Billy makes a BOLD Grand Final prediction: Billy Slater Podcast Ep22
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West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Community rallies around Jordan's DIY Big Freeze to raise about $93,000 for motor neurone disease
Community generosity outshone even the return of dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe in Claremont on Saturday as nearly $100,000 was raised for motor neurone disease during Jordan's DIY Big Freeze. Sporting legends united ahead of the Tigers' WAFL clash with Peel Thunder, braving torrential downpours before hitting the ice water to support local father Jordan Early. Mr Early was diagnosed with MND just five months ago, but the disease has already stolen his strength and part of his speech. 'I got weaker, I started to struggle with my speech, not as bad as it is now, but those were the first signs,' he said. 'It's a battle every day, because it's degenerative, things are changing all the time. So you might lose one function, but something else shows up.' The 42-year-old is a father to three young children, alongside partner Jo Moullin, including one who attends school alongside AFLW legend and current West Coast women's coach Daisy Pearce's twins. Pearce, a seasoned slider after being a part of the inaugural Big Freeze in Melbourne in support of AFL champion Neale Daniher, was one of the first to sign on to support the Early family. 'Sebby, their eldest son, goes to school with my twins, and it's an amazing community. To see Jo and Jords with everything they're going through with their three kids is pretty eye-opening, and I want to do everything I can to support them,' Pearce said ahead of the event. 'To watch a family like theirs go through it is terrible, but to see their strength and courage as they do and to think about everything they're battling as a family with three young kids (is inspiring). 'To see their generosity and their spirit to give what they can and to inspire people to do what they can to ensure future families don't go through what they are is so humbling.' The big-name sliders didn't end with Pearce, as the initiative raised about $93,000. Eagles legend and current head of football at the battling club, John Worsfold, donned a skirt and tennis racket as he went down the slide. Former tennis star Alicia Molik sported perhaps the most popular outfit, emulating rising star Harley Reid in a headband and West Coast jumper. 2006 Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley continued the trend of Eagles to head down the slide, dressing as Australian children's cartoon favourite Bluey. West Coast have been a staunch supporter of fundraising for MND, given Daniher's connection to the club as well as the fact that he was working there when he was diagnosed. Two-time Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning Hockeyroo Jade Taylor, the first down the slide, also took inspiration from the younger generation, dressing as Minnie Mouse. The end of the sliding didn't deter the strong crowd from sticking around as Fremantle champion Fyfe returned from a calf injury with Peel. The 33-year-old wasn't fussed with the thick mud and rain, standing head and shoulders above the competition, collecting 28 disposals, six tackles and five clearances in a little more than a half of footy. He was also a favourite among the fans, taking time to sign footballs on his way off the water-logged ground at half-time before taking photos and having a brief chat with fans post-game, his documentary crew never far away.
West Australian
12 hours ago
- West Australian
UGSFL 2025: Williams strengthen finals chances, Narrogin make it 11 straight and Wagin win second game of year
Williams outlasted Katanning Wanderers in a wet and muddy encounter on Sunday, the Cats moving inside the top four and boosting their finals chances after a gripping 19-point win. A low-scoring affair played out in Williams in winter conditions for round 12 of the Upper Great Southern Football League . The Cats strengthened their finals hopes after a 19-point win against the Tigers, leaving just four points separating the third placed Boddington to the sixth placed Kukerin-Dumbleyung with two rounds to play. Despite kicking against the wind, the Cats managed a two-point lead in the first term and kept control of the play, but under the conditions goals were scarce. As both sides battled the weather a constant back and forth ensued but the Tigers struggled to gain composure and remained scoreless, while the Cats kicked 2.5 from plenty of chances to hold a 12-point buffer. The Tigers hit back in third quarter, kicking two majors to the Cats one as they trimmed the margin to seven points and set up an exciting final term. The game opened up in the final term but the home side booted four goals to record a vital win, 8.14 (62) to 6.7 (43). Simon Panizza was outstanding for the Cats, kicking two goals and dominating the midfield battle, while Michael Cowcher also kicked three important majors. The Cats also had strong contributions from Nick Panizza, Luca Gangemi, Jackson Ryan, Stevie Smith and Bradley Jetta. The Tigers were brave in defeat, but managed only two goals in the opening half. Harry Harris and Joshua McMahon booted two goals each while James Laurino, Caleb Keley, Toby Quartermaine, Zane Sutherland and Thomas Hamon were the stand-outs. Ladder leaders Narrogin prevailed by 18 points over Kukerin-Dumbleyung at Nenke Oval on Sunday. The Hawks kicked the only two goals of the first term and stayed ahead despite a four-goal third quarter from the home side. Just two majors were kicked in the last stanza but the Hawks made it 11 wins in a row, 8.11 (59) to 6.5 (41). Kadence Flanagan was the visitors only multiple goal scorer while teammates Tom Kilpatrick, Byron Blevin, Damon Penny, Jordan Heil, Noah Bowen-Zoccoli and Fraser Goode all played well. The Cougars were best served by Jonty Robinson, Will Liston, Matt Dare, Stockton Cruz Shotter, Jye Depane and Konnah Holmes. Wickepin heaped more pain on reigning premiers Boddington, running out 47-point winners in Wickepin on Sunday. Three goals in the second and third quarters in trying conditions lifted the Warriors to their 10th win of the season, 9.10 (64) to 2.5 (17). Spearhead Kayle Kirby finished with two majors for the home side and was well supported by Justin Morisey (two goals), Flynn Spark, David Roche, Fraser Wittwer, Miles Franklin and Carter Wilson. The Eagles best players were Jarrod Salmeri, Matt Giumelli, Matthew Sherry, Tyler Germain and Dylan Kirk. In the sole Saturday game Wagin notched their second win of the season, beating Brookton-Pingelly by 26 points at Matera Oval. The Bulldogs had a red-hot start with six goals to one on their home deck. Kym Monteath starred with five goals while Alex Mancini kicked his first two majors in five years of playing with the club, as the Bulldogs celebrated the 10.8 (68) to 6.6 (42) triumph. Nicholas McMahon, Matthew Thomas, Monteath, Jackson Manuel, Nick Menegola and Max Mumme were superb for the winners. The Panthers were best served by Joshua Hughes, Liam Beacom, Finn O'Reilly (three goals), Shannon Fernando, Daniel Trevaskis and Henry Blechynden.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I know what a khawd can mean. Here's why the NRL is struggling to understand Tigers gesture
And quite often, it is for fun. Like when you beat your brother 4-3 with a 90th-minute winner in a game of FIFA after he spent the whole match talking up how good he is. You give him a khawd. When Bulldogs fans gather for a photo and don't want to stand there posing awkwardly – as highlighted on social media over the past few days – they give the camera a khawd. When the Tigers wrap up a sweet victory over the Bulldogs with Lachlan Galvin at halfback after his messy mid-season walk-out, you definitely give a khawd. The Arab community has been bemused during the past 48 hours as the rugby league news cycle discovers a gesture that has now skyrocketed in popularity, despite some horrific pronunciations by my friends in the media. It's not 'quad'. It's not 'cord'. Or khouf, as our Mediterranean brother Braith Anasta pronounced it on NRL360 on Monday night, an attempt that sounded more like a Greek island than an Arabic sledge. The 'khhh' needs to sound like you're clearing your throat, finished off with an 'awd' that is said with the kind of passion the Tigers finally played with on Sunday. The Bulldogs complained to the NRL on behalf of some of their fans who took offence to the Tigers' gesture. But did those fans take offence to the gesture, or because they were on the receiving end of it? And what does the NRL do now? Punish players for a gesture that has connotations that are as difficult to understand as the word is to pronounce for the non-Arabic-speaking community? The NRL is concerned that by doing nothing it will create a rod for its back the next time a player goes down the more traditional route of flipping the bird at the crowd. They've previously handed out breaches to players for doing so, hitting Matt Lodge with a $5000 fine when he raised his middle finger to the Gold Coast Titans crowd while playing for the Warriors in 2021. Brent Naden would've become familiar with the khawd during his tenure at Belmore. He was one of three players, along with Samuela Fainu and Latu Fainu, to use the gesture towards to the crowd on Sunday. He followed it up after the game with a video of giving the khawd and saying 'f—ing dogs'. It was meant to be a private message, but ended up being shared on social media. Loading Naden will probably be fined by the NRL for doubling down. But Sunday's events should be seen as an illustration of the unmatched tribalism, rough edges and all, that sets rugby league apart from other competitions – like the potentially forthcoming Rugby 360. The Tigers have been bashed for more than a decade. I've pulled on the gloves and dispensed an uppercut or three. But Sunday afternoon was as good as it gets for their long-suffering fans, who were entitled to enjoy the moment. They beat the team whose coach rejected them. The team whose halfback walked out on them for. And did it in front of a rival supporter base who continues to take great pleasure in their misery. If ever a situation called for a khawd, Sunday was it. Play on.
