James Cooney, Senior Sport Reporter, Australia

James Cooney is an Australian journalist and the former editor of Empire Magazine Australasia, UFC Magazine Australia and Football Plus. He has written for a number of publications and has a passion for all sports - particularly boxing, MMA and football. He has a Communications degree from the University of Western Sydney and is the most recent addition to the Daily Mail Australia Sport team.

Coverage: Sport

MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM JAMES COONEY

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Inside the romance between footy star, 23, and another big name in Aussie sport - who's 10 years older than him

23/07/25 03:38

Fremantle Dockers star Luke Jackson kicked a goal in his team's huge win over Collingwood on Sunday - and he's been kicking goals off the field, too....read

Kristie Mewis drops big news about her wedding to Sam Kerr - and it proves the event is closer than you think
23/07/25 12:58
Sam Kerr and her American fiancee have kept their wedding plans behind closed doors since they got engaged in 2023 - but now Kristie has given their fans an update.
- 28 comments
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Footy legend Joel Selwood takes a brave step after losing two of his AFL star brothers in twin tragedies
22/07/25 07:53
The deaths of identical twins Adam and Troy Selwood came just weeks apart earlier this year and rocked the footy world to its core.
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Indigenous AFL star turned Logie winner Tony Armstrong claims Aussies have 'racism fatigue'
22/07/25 06:04
Popular TV star Armstrong - who quit his high-profile role with the ABC last year - believes there's a worsening problem that's stopping First Nations Aussies from making progress.
Double delight for Matildas fans as two of the team's stars drop huge news about their love lives
22/07/25 02:37
Matildas fans are cheering this week after the heartwarming news that both Clare Wheeler and Alex Chidiac have experienced happy milestones with the loves of their lives.
See the moment security has to step in and save Channel Seven star as he gets caught up in a heated clash with a rival fan at the footy
22/07/25 01:20
The Front Bar host Andy Maher was watching his beloved Carlton finally break their long losing streak at the MCG when the action took a dramatic turn.
- 2 comments
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Tour de France star explains strange reason he stole fan's sign
21/07/25 10:49
Tour de France rider Julian Alaphilippe left spectators and viewers stunned when he snatched the sign out of a woman's hands and rode off with it on Sunday.
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Revealed: The bizarre reason Tour de France star STOLE a fan's cardboard sign, ripped it up and shoved it under his jersey
21/07/25 06:11
Tour de France rider Julian Alaphilippe left spectators and viewers stunned when he snatched the sign out of a woman's hands and rode off with it on Sunday.
- 226 comments
- 26 shares
Tragedy as talented athlete Tommy Oswald dies aged just 33 after becoming known as 'Australia's nicest bloke' thanks to a stunning act of generosity
21/07/25 03:17
The Aussie athletics community has been rocked by the tragic death of much-loved young father Tommy Oswald, who made headlines for all the right reasons 10 years ago.
- 3 comments
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Footy great Patrick Dangerfield opens up about the drink-driving tragedy that killed a beloved member of his family
21/07/25 02:03
Patrick Dangerfield knows all too well how Australians' lives can be turned upside down due to a split-second incident on our roads.
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NRL coach is busted on video losing his mind at his players for daring to take a shower
21/07/25 12:51
Gold Coast coach Des Hasler's year went from bad to worse on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval as his Titans blew their lead to lose to the Wests Tigers.
Hawthorn star rushed to hospital for emergency surgery following clash with Port Adelaide
20/07/25 05:48
Hawks midfielder Finn Maginness was flown to hospital with a lacerated kidney following his side's victory over Port Adelaide on Saturday.
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Boxing ref reveals security escorted him to his car after Gallen-Williams bout following threats
20/07/25 01:01
Boxing referee Les Fear has complained to Combat Sport NSW over conduct from Sonny Bill Williams' camp after Wednesday night's bout with Paul Gallen in Homebush.
- 3 comments
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Jack Ginnivan mocks Ken Hinkley with priceless celebration as Hawthorn get payback against Port Adelaide
19/07/25 10:44
Hawthorn have exacted some belated payback on Port Adelaide with a slogging 38-point win to revive their top-four hopes.
Footy star Abbey Holmes makes a stunning decision about her TV career just seven weeks after giving birth to her first child
17/07/25 05:37
The great of the women's game welcomed her son Braxton into the world on June 6, revealing his birth didn't exactly go according to plan.
- 16 comments
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Footy star Jeremy Howe reveals he took so many drugs to overcome an injury that his wife wouldn't let him pick up their three-year-old son
17/07/25 02:58
Collingwood veteran Jeremy Howe suffered a sickening arm break in a spectacular collision in the first match of 2023 - and his battle to return to full health took a terrible toll.
Revealed: The two stupid mistakes that doomed Sonny Bill Williams to a loss against Paul Gallen in their controversial fight
17/07/25 12:57
Paul Gallen claimed a narrow win over bitter rival Sonny Bill Williams in their long-awaited grudge match on Wednesday night, leaving fight fans debating who really won the bout.
- 7 comments
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Dad who took his son on golfing trip of a lifetime hits a hole-in-one - and what happened next has left the sport in disbelief
16/07/25 05:57
New Zealander Jim Rohrstaff and his son Blake could not have anticipated what awaited them when they tackled a historic course in Scotland last weekend.
- 32 comments
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Alex McKinnon hits back after copping a stunning snub from his NRL club on a day that brought back stark memories of the game he was paralysed in
16/07/25 04:12
Former NRL star Alex McKinnon's life changed forever when he played the Storm in 2014. When his old club took on Melbourne over the weekend, they made a very insensitive mistake.
- 3 comments
- 72 shares
Disgraced cricket star Stuart MacGill opens up about his struggles after being convicted of dealing cocaine - and why he's jobless and worried for his kids
16/07/25 01:52
MacGill was was found not guilty of taking part in a large commercial drug supply, but guilty of the lesser charge of supplying an indictable quantity of cocaine.
- 3 comments
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Why Indigenous AFL star Cyril Rioli - who became a recluse from the game over racism scandal - is making a stunning return to the field
15/07/25 07:43
Cyril Rioli won four premierships with Hawthorn, then walked away from the sport over a racism scandal that sent shockwaves through the league.
- 16 comments
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Wheelchair-bound NRL star Alex McKinnon is hit with two shocking insults by the club he was playing for when he was paralysed
15/07/25 06:16
Former NRL star Alex McKinnon's world fell apart when the Knights played Melbourne in 2014, but he has battled back to find a new career, and a new love.
- 4 comments
- 7 shares
Can you spot the telltale sign that explains why footy fans are losing their minds over player who kicked five goals in a match for his country footy club?
15/07/25 03:17
Country footballer Jacob Mibus has been hailed as 'amazing' and 'a legend' after his top-shelf effort for Victoria's Penshurst club recently.
- 4 comments
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Sonny Bill Williams breaks boxing's biggest rule as he makes stunning confession about his fight with Paul Gallen - who wants to punch on in his UNDERPANTS
15/07/25 12:32
Sonny Bill Williams is a slim favourite heading into Wednesday night's long-awaited showdown, which has been fuelled by years of bad blood between the pair.
- 12 comments
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Paul Gallen labels Sonny Bill Williams 'a disgusting human being' and accuses him of shocking act during fiery press conference
14/07/25 05:15
Paul Gallen has taken aim at Sonny Bill Williams during a fiery press conference ahead of the pair's highly anticipated heavyweight showdown.
- 5 comments
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French woman shocked after realising AFL team copied her national anthem
14/07/25 02:30
A French tourist visiting Australia was left astonished after attending an AFL where she discovered that the Brisbane Lions Football Club's team song sounded very familiar.
- 4 comments
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NRL star Bradman Best shares heartwarming gender reveal with partner Kayla Fenech
14/07/25 12:45
NRL star Bradman Best and his partner Kayla Fenech have shared their heartwarming gender reveal video, as the couple prepare to welcome their first child.
Nick Kyrgios makes cryptic post after Jannik Sinner defeats Carlos Alcaraz in Wimbledon final
13/07/25 11:35
Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios has posted a cryptic message on social media following Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon victory over rival Carlos Alcaraz on Monday morning.
- 39 comments
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NRL star Nicho Hynes reveals emotional meaning behind try celebration: 'I'm sending lots of love'
13/07/25 05:28
Sharks star Nicho Hynes has revealed that his post-try celebration on Friday night was dedicated to his good friend Cameron Munster who recently lost his father, Steven.
- 1 comment
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Nick Kyrgios apologises to Rafael Nadal after forging tennis great's signature and costing him thousands
13/07/25 02:20
Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios has revealed the way he got back at Rafael Nadal following his loss to the tennis legend at the 2017 China Open final.
- 90 comments
- 74 shares
Footy fans stunned by AFL star's post-game interview after suffering shocking injury
13/07/25 01:07
AFL fans were left stunned by Andrew Brayshaw after he delivered a post-match interview while blood streamed from a head wound he sustained during his side's comeback victory.
Maroons forward reprimanded for extraordinary comments about Origin ref: 'Double agent'
12/07/25 10:48
Maroons player Josh Kerr has been hit with a breach notice for labelling Origin referee Ashley Klein a 'double agent' following Queensland's victory last week.
- 2 comments
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Inside the Origin after-party: Badly hungover star opens up about Queensland's wild celebrations - and reveals who the ringleader was: 'It was scary'
10/07/25 04:15
The Maroons were celebrating wildly on the field just after the fulltime siren on Wednesday night, but the team's party afterwards took proceedings up a few notches.
Footy fans unleash on their State of Origin villain after NSW crash to awful loss - and they've targeted one of the last names you'd expect
10/07/25 01:59
The Blues were heavy favourites to win the series on Wednesday night. Instead, Queensland made history by winning a decider in Sydney - and supporters pointed the finger of blame.
- 10 comments
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See the fan video that proves the Blues' State of Origin loss is one of the worst EVER
10/07/25 01:04
Queensland left New South Wales stunned as they won back State of Origin bragging rights on Wednesday evening - and many Blues fans made a stunning statement.
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Troubled footy star's ex speaks for the first time since their split in cryptic video about disturbing behaviour
09/07/25 06:19
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's ex girlfriend, Liv Kelly, has commented for the first time since the couple's breakup in 2024, making a cryptic post about disturbing behaviour.
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AFL coach opens up about the 'dark side of footy' after getting death threat
09/07/25 03:37
The AFL Integrity Unit is investigating a death threat aimed at Carlton coach Michael Voss as his team's struggles take a horrible turn.
- 4 comments
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Read the heartbreaking words State of Origin star Cameron Munster's father used to praise his son just a day before his shock death
09/07/25 02:22
Cameron Munster is preparing to lead his team out for Wednesday night's State of Origin decider, carrying the weight of personal loss after the tragic death of his father Steven.
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Footy WAG exposes VERY unusual rule in 'prenup' with her AFL star boyfriend: 'People think I'm kidding, but this is a huge no-no!'
09/07/25 12:48
Paris Tier, the girlfriend of AFL player Conor Stone, has divided fans by coming clean on the strict rule she gets her man to follow in order to preserve their romance.
- 76 comments
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Footy star reveals the utterly bizarre way he overcame the same injury that has robbed the Matildas of Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler
08/07/25 07:56
Like Kerr and Mary Fowler, Sydney Swans premiership player Alex Johnson ruined the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. But his path back to the field was very different.
The staggering cost of going to the AFL grand final revealed: Here's what $6295 will get you at the MCG - and fans are NOT happy
08/07/25 06:00
Going to the year's biggest game is every footy fan's dream - but the bigwigs in the corporate boxes are going to live that dream in the sort of style the average supporter can't even imagine this year.
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Nick Kyrgios reveals stunning plan to hold 'battle of the sexes' tennis match against world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka
08/07/25 12:58
The Aussie and the reigning Australian and US Open champion want to emulate the history-making match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.
- 5 comments
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Can you spot the embarrassing mistake that has seen an NRLW team get blasted for 'getting their jerseys from Temu'?
07/07/25 06:45
The Dragons' NRLW team won their first match of the season in fine style as they beat Canberra - but their fans were left scratching their heads over an awful error.
- 19 comments
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Buddy Franklin makes a shock sporting comeback in one of Australia's toughest events alongside another footy legend
07/07/25 05:19
AFL legend Lance 'Buddy' Franklin hammered his body as he played 354 first-grade games in his stellar career - but he battled the wear and tear for a good cause on the weekend.
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Tennis legend drops bombshell about the sport's surprising drug problem: 'Everyone's on them'
07/07/25 02:50
Tennis great Goran Ivanisevic has gone from winning the men's singles crown at Wimbledon to coaching some of the game's brightest stars - and he has identified a worrying trend.
- 18 comments
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Sam Kerr's fiancée Kristie Mewis looks strained as she steps out with Matildas superstar in Perth after getting some awful news
07/07/25 12:50
US football star Kristie Mewis wore a strained expression while stepping out in Perth with fiancée Sam Kerr and new son Jagger, as the couple caught up with friends and family.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner names Aussie Oscar Piastri as Max Verstappen successor
06/07/25 06:10
Christian Horner named Oscar Piastri as a target for Red Bull should four-time world champion Max Verstappen leave, as F1 rumours swirl.
- 10 comments
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Steve Smith act saves Aussies as Cameron Green answers his critics in second Test against West Indies
06/07/25 04:35
An enterprising knock from the returning Steve Smith and a breakthrough fifty at No.3 for Cameron Green have boosted Australia's lead to 254 in the second Test against the West Indies.
- 9 comments
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Queensland skipper Cameron Munster devastated by dad's death days before State of Origin decider
06/07/25 02:21
NRL star Cameron Munster is grappling with the death of his dad Steven just days out from the State of Origin series decider.
- 4 comments
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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart slams reporters over Kyle Flanagan situation: 'It's a disgrace'
06/07/25 01:43
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has taken an enormous swipe at media after Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan was booed in Canberra.
- 2 comments
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Cameron Munster's wife Bianca reveals how her husband lost 'love for the sport' and bounced back from despair
06/07/25 12:16
Bianca Munster has opened up on her footy star husband's challenging rugby league journey - and how he told her he didn't want to play anymore after the infamous 'white powder' scandal.
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Matildas stunned by lowly ranked rivals as veteran striker Michelle Heyman misses from point-blank range
05/07/25 10:47
New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is confident his team are headed in the right direction despite watching them slump to a shock 1-0 defeat to world No.56 Panama in Bunbury.
- 22 comments
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Aussie cricket bosses make shock decision about the most controversial day on the national calendar - and fans will be furious
02/07/25 07:21
For only the second time in the last 31 years, Aussie cricket fans will be left with nothing to watch on one of the biggest days of the summer.
- 13 comments
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Rape accusations against cricket star overshadow Australia's tour of the West Indies
02/07/25 05:44
While Australia staged a brilliant comeback to beat the hosts in a nail-biting first Test, serious accusations against a star were bubbling away in the background.
- 9 comments
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Ash Barty shows her fans the first pic of her newborn baby girl with her big brother as she celebrates a family milestone
02/07/25 02:52
Aussie tennis legend Ash Barty delighted her fans when she announced her daughter Jordan's birth last month - and now she's given them another reason to smile.
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Aussie Olympic great Leisel Jones reveals disturbing story behind heartbreaking photo that will have all her fans VERY worried
02/07/25 01:38
Aussie Olympic swimming legend Leisel Jones has revealed the disturbing background to a photo she posted on social media on Tuesday night.
- 8 comments
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Footy star Jack Gosiewski reveals he's been hit by a family tragedy that struck both his parents
02/07/25 12:21
Brisbane Broncos forward Jack Gosiewski been battling to come back from a fractured arm - but his trials off the field have made that seem like a piece of cake.
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Footy legend Billy Slater looks fit enough to play as he takes a freezing dip at Queensland's State of Origin camp
01/07/25 06:32
If the Maroons have a late injury crisis when they face the Blues on July 9, their coach has shown he looks ready to step in and pull on a jersey.
- 4 comments
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Footy star Lachlan Galvin rubs salt into fans' wounds with two cheeky emojis as he celebrates another huge loss for his old club
01/07/25 03:39
Lachlan Galvin broke Wests Tigers fans' hearts when he made his bombshell switch to the Dogs this season - and now he has put the boot into his old club.
- 5 comments
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Naomi Osaka opens up about Nick Kyrgios's 'embarrassing' surprise for her at Wimbledon
01/07/25 03:27
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was blindsided by the Aussie as she got her Wimbledon title tilt off to a winning start on day one of the tournament.
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Aussie basketball star goes viral for wearing goth makeup during matches - and turning two of their teeth into FANGS
01/07/25 01:19
Australia's Caitlin Cunningham looks completely unlike just about any other basketballer on the planet - and she has explained the inspiration behind her fashion and makeup.
- 3 comments
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Revealed: Why one of the NRL's hardest men broke down in tears in emotional encounter with a fan he's never met before
30/06/25 07:17
Dragons veteran Jack de Belin has forged a reputation as one of the true hard men of the NRL during his 243-game career - but he couldn't contain his emotions over the weekend.
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How footy great Braith Anasta has made a FORTUNE out of massive sport media shake-up
30/06/25 03:39
Braith Anasta excelled on the field during his 288-game NRL career as he starred for the Dogs, Roosters and Tigers - and now he's making a killing in an entirely new venture.
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Mary Fowler makes a stunning confession about how close she came to quitting soccer altogether
30/06/25 03:01
The Matildas and Manchester City star is currently out with the same serious knee injury that has kept Sam Kerr off the field since January 2024.
- 11 comments
- 16 shares
Woman reveals the moment a kick from one of the NRL's biggest stars accidentally left her with a bloodied nose
30/06/25 12:21
Latrell Mitchell and his South Sydney Rabbitohs were on the end of a drubbing by the Dolphins over the weekend - with one fan in the stands suffering an 'embarrassing' injury.
- 2 comments
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Aussie Olympian slams coverage of Swiss women's team's loss to 14-year-old boys ahead of Euros
29/06/25 05:46
Aussie Olympic star Chloe Dalton wasn't happy with media coverage of the Swiss women's recent loss to an under 15s boys side that made international headlines.
- 40 comments
- 27 shares
Former NRL star Kevin Proctor suffers brutal knockout at controversial RUNIT event in Dubai
29/06/25 02:49
Ex-NRL forward Kevin Proctor was knocked out by social media influencer Jordan Simi during a controversial 'run it straight' event in the Middle East overnight.
- 13 comments
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Aussie boxer Nikita Tszyu welcomes first child and reveals newborn's VERY unusual name
29/06/25 01:42
Nikita Tszyu has welcomed his first child with his wife Nikita Bedwell - and revealed the newborn's unusual name.
- 21 comments
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Swim king Kyle Chalmers opens up on devastating mental health toll of love triangle controversy as he prepares to become a first-time father
29/06/25 12:20
Australian swimming champion Kyle Chalmers has opened up about some of the mental health challenges he faced during the 'love triangle' saga.
- 9 comments
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Inside Aussie boxing's wildest fight night as coaches and even the ref throw punches in melee that saw the sport BANNED from the Sydney Opera House
28/06/25 11:07
The Sydney Opera House, known for its majestic architecture and hosting some of the world's most high-profile performers, was the stage for one of the most chaotic nights in Australian sport.
- 4 comments
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Oscar Piastri left frustrated after dramatic end to qualifying at Austrian Grand Prix: 'F*** me'
28/06/25 10:45
Australian Oscar Piastri was left ruing a missed opportunity at the Austrian Grand Prix after a late yellow flag disrupted his final qualifying lap.
- 21 comments
- 7 shares
Footy fan reveals sneaky hack he and his mates used to get into AFL games for HALF PRICE
26/06/25 05:13
Other footy fans who've been using the technique to save big bucks on tickets asked for the post to be taken down immediately.
Quade Cooper delights footy fans with a social media post that proves how much his life has changed since he was one of Australia's biggest stars
26/06/25 03:17
Cooper was Aussie rugby's biggest star as he scored 208 points for his country across 80 Tests and dated a string of high-profile women - but his life is very different now.
- 6 comments
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Wayne Carey blasts footy great who became famous for his TV ads after legends boycott celebration 'because they don't want to share the limelight with women's team'
26/06/25 12:24
AFL legend Wayne Carey has urged North Melbourne great Sam Kekovich to put aside his complaints and attend the club's upcoming celebration of its 1975 premiership.
- 35 comments
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Footy legend Joel Clinton reveals coach's violent dressing room act that made one of the NRL's toughest stars so angry he almost 'ripped his head off'
25/06/25 07:21
Joel Clinton has shed light on an explosive incident during his footy career, detailing a heated moment with former Panthers coach Matt Elliott and two of his toughest teammates.
- 1 comment
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Expert reveals footy star could have DIED from horrific injuries he suffered during match: 'It's car crash-type stuff'
25/06/25 05:24
A leading sports physiotherapist has exposed the full seriousness of Fletcher Sharpe's injuries after the Newcastle star was rushed to hospital on the weekend.
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AFL sends club an urgent warning to stop players from having a dangerous wardrobe malfunction
25/06/25 02:44
AFL clubs have been put on notice that they could be fined $40,000 if their players run on to the field wearing a dangerous piece of equipment.
- 6 comments
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AFL club North Melbourne's greatest players boycott anniversary celebration 'because they don't want to share the spotlight with the women's team'
25/06/25 01:05
A group of North Melbourne legends have been slammed for reportedly planning to boycott the club's big celebration over the inclusion of its champion women's team.
- 9 comments
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Passenger accuses Sydney Swans AFL team of using commercial flight like their 'private jet' after bizarre experience she photographed
24/06/25 07:38
The Sydney Swans turned their season around with a desperately needed win over the Power on Saturday - but one moment on their plane home left another flyer scratching her head.
Footy great Jamie Soward took his team to a grand final win - now he says the club doesn't even have his phone number even though he worked for them last year
24/06/25 06:28
Dragons legend Jamie Soward has taken aim at his former club ahead of an upcoming players' reunion, making eye-opening claims about his rift with the team.
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Fixtures

Friday 10 April

West Ham