Tubby pays tribute to Simpson
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
20 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Australian netballers Kelsey and Madi Browne heartbroken by death of ‘beautiful' mum Chris
The Australian sporting community is in mourning after the mother of two former Diamonds netball stars died following a battle with cancer. Chris Browne died on Saturday night surrounded by husband Mark, a former Geelong player, and their daughters Madi and Kelsey. The Browne sisters paid tribute on Sunday, saying 'our beautiful wife and mum became our angel'. 'Loved so dearly and already missed so deeply we will never meet another Chris Browne,' they wrote. 'A lover of life who truly lived it to the fullest with unparalleled energy, passion and kindness. 'Mum was the backbone of the family with a spirit stronger and more resilient than anything. So strong we still and will always feel her right here. 'The sheer amount of messages of love and concern and just how many people have wrapped their arms around our family shows how special she was to so many and how far her impact reached. All we can say is thank you. 'We love you Mum, 'to the moon and back' as you would say. 'You are the brightest light in our sky. Rest easy.' Tributes flowed from around netball and football, while the wider Geelong community also mourned the former primary school teacher and leader. Kelsey's AFL star partner Luke Jackson shared the Browne sisters' post with Tina Turner's Simply the Best attached. 'The most beautiful and kind person I've ever come across,' he wrote. 'Forever grateful I got to build a relationship with you and for how much you have helped me grow. I love your Wally! Love you Chris, Luke.' Madi's prominent former teammate Renae Ingles simply said: 'Chris made the world a better place.' Channel 7's Abbey Holmes wrote: 'Oh Kels. This is just heartbreaking! Thinking of your family. Sending so much love & strength xx.' Cats legend Joel Selwood said: 'Thinking of you guys.' Renee Enright, the wife of Geelong great Corey, wrote: 'Oh beautiful family, sending so much love. Your mum lit up every room she entered, she was truly effervescent with the biggest heart, I'll never forget the moments she helped our family and supported our kids at different ages and stages. She had such a positive wonderful energy and she was so proud of you girls. She beamed when she spoke of her family. Thinking of you all at this time.' Diamonds star Jo Weston wrote: 'Big love to you and the fam. Chris was a ray of sunshine and always cared deeply for people, she will be deeply missed.' Ex-Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said: 'Oh so sad. Love to you both Madi and Kelsey and to Mark. Such a wonderful person and mum to all of us.' The Brownes thanked Chris's care teams at Geelong cancer centres and hospitals, suggesting donations in lieu of flowers. Nearly $8000 has been raised at the time of writing. Madi, 37, and Kelsey, 33, have stepped into netball media roles since retiring in 2020 and 2024 respectively. Madi won two Liz Ellis Medals during her stellar career while Kelsey stepped up into the Diamonds squad after her sister's international retirement in 2018. Their father Mark played 87 VFL/AFL games for Geelong across 1974-78.
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Bernard Tomic withdraws from rain-delayed ATP Challenger final to focus on US Open qualifying
Bernard Tomic has sacrificed his latest chance to end a seven-year ATP trophy drought to instead take his shot at a much bigger prize — the US Open main draw. The 32-year-old Australian veteran's resurgence continued over the weekend when he reached his second ATP Challenger final this month. But the decider was rained out and delayed by 24 hours before ultimately being cancelled when it emerged Tomic had decided to withdraw. Tomic is entered into US Open qualifying beginning on Monday, calling for swift travel from Barranquilla in Colombia to New York. He was the third seed in Barranquilla and a good chance to win the title over world No.314 Arthur Fery, who made his name at Wimbledon earlier this year with an upset win over Aussie Alexei Popyrin in the first round. Tomic had also reached the Lexington Challenger final earlier this month on the back of a comeback from 1-4 down in the third set of a semi-final against world No.124 Eliot Spizzirri. But he was beaten in the decider, with his Barranquilla withdrawal extending the wait to win his first ATP Tour or ATP Challenger title since 2018. Tomic will begin his tilt at a first grand slam appearance since the 2021 Australian Open on Tuesday in New York. He will face American Patrick Kypson, the world No.212, and could face former world No.36 Pierre Hugues-Herbert in the second round. A third win would send Tomic into the US Open main draw with $US110,000 ($A170,000) in his pocket, along with crucial ranking points. Tomic has risen from 825th in the world three years ago to 184th this week — his highest position since September 2019 — and is almost certain to contest qualifying at the Australian Open next year. His goal remains returning to the top 100, securing direct entry into the grand slams, before retiring. Tomic showed that is a legitimate possibility with wins over then world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic and Aussie world No.88 Rinky Hijikata on grass in June. 'Tennis has become part of my life ever since I was seven. Obviously I had a dad that pushed me extremely hard and that's one of the reasons I got there, in a sense,' he told the Changeover podcast that month. 'But when you look at this whole picture, now that I'm 32, it's a purpose. It still gives me something to do. Without tennis, I don't know what I would do. 'I'm sitting about 200 in the world, or whatever, and my goal is to be top 100 and then I can retire. It's more of a statement, that sort of thing, so let's see if I can do it. 'But the whole sort of sense you've got to find your purpose, something that gets you going now that you're older, you want something to give. And it's about tennis. 'It's the only thing I'm good at. I've been good at it for almost three decades, so it gets me going. I can still play decent. I'm not in my prime like I was ... but that's why I'm challenging myself to get back there one more time. And then retire happy, guilt free.' Elsewhere in US Open qualifying, an all-Aussie match-up looms between two of the country's five other men in the draw. First-up wins would pit James Duckworth and James McCabe against each other in the second round. Jason Kubler, Alex Bolt and Omar Jasika are the other Australians bidding to join a strong cohort of top-100 stars in the main draw. Alex de Minaur heads the group featuring Nick Kyrgios, Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Christopher O'Connell, Rinky Hijikata, Aleksandar Vukic, Adam Walton and Tristan Schoolkate. Schoolkate was rewarded with a wildcard entry after recently breaking into the top 100 for the first time, having missed direct entry at the June cut-off. Ten Australian women will also attempt to qualify for the US Open this week — but not all can make it. Former doubles world No.1 Storm Hunter will resume her comeback from injury against compatriot Maddison Inglis. All-Aussie match-ups also loom between Priscilla Hon and Daria Saville (possible second round) and Astra Sharma and Emerson Jones (possible third round). Olivia Gadecki, Arina Rodionova, Destanee Aiava and Lizette Cabrera round out the Australian hopefuls seeking to make the main draw. Talia Gibson, who peaked at world No.107 last month, received a wildcard to join Daria Kasatkina, Maya Joint, Kim Birrell and Ajla Tomljanovic in the tournament proper.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Aussies stunning comeback to secure epic three-peat
A dominant Asia Cup came with a barnstorming finish for the Australian Boomers who came from 15 points down in the final to defeat China by one to complete a three-peat of titles and a first for new coach Adam Caporn. Xavier Cooks poured in 30 points to secure the heart-stopping win in Jeddah with a 90-89 win. Unchallenged for most of the tournament, playing without a host of NBA stars, the Boomers survived a last-ditch China effort with a missed final shot as time expired. Cooks, who also collected nine rebounds, was named played of the match while Jaylin Galloway, playing in his first Asia Cup final, drilled six three-pointers on his way to 23 points and five rebounds. He was later named the tournament's MVP and nominated in the All Star Five along with fellow Boomer Jack McVeigh. William Hickey delivered when it mattered most, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks, including clutch plays down the stretch. The victory came after China raced to a 25-17 early lead, which was 36-21 in the second quarter, before Cooks powered the Australian fightback. The deficit was just four points at halftime before the rollercoaster of lead changes in the tight affair. The Boomers beat China to win the Asia Cup. Pic: Supplied Credit: Supplied But even at the final change the Australians were down three points. It wasn't until the final minuted the Boomers took the lead, and never surrendered it The Boomers now boast an 18-0 record since the tournament's inception in 2007, cementing themselves as the modern powerhouse of Asian basketball.
