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Perth Now
33 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Port regain pair for Gabba test, Sicily back for Hawks
Jack Lukosius will play his first AFL game since round two as Port Adelaide are boosted for their big Gabba test. Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines will also return to the Power midfield for Saturday night's away match against second-placed Brisbane. The Power are two games plus percentage outside the top eight and badly need a big scalp if they are to press for the finals. Lukosius fractured his kneecap in round two and starred last week in the SANFL, while Wines has been out of action for the last two games with a knee injury. Defender Darcy Gardiner and premiership player Callum Ah Chee are important inclusions for the Lions. Hawthorn captain James Sicily will return from his hip injury on Saturday night against St Kilda, with midfielder James Worpel (quad) also back. The Hawks were rocked this week with the news that in-form defender Josh Weddle is out for several weeks with a stress reaction in his back, while Sam Butler is also sidelined because of soreness. Injury-plagued Essendon have recalled Jordan Ridley, Sam Durham and veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein for Saturday's match against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium. Among their outs is Darcy Parish (calf), one of the players hurt on the weekend at a training session as their run of soft-tissue injuries continues. Ned Moyle will return for the Suns and go up against Goldstein in the ruck. Geelong are unchanged for their Saturday home twilight match against Richmond, who regained Sam Lalor from a hamstring injury. Richmond defender Josh Gibcus, a top-10 draft pick in 2021, will make his return to action in the VFL after a 15-month lay-off with a knee injury. Meanwhile, slumping Carlton made a whopping six changes for Friday night's match against arch-rivals Collingwood. The Blues dropped Jordan Boyd, Alex Cincotta, Billy Wilson and Lewis Young, while Adam Saad and Jack Silvagni are injured. Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell is among four Collingwood inclusions, for his first AFL game in more than a year after recovering from a foot injury. Veteran Magpies onballer Steele Sidebottom is out because of illness among four changes.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Jake Weatherald on his journey, Australian Test ambitions and how he's taken his game to a new level
He's 30 years of age and has been around Australian cricket for nearly a decade – but Jake Weatherald feels he's closer than ever to living out his dream. It was this feeling and a mountain of runs in last summer's Sheffield Shield which led him to India's spin friendly conditions. It's been a long and arduous road for the left-handed opener but he has since emerged from left-field as one of the batters nipping at the heels of the Australian top six. Weatherald is part of a budding group taking on Sri Lanka in a series of matches in the Northern Territory which starts on Friday. Prior to the Aussie A series – and in hope of a greater nod – Weatherald took himself to the subcontinent, to train and acclimatise to the unique conditions. It was there he prepared himself in 'body and mind' for the proposition of playing for Australia. 'I'm always looking to develop; it's sort of a curse and a blessing at the same time,' Weatherald said. 'I felt as though the way I played pace bowling was really good this year … If I do the right things I am confident I can face high quality bowling and score from it, playing spin was an area I was never really able to give a lot too. 'The opportunity to practice against spin bowling was a big draw to go over to India but also to develop a method that would be good in spinning conditions. 'So if I do go away and play an A series in India, or a Test match, I am not just sitting there going, 'I've never been here before, I have no experience in spinning conditions'. 'It was to ready my body and mind to have all bases covered if there ever was an opportunity.' Weatherald topped the Shield run charts last summer and hit them at the second-best strike of any other recognised batter. He credits his career-best form to 'a combination of things' – but orders experience and mental clarity above all else. That progression, Weatherald says, has allowed him to understand his game and become comfortable with the risk of getting out. 'As a cricketer you're sort of daunted and restricted by getting out,' he said. 'I think what experience has given me is if you do shut down and don't look to put pressure on good bowling, especially how the wickets have come in Australia. 'They've come quite conducive to new ball bowling and bowling in general, if you're not willing to put pressure on bowling you're just going to find a way to get out. 'If I'm able to even score off good balls I feel as though the bowlers think, 'My margin for error is really small here'. 'It's keeping it a little bit simple, always looking to score in my areas but also if the day is on where I am scoring quickly not shutting myself down and going, 'Oh, I shouldn't be scoring this quickly, I've got to bat for long periods of time'. 'If the opportunity is there, I am going to take it – no matter if it's the first ball of the game or if it takes me 30 balls to score, my mindset is the same.' Weatherald has taken the road less travelled to Australia A selection. He was out of the South Australian setup, prioritising his mental health, before taking in a sea change in Tasmania. Amid those ups and downs, Weatherald says he has always held ambitions to play for Australia. 'I think cricketers are rated on how they play Test cricket, I've always been driven to play as much red-ball cricket as I possibly can and just had to figure out a way of doing that,' he said. 'It's a hard battle to find the balance between being a white-ball cricketer or red-ball cricketer and then the expectation of being successful, playing for Australia. 'It's self-sabotaging at times, you don't want to be too focused on the end point when if you're not good enough at the starting point you're not going to get there. 'For me, it was: 'Let's focus on what I can control and that's the way I train, the way I go about my game. From there hopefully everything else takes care of itself, if I don't play for Australia or don't go on to do anything else, that's fine, at least I tried the right things.' Weatherald is watching the Aussies closely and is buoyed by the opportunities presented to those performing. He concedes a lost must go right for him to earn one more promotion – but is confident he can take that chance if it's ever offered. 'Most would be lying if they said it wasn't on their mind, especially with all the stuff going on in the Australian team, there's opportunities being provided to those who are doing well,' he said. 'I am not sure what the future holds, I've still got to take a lot more opportunities but from a belief point of view I believe I am good enough to play. 'At the same time I have to prove that with performances in the Australia A stuff and have to have a bit of luck as well, other players might have to miss out for me to come in. 'Everything has to sort of work out, move the right pieces at the right time, but to be this close is an amazing feeling anyway to be suggested I could be around that mark.'
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Sydney Olympic FC: resilient, rebuilding and ready for the Australian Championship
In an interview long in the making, Olympic's president, Damon Hanlin came to our headquarters in Sydney's Artarmon for an in-depth conversation on the club's journey, the challenges and triumphs along the way, and what lies ahead. A personal story rooted in the Greek community Though his surname might not immediately reveal it, Damon Hanlin proudly claims his Greek heritage — a fact that links him deeply to the club's historical and cultural identity. A successful businessman, Damon Hatzimanolis (as is his Greek surname) got involved with Sydney Olympic out of both passion and commitment, acknowledging that while the financial toll has been significant, the drive to preserve and grow this iconic club remains stronger than ever. 'I'm here because I believe in what this club represents — not just for football, but for the Greek-Australian community,' Mr Hanlin said. Challenges, change and ambition The president spoke candidly about the challenges the club currently faces — from administrative and financial pressures to infrastructure constraints. But he was also clear about the club's focus on youth development, long-term sustainability, and its efforts to modernize. 'We are always working to engage the next generation — young Greek-Australians who can carry the torch forward', Mr Hanlin noted, adding that while the club's traditional supporter base is ageing, steps are being taken to involve families, schools, and young talent at every level. He also added: 'We're always exploring ways to strengthen community engagement. That includes finding mechanisms for further strengthening financial membership, beyond just season tickets holders.' Source: Instagram / Sydney Olympic FC Where are the fans? One of the more sensitive issues discussed was the decline in fan attendance — a noticeable shift since the disbanding of the NSL. With games now held at venues like Belmore Sports Ground and Kogarah (Jubilee Stadium), longtime fans often express nostalgia for the golden days. 'We know we need to do more to bring the fans back,' Mr Hanlin admitted. 'The move to the National Second Tier is part of that effort. We want to give our community — especially the younger generations — a reason to feel inspired again. Also, whilst we embrace wholeheartedly our traditional Greek-origin fanbase, we want to be more be inclusive by embracing the enhanced multicultural mosaic of our region'. On-field performance and what's next On the pitch, Sydney Olympic currently sits in 7th place after 21 rounds in the 2025 NPL NSW season, with hopes still alive for a finals berth. Mr Hanlin remains optimistic: 'We have a solid squad, committed coaching staff, and we're building towards something bigger.' That 'something bigger' is the Australian Championship. Mr Hanlin confirmed that Sydney Olympic's inclusion in the so-called B-League is locked in, and that it came after tireless advocacy — and personal investment — on his part. 'This was never going to be handed to us. We had to fight for it. But we're ready.' A bridge to the future? The new national competition aims to bridge the gap between the NPL and the A-League, and Hanlin believes it could reinvigorate the domestic football scene. Whether it leads to promotion and relegation remains to be seen, but for Sydney Olympic, the opportunity is real. 'We're not just participating — we're preparing to be competitive from day one,' Mr Hanlin said. 'That means upgrading our squad, refining our operations, and engaging at every level.' As for the club's continued involvement in the NPL NSW, Mr Hanlin suggests there will be evolution — not abandonment. 'This isn't the end of one chapter. It's the beginning of a broader story and the NPL can only become stronger from the new competition'. A message to the fans Mr Hanlin's final message was clear: 'To all our supporters — old and new — this is your club. Sydney Olympic is here because of you, and it will thrive with your passion and support. Come with us on this journey. The best is yet to come. Source: Instagram / Sydney Olympic FC
