Demons revival continues thumping Swans
AFL: The Melbourne Demons have celebrated their star midfielder Christian Petracca's 200th game in style, thrashing the Swans to continue the club's revival from a horrid start to the season.
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News.com.au
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Mat Ryan positive about chances of securing another club contract in Europe
Mat Ryan's club career is again in limbo, but the Socceroos captain isn't concerned, confident he will secure a contract in Europe next season. The 33-year-old goalkeeper's contract with French club Lens expires this month and he's 'waiting' for news about his future. Ryan only joined Lens in January from Roma, where he only made one competitive appearance in a tough six-month spell at the Italian club. The former Central Coast Mariners custodian has bounced around Europe in recent seasons, with Lens – where he made 14 appearances – having been his fifth club in four years. However, as he prepares for the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup qualifier in Perth on Thursday night against Japan, Ryan is 'feeling at ease' about his future. 'I'm just waiting,' he said. 'We're in that period now where the transfer window opened on the first of June, so I'm not too worried. 'I go out there and try my best, and everything sorts itself out at the end of the day. That's been the trend throughout my career, so I'm feeling quite at ease about that, and just focused on the job at hand with the Socceroos. 'I'm feeling good, and I'm feeling still quite young. I've just got to continue to do the job and prove that I'm a world-class goalkeeper through my performances, and the rest will take care of itself. 'I'm hungrier than I've ever been before. I want to live the best life possible, and I want to have the best career I can possibly have, and I dedicate my life to that.' Ryan was also positive about the Socceroos' chances of beating Japan for the first time in 11 matches, with Australia's most recent win over the Samurai Blue being a 2-1 victory in Melbourne in June 2009. Depending on the result of Saudi Arabia's away clash with Bahrain on Friday morning (AEST), a Socceroos win, or even draw., on Thursday night could be enough to secure 2026 World Cup qualification. Perhaps helping Australia's cause will be the decision of Japan – who have already qualified for the World Cup – to leave a host of its best players at home. 'Anything that they do doesn't impact my confidence,' Ryan said. 'I'm just focused on what we do here and focused on what we can control. 'You've got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenge is in front of you, and obviously there's a fine line without being arrogant and being complacent. 'In my eyes, we're the best in Asia. If you don't believe you're the best, then you're failing at the first hurdle.'
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
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AFL 2025: Collingwood's Beau McCreery on his form and evolution as a pressure forward
It's starting to click for Collingwood pressure machine Beau McCreery. The premiership forward is in a patch of brilliant form and one of the unheralded weapons keeping the Magpies two points clear on top of the AFL ladder. McCreery says his elevation is off the back of gaining a greater understanding of his own game and his role is more complex than hitting the scoreboard. 'It's my fifth year and I've only started to figure out I don't need to kick goals to be happy with how I go,' McCreery told NewsWire. 'It doesn't have anything to do with me kicking any goals, it's just putting that pressure on. I feel like when I am at my best my pressure is there. 'People get nervous when us boys are hunting, especially us small forwards. 'If you've got me, Bobby (Hill), Shooter (Lachie Schultz), Jamie (Elliott) chasing, even Timmy (Membrey), Checkers (Brody Mihocek) – people get nervous.' McCreery is modest in his self-assessment, grading his first half of the year as 'up and down'. But the 24-year-old is recording greater numbers in almost every statistic important to a player in his position. McCreery's clearance numbers are included in that growth, which bodes well in his pursuit of becoming a more regular option in the middle for coach Craig McRae. 'When I get that midfield time I feel like I've been beasting in there,' he said. 'If I can keep getting some of that time in the mid, keep exposing myself to mid time, but I still do love playing forward. 'I love the craft of it, I love my group I am down there with, it's so enjoyable – playing for this team is just so enjoyable.' McCreery pinch hit in the middle during Friday night's dismantling of Hawthorn at the MCG. The 88-gamer is learning how challenging a transition up the ground will be but knows what he needs to do to earn more opportunity. 'Keep showing up, keep training well and when they do give me an opportunity … I figured out pretty quickly it's pretty tough in there,' he said. 'I need to take my chances when I go in there … use my speed, catch people off guard. I don't think people think I can close down space as quick as I can.'
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Tigers and NSW teammates rally around Sarah Togatuki after tragic loss of sister ahead of NRLW start
Wests Tigers players and staff rallied around Sarah Togatuki at her sister's funeral on Monday after the beloved NSW Origin forward returned to the care of her NRLW club over the weekend. The 27-year-old is being heralded for her bravery to play Origin III in Newcastle on Thursday night while dealing with the unspeakable tragedy of suddenly losing her older sister Jean days earlier. Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley said Togatuki will be given as much time off from club duties as she needs. 'She's loved and supported, what she's had to go through and fronted up last week to play Origin, she's an amazing person,' he said. 'We've got a great wellbeing person at our club, and we're a caring club who care about her. She's brought that respect on herself with her actions and who she is. We'll support and assist her in any way we can. 'Today was option for any of the players to go, and a number of them turned up to show her love and support.' Togatuki's courage has captured the hearts of the rugby league community, while NSW teammates and close friends have spoken about her inspirational character and the bond they share beyond representative teams heading into the NRLW season, which starts on July 3. 'Grief is a strange thing and they say time heals, but it doesn't. It's always hard to avoid but what Sala has been able to do is rally her community around her and her team around her,' said Canberra captain and close friend Simaima Taufa. 'What we've been able to do is have our arms wide open for her. 'Sala knows that far beyond this game we're bonded, and she can lean on us. She's got a community. 'Moving forward it's just about moving onto our NRLW clubs and making sure we're around her. The great thing about this game is wherever we go, wherever we are, we're all connected. 'That's something that can't be taken away from us. I can't praise Sala enough for her strength. She's the bravest person I know.' Meanwhile, the Blues celebrated the series win despite losing game three in Newcastle last week, with most players returning to their NRLW clubs to officially begin their pre-season over the weekend. NRLW trials will kick off over the coming weeks, including the Tigers playing Dragons at Leichhardt Oval on June 22. 'The great thing about NSW is the pathways, the girls are always pushing us for spots, so we have to take what we've learned here and take it back to our NRLW clubs and bring that next person up,' Taufa said. 'This game is far bigger than us.'
