Olympic dreams, TV deals and a screen of one's own: Inside Netball's ultimate power play
Purcell is working on a teen TV drama about a bunch of girls gunning for the state championships, strategically timed to coincide with the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Speaking of strategic, also in the room was the Brisbane 2032 executive Brendan Keane, and Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis made no secret of the sport's Big Ambition, to get netty into the Olympics. 'We will push hard for Olympic inclusion,' said Ellis, urging everyone in the room to pledge their support for the cause. (McKenzie obliged).
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Of course, Foxtel execs were on hand, eager to capitalise on the fairytale ascent of the Melbourne Vixens with a big TV audience. But even then, Ellis was playing the long game; Seven head of sport Chris Jones was among the guests. Nothing like a bit of competitive tension with the rights deal expiring next year.
Sadly, a missed opportunity at one Brunswick pub on Saturday night, where requests to switch on the game on one of three TVs were turned down despite protestations that it was a grand final, a Melbourne team, and pinnacle women's sport. As the decider went down to the wire, a large group of discerning female sports fans watched the thrilling finish on a mobile phone as the AFL, the rugby and the NRL played on the big TVs.
Posting Through It
Former Labor senator and Australia's first Indigenous Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris appears to have suffered little consequence for sharing a series of deeply offensive social media posts about Muslims.
Peris was elected a director of Hockey Australia weeks after sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter) from an anonymous account calling Muslims 'Satan worshipping cockroaches that need to be eradicated'.
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Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
‘Cat and mouse game': How 12-year-old Kelia will tackle the 12-foot slabs of Teahupo'o
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West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles bring back Matt Flynn and Sandy Brock as Adelaide rest veteran star
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