AFLW returns for 2025
The AFLW returns Thursday, August 14.
Posted 37m ago 37 minutes ago Thu 14 Aug 2025 at 1:49am
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ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
AFL live: Gold Coast vs GWS, Carlton vs Port Adelaide, Hawthorn vs Melbourne, Adelaide vs Collingwood
The Gold Coast Suns are hosting the GWS Giants in a crucial clash for both the make up of the top four and the finals. Later, Carlton and Port Adelaide face off, Hawthorn hosts the Demons, before a top-of-the-table clash between the Crows and Magpies. And the AFLW, round one continues with three games on the calendar, starting from 3:35pm. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Australia's Sam Goodman targeted by anti-doping authorities in lead up to his world-title blockbuster against defending champion Nick Ball
Sam Goodman insists he is not a drug cheat amid fears the Australian was deliberately targeted by anti-doping chiefs in a bid to destabilise him ahead of his world-title blockbuster. Goodman (20-0) faces the biggest test of his career on Sunday morning (AEST) when the Albion Park pugilist takes on Englishman Nick Ball (22-0-1) for the WBC featherweight world title in Saudi Arabia. But there are concerns from the Goodman camp that he has been a victim of sabotage after the Aussie sensation was relentlessly drug-tested by authorities in the lead-up to the Ball bout. Australian fighters are no strangers to offshore mind games and political trickery. Goodman recalls Queensland's former world champion Jeff Horn being woken up at 2am to be drug tested by anti-doping officials on the day of his title defence against Terence Crawford. It was viewed as a tactic to unsettle Horn. It worked. He was sliced-and-diced by Crawford in a ninth-round stoppage in Las Vegas. It is understood Goodman has been randomly drug-tested at least six or seven times in recent weeks, fuelling conspiracy theories promoters are trying to mess with his mind. But the classy super bantamweight, who is going up one weight division for his world-title baptism against Ball, says nothing will distract him, declaring he's as clean as his pristine win-loss record. 'For this fight, the drug testing has been going late which is a bit average,' said Goodman, who was also heavily tested before his proposed world-title bout against Naoya Inoue last year, which never eventuated after he suffered two head cuts in sparring. 'Before Inoue, I got drug tested six or seven times 10 days out from the fight and there would have been another test if I got to Japan. 'When you fight away from home, you have to expect these things. 'You hear these horror stories and that sort of s*** (boxers failing drug tests) can happen. 'There's cheaters who cheat, I get it,' Goodman added on The Punch podcast as he prepares to face Ball. 'A lot of fighters could cheat their way right up to a world-title shot. 'I'm fighting in their territory, but I'm doing everything I can control to get to the ring in the best shape possible. 'I won't let it get to me. We (the Goodman team) are in a fortress here. 'If I don't win, it's because I'm not good enough, which won't be the case.' Intriguingly, Goodman has taken inspiration from two Little Masters in another sport. Two of rugby league's greatest halfbacks, Broncos legend Allan Langer and current Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds, are surprise motivating forces in Goodman's bid to conquer the world. The 'Wrecking' Ball is England's only current world champion and underlining his pint-sized stature, he stands a tiny 157cm — eight centimetres shorter than 'Alfie' Langer. Growing up on the NSW south coast, Goodman's first dream was to play NRL. He was a St George Illawarra fan and marvelled at vision of Langer and Reynolds, inspiring Goodman with their ability to punch above their weight as cheeky halfbacks in the NRL's land of giants. When Goodman suffered an arm injury playing league as a 10-year-old, it was the moment that convinced him to take up boxing and the 'Ghost' quickly found his niche. Now unbeaten after seven years in the professional ranks, Goodman makes his world-title debut and is being driven by two of rugby league's little champions to break down Ball in a middle-eastern mauling. Reynolds is a massive boxing fan and enjoys Goodman's high-octane style. 'The critics always underestimate us smaller guys,' said Goodman, who at 169cm has a major size advantage over Ball. 'I loved rugby league growing up and there was a time when I hoped I would be good enough to play in the NRL, but I've found success in boxing. 'Blokes like 'Alfie' Langer, Geoff Toovey (Manly great) and Adam Reynolds made a career out of proving people wrong. 'That's exactly what I will do this weekend. 'He (Ball) has a wild and frantic style. He is unique and it works for him, but there's many ways I can win this fight. 'It's a hit-and-run mission, I'll go over there, get the belt and come home.' Ball has been accused of underestimating Goodman, with the Briton admitting he hasn't watched the Australian at all. 'I don't know much about him and I don't really care,' he told this masthead. 'I won't know (about his style) until the bell goes. I just focus on me. 'My coaches do the research, I let them do it while I focus on myself and they tell me what's going to work on the night. 'I will beat him because I'm an all-round better fighter. I want it more. I'm hungrier than him. I'm more powerful. 'The best version of me beats his best and that's what I will be. 'It's going to be tough for sure, but he won't handle me.' It's understood there is a rematch clause in the deal and Goodman has no qualms about beating Ball twice in his eventual dream of fighting undisputed king 'The Monster' Inoue. 'I think there's a rematch clause so I might have to fight this guy twice,' he said. 'I'm pretty sure there is (a two-fight clause), so we'll wait and see. 'If I beat him the first time well enough, we'll see if we come to Australia. 'I've bled for this, I've sacrificed everything for this moment. 'I'm not flying halfway around the world to come home empty-handed. 'Once the bell rings there's no teammates to back me up — it's all on me. 'Come Sunday, he's going to find out exactly what I'm about ... I'm not leaving the desert without that world title.'
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Bulldogs dare to dream with season on a knife's edge
The Western Bulldogs have the right brand of football to go all the way this AFL finals series - they just have to get there first. That's the view of 2016 premiership Bulldog Jason Johannisen, as the club's season hangs on a knife's edge. The Bulldogs (52 points) sit ninth with two games to go against West Coast then Fremantle, four points shy of Gold Coast, Hawthorn and GWS. Realistically, Luke Beveridge's charges need to win both games and have either the Suns, who have a game in hand, Hawks or Giants to slip up, in order to make the top eight. But if they can pull that off, Johannisen believes the sky is the limit. "We play the right brand of footy to win it all," he told AAP. "The challenge is just putting it together and putting in a four-quarter effort, because that's what it takes. "And we need an even contribution from everyone. We can't just rely on too few, although some of our stars are playing some really influential football. "Our best footy can match it with anyone. It's just the challenge is doing it over a four-quarter period. "We're up for that challenge, and we're excited for it." The Bulldogs' forwards are "feeding off" the energy of key forward Aaron Naughton (55 goals), who is third in the Coleman Medal. But emerging midfield star Ed Richards saved the day in last week's thrilling win over Melbourne and looms as a pivotal figure, alongside skipper Marcus Bontempelli, in the Dogs' finals hunt. "He's become a bona fide superstar of the competition," Johannisen said. "What makes him so impactful is his use going forward is just top notch. He doesn't miss many targets, and in front of goals, he usually kicks them. "He's had a terrific season." With their season on a knife's edge, the Bulldogs know they cannot afford any slip-ups against the cellar-dwelling Eagles at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. "They've got nothing to lose, so they're going to play with some freedom and some flair," he said. "We've got to combat that. We just know that if we dig into our style, that it will overcome anything." Johannisen, who won the 2016 Norm Smith Medal, was limited to just 28 games between 2022 and 2024 though a series of injuries. But the 32-year-old has managed 14 this year including the past seven on the bounce, which has helped vanquish thoughts his time could well be up. "It does cross your mind," he said. "But at the end of the day, this group is what gets you going in rehab and just wanting to get back and play with your teammates. "That's been my main drive - and that will always be there."
