
North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin chokes back tears in post-match interview after passing of his grandmother
North Melbourne skipper Jye Simpkin has choked back tears paying tribute to his late grandmother in an emotional post-match interview after his side won its second game of the AFL season.
The Kangaroos beat Richmond by four points in a thriller at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, just days after Simpkin and his family said their goodbyes to his nan.
'Will miss your smile nan, you're with pop now. I love you,' Simpkin wrote in a post on Instagram during the week.
Speaking to Fox Sports after Sunday's win, Simpkin was clearly emotional.
'Tough week, yeah. Obviously nan passing away was tough on myself, the family, everyone back home,' said the Roos captain, who is from Mooroopna in northern Victoria.
'But it happens and it's life, and I'm just so glad, as a family, I got to be there with her for her last few breaths and her last couple of hours.
'And I'm just super proud the boys got the job done for me today, and I know nan and pop will be up there looking (down) very proud.'
His side ended an eight-year MCG drought with a tense four-point victory over Richmond, with Cam Zurhaar kicking four goals.
Zurhaar was the most prolific forward on the ground as the Kangaroos hung on for a heart-stopping 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74) triumph on Sunday.
Tom Lynch cut the margin to six points with his second goal late in the final quarter and the Tigers had two further shots in time-on, but Kane McAuliffe and Tim Taranto fired wide.
Kangaroos defender Toby Pink took a goal-saving mark opposed to Lynch in the final minute to help seal the result.
After close losses to Port Adelaide and Essendon, then a draw with top side Brisbane, North (2-7-1) finally franked their improved form with a win.
It was their first at the home of football following nine straight defeats in a barren run since 2017.
Tristan Xerri won a titanic tussle with Toby Nankervis, both men shouldering a massive burden at ruck contests in a game littered with 137 stoppages.
Xerri had 19 disposals and 52 hit-outs, helping his side to a 54-33 win at clearances.
Luke Davies-Uniacke (27 disposals), Colby McKercher (22) and Simpkin (20) were also important contributors, with Nick Larkey and Jack Darling kicking two goals each.
Taranto (30 touches, 10 clearances) worked tirelessly for Richmond and Seth Campbell kicked three goals, while Kamdyn McIntosh added two.
But there was no fairytale finish for two-time premiership hero McIntosh in his 200th game.
North were top at stoppages in the opening term and Zurhaar contributed two early goals to help his side lead at quarter-time - 6.0 to 2.1 — for the first time this season.
It was the Kangaroos' second-highest first-quarter tally in 46 games under Alastair Clarkson.
But a game-high 24-point lead evaporated as the Tigers turned the tables in congestion and dominated territory in the second term, reaping the benefits of their improved pressure.
Richmond's Hugo Ralphsmith produced a goal-of-the-year contender when he shrugged off Colby McKercher, thought about kicking a banana, looked inside for a better option, then turned towards the boundary and dribbled a right-foot shot through from a tight angle.
McIntosh kicked go-ahead goals for the Tigers at the start of both the third and fourth quarters in a see-sawing contest.
But key forwards Larkey and Darling converted set shots to put the Kangaroos back in front in the last quarter and they held on in the desperate final stages for a morale-boosting win.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Sky News AU
8 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Jelena Dokic shows off slimmed down figure while commentating marathon French Open men's final
Jelena Dokic has showed off her stunning new figure while commentating the French Open men's final and teased an upcoming appearance at Wimbledon. Dokic, 42, was recently back in front of the cameras as part of Channel Nine's sports team covering the French Open. On Monday, Dokic shared several behind-the-scenes snaps while commentating the marathon French Open men's final between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz ultimately defeated Sinner in a five-set epic which lasted five hours and 29 minutes, making it the longest final in Roland Garros history. Dokic, who commentated the match for Nine alongside Todd Woodbridge, stunned in a chic green two-piece suit with snazzy gold buttons. 'Looking beautiful as always Jelena. I really enjoyed your commentary of the French Open,' one fan wrote. 'Just beautiful Jelena,' another fan said. 'You are beautiful inside and out, and always have been.' The Aussie tennis star reached a peak of World No. 4 during her career, including a quarter final appearance at the French Open in 2002. In 2009, Dokic enjoyed an unforgettable run at the Australian Open after entering the draw as a wildcard and ultimately advancing all the way to the quarter finals. Later this month, Dokic will commentate on the iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament, the same event where she reached the semi final in 2000 at just 16 years old. 'Can't wait for @wimbledon in 3 weeks,' Dokic wrote via Instagram. Dokic's commentating gig comes weeks after the shock death of her father and former coach Damir Dokic, who Jelena accused of physical, emotional and financial abuse in her memoir Unbreakable. "My father passed away in the late hours on 16.05.2025," Jelena wrote on Instagram last month. "As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history. "Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from. "The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief."


7NEWS
16 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Much-loved Seven sports presenter Abbey Holmes celebrates arrival of ‘suuuuuper cute' baby
Much-loved Seven star Abbey Holmes has given birth to a gorgeous baby boy. The former AFLW player and highly prespected presenter has celebrated the news on Instagram, while also revealing the birth didn't go quite to plan. 'Hi Everybody!! My name is Braxton John Brooksby but my friends can call me Brax 🩵,' Holmes playfully announced, while sharing pictures of the baby and herself and proud dad Keegan Brooksby. 'Mummy labored all day on Friday, only for me to be born via c section at 5:49pm on 6/6 weighing 3.585kg's. 'My head was faaaar too large so we had to change our plans late in the piece! 'Im suuuuuuuuuper cute & Mum and Dad are obsessed with me!' Fans, television stars and sporting royalty were quick to join in on the celebrations. Carlton great Brendan Fevola, influencer and reality TV star Tayla Broad, Monique Cripps (the wife of Carlton superstar Patrick), Kellie Finlayson, and Seven sports presenter Mel McLaughlin or passed on their congratulations to Holmes and Brooksby (the latter also a former AFL player). 'Baby's name was also a hit with The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies one of many to love it. 'Brax to the max! Congrats fam 🩵🩵🩵,' Gillies wrote. Another fan said: 'Congratulations guys he's so beautiful I love the name Braxton ❤️👶🏻' Holmes and Brooksby announced they were expecting at the start of this year. But it came as a bit of a shock with Holmes discovering she was pregnant just a few weeks after returning to Australia following a staggering performance in New York Marathon. 'As you can imagine, it was a bit of a shock given what I had just put my body through, but I'm in awe of what the human body can do,' she said at the time. The couple have been together since 2017 after matching on a dating app. Brooksby popped the question in Uluru in 2020 before the pair returned to the Northern Territory for their dream wedding in 2023. Holmes, who was an inaugural member of the Adelaide Crows' AFLW team, has been a member of the Seven commentary team since 2018. As well as being a respected presenter, Holmes has appeared on reality TV shows Survivor and SAS Australia. Brooksby joined Gold Coast via the 2015 rookie draft and played 14 games in his three seasons at the club. He spent one year at West Coast in 2019 without adding to his tally before playing one more AFL game at Hawthorn.

Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Signs point to Reid remaining at Eagles in 2026
West Coast's highly sought young star Harley Reid is leaning towards remaining at the Eagles in 2026 rather than seeking a trade back home to Victoria. Reid, who has been subject to constant speculation – and interest from Victorian clubs since his outstanding debut season in 2024 – is said to be more likely to remain in Perth and play for West Coast next year, according to rival clubs and industry sources who spoke to this masthead on Wednesday. Reid is contracted for 2026, under the AFL's three-year mandatory minimum for first round picks, which means West Coast has a hold on him in any case. Of course, the prospect of Reid moving home to Victoria when his contract expires at the end of 2026 remains a live possibility. While he is more inclined to stay than leave, this is not a definitive position and it cannot be completely ruled out that he might seek a trade. The likelihood that Reid, the 2023 No.1 draft pick, will stay in Perth creates a series of dominoes for rival clubs, given that relatively few were well-placed to satisfy West Coast in a trade this year. Richmond and Essendon would arguably be the Victorian clubs with the best draft capital if Reid was willing to play for those clubs, and both are in the throes of rebuilding or replenishing their lists with youth rather than contending for the premiership. Of the Victorian clubs in contention mode, Geelong and Collingwood do not have first round choices this year in the national draft, while Hawthorn have Carlton's first round pick. Melbourne and Carlton, thus, are without first round picks, although the Blues would gain a top-10 choice, based on current ladder position, if they lost free agent Tom de Koning to St Kilda, who have offered the ruckman a staggering deal worth close to $1.7 million a season over a long-term.