Latest news with #7NEWSMelbourne
7NEWS
22-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL superstar Marcus Bontempelli finally signs new deal with Western Bulldogs after anxious wait
Marcus Bontempelli has finally put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with the Western Bulldogs, 7NEWS Melbourne's Mitch Cleary has revealed. The captain's existing contract expires at the end of the season and intrigue surrounded negotiations for what is almost certain to be the last long-term agreement of his stellar AFL career. Player and club were both adamant negotiations would ramp up during the year but fans have grown increasingly anxious in recent weeks. The new contract will run through to the end of the 2029 season, when Bontempelli could be within touching distance of Brad Johnson's club-record 364 games. Bontempelli turns 30 in November and recently notched up his 250th game. He was honoured as the Bulldogs' second greatest player at a centenary gala on Monday night, behind only Ted Whitten. A 2016 premiership player, Bontempelli has won six best and fairest awards — including three since taking over as skipper in 2020. The No.4 was also named captain of the All Australian team last year.
7NEWS
20-07-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Hawthorn midfielder Finn Maginness flown to hospital for surgery after suffering lacerated kidney
Hawthorn midfielder Finn Maginness is in hospital with a lacerated kidney following his side's clash against Port Adelaide on Saturday. The 24-year-old complained of soreness and discomfort in the abdomen region after the match, despite no clear sole incident that appeared to cause it. Maginness was taken to a Launceston hospital as a precaution after the game, where an assessment determined that he needed to be flown down to Hobart to undergo a procedure. 7NEWS Melbourne's Mitch Cleary, who broke the news on Seven's Sunday Footy Feast, said Maginness will be kept in hospital for several days. 'Hawthorn's Finn Maginness is in hospital with a lacerated kidney,' Cleary said. 'Felt discomfort post-game, was taken to hospital in Launceston for assessment, before he was transferred to a Hobart hospital to go under the knife. 'He's expected to remain there for multiple days.'
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Outback killer's death robs family of hopes for peace
Notorious outback killer Bradley Murdoch lived like he died - selfish, self-absorbed and indifferent - meaning the chance of recovering his victim's body is considered remote at best. Murdoch, 67, died from throat cancer on Tuesday under the watch of correctional officers, a month after being moved from jail to the palliative care unit of Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. Cancer-riddled killer Bradley John Murdoch has died in jail, taking his secrets to the grave. He was serving a life sentence for the outback murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, with police now offering half a million dollars, hoping someone in Murdoch's circle will share… — 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) July 16, 2025 He was given a life sentence for the murder of 28-year-old British backpacker Peter Falconio and the assault and attempted kidnapping of his then-girlfriend Joanne Lees, now 51, on the lonely Stuart Highway near Barrow Creek in July 2001. Mr Falconio's parents on Wednesday expressed relief that Murdoch had died, but had held out hope, however slim, that he would reveal where he left their son's remains. "Upon hearing that Bradley John Murdoch had died our first feeling was of relief, it's like a weight that's been lifted," Luciano and Joan Falconio said in a statement to media outlets. "We are only forced to think about him now that he's died, we don't want to let him to ruin our lives more than he already has." "We didn't have much faith, but we were hoping Bradley John Murdoch would reveal where Peter was before he died. "But even now, we still hold out hope that his remains will be found." John Elferink, who was NT attorney-general when the government passed the "no body, no parole" law, said Murdoch "has left the Falconios with no comfort whatsoever". The killer had always denied his crimes and refused to reveal the whereabouts of Falconio's body. Murdoch had "lived as he died - selfish, self absorbed and indifferent", Mr Elferink said. He still holds hope Mr Falconio's final resting place will be found, but the discovery "is remote at best, impossible at worst". "I'll never say never, because you can't, but at the end of the day I think that the last practical resolution to this matter has passed with the death of Murdoch," he said. NT Police said it was "deeply regrettable that Murdoch has died without, as far as we are aware, ever disclosing the location of Peter Falconio's remains". Colleen Gwynne, the lead investigator into Mr Falconio's murder, said it was a sad day for Mr Falconio's family, and that "an enormous opportunity" to find his remains had been lost. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro urged anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers. "It is disappointing for the Falconio family that this case remains unresolved and they are still without the closure they deserve," Mrs Finocchiaro said. A reward of up to $A500,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to the discovery of Mr Falconio's remains.
7NEWS
14-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL investigating vile messages sent towards Indigenous duo Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne
The AFL is investigating racist messages sent from vile fans to Indigenous stars Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne. The pair's two respective clubs both alerted the league to the awful messages, according to 7NEWS Melbourne's Xander McGuire. 'The AFL integrity unit is investigating vile racist texts sent to Indigenous stars Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jase Burgoyne via Instagram direct message,' McGuire said. 'St Kilda and Port Adelaide referred the messages to directly AFL House this evening, after both teams played on Sunday afternoon.' Wanganeen-Milera and Burgoyne are not the first Indigenous players to have faced racism in the AFL this year, with Willie Rioli having copped it during the saga that saw him suspended for making a serious threat to Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale. Wanganeen-Milera, the most in-demand prospect ahead of this year's off-season, is weighing up whether to go home to South Australia or stay in Melbourne. The 22-year-old, who is close friends with Burgoyne and fellow Port star Jason Horne-Francis, has emerged as one of the competition's best and most damaging ball-users in the back half. It's why he's attracting offers in excess of $1m per season, particularly from Burgoyne's club Port Adelaide, who are very keen to lure him home. As recently as late last month, the Saints were confident that would hang on to their man. Burgoyne himself has also started to establish himself as a bona-fide AFL player. He's played almost every game since Round 2 last year and has averaged 20 touches per game in 16 matches this year.
Perth Now
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Matt Rowell locks in landmark career decision
In-demand Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell has committed to staying at the Suns. The out-of-contract star has had several Victorian clubs circling as he weighed up his future, but Rowell has settled on staying put, at least for the next two years. 'Matt Rowell has committed to staying at the Suns for two years,' 7NEWS Melbourne's Mitch Cleary reported. 'Rowell's agent Tom Petroro flew to the GC on Thursday where he thrashed out the decision before informing the Suns on Friday of his intention to stay. 'Now both parties will talk money in coming days.' A deal has not been signed yet, but it is now imminent. Rowell was taken with pick No.1 in the 2019 draft, when the Suns also took Noah Anderson at No.2 and Sam Flanders at 11. He polled a maximum nine Brownlow votes in his first three games in the AFL before succumbing to a season-ending shoulder injury in his fourth. Since overcoming that setback and several other injury troubles early in his career, Rowell has become one of the premier inside midfielders in the game, and had been targeted heavily particularly by Victorian clubs, who had tried to lure the 23-year-old home. He met with Geelong prior to the 2025 season, and had strong interest from Collingwood, among others. Cleary reported last month that there was a 'growing nervousness' at the Suns that Rowell would seek a move home, but Dale Thomas forecasted on The Agenda Setters that the midfield bull would stay. 'He'll sign a couple of weeks after the bye. Very confident,' Thomas said late last month. Rowell was drafted alongside high school best mate Anderson, who is now the captain of the club. Anderson last year signed a contract that ties him to the club until the end of 2027, at which point he will reach free agency. Speaking after the Suns' win over St Kilda in May, Anderson said he was doing his best to make sure his mate stays. 'As a little pair, we're helping the team win,' he said. 'I'm doing my best (to convince Rowell to stay). Hopefully the wins can help out a little bit, but he's in a good spot.'
