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Herald Sun
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
SFNL: Every Division 1 club's injury list
Big names aplenty are out injured across Division 1 of the Southern league. See every club's injury list ahead of round 11 below. Bentleigh Injured: Campbell Bedford (hamstring), Andrew Walker (knee), Kayne O'Brien (calf), Lachlan Lawrence (ankle), Josh Mackie (ankle) The Demons injury list had been shrinking, but they were hurt by losing both Lachlan Lawrence and Josh Mackie in their last outing against Dingley in round 10. The pair are both expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks. Cheltenham Injured: Jacob Edwards (concussion), Guy Studley (leg), Luke Verma (hamstring), Riet Pal (ankle), Jairo Hechavarria Coste (foot), Jonathan Zuccala (shoulder), Charlie Brookes (ankle), Tom Brookes (ankle) The Rosellas have been tracking well and are sitting third but are still missing a number of key players. Jacob Edwards is a significant loss and is still a couple of weeks away after sustaining a concussion in round 8, while Riet Pal has proved a valuable addition to Cheltenham's backline but will miss the next five weeks with an ankle issue. Young Charlie Brookes has also suffered a cruel blow and will miss six to eight weeks having ruptured a tendon in his ankle after kicking four goals in his second senior game. Cranbourne Injured: Mitch Tharle (arm), Jed Benham (ACL), Jarryd Barker (finger) The Eagles are set to be without Mitch Tharle for some time for some time after he sustained a nasty broken arm on the weekend, while Barker has been missing since round 6 after breaking his finger. Dingley Injured: Luke Simmonds (shoulder), Mitch Cook (knee), Cam Saultry (shoulder), Kristen Feehan (knee)The Dingoes are flying high with a 10-0 record and also have a relatively strong bill of health across the board. Cam Saultry has been missing all season after crossing from St Bede's but he is thought to be close to a return, meanwhile Kristen Feehan is a costly out, although he only picked up a minor knee injury last round which isn't expected to keep him sidelined for long. East Brighton Injured: Sean Downie (hamstring), Declan Joyce-Lawford (ankle), Ben Reid (hamstring), Kai Love-Linay (ankle), Blake Cochrane (back), Lachlan Brooks (TBC) The Vampires have been hit hard by injury to its top-end talent with captain Kai Love-Linay as well vice-captains Sean Downie and Blake Cochrane all ruled out with injury after round 10. Throw in ex-AFL man Ben Reid too and it's a serious list of outs. Murrumbeena Inured: Thomas Rigby (ankle), Josh Cetinich (concussion), Travis Ogden (ACL), Duncan Gardiner (ACL), Mitch Simmons (MCL), Clayton Kingi (hand), Harrison Lagastses (general soreness), James Corboy (general soreness), Lachie English Murrumbeena has battling injury trouble for long time and still boasts one of Division 1's longest injury lists. The Lions have been plagued by knee issues with both Travis Ogden and Duncan Gardiner tearing their ACLs, while Clayton Kingi has a broken hand. Narre Warren Injured: Jesse Davies (groin), Riley Siwes (thumb), Josh West (foot), Dylan Mutimer (prosterior), Dan Toner (knee) The Magpies had been boasting one of the division's lengthier injury lists, but key trio Kurt Mutimer, Joel Zietsman and Jake Richardson have all been named to return on Saturday night. The three players had all been missing since round 8 after all sustaining injuries against Springvale Districts. Riley Siwes is still expected to be sidelined for some time with a broken thumb while Josh West has a broken foot. Dan Toner has been absent since round 1 after doing his knee. Port Melbourne Colts Injured: Justin Taylor (skull), Jack Berry (pectoral), Max Collier (hamstring) Colts were missing eight to nine senior players a month ago at the height of their injury woes, but are largely out of the woods now. Playing coach Justin Taylor is unlikely to play again this season after fracturing his skull against Dingley in round 9. Taylor's head had collided with his opponent's knee and he described the noise as 'sickening'. Meanwhile, Max Collier cruelly sustained another hamstring injury having just returned from one. Springvale Districts Injured: Daniel Helmore (ankle), Daniel Spence (knee), Kyle Martin (hamstring), Xavier Kinder (hand), Jamie Nguyen (cheekbone), Billy Green (quad), Ky Allock (groin) Springvale Districts has a relatively long injury list but coach Kris Thompson isn't searching for any excuses. Kyle Martin is the most notable loss after injuring his hamstring in round 9, while top small defender Daniel Spence is another costly out, as is Daniel Helmore. St Paul's McKinnon Injured: Chris Rousakis (hamstring/glute), Will Dwyer (calf) Enjoying a strong run of form with four matches unbeaten going into round 11, St Paul's McKinnon is also in a very strong position healthwise.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Western Bulldogs star speaks of personal struggles
Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has opened up about his mental ill health for the first time since taking a leave of absence. The former No.1 pick is looking to make his AFL comeback after recently visiting a health retreat in northern NSW in an effort to get his life and career back on track. Ugle-Hagan has not played this season, but rejoined Bulldogs teammates last week for the first time since April. He had been unable to regularly train with the Dogs since late last year. The 23-year-old took part in a light training session at Whitten Oval, but could still be weeks away from a possible comeback at VFL level. Speaking with ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on the Rip Through It podcast, Ugle-Hagan revealed the extent of his battle, which has included suicidal thoughts. "All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health," Ugle-Hagan said. "It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate, so I couldn't drive.'' Ugle-Hagan said he often felt isolated, and turned to alcohol at the height of his struggles, before spending time at the health retreat. "When you are down, you want to keep finding an upper," he said. "My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the piss, and training with them as well. "But it just had no end goal. I didn't have a game. I didn't have anything. "My mental health wasn't in the right space, so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football." The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the league's mental health plan since taking leave. But Ugle-Hagan, who is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of next season, said he was adamant about resuming his 67-game AFL career. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last week raised the same prospect. "I want to play footy. I can't wait to play footy," Ugle-Hagan said. "I want to kick a f***ing goal in front of those crowds. "I have been watching every single Bulldogs game. I have been supporting them, been watching them. "I will go to games at the end of the year. I genuinely want to play one more (game), I want to play some games. "It's going to be grouse." Ugle-Hagan maintained his commitment to the Bulldogs after trade speculation linked him with a possible trade to the Sydney Swans, given his time spent in NSW. He led the Bulldogs with a career-best 43 goals in 22 appearances last year, but has not featured at any level since the elimination final defeat to Hawthorn. Beveridge has also swatted away suggestions Ugle-Hagan could be on the move, declaring him "our player". "I'm obviously still contracted with the Doggies and I still want to play for them and I want to win a flag," Ugle-Hagan said. "It's the Bulldogs until my contract runs out and then hopefully they offer me another one, but we will see how we go. "They have given me opportunities since day dot, so why can't I get back?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 13YARN 13 92 76 Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has opened up about his mental ill health for the first time since taking a leave of absence. The former No.1 pick is looking to make his AFL comeback after recently visiting a health retreat in northern NSW in an effort to get his life and career back on track. Ugle-Hagan has not played this season, but rejoined Bulldogs teammates last week for the first time since April. He had been unable to regularly train with the Dogs since late last year. The 23-year-old took part in a light training session at Whitten Oval, but could still be weeks away from a possible comeback at VFL level. Speaking with ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on the Rip Through It podcast, Ugle-Hagan revealed the extent of his battle, which has included suicidal thoughts. "All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health," Ugle-Hagan said. "It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate, so I couldn't drive.'' Ugle-Hagan said he often felt isolated, and turned to alcohol at the height of his struggles, before spending time at the health retreat. "When you are down, you want to keep finding an upper," he said. "My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the piss, and training with them as well. "But it just had no end goal. I didn't have a game. I didn't have anything. "My mental health wasn't in the right space, so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football." The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the league's mental health plan since taking leave. But Ugle-Hagan, who is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of next season, said he was adamant about resuming his 67-game AFL career. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last week raised the same prospect. "I want to play footy. I can't wait to play footy," Ugle-Hagan said. "I want to kick a f***ing goal in front of those crowds. "I have been watching every single Bulldogs game. I have been supporting them, been watching them. "I will go to games at the end of the year. I genuinely want to play one more (game), I want to play some games. "It's going to be grouse." Ugle-Hagan maintained his commitment to the Bulldogs after trade speculation linked him with a possible trade to the Sydney Swans, given his time spent in NSW. He led the Bulldogs with a career-best 43 goals in 22 appearances last year, but has not featured at any level since the elimination final defeat to Hawthorn. Beveridge has also swatted away suggestions Ugle-Hagan could be on the move, declaring him "our player". "I'm obviously still contracted with the Doggies and I still want to play for them and I want to win a flag," Ugle-Hagan said. "It's the Bulldogs until my contract runs out and then hopefully they offer me another one, but we will see how we go. "They have given me opportunities since day dot, so why can't I get back?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 13YARN 13 92 76 Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has opened up about his mental ill health for the first time since taking a leave of absence. The former No.1 pick is looking to make his AFL comeback after recently visiting a health retreat in northern NSW in an effort to get his life and career back on track. Ugle-Hagan has not played this season, but rejoined Bulldogs teammates last week for the first time since April. He had been unable to regularly train with the Dogs since late last year. The 23-year-old took part in a light training session at Whitten Oval, but could still be weeks away from a possible comeback at VFL level. Speaking with ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on the Rip Through It podcast, Ugle-Hagan revealed the extent of his battle, which has included suicidal thoughts. "All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health," Ugle-Hagan said. "It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate, so I couldn't drive.'' Ugle-Hagan said he often felt isolated, and turned to alcohol at the height of his struggles, before spending time at the health retreat. "When you are down, you want to keep finding an upper," he said. "My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the piss, and training with them as well. "But it just had no end goal. I didn't have a game. I didn't have anything. "My mental health wasn't in the right space, so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football." The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the league's mental health plan since taking leave. But Ugle-Hagan, who is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of next season, said he was adamant about resuming his 67-game AFL career. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last week raised the same prospect. "I want to play footy. I can't wait to play footy," Ugle-Hagan said. "I want to kick a f***ing goal in front of those crowds. "I have been watching every single Bulldogs game. I have been supporting them, been watching them. "I will go to games at the end of the year. I genuinely want to play one more (game), I want to play some games. "It's going to be grouse." Ugle-Hagan maintained his commitment to the Bulldogs after trade speculation linked him with a possible trade to the Sydney Swans, given his time spent in NSW. He led the Bulldogs with a career-best 43 goals in 22 appearances last year, but has not featured at any level since the elimination final defeat to Hawthorn. Beveridge has also swatted away suggestions Ugle-Hagan could be on the move, declaring him "our player". "I'm obviously still contracted with the Doggies and I still want to play for them and I want to win a flag," Ugle-Hagan said. "It's the Bulldogs until my contract runs out and then hopefully they offer me another one, but we will see how we go. "They have given me opportunities since day dot, so why can't I get back?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 13YARN 13 92 76
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Bulldogs star Ugle-Hagan on mental health struggles
Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has opened up about his mental health struggles for the first time since taking a leave of absence, saying he battled with suicidal thoughts. The former No.1 pick is looking to make his AFL comeback after recently visiting a health retreat in northern NSW in an effort to get his life and career back on track. Ugle-Hagan has not played this season but rejoined Bulldogs teammates earlier this week for the first time since April. He had been unable to regularly train with the Dogs since late last year. The 23-year-old took part in a light training session at Whitten Oval, but could still be weeks away from a possible comeback at VFL level. Speaking with ex-AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson on the Rip Through It podcast, Ugle-Hagan revealed the extent of his battle. "All the noises actually sent me to a rehab facility for my mental health," Ugle-Hagan said. "It got to a point where I had to give my car to a mate, so I couldn't drive - I just didn't trust myself driving. "There were times when I would think about, to be honest with you, just not even worth living. "Definitely - suicidal thoughts would come pretty frequently. "Especially when I felt like I was on my own the whole time, the way I was isolated and put out in the public." Ugle-Hagan said he turned to alcohol at the height of his struggles before spending time at the health retreat. "When you are down, you want to keep finding an upper," Ugle-Hagan said. "My upper was probably staying and hanging out with my mates and getting on the piss, and training with them as well. "But it just had no end goal. I didn't have a game. I didn't have anything. "My mental health wasn't in the right space, so I was struggling, and I found it really tough to even enjoy football." The AFL would need to approve Ugle-Hagan's comeback because he has been under the league's mental health plan since taking leave. But Ugle-Hagan, who is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of next season, said he was adamant on resuming his 67-game AFL career. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge last week raised the same prospect. "I want to play footy. I can't wait to play footy," Ugle-Hagan said. "I want to kick a f***ing goal in front of those crowds. "I have been watching every single Bulldogs game. I have been supporting them, been watching them. "I will go to games at the end of the year. I genuinely want to play one more (game), I want to play some games. "It's going to be grouse." Ugle-Hagan maintained his commitment to the Bulldogs after trade speculation linked him with a possible trade to the Sydney Swans, given his time spent in NSW. He led the Bulldogs with a career-best 43 goals in 22 appearances last year, but has not featured at any level since the elimination final defeat to Hawthorn. Beveridge has also swatted away suggestions Ugle-Hagan could be on the move, declaring him "our player". "I'm obviously still contracted with the Doggies and I still want to play for them and I want to win a flag," Ugle-Hagan said. "It's the Bulldogs until my contract runs out and then hopefully they offer me another one, but we will see how we go. "They have given me opportunities since day dot, so why can't I get back?" Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
Herald Sun
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
SFNL 2025: Inside East Brighton's surprising switch
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern. Followed categories will be added to My News. Responsibility is firmly in the hands of the players at East Brighton. It always was on the field – but now it is off it too. The Vampires snapped a three-match losing streak in Division 1 of the Southern league when they downed Murrumbeena by 38 points in round 9, and coach Nick Jewell has revealed the result came off the back of a significant switch. 'We certainly changed it up … we threw it over to the players and the leaders, they pretty much ran training both nights and we let the captains pick the side in terms of positions and balances in the team,' said Jewell, who is in his final season at the helm of East Brighton. 'Just for a circuit breaker, and a sign to the future. 'It gave us a freshen up and a different look, we made a couple of changes, and shuffled a few positions around, it worked well and seemed to give us energy and a bit of spark.' The leadership group of skipper Kai Love-Linay, ex-AFL man Alex Keath, as well as Sean Downie and Blake Cochrane were at the fore of the decision-making. 'It was time for a different look at it and I thought as coach to hand over and let them take ownership of the side, it worked really well,' Jewell added. 'It really felt like a line in the sand moment after losing three in a row. We needed to get more fun and enjoyment back into it, and the players led that really well from Tuesday night through to the end of the game. 'I think it's important that the senior players take the next step in leadership and are involved, whether it be on-field coaching … get their head around the balance of the sides and points available, I think it's really healthy for them to experience those decisions.' With Nicholas Corp unavailable and Ben Reid still recovering from a hamstring injury, the Vampires line-up against Murrumbeena had a different – and shorter – make-up. 'To kick 32 scoring shots was really pleasing with a different looking forward line to what we've had all year,' Jewell said '(We had a) bit more flexibility and unpredictability than dropping it on a big head every time, that gave us a different look. 'It gave others more responsibility to be at the front and not wait for the bigger names and the bigger guys to land the footy.' Sean Downie spent more time forward and led the way with four goals, while key forward Thomas Lamb stepped up in the absence of Reid and Corp and booted two majors. Jewell was thrilled with Lamb's performance. 'Thomas Lamb played his best game for the year, he was terrific,' Jewell said. 'The way he moved at the footy, he's one that's been strangled a little bit with having three or four forwards up there, limited ball coming your way. 'It got shared around a bit more and I think he really embraced the responsibility.' Off the back of the victory, Jewell said there would be no altering the player-led approach for the season's remainder. 'It won't change from what we did last week, it'll be very much player driven and I'm still there to oversee the decisions,' he said. '(I'm a) guide on game day during the quarters but as we get to the back-end of the year, if the players really believe in the decisions and ideas they come up with it goes a long way to having complete buy-in.'
The Age
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Not to be messed with': Criminals recruited for country's biggest wind farm
When Keys arrived at the wind farm, west of Melbourne, as the AWU's chief delegate, he was determined not to let history repeat. According to project insiders, he began cultivating people who could keep the CFMEU at bay. Among them was ex-AFL player Billy Nicholls, who in 2015 was sentenced to 11 years' jail for shooting two men in their legs over drug disputes. Both victims survived, and Nicholls was convicted of intentionally causing serious his arrest, the former Hawthorn and Richmond player's life had become consumed by ice and a descent into the underworld. Keys told supporters Nicholls had not only left jail a reformed man, but with a tough-guy reputation that ensured the CFMEU had earmarked him to join its growing list of criminals-turned-union reps. Keys got in first, appointing Nicholls his new AWU wind farm deputy delegate. Nicholls would in turn bring his own hard men to the wind farm, proposing as a delegate an ex-Geelong bikie and boxer called Brad Azzopardi, who had been released from prison after being jailed for a dangerous driving incident that left a man dead. Wiser heads in the AWU intervened and Azzopardi, who has a 1 per cent bikie tattoo on his head, was instead given a support job on the wind farm. Nicholls also arranged for ex-bikie Jonny Walker, who served eight years in jail for manslaughter over the fatal bashing of a man in a bikie clubhouse, to get work at the wind farm after the CFMEU turfed Walker amid a bikie cleanout in the wake of the Building Bad scandal in July 2024. Along with hard men, Keys and his deputy were also assembling a group of staunch AWU companies capable of withstanding the CFMEU's pressure and heavy connections. Project sources said 24-7 would come to stand out. Workers from rival labour hire firms were pushed onto its books and 24-7 began promoting, through its website, its achievement in supplying 'approximately 50 skilled people … to one of the largest renewable wind farm projects in the world', as well as its 'close working relationships with industry stakeholders, including unions'. When project and union insiders queried why Keys appeared so enamoured with the labour hire company, despite its lack of obvious civil construction experience or AWU history, they became concerned it was because of the whispers that 24-7 had both gangland and CFMEU protection. When first approached by this masthead a fortnight ago, Keys said he had no knowledge of the firm's criminal links, or of any person called Bassem. He said 24-7 involved only 'two girl directors and the operations manager' and that he had 'never met a guy' called Bassem. Keys subsequently refused to answer further questions on the record, despite repeated attempts by this masthead to quiz him. But photos uncovered by this masthead show Keys, Nicholls and a third AWU delegate being hosted by 24-7 at the Collingwood AFL President's Lunch at the MCG on the day the Building Bad scandal broke last July. In the photos, there is no sign of the firm's female directors. Rather, the AWU trio are snapped at the 24-7 table posing with two brothers, Bassem and Osama Elsayed, along with a third man, Jarrod Hennig. Bassem is a convicted criminal who was accused in a September 2017 bail hearing by a Victoria Police special taskforce of hiring a violent criminal to bribe a grandmother preparing to testify that his brother Osama had shoved a gun in her son's mouth over a drug debt. A detective told the bail hearing of her concerns about Bassem's 'associations with organised crime' and how phone taps had captured him and his younger brother talking about how the violent criminal would be 'taking care of it'. Loading 'They have a conversation, laughing in regards to how loose … [the standover man] is and they know that he has … [previously] murdered someone,' the court heard. The court also heard allegations Bassem had separately extorted an associate over a $100,000 business loan, texting the victim: 'I hope Allah burns you in hell you thief' and allegedly hiring a standover man who threatened to 'rape' the debtor's family. After the victim retracted the most serious allegations from his statement, Bassem was sentenced in 2019 to six months' jail and a 12-month community corrections order. The conviction added to a criminal rap sheet that already included 'offences of violence, dishonesty, firearm, driving and drug offences' and which Victorian Supreme Court judge Rita Zammit described as 'significant'. Osama was, in August 2019, separately jailed for three years and four months for his role in a drug trafficking syndicate and for separate charges of robbery and recklessly causing injury. This drug syndicate was led by the third man photographed at the MCG lunch, Jarrod Hennig, who was jailed for eight years on multiple counts of drug trafficking. Industry, underworld and police sources, along with corporate and court records, reveal Hennig's middle name to be Morgan. He is the 'Jarrod Morgan' whose signature appears on AWU enterprise bargaining agreements secured by 24-7 in 2023 and 2024. Hennig is also married to Rebecca Reed, who signed off on the same documents as 24-7's director. Her co-director, Kristina Kuzmanovska, is Bassem Elsayed's wife. Osama Elsayed also appears to have been involved in the 24-7 group, creating a business called 24-7 Waterproofing in 2024 with fellow convicted drug trafficker Mohsen Mehrijafarloo. In January 2025, 24-7 Labour moved its registered office to a new Northcote business address. On the same day, Osama moved another of his businesses to the same registered office. The address is the office of accountant Charles Pellegrino, who for years has handled the finances of the CFMEU-backed gangland figures Mick Gatto and John Khoury. Pellegrino's Northcote office was raided in March by a federal police team investigating payments to Pellegrino's companies that were allegedly intended for Gatto, Khoury and other construction industry or union players. No charges have been laid. There is no suggestion the Elsayed brothers are the targets of that federal police operation. But they have their own strong links to the CFMEU. A character referee for Bassem at his 2017 bail hearing was ex-kickboxer and bouncer Chris Chrisopoulidis, who told the judge he was 'good friends' with Bassem. Chrisopoulidis would go on to become one of the CFMEU organisers who confronted Keys on the West Gate project. Bassem's wife, Kristina, is also a 50 per cent shareholder of a construction firm which gained a CFMEU enterprise bargaining agreement in 2021. Her co-owner of that business is builder Thomas Chillico, who is facing criminal charges for allegedly bribing a public official to gain construction permits. In a statement, Rebecca Reed said 24-7 'has no knowledge of or involvement with organised crime at all and is in all respects a well-run small family business. Loading 'If anyone has made allegations that 24-7 … is in any way involved with organised crime, those allegations are false,' she wrote. She said that while the company took a 'progressive approach to ex-offenders', Bassem had no 'formal involvement' with her firm. Reed did not answer several specific questions, or respond to further requests. Asked about whether he knew of 24-7 ties to any criminals such as Bassem, AWU secretary Ronnie Hayden said he had 'no idea who any of these people are'. 'When 24-7 came to us … Jared [sic] came with two women, Rebecca and Kristina,' he said. Hayden stressed he had never authorised the AWU to give preferential treatment to any labour hire firm. He conceded it was possible Keys had 'favoured' 24-7 because of concerns other labour hire firms were not giving the AWU the chance to recruit their workers as union members. 'I understand Johnny was pissed off with the labour hire companies that had done that,' he said. Before 24-7 was engaged at Golden Plains, there was the Host Group. It not only supplied multiple workers to the wind farm project but allied itself closely with the AWU in Queensland, contributing dozens of workers and security personnel to the government-funded Centenary Bridge upgrade in Brisbane. Host's director Gary Samuel has recently fallen out dramatically with the AWU over hotly disputed claims of underpayment of workers. But until last year, Host promoted itself boldly as the AWU's preferred labour hire company across the nation, helping it win an important contract with Centenary Bridge's key contractor, BMD Group. That deal partly involved providing security against intimidation tactics carried out by the CFMEU on the project. BMD declined to comment, but this masthead's investigation has confirmed that a security subcontractor used by Host to help do this engaged several high-ranking Comancheros, including the feared bikie group's national president, Bemir Saracevic, to intimidate CFMEU figures in Brisbane last year. While there is no suggestion that Samuel himself was involved in the Comanchero standover, he has a history of underworld relationships. Sources close to Samuel have confirmed he met Saracevic on multiple occasions, having employed one of the bikie boss's close friends as a Host adviser and worker. Royal commission records reveal that in 2011, Samuel advised a building firm owned by Mick Gatto and his fellow underworld identity Mat Tomas (both Tomas and Gatto achieved notoriety by beating separate murder charges). Samuel later went into a failed business venture with Tomas and also ran the Victorian operations of the now-deceased labour hire king Kevin McHugh, whom federal police charged in 2020 with money laundering offences and tax fraud. Loading Samuel is also close to convicted drug trafficker turned businessman Michael La Verde, who married into a prominent Calabrian mafia family and has a host of organised crime connections. La Verde claims on LinkedIn to be involved in Samuel's Host Group, although it is understood this is limited to Samuel providing his friend an email address. Samuel declined to answer specific questions but in a statement said it was 'important to acknowledge the ongoing rivalry between the CFMEU and the AWU' and that 'certain factions of the CFMEU have been linked to organised crime'. 'Our company is law-abiding and has no link to organised crime,' he said. The AWU is now rethinking its backing of the firm at the wind farm and the Centenary Bridge. Quizzed about Host, Hayden conceded the union failed to undertake thorough due diligence of labour hire firms it has supported with EBAs and other union backing. He said the union would lift its game but also urged federal and state governments to do more to weed out sinister players in the industry. Hayden said one vital reform the Albanese government could back was banning labour hire on government-funded projects. 'I think any project that the government are putting taxpayers' money into should be direct employment,' he said. A Victorian government spokesperson said it was 'eradicating the rotten culture' in the construction industry, including through the introduction of new powers for the Labour Hire Authority. Federal Workplace Relations minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was finalising a blueprint to improve the industry and was working on the implementation of a new labour hire system.
