list saw Messi followed by Cristiano Ronaldo ($US109 million) and Neymar ($US105 million) the first time footballers have ranked as the top three earners. Last year's highest earner, boxer Floyd Mayweather, dropped off the list completely. Tennis star Serena Williams was the only woman to feature, coming in 63rd. There were no women in last year's list. ![]() Athletes from 10 sports made the top 100, with NBA stars leading the way. Thirty-five of their players featured (down from 40 last year), headed by LeBron James at $US89 million. Stephen Curry ($US79.8 million) and Kevin Durant ($USS65.4 million) also made the top 10. No Australians made the list, but basketballer Steven Adams from New Zealand came in at 78th. To make the top 100, athletes had to earn a minimum of $US25 million. The only cricketer on the list, India's Virat Kohli, was in 100th place, earning exactly that. Over 25 nationalities included ![]() Overall, the top athletes were from 25 countries up from 22 last year. Messi was one of 38 non-American athletes on the list, with 62 US stars in the top 100. Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and boxer Anthony Joshua (both at $US55 million) were the highest-earning British athletes. France and Spain each had three athletes while Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Serbia and Venezuela all had two. Speaking to Forbes, Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor of Forbes Media, said: "The global impact of soccer is clearly reflected in earnings in 2019, with the top three athletes on the list being Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar. "But basketball players continue to dominate the top 100 overall, with 35 athletes on the list earning a total of $US1.29 billion, with 72 per cent of that income coming from salaries rather than endorsement deals." Here's the top 10: Lionel Messi (football) $US127 millionCristiano Ronaldo (football) $US109 millionNeymar (football) $US105 millionCanelo Alvarez (boxing) $US94 millionRoger Federer (tennis) $US93.4 millionRussell Wilson (NFL) $US89.5 millionAaron Rodgers (NFL) $US89.3 millionLeBron James (NBA) $US89 millionStephen Curry (NBA) $US79.8 millionKevin Durant (NBA) $US65.4 millionTopics:sport,basketball,soccer,community-and-society,human-interest,united-states,brazil,portugal,argentina First posted June 12, 2019 09:58:34 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-12/lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-forbes-top-100-highest-paid/11201362 Updated June 10, 2019 18:53:51
![]() Corey Norman has made a scintillating return from injury to help St George Illawarra end its five-match losing streak with a 36-12 demolition of Canterbury at Sydney's Olympic stadium. Key points:Corey Norman scored one try and set up another in his first appearance since round eightThe Dragons join four teams on 12 points to sit 10th on the ladderThe loss is the last-placed Bulldogs' 10th of the season Norman and halves partner Ben Hunt were involved in all seven of the Dragons' tries on Monday, breathing life into a spiralling campaign at the conclusion of round 13. Making his first appearance since fracturing his cheekbone in round eight, Norman scored one and set up another. Winger Mikaele Ravalawa netted a brace, while centre Zac Lomax kicked a perfect six goals from as many attempts for a 16-point personal haul. The dominant win means Paul McGregor's side join four other teams on 12 points but climb to 10th spot on percentages. External Link:Bulldogs Dragons summary For the last-placed Bulldogs, it was another lacklustre display in a sorry season. Their afternoon started brightly when Tariq Sims lost the ball in the opening set and Raymond Faitala-Mariner crossed not long after. But from there it was all Red V for the 16,003-strong crowd. In the space of four minutes, a Ben Hunt cut-out put Mikaele Ravalawa over, and then Ravalawa turned assist-man for Norman. External Link:Bulldogs Dragons stats In between, Bulldogs half-back Jack Cogger was knocked out for the match. A third try to Jonus Pearson would have been hard for coach Dean Pay to stomach and he definitely would have been sick when Nick Meaney was denied in the 35th minute. External Link:Bulldogs Dragons chalkboard Will Hopoate was ruled to have caught an out-ball inside of a decoy, leaving the Bulldogs with a 12-point deficit at half-time. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts, when consecutive Jeremy Marshall-King errors in a minute resulted in Norman putting Hunt over untouched. The halves pairing then combined to send Jacob Host into the backfield, and the second-rower grubbered ahead for Zac Lomax to sink the boot in further. Foran, who was arguably the Bulldogs' best with two line break assists and a try assist, grabbed a consolation four-pointer late, before Ravalawa got another for the Dragons. External Link:NRL 2019 ladder AAP/ABC Topics:nrl,rugby-league,sport,australia,nsw,homebush-2140,wollongong-2500,bankstown-2200 First posted June 10, 2019 15:34:51 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-10/nrl-dragons-defeat-canterbury-bulldogs-round-13/11189538 Updated June 10, 2019 12:36:39
Defying the years and one of the most fierce onslaughts he has ever faced at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal won his 12th French Open crown on Sunday, leaving Dominic Thiem crushed and fans inside a packed Parisian stadium shaking their heads in wonder. Key points:Rafa Nadal has now won a record French Open men singles titleHe is now just two grand slams behind his great foe, record-holder Roger FedererDefeated Dominic Thiem was chasing his first grand slam The first set had been one for the ages, the second ran it close, but after three hours and one solitary minute all that mattered was that Nadal was once again in familiar pose, flat on his back in the clay, a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 winner to clinch his 18th Grand Slam triumph. For much of this final, rarely, if ever, has any opponent played so well against Nadal on this Philippe Chatrier centre court. ![]() Rarely, if ever, has the best of the young guns Thiem struck the ball so firmly, or played with such purpose and aggression. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Not even before Thiem ultimately ran out of steam. The 33-year-old Nadal, who becomes the first player to win the same Grand Slam title 12 times, going past Margaret Court's 11 Australian Opens, now sits just two major titles behind his great foe and men's Grand Slam title record holder, 37-year-old Roger Federer. "It's incredible. I can't explain the feeling," Nadal told the crowd. "For me it was a dream to play here in 2005, and I could not imagine I would be back here in 2019. It's a very special moment for me. "I want to say congratulations to Dominic. I feel sorry, he deserves it. He has absolute intensity and passion for this sport. I wish him all the best for the future." ![]() Physically, Thiem had looked strong and resolute. External Link:Tweet: Nadal 2 But who can say what mental toll his rain-delayed semi-final victory over world number one Novak Djokovic had taken. The Austrian had to play on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then Sunday, while Nadal had Saturday off, having dispatched Federer on Friday before the rain set in. Certainly, it would have taken a monumental effort to remain mentally positive after playing an opening set as he did, and coming out of it empty-handed. Thiem slammed backhands for all they were worth, cleaned the lines with his forehand, and the sonic boom from his serve resonated around Court Philippe Chatrier. He grabbed the first break of the match to lead the opener 3-2, but four games later it was all over, 6-3 to Nadal. The Spaniard seemingly another inexorable step towards the crown. Thiem at his best just wasn't enough It speaks volumes for the world number four Austrian that Thiem came out for the second set in the same fashion throwing absolutely everything imaginable at his opponent. ![]() Games passed with no break points in sight, and the tension ratcheted ever higher, until the 12th game of the set when it snapped. Nadal rifled a two-fisted backhand just long to hand the levelling set to Thiem. The French crowd erupted. Thiem clenched his fist. Nadal strode to the sidelines. But within a flash Nadal had the upper hand again, winning 16 of the next 17 points to lead 4-0 before Thiem could even register any objection. A blink later the set was over, 6-1. So much effort to claw his way back, so little to show for it now. Few people on the planet can hit a backhand like Thiem, even once. To do it time after time after time is boggling, but that is what it would take to unseat Nadal. External Link:Tweet: Nadal 1 Still, the Spaniard rolled on, soaking up Thiem's best shots, and the cliche beloved of numerous science fiction movies and TV series seemed appropriate: Resistance is futile. So it proved until Thiem's final ball drifted long and Nadal was again flat on his back in that red clay, adopting the pose that will adorn back pages and websites worldwide. By this stage, Thiem, too, could only look on in admiration. "I love this tournament with all my heart, I love you people with all my heart," he told the crowd. "Of course I am very sad to lose," he added, before turning to Nadal. "You are such a legend in our sport, we can be really happy you are playing. I will try next year again for sure." Reuters Topics:sport,tennis,france First posted June 10, 2019 04:47:30 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-10/nadal-wins-12th-french-open/11194868 Updated June 09, 2019 18:16:53
![]() The Panthers caused a boilover against the Roosters to make it three wins in a row, after the Titans sprung an upset against the Broncos in their Queensland derby. Quick navigation Panthers post upset win over Roosters James Maloney staked a claim for a State of Origin recall after engineering Penrith to a desperate 19-10 upset of a depleted Sydney Roosters. Just days after New South Wales lost the Origin series opener without him, Maloney set up all three of the Panthers' tries on Sunday in a vintage display. Last year's Blues five-eighth might come into calculations for Origin II in Perth, as coach Brad Fittler searches for ways to send the series to a decider. External Link:Panthers Roosters summary And the 32-year-old reminded selectors of his worth with a man-of-the-match effort alongside Blues number seven Nathan Cleary in a gritty win. He iced his performance, which included a critical 40-20, with a late field goal. The Roosters were in the contest for the opening hour despite being without Latrell Mitchell, Angus Crichton, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary. But, with his team holding a delicate two-point lead with 20 minutes remaining, Maloney grubbered on a dime for rookie Brent Naden to claim a crucial try. External Link:@NRL tweet The defeat for the defending premiers was their third in succession their longest losing streak in three years although they remain in third spot. Playing in front of their biggest crowd of the year, the Panthers flew off the blocks when Maloney put a barnstorming Viliame Kikau over in the second minute. External Link:Panthers Roosters stats They should have doubled the advantage when Dylan Edwards broke into the backfield, but threw his pass forward to a supporting Cleary. A signature Daniel Tupou try in the corner reduced the deficit to two points at half-time. External Link:Panthers Roosters chalkboard The match turned when Joseph Manu was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 48th minute, and Kikau crossed for his second not long after. Despite being down a man, the Roosters responded through Victor Radley. But Maloney sealed the win with a field goal in the closing stages, and the Panthers held on for their third-straight victory. Embattled Titans defeat Broncos ![]() Gold Coast put its off-field woes to one side to claim an impressive 26-18 win over Queensland rivals Brisbane at Lang Park. The Titans headed to Brisbane with star half-back Ash Taylor unavailable because of personal issues, recruit Tyrone Peachey reportedly seeking a move back to Penrith and coach Garth Brennan facing speculation over his immediate future. In reply, they belted an undermanned Broncos line-up in front of 30,048 spectators. External Link:Broncos Titans summary Centre Brian Kelly nabbed a double for the visitors while captain Tyrone Roberts was sensational, scoring 14 points including a solo try in the first half. Impressive youngster Jake Turpin scored the Broncos' only try of the first half, as Brisbane playing without State of Origin representatives Joe Ofahengaue, Corey Oates or Matt Gillett slumped to just its second defeat in its past six matches. Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is also facing a headache in his halves with young half-back Tom Dearden injuring his ankle in the opening five minutes of the match. External Link:Broncos Titans stats Dearden failed to return and would undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. The Titans made light of their underdog status by charging to a 12-0 lead early in the half, including a special effort by Roberts where he dummied past Broncos' New South Wales Origin representative Payne Haas and left Darius Boyd on his knees before scoring. External Link:Broncos Titans chalkboard Turpin replied for the Broncos shortly after he had won possession with a big hit on Keegan Hipgrave, but a try in the final minute of the half to Anthony Don gave the Titans an 18-6 lead at the break. A pair of penalty goals and Kelly's second try extended that lead to 26-6 before late four-pointers to Kotoni Staggs and Anthony Milford added some gloss to the scoreline for the home team. The Titans face a short turnaround before hosting the Warriors on Friday night, while the Broncos are away on Saturday against Parramatta. NRL ladder External Link:NRL 2019 ladder AAP/ABC Topics:nrl,rugby-league,sport,australia,qld,brisbane-4000,robina-4226,penrith-2750,nsw,bondi-junction-2022 First posted June 09, 2019 13:39:16 This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Updated June 08, 2019 22:33:51
Map: Carlton 3053 Adelaide held on impressively to claim a crucial win at home to GWS, while Carlton came from nowhere to beat Brisbane and North Melbourne made light work of Gold Coast. See how all of Saturday's AFL action unfolded. Quick navigation Crows make a statement with impressive win over Giants ![]() Maligned Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has booted three goals in a precious 21-point AFL win against GWS. Jenkins was the standout forward in a tight Saturday night encounter at Adelaide Oval, helping his side triumph 12.10 (82) to 9.7 (61). The Crows rose from eighth spot to fifth on the ladder by inflicting the fourth loss of the season on the second-placed Giants. Jenkins' goalscoring in his second game back in AFL ranks after being banished to the state league for six games was crucial, while captain Taylor Walker (two goals) was influential in a tense last quarter. Adelaide slipped four points behind some 11 minutes into the last term but finished with a flourish, booting the last four goals of the game. External Link:Crows - Giants summary The flurry started with Walker's pack mark and conversion and ended with an Eddie Betts trademark a freakish snap from near the boundary. Adelaide's Crouch brothers were prolific ball-winners Matt had a team-high 34 disposals and Brad collected 31 and kicked a goal, and team-mates Wayne Milera (21 possessions) and Rory Laird (28 possessions) were prominent. The Giants were superbly served by onballers Tim Taranto (36 disposals, seven tackles) and Josh Kelly (33 touches, two goals), while Stephen Coniglio and Heath Shaw both gathered 27 possessions. Both sides suffered late withdrawals GWS star Toby Greene didn't overcome a knee injury while Adelaide's Tom Lynch hurt a calf muscle in the pre-match warm-up and was a last-minute scratching. External Link:Crows - Giants stats Despite losing Lynch, the Crows opened strongly but failed to convert their dominance into scoreboard advantage they logged 32 inside 50s to 17 by half-time but led by just nine points. But when Jenkins opened the goal scoring for a third consecutive quarter and teammate Lachlan Murphy snapped accurately a minute later, the home side held a 21-point break six minutes into the third term. The Giants then rallied and, when Kelly slotted his second major late in the quarter, the visitors were in front for the first time. But GWS' four-point advantage at the last change rapidly disappeared in the last term when Crows Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch goaled, only for the Giants to reply twice to restore their four-point lead. Walker then crunched a pack and took a high mark and goaled, triggering Adelaide's defining late scoring spree. Cripps leads incredible Carlton comeback against Lions ![]() Carlton has climbed off the canvas in David Teague's first AFL game in charge, coming from behind to defeat Brisbane by 15 points. The Blues conceded the first six goals of Saturday's game before mounting a Patrick Cripps-inspired comeback to prevail 11.12 (78) to 9.9 (63), less than a week after sacking fourth-year coach Brendon Bolton. Cripps was sublime for Carlton in just its second win for the season, gathering 38 disposals and booting four goals in another performance certain to net him three Brownlow Medal votes. The brilliant skipper put the result beyond doubt in the dying minutes when he soared out of a pack and kicked truly for his fourth major. Ed Curnow (30 disposals, eight clearances) was also influential in the midfield and helped to quell the influence of Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale, while younger brother Charlie booted three goals in his best game of the season. External Link:Blues v Lions summary Neale racked up 24 disposals to half-time but managed just seven after Curnow went to him in the second half. After witnessing North Melbourne upset Richmond in Rhyce Shaw's first game in charge, Carlton fans were hoping their own caretaker coach would conjure something similar. But six minutes into the second quarter, Brisbane held a six-goal lead and the Blues were yet to kick a major. The Blues had 10 of the first 11 inside-50s but continued to waste their opportunities, allowing Brisbane to seize the momentum. External Link:Blues v Lions stats Quick goals to Charlie Cameron, Neale and Hugh McCluggage extended the Lions' lead to six goals before Michael Gibbons finally put the Blues on the board at the 12-minute mark of the second term. Having reduced the margin to three goals at half-time, the Blues came out firing in the third quarter as Cripps booted two goals in quick succession. Mitch McGovern then took a strong contested mark and kicked truly to put Carlton ahead and pave the way for a much-needed victory. Key defender Harris Andrews held Harry McKay goalless and was among Brisbane's best but the Lions were well-beaten in the midfield. The Blues host the Western Bulldogs next Saturday while the fifth-placed Lions head into their mid-season bye with seven wins and five losses, having blown a golden opportunity to remain in touch with the top four. Roos revival continues with cruisy win over Suns ![]() A seven-goal opening term has secured North Melbourne a 27-point AFL win over Gold Coast in captain Jack Ziebell's 200th game. The Kangaroos were unstoppable early, opening up a 35-point quarter-time lead that laid the platform for the 14.15 (99) to 11.6 (72) win. It means after defeats in his 50th, 100th and 150th appearances, Ziebell can finally celebrate a milestone with a win. The victory North's third on the spin also means interim coach Rhyce Shaw has two from two in the hotseat following last weekend's upset over Richmond. Despite losing midfielder Shaun Higgins in the third minute to a shoulder injury, North responded to Will Powell kicking the opening goal for the Suns with seven unanswered majors of their own. External Link:Suns - Roos summary The 7.2 to 1.3 quarter ensured the Kangaroos had a lead the Suns were unable to reduce throughout the match. Gold Coast simply was not at the races in the opening term, with the Kangaroos at one point dominating the possessions count 85-45. Youngster Tarryn Thomas kicked two of those majors and finished the game as one of five Kangaroos with two goals. Ziebell, Coleman Medal contender Ben Brown, Mason Wood and Kayne Turner were the other multiple goalkickers for the visitors. Ben Cunnington had 31 disposals for the Kangaroos while Jared Polec (one goal, 28 disposals) was also impressive. Ben King was the only multiple goalkicker for the Suns with two majors, while Will Brodie (nine marks, nine tackles and 30 disposals) and Brayden Fiorini (31 disposals) were impressive in a beaten team. Suns midfielder Jack Martin was placed on report late in the second term for high contact on Ziebell when the pair contested for the ball on the ground. External Link:Suns - Roos stats Martin appeared to get his hands on the ball before his hip collected Ziebell, leaving the Kangaroos' veteran dazed, though he did pass a concussion test to return after the break. Ziebell ended the match bloodied after cutting his eyebrow but kicked two goals, laid 10 tackles and picked up 29 disposals in a typical all-action display. Charlie Ballard may also attract the attention of the match review committee after appearing to catch Turner with an elbow, an incident that allowed Turner to kick a goal from the subsequent 50m penalty. The Suns had an injury concern of their own with Jordan Murdoch limping off with a left ankle problem in the third quarter. Players from both teams could also find themselves a bit lighter in the hip pocket after a boundary line scuffle in the final term. Gold Coast travels to Townsville next weekend to host St Kilda, while the Kangaroos take on high-flying GWS in Hobart. AFL ladder External Link:AFL 2019 ladder Topics:sport,australian-football-league,carlton-3053,north-melbourne-3051,docklands-3008,vic,brisbane-4000,carrara-4211,qld,adelaide-5000,sa,homebush-2140,nsw,australia First posted June 08, 2019 13:08:53 Kelly Slater reveals fateful text message on the morning Sunny Garcia tried to take his life6/8/2019 Updated June 08, 2019 11:24:00
Champion surfer Kelly Slater has given a rare emotional account of the moment he learnt Hawaiian surfer Sunny Garcia had been hospitalised after trying to take his own life. Key points:Sunny Garcia was a close friend, and professional rival, of Kelly SlaterThe news prompted an outpouring of support from the surf communitySlater is still dealing with the fallout, but says he is not done with surfing yet Garcia, who was crowned world surfing champion in 2000, remains in a critical condition in the intensive care unit of a US hospital after being found unconscious at his home in May. "I woke up the morning that it happened to a text message that Sunny had passed away," Slater told ABC's 7:30 while in Western Australia for the Margaret River Pro surfing event. While Garcia survived, he was rushed to hospital and has spent weeks fighting for his life. "Sunny literally is like a brother to me. His oldest daughter is my god-daughter," Slater said. I've spent night after night after night crying on the floor just completely shocked that it happened." ![]() Professional surfers Mick Fanning, Mark Occhilupo and Joel Parkinson joined Slater in sending messages of support for Garcia on social media. But Slater said the experience had also led him to reassess what was the reasonable access people should have to a public figure. "I always hear these stories and I wonder, 'Why don't people talk about the thing,' because as a human you have interest in these stories," Slater said. "You want to hear you want to hear all the gory details. "Now that it has happened to a person that I consider to be my brother, I think a lot of it is best left to the family to disclose and talk about. "I don't feel like that at all because anything is hidden, I just feel like there is a privacy issue when you have a public person who has done something to try to end their life." Slater said he had been comforted by "daily updates" from Garcia's family and the support of fellow competitors and fans. "The fact that Sunny is alive in hospital not on life support currently I can say that much." "He is breathing on his own. We don't know how incapacitated he could be. We will just have to wait and see how that pans out. "The effect on me I'm still processing it." A stellar career not over yet Slater is now back on the World Surf Tour after recovering from a broken foot sustained while competing in South Africa. After a slow start to the World Surf League's opening event on the Gold Coast, he has enjoyed a welcome return to form, notching up notable performances at Bells Beach, Bali and this week at Margaret River. If you need to talk to someone, call: The 47-year-old veteran is now back to being rated in the top 10 in the world. While another world title may be a long shot at this stage, Slater who has a record 11 world championships to his name said he had found a new surge of competitive spirit and was planning to give the remainder of the season "everything I have". Many of the current crop he competes against were not born when Slater burst onto the elite professional surfing scene in 1990, amid a blaze of publicity, sponsorship dollars and speculation he would immediately wreak havoc with the then status quo. World Surf League commentator and 1989 world champion Martin Potter recalls Slater's impending arrival was not embraced with open arms by his contemporaries, including Tom Carroll, Barton Lynch and Damien Hardman. "I recall an interview when he first qualified for the tour in which he was asked what he thought of the level of surfing on the tour and his response was, 'I'm not that impressed,' so that was a kick in the pants right away," Potter told the ABC between commentating duties at the 2019 Margaret River Pro. "But we did know even before Kelly arrived that we were in trouble." ![]() Potter says he felt obligated to give Slater the same treatment he himself had received from established competitors when Potter first joined the tour as a teen. "I had to learn to fight, so when Kelly came on tour I gave him a little bit of that and it did kind of rattle his cage a bit because he wasn't used to it, he was used to everything going his way," Potter said. "But it didn't take long for him to work it out." When asked what he considered Slater's legacy to be, Potter pointed to the expansive competition site, dotted with a caravan of mobile buildings, merchandise vendors and hundreds of spectators of all ages enjoying the spectacle. "There is that old saying that no-one is bigger than the sport they are playing but there was a stage when Kelly was bigger that surfing and he brought the mainstream to us," Potter said. "I don't think the sport would be anywhere like it is today if he had walked away years ago. "Kids now can make good money surfing all over the world and had Kelly not been there, we wouldn't be where we are today." ![]() Slater's return to form continues to gather steam as the year progress and he easily accounted for Brazil's Filipe Toledo in their heat at the Margaret River Pro before finally being eliminated by another Brazilian, Caio Ibelli. Despite the loss, Slater patiently worked his way through several hundred autographs, selfies and conversations on his way back to the competitors quarters. At one point, he gave away a legrope to a young fan who he challenged to an arm-wrestle. "I'm just starting to feel like I am surfing good again and competing well," he said. "I think that is the great thing about sport, you learn what you are made of and what your breaking point is, and if you have one." ![]() Earlier in the year, he floated a typically cryptic suggestion that he may retire. Ever the tactician, Slater ducked and weaved when pressed on the question. "I have been [planning] to retire for a long time," Slater said. "The reason it has lasted so long is the passion I have for it. "Being around the best guys in the world, you push yourself to get better and I love the thought of that." Topics:surfing,mental-health,suicide,sport,margaret-river-6285,wa,perth-6000,united-states,hawaii First posted June 08, 2019 05:14:18 Posted June 07, 2019 20:53:53
![]() Mick Malthouse says he is "bewildered" by some of the comments from Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley this week, saying the drama has had a massive effect on his family. Key pointsThe morning after Malthouse's Australian Football Hall of Fame induction, Buckley said he was an enemy in Malthouse's eyesMalthouse rejected Buckley's criticism of himMalthouse told ABC some of Buckley's comments were "bewildering" and the controversy had a "massive effect" on his family Speaking on ABC Grandstand ahead of Friday night's match between Richmond and Geelong, Malthouse dealt with the controversy that has erupted over his relationship with Buckley, his former skipper at Collingwood and successor as Magpies coach. On Tuesday night, Malthouse capped a storied career in football including three coaching premierships with West Coast and Collingwood by being inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. "It was just a wonderful night," he told the ABC. "I thought to hear my kids enjoying it [would be great]. "They're going to wake up tomorrow morning and there's going to be something in the press that says 'guess what, your father's actually joined the Hall of Fame and I did it with five other people and it was fantastic. "I woke up and it wasn't there because of the circumstances of this [dispute]. "It's had a massive effect on my family. I know my boys will get over it, [but] my girls and my wife are really affected by what took place. "They feel as if any time I put my head up to collect an accolade it gets knocked straight over [in the media]. "Outside of that, my biggest disappointment was that [inductees] Ken Hunter, Jim Deane, Trevor Barker, Brad Hardie, Ron Evans, have been cheated out of good time that they should have had after an event like that because they were the greatest they've been put in [the Hall of Fame] as great people for our game." Malthouse said he had had a very good relationship with Buckley when coaching the Norm Smith and Brownlow medallist, saying the pair had been to dinner at each other's houses and had a good understanding. "He stood by me as captain, he's a very intelligent person," Malthouse said. "Players respected him for what he and I were trying to do [at Collingwood]. "Some of these quotes are just bewildering." The pair have a lot of history in football. ![]() Malthouse coached Buckley in two losing AFL grand finals at Collingwood in 2002 and 2003. Then, after his retirement, the former Magpies skipper became an assistant coach under Malthouse at Collingwood. In 2009, president Eddie McGuire announced a succession plan, stating Buckley would be an assistant for two years before taking over as coach in 2012. After making his fifth grand final as coach losing with the Magpies to Geelong Malthouse announced he would not take up his expected role as director of football. Buckley took over as Collingwood coach in 2012, and is now in his eighth season in charge. The issues between the two men have been an open secret in AFL circles, but it all came out in the open the morning after Malthouse received his honour in Melbourne. Buckley says he is 'an enemy' in Malthouse's eyes Buckley spoke on his regular segment on SEN radio in Melbourne where he was asked about his relationship with Malthouse. "Mick and I don't get on," Buckley said. "He doesn't want to know about me, because I am now an enemy in his eyes. He will rewrite history to make sure that was always the case. "But I think I understand Mick. He was a young kid scraping to put that next meal on the plate and that drove him. That was his attitude through his whole life. Asked by the interviewer if there was still a working relationship between the two men based on their shared experiences in football, Buckley replied: "No, I'm one of the bodies on the side of the road." "I've got great respect for Mick in some areas," he said. "He's always been himself. Mick has never really cared for what people think of him. "He's rat cunning, a master manipulator and he got success from that. All credit to him." Buckley then had to answer questions at his Collingwood press conference on Thursday, when he said that while he stood by the comments he made, he regretted the reporting that followed overshadowed Malthouse's Hall of Fame recognition. "Mick's been a tremendous servant to the game success as a player, success as a coach," Buckley said at his press conference. "I don't think it's appropriate that our relationship, or the breakdown of our relationship, is a focus at this time." Topics:sport,australian-football-league,melbourne-3000,collingwood-3066,vic,australia |
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