UGSHA 2025: Women's A-grade victories to All Blacks and Wagin in round two, Lakes and All Blacks in men's A
Both sides produced some impressive play but it was goals from Claire Coffey and Zoe George that proved the difference between the two sides.
Wagin were the other round two winners in the women's A-grade competition, downing Woodanilling.
Goals from Jessie Allington and Alexis Kermode guided Wagin to a 2-0 victory.
In the men's A-grade competition, both Lakers and All Blacks emerged victorious in round two.
A double from Kyle Angwin and another strike from Liam Sweeney handed All Blacks a 3-1 win over Warriors.
The game between Olympics and Lakers was intense with fast ball movement and quick turnovers meaning both defences were kept busy.
Lakers finished 2-1 winners thanks to goals from David Lange and William Tan.
Olympics' Dylan Mulcahy pegged a goal back and Shawn Heil was a strong contributor but their side went down in the end.
In the men's B-grade competition, Williams scored five consecutive goals to down Olympics 7-2 at the final whistle after an even start.
Oli Harding, Nick Klug and Michael Cowcher all scored twice in the emphatic result.
Woodanilling were 5-1 winners over Pingelly, and in the other men's B-grade clash Wagin edged out All Blacks in a tight 2-1 result.
The women's B-grade grand final rematch between Robins and All Blacks highlighted round two.
Robins claimed a tense 3-1 win, with Colleen Edwards scoring first for last year's runners-up.
Zoe George got a goal back for the reigning premiers in the third quarter but scores from Katie Blight and Dee Blight ensured the Robins victory.
Brookton defeated Woodanilling 4-2 and Warriors scored a 1-0 triumph over Pingelly.
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The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
They have gun players who've either flirted with the idea of leaving (Charlie Curnow) or made plain their unhappiness and wish to get out (Christian Petracca). In Oliver's case, it was the club that first raised the prospect of trading him, only to baulk when he was ready to join Geelong; it is a non-deal that the Demons should regret. Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there's a clear difference in the nature of the coach calls that Carlton and Melbourne confront. Carlton are in a better position to judge Voss – and to remove him, if that's deemed necessary – even though he's only in his fourth season with the Blues. How so? The Blues have had their new CEO in the building for the entire 2025 season, even though Wright has been the understudy – the dauphin, if you like – to exiting chief executive Brian Cook. Their president, Rob Priestley, assumed the role early this year ahead of schedule following the scandal that saw off his predecessor Luke Sayers. Priestley, the chairman of J.P. Morgan, had been tapped as Sayers' successor for some time, and is more than familiar with the football department's workings and worries. Loading The Demons, conversely, have had only an interim CEO this year, David Chippindall, and the new CEO Paul Guerra won't be installed until next month. The presidency, too, is in transition. Brad Green holds the role now, but is slated to hand over to a former player (and lawyer) from an earlier generation, ex-MCC chairman Steven Smith, later this year. Carlton's shot callers – Wright, in particular – have had a front-row seat to observe Voss during 2025. Further, Wright's had a full season to assess the playing list, list management, high performance and culture. Oh, and a detailed understanding of their salary cap and contracts (another unfortunate parallel – the Blues and Dees have paid a huge amount to stars, and have accordingly tight player payments). Guerra, when he arrives, will be on a steeper learning curve than health ministers during COVID. Unlike Wright, he is not a football expert, and will have to defer to the judgment of others, such as Smith, Green and ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who did the recent review of the Demons' football operations. Carlton have the more stable leadership. Their CEO, board and president have been in place and should know the score. This column is not venturing a view on whether Voss should be sacked. Not now. The point is that the Blues have a better vantage to judge their coach's suitability than Melbourne, despite Goodwin's nine years in the job. It is debatable which of these coaches has encountered more turbulence, if you count matters such as supporter unrest (Goodwin grateful for added security at Marvel Stadium on Saturday), and frenzied media intrusion – Carlton, as the bigger prey, will always draw heavier fire. Goodwin, however, has had more obstacles in his path when factoring in board instability, the questions over player behaviour – dating back to the Entrecote dust-up and peaking around the drug suspension of Joel Smith – and the separate but equally damaging circuses around Petracca and Oliver. Loading Did Goodwin's methods or management contribute to these problems that made his coaching life difficult after 2022? Possibly. But there were also factors outside his domain, which made it harder to have a singular focus on coaching. Goodwin appeared to have done enough mid-season, on the back of a victory at the Gabba, to hold his position next year, as I suggested. Results since, 'have not necessarily been to [his] advantage', to borrow from the Japanese emperor Hirohito's surrender speech. The Demons have gone south. Voss' curse has been injury, both in 2024 and this year. This must be considered when judgment day comes. The Wright call, however, will be predicated on whether the coach has the right stuff for 2026 and beyond. Most crucial to Carlton and Melbourne's self-examinations will be their understanding of their position – ie, if they are undertaking mini-rebuilds or refreshing of their lists (the Demons have put their toe in those waters already), or if either believe they can re-jig, find some mature players from rivals and scale the mountain quickly. The Blues are committed to father-son Harry Dean and to Andrew Walker's gun son Cody, and will regain Jagga Smith, a top-three pick in 2024, over the next two post-seasons. This necessarily gives them signposts for the future. How quickly can those kids come on alongside Curnow, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh? Knowing precisely where you're situated in the premiership cycle is paramount. Once you're sorted on that front, the calls on players, coaches and recruiting follow.
Sydney Morning Herald
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Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
They have gun players who've either flirted with the idea of leaving (Charlie Curnow) or made plain their unhappiness and wish to get out (Christian Petracca). In Oliver's case, it was the club that first raised the prospect of trading him, only to baulk when he was ready to join Geelong; it is a non-deal that the Demons should regret. Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there's a clear difference in the nature of the coach calls that Carlton and Melbourne confront. Carlton are in a better position to judge Voss – and to remove him, if that's deemed necessary – even though he's only in his fourth season with the Blues. How so? The Blues have had their new CEO in the building for the entire 2025 season, even though Wright has been the understudy – the dauphin, if you like – to exiting chief executive Brian Cook. Their president, Rob Priestley, assumed the role early this year ahead of schedule following the scandal that saw off his predecessor Luke Sayers. Priestley, the chairman of J.P. Morgan, had been tapped as Sayers' successor for some time, and is more than familiar with the football department's workings and worries. Loading The Demons, conversely, have had only an interim CEO this year, David Chippindall, and the new CEO Paul Guerra won't be installed until next month. The presidency, too, is in transition. Brad Green holds the role now, but is slated to hand over to a former player (and lawyer) from an earlier generation, ex-MCC chairman Steven Smith, later this year. Carlton's shot callers – Wright, in particular – have had a front-row seat to observe Voss during 2025. Further, Wright's had a full season to assess the playing list, list management, high performance and culture. Oh, and a detailed understanding of their salary cap and contracts (another unfortunate parallel – the Blues and Dees have paid a huge amount to stars, and have accordingly tight player payments). Guerra, when he arrives, will be on a steeper learning curve than health ministers during COVID. Unlike Wright, he is not a football expert, and will have to defer to the judgment of others, such as Smith, Green and ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who did the recent review of the Demons' football operations. Carlton have the more stable leadership. Their CEO, board and president have been in place and should know the score. This column is not venturing a view on whether Voss should be sacked. Not now. The point is that the Blues have a better vantage to judge their coach's suitability than Melbourne, despite Goodwin's nine years in the job. It is debatable which of these coaches has encountered more turbulence, if you count matters such as supporter unrest (Goodwin grateful for added security at Marvel Stadium on Saturday), and frenzied media intrusion – Carlton, as the bigger prey, will always draw heavier fire. Goodwin, however, has had more obstacles in his path when factoring in board instability, the questions over player behaviour – dating back to the Entrecote dust-up and peaking around the drug suspension of Joel Smith – and the separate but equally damaging circuses around Petracca and Oliver. Loading Did Goodwin's methods or management contribute to these problems that made his coaching life difficult after 2022? Possibly. But there were also factors outside his domain, which made it harder to have a singular focus on coaching. Goodwin appeared to have done enough mid-season, on the back of a victory at the Gabba, to hold his position next year, as I suggested. Results since, 'have not necessarily been to [his] advantage', to borrow from the Japanese emperor Hirohito's surrender speech. The Demons have gone south. Voss' curse has been injury, both in 2024 and this year. This must be considered when judgment day comes. The Wright call, however, will be predicated on whether the coach has the right stuff for 2026 and beyond. Most crucial to Carlton and Melbourne's self-examinations will be their understanding of their position – ie, if they are undertaking mini-rebuilds or refreshing of their lists (the Demons have put their toe in those waters already), or if either believe they can re-jig, find some mature players from rivals and scale the mountain quickly. The Blues are committed to father-son Harry Dean and to Andrew Walker's gun son Cody, and will regain Jagga Smith, a top-three pick in 2024, over the next two post-seasons. This necessarily gives them signposts for the future. How quickly can those kids come on alongside Curnow, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh? Knowing precisely where you're situated in the premiership cycle is paramount. Once you're sorted on that front, the calls on players, coaches and recruiting follow.
West Australian
5 hours ago
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Mitchell Johnson: Brisbane 2032 must resurrect karate if the Olympic Games are to stand by their ideals
Recently, my 12-year-old daughter looked at my wife and I and asked us if we think karate will be in the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. Rubika competes in kumite, the fighting component of karate. She trains hard. Competes with pride. She's done the maths and knows that if karate makes it to Brisbane 2032, she'd be 19 — prime age to chase the Olympic dream that her mother, former karate world championships bronze medallist and winner of 17 national titles Jess Bratich Johnson, never got the chance to. But that dream is still just a 'maybe'. And I saw it in her eyes — that little spark of hope that her sport might finally be seen as Olympic-worthy. That hope is why this matters. It could also sway her into taking on karate as her main sport, as she has other interests. Karate finally got its moment at Tokyo 2021, at the birthplace of the sport. For the millions around the world who train in it, compete in it and live by its values, it was a long-overdue spotlight. And then just like that — it was gone again. Not included in Paris 2024. Now, the fight is on to get karate back for Brisbane. And frankly, it deserves more than a cameo. It deserves a permanent place at the Olympics. Why? Because karate reflects everything the Olympics claims to represent: discipline, respect, tradition, global reach and the pursuit of excellence. Yet, despite being practised by millions in over 190 countries, karate continues to be overlooked. I still find it strange. With so many people training in karate — from little kids in local halls to elite athletes on international mats — you'd expect it to have a bigger profile. Sport karate today, especially in kumite and kata, has evolved into a highly dynamic and competitive discipline. Big leagues in Europe, world-class athletes from all over the globe, including Oceania — there's a deep pool of talent. A hunger. A thriving culture. What's missing is the stage and the financial support. Here in Australia, karate survives largely on passion, not funding. The athletes don't do it for money or do it because they love it. But love alone doesn't build high-performance programs. It doesn't pay for international competition. And it doesn't create the visibility that helps young athletes dream bigger. When certain sports walk away from the likes of Gina Rinehart's sponsorships, I remember thinking karate would be the kind of sport that would truly appreciate that level of backing. Not out of desperation, but because it's a sport that's still building. Still fighting for recognition. And with proper investment, it could become something Australia is proud to stand behind. And what better time than Brisbane 2032? This isn't just about medals. It's about meaning. Karate gives young people something few sports can: a deep sense of self-respect, focus, emotional control and cultural appreciation. It's not just about who can punch fastest or score the most ippon (although that is part of it) — it's about who can carry themselves with honour before, during and after the match. I've seen how much it gives my daughter. The way she walks taller after training. The way she bows before stepping on the mat. The way she handles pressure — calm, calculated, composed. And I know she's not alone. Across the country, kids are training in silence, learning discipline through kata and control through kumite. They're not just learning to fight. They're learning to grow. Young girls and boys come in shy and nervous, but they grow and become confident and disciplined. Karate should never have to beg for a seat at the Olympic table. It's a sport built on thousands of years of tradition, with a modern competitive scene that is fast, technical, and global. The argument that it's 'too similar' to other combat sports doesn't hold. By that logic, freestyle and butterfly swimming shouldn't coexist. BMX and track cycling should cancel each other out. Each has its rhythm, its own culture, its own story. Karate is no different. The Olympics are meant to evolve to include the sports that shape cultures and communities around the world. Karate isn't a trend. It's embedded in the lives of millions. It's part of schools, families, and neighbourhoods. And it has the power to connect us, especially in multicultural countries like ours. Let Brisbane be the Games that gives karate its rightful place — not just because it fits the host nation's identity, but because it represents something we should all value: honour, discipline, and legacy. I saw that recently at the nationals in Adelaide — athletes of all ages from all over the country competing with passion. Western Australia sent a team of over 100 athletes, competing in kumite, kata, or both. They finished second overall in the national medal count — a huge result and one that speaks to the resilience and rising standard of karate in WA. But behind the medals was something even more powerful — a community effort. Volunteers, referees, coaches, and families all played their part, and that's what karate is. A sport built on shared values. So to the decision makers, the sporting bodies, and the International Olympic Committee — don't let another generation of karate kids grow up like Jess did — believing their sport wasn't seen, valued, or supported on the world's biggest stage. Karate doesn't just belong in the Olympics. The Olympics needs karate — now more than ever.
