Ben Hunt: We can do something special
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
19 minutes ago
- ABC News
West Coast Eagles' AFLW season opener moved to new venue due to muddy ground
West Coast's AFLW season opener against Gold Coast on Thursday has been shifted due to safety concerns at their muddied home ground. The opening-day clash at the recently upgraded Leederville Oval has been moved to the Eagles' other home venue at Lathlain Park. The season kicks off earlier on Thursday at Princes Park when Carlton meet Collingwood. Work to repair the centre square at Leederville began on Monday after it had been badly damaged by a combination of high traffic and persistent rainfall. Saturday's WAFL game between East Perth and South Fremantle was played at the ground and left both teams caked in mud after splashing their way across the park. The call was made on Tuesday to move the game after tests determined the turf was unsafe for play. "The health and safety of our players is absolutely paramount and so we made the call to move the game," AFL operations boss Laura Kane said. "Even though works were undertaken to fix the turf around the centre square, we wanted to make the decision as early as possible to give fans, our clubs and our broadcasters time to adapt their plans accordingly." Lathlain Park has about 6,500 people, compared to the 10,000 capable of attending Leederville. The Eagles' next match at Leederville Oval falls in round 10 against Geelong followed by Carlton in Round 12, with home games at Lathlain — where the team is based — in rounds four, seven and eight. Much was made of the $5.2 million upgrades to Leederville, completed in April, including a new playing surface, irrigation and broadcast standard lighting. The upgrade allowed more games to be played at the ground in the WAFL and WAFLW seasons. It is not the first time safety concerns have prevented a match being played at the ground, with a 2016 WAFL match between Subiaco and Peel called off at the last minute because of the playing surface. AAP/ABC
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Round 24 teams: Storm lose Ryan Papenhuyzen for grand final rematch as Broncos lock in their new halves
The Storm have suffered an almighty blow with fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen to miss Thursday night's grand final rematch against the Panthers after entering concussion protocols. Papenhuyzen recently missed a month with a calf strain but was outstanding in last week's win over the Broncos, with Nick Meaney shifting from right centre to replace him at the back. The 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner was enormous for the Storm in that grand final, with Melbourne's top-two hopes set to take a huge hit if they lose on Thursday. Melbourne's backline crisis opens the door for Marion Seve to play just his third match in the past two seasons, with the centre fresh from scoring a hat-trick for North Sydney earlier this month. They face an unchanged Panthers side, with coach Ivan Cleary confident that co-captain Isaah Yeo will return from a shoulder injury before the finals. Broncos coach Michael Maguire has turned to Ben Hunt and Billy Walters to play in the halves with regular pairing Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam both nursing hamstring injuries after a freak chase last week. Cory Paix gets the nod at hooker for the game against the Dolphins which has major finals implications. There's mixed news for the Warriors as they try to keep in touch with the top four with Tanah Boyd brought back to replace Te Maire Martin, while they'll also be missing veteran Kurt Capewell (concussion) but they do get back Wayde Egan. Egan Butcher has been rewarded for his good form and will start in the back row in place of Siua Wong (concussion protocols) against a Bulldogs side that could welcome back fullback Connor Tracey from injury. The Sharks have lost strike centre Jesse Ramien (broken thumb) for the rest of the season, while back-rower Briton Nikora will miss three matches due to suspension. That sees Mawene Hiroti get a crack at right centre while Billy Burns has been promoted to the starting side for a game against the Titans who have lost Brian Kelly and Alofiana Khan-Pereira but welcome back Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Phil Sami and Mo Fotuaika. Tom Trbojevic will remain at fullback even with Lehi Hopoate returning to the starting side for the clash against the Wests Tigers, while Jake Trbojevic won't play as he deals with his latest head knock. And young gun Connor Votano will make his NRL debut at fullback, with veteran Dane Gagai returning to right centre for Newcastle's clash with the Cowboys who get Jordan McLean back from injury.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Like a goldfish': Ben Cousins' shocking concussion reveal
Ben Cousins has made a startling admission regarding one concussion he received while playing for Richmond. The former West Coast Eagles skipper was sacked by the club in 2007 after he was arrested for drug possession and handed a 12-month suspension by the AFL. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. He returned to the AFL after signing with the Tigers ahead of the 2009 season. It was in one of his first games with his new club when the shock concussion occurred. The incident left the 2005 Brownlow Medal winner with no recollection of what had taken place over the last three years. 'I had a concussion. This happened not long after I arrived at Richmond,' he said on Mix94.5's Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins show. 'It was one of the first games that I played, it was a pre-season game, and I came off halfway through the first quarter, (I) don't remember getting hit or knocked at all. 'I sat on the bench and had no memory whatsoever of the previous two or three years, and I was like a goldfish … every 30 seconds to a minute, I would have no memory of the conversation that I just had, and kept going, 'why am I playing for Richmond? What's happened?'. '(Richmond) go, you know, we picked you up over the summer. (I asked) 'why aren't I playing for West Coast?' No memory.' Cousins also revealed that those within the club had attempted to fill him in on the blanks, which included being told his good friend Chris Mainwaring had died. 'Even after the game, I was still just going around in circles. People were trying to fill me in about the blanks, they said, you know, you've been sacked from West Coast, you went to rehab … even someone said, you know, Chris Mainwaring had passed. 'That was like being told for the first time, (I was) so emotional, in tears, crying.' Mainwaring died in October, 2007 from a drug overdose. An investigation by the Western Australia state coroner he had died from a cocaine-caused seizure. The horror concussion confession from Cousins comes after he announced he would be pulling the boots back on. Fifteen years after his retirement, the premiership star will line-up alongside several greats of the game in the reborn EJ Whitten Legends Game at Marvel Stadium. Cousins will join a growing list of former champions, including Cyril Rioli, Gary Ablett Jr, Luke Hodge and Nick Riewoldt. He will partner 2006 premiership teammate Andrew Embley in the All Stars side, while 2018 West Coast premiership captain Luke Shuey is locked in to line up for the Victorian team. Organisers have managed to lure the reclusive Rioli into playing, with his Hawthorn premiership teammate Shane Crawford coaching the All Stars team.
