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AFL round 17 Kangaroos vs Bulldogs live updates — blog, scores and stats

AFL round 17 Kangaroos vs Bulldogs live updates — blog, scores and stats

As North Melbourne marks 100 years in the VFL/AFL, the Western Bulldogs will be intent on climbing inside the top four on the ladder as round 17 gets underway at Docklands.
Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
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West Coast debutant Malakai Champion's incredible journey through adversity to make debut for the Eagles
West Coast debutant Malakai Champion's incredible journey through adversity to make debut for the Eagles

West Australian

timean hour ago

  • West Australian

West Coast debutant Malakai Champion's incredible journey through adversity to make debut for the Eagles

Malakai Champion's journey to make his debut for West Coast is a story of incredible resilience. In a week when the Eagles lost their premiership hero from Kalgoorlie in Dom Sheed, they will hope they've unveiled a new one in Champion when they take on Greater Western Sydney at Optus Stadium on Friday night. The small forward will not only be West Coast's eighth debutant this year but might be their most inspiring having been forced to battle a massive amount adversity to realise his dream. When he decided to move to Perth in 2021 to give his goal of making the AFL a serious crack, he faced numerous challenges. His father died not long after he relocated to the big city and he's since lost his uncle, his grandfather and great grandfather. 'I moved to Perth in December 2021, and we didn't really have a plan for my football, it was just to rock up to a Subiaco futures pre-season and see how it went,' Champion told WA Football last year. 'I came down with Mum and her partner, and we moved into her cousin's house, and it was a hard time because COVID was still a bit around and houses were hard to find or afford. We just stayed at my mum's cousins house and then my old man passed away not long after we moved down. 'I had just moved here to play footy and be with my Dad, but then to lose him when I was only 15 and had to bury my Dad. What that showed me is that life is more than just football, but the main reason I moved here was the football so I wanted to make the best of it I could.' Subiaco colts coach John Mansbridge said Champion's father would be 'super proud' to see his son play for the Eagles. 'He (Champion) went through a really tough time there and I know myself and his forwards coach at the time David Hay, we were in contact with him a lot just making sure he was OK,' he said. 'And to his credit and his family and to his Mum's credit they got together, and they worked their way through it. 'At times he still feels and thinks about his Dad, but I know his Dad would be super proud now and I know when he gets on the ground on Friday night it would be a big dedication to his father for sure.' The adversity didn't stop Champion though, who would continually develop as a footballer through before really catching the eye when he kicked three goals in his league debut for Subiaco against West Coast's WAFL side. West Coast snapped Champion up as a rookie through their next generation academy in last year's draft and he's continued to grow as a footballer since. It will be fitting that the nephew of former Adelaide and Carlton goalsneak Eddie Betts will run out in the club's Indigenous guernsey ahead of NAIDOC Week. Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said Champion wasn't ready to play AFL footy at the start of this year but had built his way there through consistent performances in the WAFL. 'It's a really special story too with Malakai. He's been on a journey,' he said. 'He came to the club at the start of this year and probably wasn't ready for AFL footy, he'd be the first to admit that. 'He's worked really hard on his game, got himself fit, really consistent with the role he's playing at WAFL level and he's put consistent performances together so it's a great opportunity for him to play.' Champion's talent was evident from a young age, having made his debut for Mines Rovers — the same club Sheed and teammate Tyrell Dewar came through — at only 15. Mines Rovers president Jeff Delbridge said Champion was the youngest player in their team but also their most important. 'Malakai is an absolute gentleman. The last year before he moved up to Perth to play for Subiaco he was coming up to play for the Diorites because he was committed to play for us that year,' he said. 'And amazingly, he was our smallest player and our youngest player, but he was our most important player. 'I remember when they presented the jumper to him for his first league game and you would've thought he was a 200-game veteran the way he spoke, it was unbelievable. 'He thanked the right people, we're very proud of him. I'm a little surprised it's come so quick but I'm not surprised he ended up getting there because he's a gun.' Mansbridge said the experience at both league level in the WAFL and for Mines Rovers would help Champion adapt to the AFL quickly. 'He's got elite speed, great skills and his evasive tactics are really good,' he said. 'Malakai might be small, but he's been playing a lot footy in Kalgoorlie as he was growing up, so big bodies don't intimidate him. 'If he gets the go on Friday, I can't wait to watch him play it'll be fantastic.'

NRLW Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16
NRLW Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16

Daily Telegraph

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Telegraph

NRLW Parramatta Eels defeat Cronulla Sharks 18-16

Don't miss out on the headlines from NRLW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Parramatta just missed finals in 2024 but they've burst out of the blocks in 2025 with an 18-16 upset victory over last year's grand finalists Cronulla in the NRLW season opener on Thursday night. The Eels are the youngest side in the competition and had five players making their NRLW debut against Cronulla, but they were clinical from the outset. Parramatta completed at 93 per cent in the first half as a kicking masterclass from halfback Rachael Pearson had the hosts on the back foot. Cronulla had several chances to win it late at Shark Park but the visitors' goal line defence stood tall all night and proved the difference. 'We're stoked. We had heaps of trust in our debutants, so we went into the game confident and they pulled through,' Parramatta centre Rory Owen said. 'The coaches will be ecstatic, we had a big focus on defence and I think we really showed we've been focused at training.' SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 03: Rachael Pearson of the Eels celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the round one NRLW match between the Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels at Sharks Stadium on July 03, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by) It was a thrilling contest between two genuine premiership contenders this season but it was a night to forget for the officials. They missed three blatant forward passes before one was finally picked up in the dying minutes that ended the Sharks' chances of snatching a late victory. PERFECT PEARSON Eels halfback Rachael Pearson booted the Sharks off the park in a dominant first half. Pearson set up the opening try with a grubber into the posts that caught Sharks duo Georgia Hannaway and Emma Verran napping as Chloe Jackson pounced to score first points of the NRLW season. Pearson also set up the second try with another grubber but this time for herself as she caught out Verran again and regathered to score a simple try. The Parramatta No. 7 should have had a third try assist off her boot but Martha Mataele couldn't reel in a chip to the corner. On the stroke of halftime, Pearson threw a dummy and sliced through before putting through a kick that should have seen prop Elsie Albert score but she couldn't finish. Pearson's general play kicking was also on point as she kept Cronulla's back three on the back foot all night. BATTLE OF THE FULLBACKS All eyes were on the match up between fullbacks Emma Verran and Abbi Church heading into this clash and it was the latter who got the better of her NSW teammate. Emma Verran. Picture:Abbi Church. Picture:Eels No.1 Church looked dangerous every time she touched the ball and ran for 123 metres from 14 carries and also set up a try. Verran endured a horror first half, letting in two tries and making two errors. But the former Dally M Medal winner showed her class in the second stanza with some dangerous runs and epic defence. Verran helped set up the Sharks' go-ahead try in the 49th minute and then made a try-saver on Zali Fay with just seven minutes left to keep her side in the game. She finished with 140 run metres from 14 carries. 'We were in it but unfortunately couldn't hold on,' Verran said. 'When we had the ball in the first half we looked dangerous and the message at halftime was go back through the middle and we did that and I thought we had them there but it just slipped through our fingers.'

West Indies vs Australia, second Test day one: Pat Cummins backs top order
West Indies vs Australia, second Test day one: Pat Cummins backs top order

Daily Telegraph

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Telegraph

West Indies vs Australia, second Test day one: Pat Cummins backs top order

Pat Cummins has backed Australia's inexperienced top order to prove itself — starting with the second Test against the West Indies in Grenada. Opener Sam Konstas and new No. 3 Cameron Green contributed a combined 26 runs across both innings in the first Test, while veteran Usman Khawaja managed 47 and 15. With Steve Smith to bolster the top four in place of Josh Inglis, Cummins was confident the top-order would click. FOLLOW THE KEY MOMENTS FROM GRENADA IN OUR BLOG WITH DANIEL CHERNY BELOW Originally published as West Indies vs Australia, second Test day one: Pat Cummins backs top order after failures

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