Sally Fitzgibbons missed the mid-season cut again, denied in cruel fashion by the world No.1 at Margaret River
Having made the final at the last World Surf League event on the Gold Coast and riding some real momentum, Fitzgibbons, 34, needed a deep run in WA to avoid missing the mid-season cut for the third successive year and make the top-14 to be back next year.
When surfing resumed on Monday, Fitzgibbons charged out of the blocks against Bryan, the reigning champ at Margaret River, and was still leading as the pair latched on to waves in the final few minutes.
But just as victory looked within Fitzgibbons grasp, Bryan delivered the most powerful combination of their round of 16 showdown and a nine-point ride on her final wave to storm into the quarterfinals.
The abject despair was evident as Fitzgibbons lay on her board in the surf, her fate sealed, again, forcing the three-time world championship runner-up back to the qualification tour.
Only the top 10 surfers after Margaret River will continue the rest of the season, and only the top 14 are readmitted for 2026 to what will be an expanded women's field for the main tour.
Fitzgibbons dropped to 15th after and having been surfing in 'survivor mode' despite her good run on the Gold Coast, the exit of the 12-time tour winner, leaves only Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols and two-time world champ Tyler Wright in the top 10 to chase a world title.
Both Picklum and Nichols progressed to the quarter-finals at Margaret River, but Wright was bundled out by Lakey Peterson, whose victory sealed Fitzgibbons' fate.
Wildcard Jacob Willcox is the only Aussie male still alive and will head to the quarter-finals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Rage' drives 'Punky' as end looms for Hawthorn great
Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business, with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. Breust was in tears several times when he told teammates that his time will soon be up. He later noted half his life has been spent at Hawthorn. "They completely changed my life for the better," Breust said of the Hawks. "The relationships and the memories ... I will cherish forever. "The three minutes after the final siren goes on grand final day, you'll never feel anything like that in your life." Among the many people Breust thanked, he noted how Mitchell took him under his wing when he first came to the club. "I don't know what the hell you saw in me," Breust said. He also singled out Jack Gunston, who shared All-Australian honours with him in 2018. The two forwards are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. "(We are) the biggest rivals you could imagine, but also great mates at the same time ... he's been so important to my career," Breust said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games, and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and made the 2014 and 2018 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business, with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. Breust was in tears several times when he told teammates that his time will soon be up. He later noted half his life has been spent at Hawthorn. "They completely changed my life for the better," Breust said of the Hawks. "The relationships and the memories ... I will cherish forever. "The three minutes after the final siren goes on grand final day, you'll never feel anything like that in your life." Among the many people Breust thanked, he noted how Mitchell took him under his wing when he first came to the club. "I don't know what the hell you saw in me," Breust said. He also singled out Jack Gunston, who shared All-Australian honours with him in 2018. The two forwards are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. "(We are) the biggest rivals you could imagine, but also great mates at the same time ... he's been so important to my career," Breust said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games, and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and made the 2014 and 2018 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business, with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. Breust was in tears several times when he told teammates that his time will soon be up. He later noted half his life has been spent at Hawthorn. "They completely changed my life for the better," Breust said of the Hawks. "The relationships and the memories ... I will cherish forever. "The three minutes after the final siren goes on grand final day, you'll never feel anything like that in your life." Among the many people Breust thanked, he noted how Mitchell took him under his wing when he first came to the club. "I don't know what the hell you saw in me," Breust said. He also singled out Jack Gunston, who shared All-Australian honours with him in 2018. The two forwards are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. "(We are) the biggest rivals you could imagine, but also great mates at the same time ... he's been so important to my career," Breust said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games, and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and made the 2014 and 2018 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian tennis player hit with 10-month ban for anti-doping breach over vitamin infusion
A second Australian tennis player in four months has been hit with a lengthy suspension for breaching the sport's anti-doping rules over intravenous infusion of vitamins. Thomas Fancutt, 30, was provisionally suspended in April but the sport's anti-doping watchdog, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), hit the doubles player with a 10-month ban on Tuesday – a suspension which ends in January before the Australian Open. Fancutt has admitted to using a 'prohibited method' as defined by the ITIA's anti-doping program. Athletes are permitted to use IV drips, but only when fluid is below a certain threshold and within a specific time period. Fancutt's case follows that of Australia's doubles champion Max Purcell who was hit with an 18-month ban in April for breaching the anti-doping rules after ITIA investigators found messages on his mobile phone in which he discussed ways he could justify receiving intravenous infusions. Two-time grand slam doubles champion Purcell was also found by the ITIA to have used a 'prohibited method' – by receiving infusions of more than 500 millilitres in December 2023. In Fancutt's case, the ITIA said the player had received an intravenous infusion over the accepted limit in December, 2024. 'The ITIA sent the player a notice of a potential anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) on 7 March 2025,' the agency said in a statement. 'On 19 March 2025, the player requested to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension, which came into effect immediately. 'Following a full investigation by the ITIA, which included evidence gathering and interviews with the player, Fancutt admitted to the breach, and the ITIA accepted that the breach was not intentional.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Australian tennis player hit with 10-month ban for anti-doping breach over vitamin infusion
A second Australian tennis player in four months has been hit with a lengthy suspension for breaching the sport's anti-doping rules over intravenous infusion of vitamins. Thomas Fancutt, 30, was provisionally suspended in April but the sport's anti-doping watchdog, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), hit the doubles player with a 10-month ban on Tuesday – a suspension which ends in January before the Australian Open. Fancutt has admitted to using a 'prohibited method' as defined by the ITIA's anti-doping program. Athletes are permitted to use IV drips, but only when fluid is below a certain threshold and within a specific time period. Fancutt's case follows that of Australia's doubles champion Max Purcell who was hit with an 18-month ban in April for breaching the anti-doping rules after ITIA investigators found messages on his mobile phone in which he discussed ways he could justify receiving intravenous infusions. Two-time grand slam doubles champion Purcell was also found by the ITIA to have used a 'prohibited method' – by receiving infusions of more than 500 millilitres in December 2023. In Fancutt's case, the ITIA said the player had received an intravenous infusion over the accepted limit in December, 2024. 'The ITIA sent the player a notice of a potential anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) on 7 March 2025,' the agency said in a statement. 'On 19 March 2025, the player requested to enter into a voluntary provisional suspension, which came into effect immediately. 'Following a full investigation by the ITIA, which included evidence gathering and interviews with the player, Fancutt admitted to the breach, and the ITIA accepted that the breach was not intentional.
