Latest news with #IndigenousAllStars
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane Lions star Josh Dunkley says introduction of secondary tournament would help reduce ‘competitive advantage' in AFL
Brisbane Lions star Josh Dunkley has backed the idea of an in-season tournament, believing it would not only create excitement but also help reduce the 'competitive advantage' that exists in the AFL. Reportedly discussed last week at a meeting of club chief executives, a lucrative secondary tournament, similar to the NBA Cup concept, is apparently being considered for 2028 when Tasmania enters the competition . It would lead to clubs playing each other only once in the regular season, most likely in addition to Gather Round and Rivalry Round matches. 'It'd be great,' Dunkley said on Tuesday. 'If we can play every team once and then have a little in-season tournament, like the NBA do … it'd be really exciting for the competition.' Dunkley said it would also lead to a 'fairer' regular season schedule that was compromised by all teams not playing each other the same amount of times. 'When you play everyone once, it's good, it's fair, and you get to see how you go against opposition in one game,' he said. 'At the moment, there are times where we're playing different teams and other teams are playing different teams, and the competitive advantage is always a bit of a question mark for a lot of people. 'For us, it's about playing the best, and everyone, once, and then that mid-season tournament would be pretty cool.' Dunkley also supported the introduction of a wildcard finals round and the return of State of Origin football. '(This year) we saw the Indigenous All-Stars play that game before the season started, and that was really exciting,' he said. 'To be able to do that across the states of origin that you can represent, and go back to your state and enjoy that moment with other players that are from similar areas, that's priceless. 'I'm not sure the time of year that it's played, but if it is played mid-season, it'd be exciting.' Former Western Bulldog Dunkley and the second-placed Lions are chasing a hat-trick of wins when they meet struggling Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. The Blues are in 12th place on the ladder with just six wins from 16 games, with pressure mounting on coach Michael Voss, who captained the Lions to three successive premierships from 2001 to 2003. 'I've experienced when you're a bit under pressure at a Melbourne footy club, and it is hard, but you also (feel) there's nothing to lose,' said Dunkley in anticipation of a desperate Blues performance. 'That element of their mental thinking behind the game will be that their backs are against the wall. They've got nothing to lose, so we've got to really prepare for that. 'You get the best footy out of teams when they're thinking like that, and they've got that freedom in their game, so we're going to have to be on edge on Thursday night because they'll be rocking up, and we know that they'll play their best footy.' The Brisbane vice-captain said the Lions would relish another road trip, having lost just once in eight games outside of Queensland this season, as well as winning three successive matches interstate in last year's finals series to clinch the premiership. 'We love getting away together. We talk about our brotherhood, our mateship, and relationships that we have, not only as players but with the staff and the coaches,' Dunkley said. 'It's been nice to be able to have a good record, but we don't really look at that. We look at what we're facing this week, and that's the Blues, who will be red-hot.'
ABC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Annual NAIDOC round showcases next generation in Physical Disability Rugby League
It's a cliché, but sport really was the winner in the annual Combined Indigenous All Stars versus All Stars Physical Disability Rugby League fixture. While the rules may be different, the action on the field at Redfern Oval on Sunday was every bit recognisable as rugby league. There were length-of-the-field tries, chip-and-chase kicks, and big-hit tackles. The Combined Indigenous All Stars players were hoping to hold the shield for an unprecedented third straight year. Bill Bussell is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri man who also lives with cerebral palsy. Bill is one of the most respected players in the game with over 100 PDRL appearances to his name. Doctors told Bill's mother, Kay, that he would never walk, talk or live past the age of 10. Yet the player affectionately known as "Bunyip" by his teammates recently celebrated his 48th birthday. The phrase "one big family" is used by just about anyone who plays, coaches, or watches the NSWPDRL. "It's not just a sport, it's a community and that's what I'm probably most proud about," NSWPDRL founder George Tonna said. The Combined Indigenous All Stars versus PDRL All Stars fixture is a centrepiece of the PDRL season and is played at the start of NAIDOC week. The Indigenous team is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, as well as Indigenous peoples from New Zealand and the Pacific. Todd Dorward is a Kullilli man living on Dharug country and has been a stalwart of the Indigenous side over the past decade. A prolific artist who is visually impaired and deaf, Todd designed the Indigenous side's jersey worn in the fixture since 2023. "It's very special, I can't describe it in words really," he said. Todd said the NAIDOC fixture gave him a chance to practise his culture on and off the field. "Smoking ceremonies welcome people to country, and to cleanse ourselves of bad spirits," he said. "And it lets the ancestors know that we're conducting formal events." Now playing with the Roosters, Todd has played for multiple clubs and represented Australia since he started the sport in 2015. A talented multi-sport athlete, Todd's living room is filled with medals and trophies for football, cricket, and rugby league. "I can't see why anything should stop anyone with a disability from playing rugby league or any sport in any manner," he said. George Tonna knows the transformative power of playing rugby league for people living with a physical disability. "It's saving lives," he said. A former player let him know the impact the game had on them. "He approached me and said, 'Thanks for organising because it saved my life.' As a lifelong South Sydney fan, he wanted to be able to play the game he was passionate about and not just watch from the sidelines. Since first established in 2010, the PDRL has grown from a few mates on a paddock to a four-team league backed by the NRL. Australia has a national PDRL side that has played in international tournaments. The PDRL includes eight of the 10 impairment classifications used at the Paralympics. But where this code differs is that athletes in different classifications all play at the same time. "All different disabilities [have to] fit in on the same field," George said. "So we came up with the concept of [players wearing] black shorts as tackle and red shorts as touch." Fumbles or dropped balls are counted as a tackle rather than a knock-on, and there are no scrums in this competition. Playing time is shorter with 20-minute halves. In 2026, Australia will host the second PDRL World Cup. NSWPDRL is also working with the Gold Coast Titans to develop a State of Origin series featuring NSW and Queensland, which has been a dream since the competition started. George believed the sport's strong community and a well-established competition would set up the next generation of players. "I can't play forever, so we need the young fellas to keep the game going for years to come," he said. One of those new faces is Wiradjuri teen Rowen Grooms. The 14-year-old lives with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, which can cause heart abnormalities and developmental delays. Rowen was never really interested in rugby league until he discovered the PDRL. Now he owns a football, which he kicks around with his grandfather, and watches games on television by his side. His grandmother, Denise Grooms, saw his confidence soar. "In his first game, the others were all so encouraging and letting him know what to do, and he scored a try," she said. "I have to say we are very proud grandparents as we watch him take the field to either train or play. On Sunday, the PDRL All Stars reclaimed the shield — and bragging rights — with a 26–4 victory. For Todd Dorward, the game was about more than just the scoreboard. "It's all about feeling proud of who you are and where you come from, and being with your people and culture," he said.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy legend holds back the tears as he issues huge request to team-mates as he makes big career decision
Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. 'I have been working my backside off to try and get back to play some form of footy and while mentally I am still committed, unfortunately my body wouldn't allow me to continue playing,' Walters said. 'I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out.' Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. 'I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment,' Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. 'This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders.' Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. 'It's been a hard year for myself personally,' a tearful Walters said. 'But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. 'I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. 'I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup.' With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards.
The Advertiser
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Let me drink from that cup': Walters has last request
Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards. Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards. Retiring veteran Michael Walters reckons Fremantle can win the AFL flag as early as this year and he's made his teammates promise to let him be part of the premiership celebrations. Walters fought back tears on Thursday when he fronted the player group to inform them of his retirement, effective immediately, due to an ongoing knee injury. It brings an end to a glittering 239-game AFL career that featured 365 goals and countless highlights. The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery during the summer, made it back to appear for the Indigenous All Stars and a Dockers pre-season match, before being sidelined again. Walters made his comeback on limited minutes via the WAFL last month, but the writing was on the wall when he pulled up sore from that match and was unable to back it up. "I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level and it just didn't work out." Fremantle (10-5) sit just half a game adrift of second spot, putting them in a strong position to challenge for this year's flag. "I reckon they can go all the way if they stay in the moment," Walters told the media on Thursday afternoon. "This group is a mature group, they've got the right coaching staff and everyone around them, with the right leaders." Earlier in the day, Walters let his emotions flow as he addressed his teammates - and he used the moment to ask them for one final favour. "It's been a hard year for myself personally," a tearful Walters said. "But you guys made it so much easier. I'm going to miss the coffee yarns, just the hanging out and FaceTime calls. "I've been around the game a long time, and I'm going to miss that the most - hanging out with you guys each and every day. "I want you guys to promise me one thing. When you do win that premiership, let me drink a can of Jacks (Jack Daniel's) out of that cup." With Walters' future now determined, more attention will turn to fellow veteran Nat Fyfe. Fyfe, who also underwent knee surgery over the summer, missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old made a successful comeback last month, but he will now miss the next two to four weeks after injuring his calf while warming up as the sub during last week's 12-point win over St Kilda. Walters, selected with pick No.53 in the 2008 national draft, won Fremantle's goalkicking award across five separate seasons and will go down as one of the club's best ever forwards.
West Australian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Michael Walters: Fremantle Dockers great announces retirement, effective immediately
Fremantle will farewell a club legend with five-team leading goalkicker Michael Walters announcing his immediate retirement on Thursday morning. The man affectionately known as 'Sonny' will cut short his 17th season at the club with injuries keeping him from adding to his games tally this season. Ironically, it means his final game was against the club he had been a talisman for when he captained the Indigenous All Stars to a win over the Dockers in February Walters retires as a legend of the club, having been drafted with pick 53 in 2008, going on to kick 365 goals from his 239 games, earning an All-Australian blazer and life membership in 2019. Only Hall of Famer Matthew Pavlich has more goals than Walters, while he sits seventh for games played, one behind Nat Fyfe and is the club's all-time Indigenous games record holder. He was also part of the 2013 grand final side, kicking two goals in a losing effort, and while he won't be there as the Dockers look to climb the premiership mountain this season, the 34-year-old says he's at peace with the decision. 'I have been working my backside off to try and get back to play some form of footy, and while mentally I am still committed, unfortunately my body wouldn't allow me to continue playing,' Walters said. 'I never left a stone unturned, I tried to return and play again at the top level, and it just didn't work out.'
