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Herald Sun
33 minutes ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Michael Voss coaching future: Denis Pagan on Carlton coach, culture
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Carlton coach Denis Pagan has called on the embattled Blues to hold a club-wide summit in an attempt to fix their decades-long mediocrity instead of sacking Michael Voss. The dual Kangaroos premiership coach, who was sacked by Carlton in 2007 after five frustrating seasons, said the Blues had to stop blaming coaches for their cultural issues and put the collective ahead of personal animosities. While club figures called for calm on Friday, Voss remains under intense pressure to hold his job after the Blues' finals hopes evaporated in an embarrassing loss to Port Adelaide. 'This club has got inherent issues … they keep blaming and sacking coaches,' Pagan told this masthead. 'You could imagine how Michael Voss would be feeling now. I feel sorry for him. How can you coach under these circumstances? They all looked like startled rabbits (on Friday night). 'When I was there, the place was that toxic. It was a snake pit, everyone was potting everyone. There were Chinese whispers, factions and divisions everywhere. 'I reckon there is only one way to go now and that is for everyone to be on the same page.' Pagan urged the Blues leaders to stage a summit in the coming weeks involving the players, the coaching staff, the board, the administration, prominent past players and key coterie heads as a sign of unity, and to push for a series of key indicators to be adopted for the next 18 months. 'You can't sack another coach … that would be stupid,' Pagan said. 'I would bring everyone together in a summit. I'd get them all to work out some key performance indicators, agree to them, and then come together like never before. 'If anyone steps out of life or does not adhere to the plan (the key indicators), then I would give them their marching orders. 'If those key indicators are not met across the next 18 months, and if things are not working, then you can go for it and make a decision (on the coach).' The Blues have sacked six senior coaches this century – Wayne Brittain, Pagan, Brett Ratten, AFL coaching games record-holder Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton and David Teague – with Voss under pressure, despite coaching the club to the past two finals series. Pagan also dismissed suggestions the Blues should look at trading out one of their big key forwards Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay. 'I can't understand all the talk about getting rid of Curnow and McKay … you can't get enough talent through the door,' he said. But he stressed Curnow could benefit from tutelage from a star forward of the past, such as North Melbourne great Wayne Carey, 'All I ever see is Charlie putting his hand up and they (the Blues players) put it on his head,' Pagan said. 'Get someone like Wayne Carey down and teach him how to lead … to do a stop-start lead, a diagonal lead, a zig-zag lead. he has only one string to his bow.'
Herald Sun
33 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
'Not a god': arguments end in Combs trial ahead of jury deliberations
Sean "Diddy" Combs's lawyer aimed Friday to skewer the credibility of the music mogul's accusers, saying in closing arguments they were out for money while rejecting any notion he led a criminal ring. But in their rebuttal -- the trial's final stage before jurors are tasked with deciding the verdict -- prosecutors tore into the defense, saying Combs's team had "contorted the facts endlessly." Prosecutor Maurene Comey told jurors that by the time Combs -- once among the most powerful people in music -- had committed his clearest-cut offenses, "he was so far past the line he couldn't even see it." "In his mind he was untouchable," she told the court as the case came to a dramatic close. "The defendant never thought that the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them." "That ends in this courtroom," she said. "The defendant is not a god." For most of Friday's hearing defense attorney Marc Agnifilo picked apart, and even made light of, the testimony of women who were in long-term relationships with Combs, and who said he had coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties with paid escorts. Agnifilo scoffed at the picture painted by prosecutors of a violent, domineering man who used his employees, wealth and power to foster "a climate of fear" that allowed him to act with impunity. Combs, 55, is a "self-made, successful Black entrepreneur" who had romantic relationships that were "complicated" but ultimately consensual "love stories," Agnifilo said. In his freewheeling, nearly four-hour-long argument, Agnifilo aimed to confuse the methodic narrative US attorney Christy Slavik provided one day prior. She had spent nearly five hours meticulously walking the jury through the charges and their legal basis, summarizing thousands of phone, financial, travel and audiovisual records along with nearly seven weeks of testimony from 34 witnesses. Central to their case is the claim that Combs led a criminal enterprise of senior employees -- including his chief-of-staff and security guards -- who "existed to serve his needs." But Agnifilo underscored that none of those individuals testified against Combs, nor were they named as co-conspirators in the indictment. "This is supposed to be simple," the defense counsel told jurors. "If you find that you're in the weeds of this great complexity, maybe it's because it just isn't there." "It takes a lot of courage to acquit," he said in closing. If convicted, Combs faces upwards of life in prison. - 'Brazen' - Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane described abuse, threats and coercive sex in excruciating detail, for days. Combs's defense has conceded that domestic violence was a feature of the artist's relationships, but that his outbursts did not amount to sex trafficking. The defense insisted the women were consenting adults making their own choices. Prosecutor Comey snapped back that they were being "manipulated" into "brazen" acts of sex trafficking, reiterating once again for jurors what the government says are the clearest-cut examples. Agnifilo pointed to Ventura's civil lawsuit against Combs in which she was granted $20 million: "If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it would be Cassie," he said. Comey called that notion insulting: "What was her prize? Black eyes? A gash in her head? Sex for days with a UTI?" Agnifilo also pointed to a violent episode between Combs and Jane, when she says she struck him in an argument before he brutally beat her, struck her down in the shower, and then forced her into giving an escort oral sex. "Jane may have started that fight, but he finished it with a vengeance," Comey said, calling that incident the most obvious sex trafficking case and saying he had "literally beaten her into submission." Throughout the trial, jurors were shown voluminous phone records, including messages of affection and desire from both women -- and Agnifilo emphasized the love and romance once again. Both prosecutors said taking those words literally, and in isolation, doesn't paint the whole picture. They also referenced testimony from a forensic psychologist who explained to jurors how victims become ensnared by abusers. "The defense is throwing anything they can think of at the wall, hoping something will stick," Comey said. On Monday, Judge Arun Subramanian will instruct jurors on how to apply the law to the evidence for their deliberations. Then, 12 New Yorkers will determine Combs's future. mdo/sla Originally published as 'Not a god': arguments end in Combs trial ahead of jury deliberations
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Beau Webster's DRS pain, Travis Head unlucky on day three
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia have fought their way back into the first Test in Barbados with a trio of half-centuries to Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head. But, as has been the case throughout this Test, there was plenty happening at Bridgetown. Here's what you missed while you were sleeping. FOLLOW LIVE: Australia hunt wickets late on day three SEVENTH HELL West Indies coach Daren Sammy said after day two that his team needed a 'bollocking' after dropping six catches over the first two days of the Test. The hosts practised work in the cordon before play. And yet Justin Greaves still couldn't hang onto a chance gifted by Travis Head on 21, denying Alzarri Joseph a wicket and continuing the pain for the Windies. AS PLUMB AS IT GETS The Kensington Oval pitch had been playing tricks since day one, and balls had started to keep low. Sensing that a ball would have his name on it, Head sought to attack, and did successfully, getting to 62. It was a sensible call, because that ball duly arrived, with Shamar Joseph shooting one through that trapped the left-hander stone cold in front as he lost his balance. Joseph didn't need to appeal, with Head walking off before the finger was raised. HOLDING COURT Third umpire Adrian Holdstock had been in Sammy's sights at the end of day two following a string of contentious calls that went the way of the tourists. Well there was finally some good news for the Windies on an UltraEdge front when Beau Webster departed on review with a spike showing he had nicked one down the leg side on 63. HIT THE ROOF Alex Carey played a classic punchy wicketkeeper's innings at No.7, blasting his way to 50 from just 40 balls including two sixes. The second six brought up his half-century as he danced down the wicket and launched Justin Greaves over deep mid-off and onto the roof of the Cricket West Indies hospitality building. Originally published as What you missed overnight: Travis Head undone by day three pitch, Beau Webster's DRS pain
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
‘Don't want to do it': Jason King's commitment after daughter Jordan Liberty's suicide death
Don't miss out on the headlines from Health. Followed categories will be added to My News. Jason King would give anything to have those difficult, awkward conversations with his daughter. Even the toughest talk is easier than facing the silence of her death. Mr King lost his daughter Jordan Liberty to suicide and while he would prefer to keep his grief to himself, he knows talking about it can save others. Within hours of posting on social media about his plan to make a documentary honouring Jordan, Mr King received a very special message. 'It was from a young person who saw my post just at the right time,' he told 'That person was about to go off social media, delete accounts, preparing for the end but seeing the post stopped it. 'Knowing it has already helped one person is motivating, as hard as it is for me. I really don't want to do it but the more we talk about it, the more we can make change.' Jordan Liberty died by suicide. Now her dad Jason King is making a documentary about it to help others. Mr King said there are so many things he wishes he could go back and say to 18-year-old Jordan. 'I would say I love you, I miss you every day. I'm doing this for you. I'm making this film because your life mattered,' he said. 'I want others to feel the love you couldn't always feel for yourself. You couldn't stay but your story can still help others.' He wishes he could say 'tomorrow will be better' but he knows Jordan must have had many of those better tomorrows, just not enough to keep her alive. The documentary will explore Jordan's journal notes, her friendships, her trials and triumphs. 'The doco is inspired by a desire to find out more about who she was, unpack what happened to her and really focus on how we can find joy and hope in the aftermath of something like this,' said her grieving dad who has learnt to be kind to himself. Jordan was 18. Jordan's dad's documentary will focus on 'who she was'. 'That has meant being sober for the last 18 months,' he said. 'Like so many Australians, especially blokes, I self-medicated in unhealthy ways to try to get through hard times. This increased as I grieved Jordan, and I realised that if I was going to honour her life, make it count, I needed to get real about howI was turning up in my own life. 'The difference has been profound. By being more present and having a better relationship with myself, it has improved all my other relationships, including with my two other children now aged 12 and 15, and the one I now have with Jordan's memory and how I deal with the ongoing grief. It's made the difficult talks I still have to have so much easier.' New research by News Corp's Growth Distillery with Medibank found two thirds of 18- to 30-year-olds say they would find it hard to tell their parents or older close family members that they are struggling with mental wellbeing. For that age group, parents are the number one relationship that they wish they could talk to more, with almost half saying so. Half of all parents of 16- to 30-year-olds said they would find it hard to tell their children they were having challenges or struggling with mental wellbeing. Jason King is making a documentary to help other parents and vulnerable young people. Picture: Adam Edwards He will make sure Jordan's death was not in vain. Mr King says for people living in regional Australia, the problems seem to be amplified. 'Being in a remote area or small town when we lose someone, particularly a young person, it can impact the whole community,' he said. Mr King wants other parents and young people to know it's never too late. He will make sure Jordan's death is not in vain. To support the Jordan Liberty Project visit Originally published as 'Don't want to do it': Jason King's commitment after daughter Jordan Liberty's suicide death
Herald Sun
5 hours ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
Aussie mum shocked by mental health wait for struggling child
Don't miss out on the headlines from Anxiety & Depression. Followed categories will be added to My News. A mother has shared her heartbreak at her daughter's spiral into anxiety aged just six, refusing school and food amid a year-long wait for treatment. Despite working in the mental health sector, Melbourne mum Sol Mardones faced a nightmarish battle to get help for her daughter Jeannie which only made her mental health issues worse. Mrs Mardones, an executive at Smiling Mind, said the family struck delay after delay in the system, and were forced to watch as Jeannie became a withdrawn, worried and tearful child who was scared of going to school. Sol Mardones and her daughter Jeannie, 8. Picture: Jason Edwards She has now joined a campaign to push for urgent government investment in mental health services for children. 'It was really distressing for my husband Matt and I to watch her go through that,' Mrs Mardones said. 'She went from a confident, smart, happy kid to an anxious child who doubted herself.' 'It was more than a year of advocacy and thousands of dollars before we found help. 'But by then, things were dire. 'I was shocked by how hard it was to get what we needed, and I'm someone who works in the sector.' Mrs Mardones said Jeannie first began to show signs of distress in Year 1, but attempts to get help from the school fell on deaf ears. For months, she only went to school for half the week, with her husband Matt going part-time at work as they attempted to get to the bottom of her issues. 'The rubber really hit the road when the stress of school changed in Year 1,' Mrs Mardones said. 'She was in a composite class and the pressure to perform academically, even at that young age, and to sit still and navigate social issues with older children in the classroom, were really challenging for her. 'It made sense when she was diagnosed with neurodiversity. 'But at the time her school wasn't well-equipped to recognise the signs of her distress and didn't believe us or validate our concerns.' She said they hit more brick walls during multiple GP visits, with their concerns initially 'dismissed and minimised'. 'It took Jeannie to get to a really severe level of distress to finally get a referral to see a pediatrician,' she said. 'Once we had the referral, it was months of waiting to get that appointment, and even more months to get other types of support.' Jeannie, now eight, returned to her happy self with treatment and support after doctors diagnosed her as neurodivergent in 2023. 'She's at a different school now, and she's got her spark back,' Mrs Mardones said. She is now urging other parents to have important conversations with their children about mental health, and educate them in emotional literacy. Smiling Mind is leading a push calling for more investment in prevention for children. Mental Health Australia is also pushing for the government to address unprecedented levels of mental illness in children and the 'huge gaps' in support for those aged 12 and below. Among its priorities are reducing waiting times of up to 12 months for psychologists, developing tailored services for children, and more investment in early intervention. 'As a first step, we'd like to see real, tangible commitments across (all) governments to invest in universal platforms, like early learning centres and schools, to both support the prevention of mental health conditions in the first place and respond to emerging needs,' chief exeuctive Carolyn Nikoloski said. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said all Australian governments had agreed at a joint Health and Mental Health Ministers meeting in June that children's mental health was 'a priority'. 'We need to make sure children, and their families have the support and resources they need,' he said in a statement. 'That's why the Albanese Government continues to roll out a national network of 17 Kids Hubs for children aged 0 – 12 years, 11 of which are already operational.' Kids Hubs offer multidisciplinary services including mental health support for families and children aged 0-12, with MHA advocating for the network to be expanded. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, helping Australian families better tackle mental wellbeing. To follow the series and access all stories, tips and advice, visit our new Health section.
