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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Leo Lombard didn’t just mark his AFL debut with a goal, he delivered what might be the most heartwarming moment of the season. The Gold Coast Suns academy graduate lit up Heritage Bank Stadium midway through the second quarter against Fremantle, pouncing on a loose ball and kicking truly. But it was what followed that had fans, teammates, and commentators grinning from ear to ear.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
AFL boss Andrew Dillon has defended the league’s latest executive shake-up, insisting there’s no personal motive behind the decision to restructure key leadership roles, including the demotion of Laura Kane and the upcoming departure of inclusion lead Tanya Hosch. Kane, who had been overseeing several core football operations, will no longer handle those responsibilities after her position was split.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Five-time AFL premiership star Dermott Brereton has backed 20-year-old key forward Archer May to become a “brute” of the modern game, comparing his potential to that of Geelong icon Tom Hawkins. May, who was recruited by Essendon with Pick 6 in the AFL mid-season draft, is the son of Brereton’s long-time partner Julie. While the Bombers got in early, Brereton admitted he thought Collingwood would snap him up, and even May's family were bracing for black and white. “We were rapt.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Abbey Holmes signed off from Channel 7 with a tearful goodbye on Friday night, marking her final Friday night footy appearance before becoming a first-time mother. The 34-year-old, who is expecting a baby boy with husband Keegan Brooksby in June, was visibly moved by the on-air tribute after Collingwood’s win over Hawthorn at the MCG. Holmes, a former AFLW player and fan-favourite panellist, had been working deep into her third trimester, insisting she felt energised and focused.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Dragons fans were on their feet Friday night as 21-year-old Loko Pasifiki Tonga powered over for his first NRL try, helping St George Illawarra to a commanding 20-6 victory over the Knights at Jubilee Stadium. Tonga’s barnstorming effort came midway through the first half, capping off a dominant passage of play from the Red V.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has weighed in on swirling speculation linking Nathan Cleary to a move from league to union, saying he wouldn't be shocked if the NRL superstar wanted to "spread his wings", but maintained his focus is firmly on the players already in camp. The Penrith Panthers halfback became the centre of cross-code chatter after Wallabies legend Tim Horan claimed on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven that Cleary was "quite keen" on making the leap.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Cory Paix could be on the move north, with the Cowboys identifying the Broncos hooker as a potential replacement for Reece Robson. The 25-year-old has emerged as a target for North Queensland as Brisbane grapple with a growing salary cap crisis and a looming list of off-contract stars. With 14 players reportedly worth $4 million set to come off the books, the Broncos are under pressure to make tough decisions, particularly after veteran half Adam Reynolds announced he’ll continue playing in 2026.
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6 days ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Wayne Bennett has renewed his call for a defined NRL trade window, saying the game's handling of recent high-profile exits, including Lachlan Galvin and Daly Cherry-Evans, has left him "embarrassed". The South Sydney head coach spoke out after 18-year-old Galvin was officially unveiled as a Canterbury Bulldogs player, nearly two months after turning down a Wests Tigers extension despite being contracted there until the end of 2026.
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1 week ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Angus Crichton could be the next big name to cross codes, with Rugby Australia preparing a fresh bid for the Sydney Roosters forward should he remain unsigned beyond November 1. Crichton, a former New South Wales and Australian Schoolboys rugby union representative, has long been on the radar of RA, who see him as a potential drawcard for the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.
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1 week ago | 
sportingnews.com | Sayantan Guha
Harry Grant will sit out Melbourne Storm’s Round 13 clash against the Gold Coast Titans, with Craig Bellamy confirming the Queensland rake won’t travel for Saturday’s fixture at Cbus Super Stadium. Grant returned to Melbourne following Wednesday night’s bruising State of Origin opener, and despite being physically fine, Bellamy has opted against rushing his star hooker back into action. Bronson Garlick has been named to start in his place.
