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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Callan Ward turning heartbreak into inspiration sums up all that is wonderful about AFL
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon would have to rank among the most wooden media performers I have seen or heard. Many in the industry speak highly of him and his ability to distil and diffuse, the sort of operator every leader wants by their side. But he is no frontman. Last week, he did the radio rounds justifying the latest executive shakeup. As always, it sounded like he was reading off well-thumbed, suggested speaking notes. Look, he droned; crowds, ratings and revenue are all up – we're doing so much right! It was an AI response to a very human sport. The best of Australian rules football can't be explained in media releases, or in org charts, or in SEN Fireball Friday hot takes. The best of this sport can be found at the grassroots level, or on hall of fame night, or in thousands of little moments around the country each weekend. One of those occurred late on Saturday afternoon, in front of bugger all people, in a part of the country where footy hasn't yet taken hold. The best of the sport was probably the worst moment of Callan Ward's career. The GWS Giants inaugural co-captain lay on a massage table, sobbing. Lachie Whitfield, a teammate of 13 years, crouched down to Ward's level, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. Sentimental slop, you may say, and it is to a degree. But in an industry of grind and grift, it was a tender, human moment that said a lot about both the injured player and his club. When Ward first went to Greater Western Sydney, some saw him as a traitor. He had grown up in Melbourne's inner west, the son of a man who played VFA for Yarraville and the grandson of a former South Melbourne captain. He was booed by Western Bulldogs supporters when he was still playing for them. The Herald Sun devoted its front page to the story, under the headline 'Money Rules', with a photo of Ward's mother Kerri and his three sisters holding a framed photo of their brother in action for the Bulldogs. Don't blame Callan, his mum said. Blame the AFL. 'The days of the one-club player are really dying out, particularly when you have clubs being set up like this where they come along and offer ludicrous amounts of money to play football.' Inspirational. Despite his injury, Cal Ward fires up his team before the final term.#AFLGiantsTigers But Ward was no cheque collector, no mercenary and no flight risk. There was a swagger, a competitiveness and a camaraderie at the Giants that was distinct from what the Gold Coast cultivated. No one personified that refusal to yield more than Ward. Even when they were being trounced by 20 goals, they'd be mouthing off, putting their heads over the ball, and rallying around one another. Yes, plenty of players left to return to their home state, but they never had the player drain of the Suns, especially among their leaders. There were a lot of flashy, preternaturally talented players on that list. But Ward was a proper footballer. He didn't do many interviews, didn't rant or rave, and was a completely different personality to his co-captain Phil Davis. But he was the sort of leader people were drawn to and rallied around. He was rarely out of the top half dozen players. He was a reliable big game performer. He excelled in the often brutal Sydney derbies. But there was more to his game than a headfirst bulldozer. Martial artists often speak of 'heavy hips and light feet' and Ward had the ability to get down low, to evenly distribute his weight over the ball, and accelerate out of a stoppage. Ward has had some rotten luck. He played in five losing preliminary finals, and several of them could have gone either way. In the 2016 preliminary final, one of the best games of this era, his head collided with Zaine Cordy's knee and he was left twitching on the turf. He wrecked his knee early in the 2019 season, the only year the Giants have played off in a grand final. Late in last year's qualifying final, another classic, he charged through a stoppage, split a pair of Swans and banana kicked a goal to put them up by two majors. But the Giants lost that game and coughed up a seven-goal lead to eventual premiers Brisbane a week later, putting Ward's retirement plans on hold. He's been a remote footballer this year, living in separate states to his wife and his three gloriously named sons, Romeo, Ralfie, and Rex. Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion There have been better and more talented footballers than Callan Ward. There have been footballers with more accolades, blazers, votes and medallions. There have been footballers who racked up bigger numbers, who looked better on a stats sheet. But there aren't many footballers who've been more admired, or meant more to a single club. His injury and his three-quarter time address summed up everything that is hard and wonderful and meaningful about the sport. They were moments where football spoke for itself, where nothing needed to be defended, or sold, or spun.
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Clint Wheeldon
Clint Wheeldon worked out at a young age he was not skilful enough or durable enough to make it as a professional sportsman. After spending more than a decade as a Sports reporter for a variety of Radio Stations, Channel Ten and the ABC, in 2007 he landed his dream job as a full-time commentator with ABC GRANDSTAND. Clint's now called almost 500 games of Australian Rules Football at venues around the nation. He's called the past two AFL Grand Finals for Grandstand – the first WA based ABC broadcaster to be given that honour. He's also called Test Match Cricket, One Day Internationals and Big Bash finals. He's covered two Olympics, Two Commonwealth Games and Two Paralympics. He also calls A-League, Rugby Union, NRL and NBL. On Television Clint presents Sport for ABC TV's National Early Edition News. Clint's won several awards – Three times he's being named as Best Radio Caller at the Western Australia Football Media Guild awards and once as Best Television Caller. He's also won the WACA's most outstanding radio broadcaster on five occasions and has twice picked up the WACA's highly prized Best Test match story. But he still can't believe that talking about sport - which used to get him sent out of class in high school - is now paying his mortgage.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How cancer devastated footy legend Robert Walls' family before he chose to end his life when the killer disease struck him once again
Carlton great Robert Walls has been hailed throughout the AFL world and wider Australian community as a generous, humble individual and one of the greats to ever play and coach Australian rules football. On Thursday, it was announced that the 74-year-old footy great who had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer had chosen to end his life using Victoria's voluntary assisted dying laws. Walls has a reputation as a straight talker and someone who took a no-nonsense approach to his footy, and back in 2024, revealed the devastating impact cancer has had on his family. In 2006 his wife Erin sadly died from lung cancer, while his sister and his nephew have also suffered from the horrible illness. But he didn't want people to feel sorry for him. 'If I were to die tomorrow, I'd say how fortunate I've been,' the footy great told The Herald Sun. 'No 'woe is me' at all. My sister's had cancer, her husband had cancer, their little boy, when he was four had cancer and lost his arm. 'He's now 35 or 36 and a strapping big guy. How tough's that? 'My wife passed away at 55. Shit, I'm in my 70s, I've got nothing to complain about, nothing at all.' Walls also recounted his first diagnosis, revealing again that he felt lucky to have enjoyed the life that he had. 'I just thought I've had a wonderful life. I'm 73, and Erin passed away 18 years ago. 'She never saw the grandkids grow up. I've got seven grandkids, the oldest is Tara, 19, and the youngest is Daisy, 5, and the others are in between, and I've seen them grow up and I want to see more of that.' Walls enjoyed a decorated career in professional football. He would play 218 games for Carlton between 1967 and 1978 before joining Fitzroy. During that time, he would score a whopping 444 goals for both Carlton and Fitzroy, with the half-forward hanging up his boots in 1980. He'd later go into coaching and would replace Bill Stephen as Fitzroy's senior coach in 1981 before moving to Carlton five years later. Spells at Brisbane and Richmond would also follow before he stepped back from coaching, having overseen Victoria's last-ever non-charity representative game. 'Robert did it his way and chose to end a fight that had seen him spend more than 250 nights in hospital during the past two years,' the AFL said in a statement. 'His son David, speaking on behalf of sister Rebecca and brother Daniel, confirmed the Carlton, Fitzroy and Brisbane great and grandfather to seven had passed away peacefully in his unit overlooking the MCG. 'Having spent the last couple of weeks tidying up his affairs and catching up with family and close friends, he chose that over more and more hospital visits for treatment.' Tributes have been pouring in for the humble footy great, with Carlton hailing him as a 'remarkable person' and for his 'extraordinary courage'. 'He took time to reflect on a life well-lived and was able to share his farewells with the many players, officials and media representatives whom he had met along the way,'' the club said. 'As he said: 'I've had a wonderful life'.' One of his great mates, Paul Roos, has also paid a heartfelt tribute to the Carlton great. During the fledgling years of his career, Roos played under Walls just after the former Carlton star inherited the senior coaching role in the '80s. The former Sydney Swans boss revealed that he had been to visit Walls in recent months and lifted the lid on what the pair spoke about, adding that he was 'thankful' to have been able to say goodbye to his good friend. 'I'm really grateful,' Roos told ABC's AFL Daily on Thursday evening. 'I jumped on a plane and came back to see Robert specifically, and I'm forever grateful I got to spend a couple of hours with him. We spoke about footy, life, he gave me some advice and I made sure that he knew what a legacy he had left and thanked him for all that he'd done. 'It was an amazing conversation and one that I think that not many people have the chance to do. He was very pragmatic and he understood what he was doing so we spoke about all those sorts of things. 'But I'm grateful to be able to do that. 'I sat in the car and wrote some notes down in my iPhone - it was a pretty special moment.' Walls (right, pictured with matthew Kreuzer) was hailed by Paul Roos for his work in helping the former Sydney boss develop his skills in the fledgling years of his time at Fitzroy Roos added that he wanted to ensure the two-time Carlton leading goalkicker understood the impact that he had on many young players like himself during his coaching journey as well as the incredible legacy he was leaving behind. 'But one of the other things that I wanted to be clear with him [about] was whether he understood the legacy that he had left. 'He said: "I think I do." He was an amazing person in an era when Fitzroy was really struggling, and we obviously got to a certain level... but he was a significant person in all of our lives - those young players, who came to Fitzroy. 'I just wanted to be really clear with him on how important he was to so many people.' Opening up on what it was like to play under Roos, an Australian Football Hall of Famer, Roos described him as a 'tough' player and an 'innovative coach', something which he appreciated as a youngster rising through the ranks. 'He was tough and he was hard... My son last night asked me over dinner last night what were the main things he taught you? I said: "Feedback". 'The feedback that he gave me I knew came from his heart because he wanted me to get better. This morning I was thinking the discipline and hard work - we trained really hard. We had a really disciplined group of players and we got feedback from my coach. 'That's who he was, he was very pragmatic, matter of fact and I really appreciated that.' Walls enjoyed a decorated career in professional football. He would play 218 games for Carlton between 1967 and 1978 before joining Fitzroy. During that time, he would score a whopping 444 goals for both Carlton and Fitzroy, with the half-forward hanging up his boots in 1980 Stephen Kernahan echoed those comments, adding that he pushed the key forward to his potential. 'I'd do anything for him. He was a hard man, but I loved that hardness in him,' Kernahan said. 'He was also ahead of his time, a real visionary.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Lachie Schultz concussion drama explained: Why didn't umpires stop play? What did AFL say?
The AFL is embroiled in a firestorm following the serious concussion sustained by Collingwood's Lachie Schultz, and the miscommunication that has followed. Injuries, and in particular concussions, are relatively common in Australian rules football nowadays, so why has this incident caused so much controversy? Here's what has happened so far. Schultz's concussion occurred during the fourth quarter of Collingwood's 14-point win over Fremantle at Perth Stadium last Thursday. The Magpies forward found himself in the middle of the ground and attempted to tackle Dockers defender Jordan Clark, who had possession of the ball. As Schultz tried to apply the tackle, his head was caught in a compromising position and collided with Clark's shoulder region. Although Schultz was able to bring Clark to the ground, Clark was able to free himself of the tackle and dispose of the ball cleanly. Immediately after the tackle, Schultz lay motionless on the turf as play continued on around him for approximately 16 seconds before his teammate Jamie Elliott took a mark inside Collingwood's attacking 50. Clark did not face any sanctions from the AFL's match review officer. Schultz was tended to by Collingwood's medical staff on the field and collapsed while attempting to run off before being slowly helped towards the interchange bench. The umpires officiating the game were Justin Power, Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer and Martin Rodger. Meredith has umpired in 509 games and nine grand finals. Fleer has umpired in 237 games and two grand finals. Collingwood captain Darcy Moore was immediately critical of the umpires' decision to allow play to continue as Schultz lay on the turf motionless, saying the incident was "rattling" to players on both teams. "It's pretty rattling to see when the game is on the line to have one of your heart and soul players experience a concussion like that," he told Fox Footy after the game. "We were pretty concerned at how severe he looked and how disorientated he looked. "At first, players from both teams thought the game should've been stopped at least for 20 seconds to let him off the ground. "That was really our first concern because of how nasty it looked. "He was right in front of me, so I could see how much he struggled walking. "It was a set shot anyway, so it felt like it was right in that moment (to stop the game), but clearly it only happens when it's near the play. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said the Magpies had initially called for a stretcher to be taken out to Schultz. "We were all sort of worried about his welfare and we called for the stretcher, and our doctors were trying everything they can to get Lachie OK and he just jumped to his feet," he told reporters in his press conference. "So we did what we could, but yeah, ideally you can stop the game." The AFL released a statement last Friday, saying the only reason play had not been stopped was because the umpires had not noticed Schultz lying on the ground. "The play can be stopped by the umpires, who are instructed to stop play as soon as they are aware there is an injured player in the vicinity of play. In last night's match the umpires did not see the injured player at the time, so play continued," read the statement. "Upon review, if umpires were aware, play would have been stopped when (Nick) Daicos had possession in the middle of the ground." On Tuesday, the drama took a turn as Channel 7's The Agenda Setters broadcast raw footage of the game with the umpires' microphones playing in the background and no commentary. In the vision, it is clear the umpires did see Schultz injured as one of them can be heard saying: "We have got an injured player in the middle. I am watching ... We are OK. We are OK." According to veteran reporter Caroline Wilson, AFL football boss Laura Kane was "unaware" of the vision aired by Channel 7 when contacted via telephone. Wilson reported that Kane called in all the field umpires involved in the Collingwood-Fremantle match to be "strongly counselled". "I would say it was a pretty tense meeting in which the umpires were strongly reminded that they should've stopped the game," she said. "The statement we released was incorrect, but we were given the wrong information from the umpires," Kane said in a statement provided to Channel 7. "It's inconsistent with the vision. They [the umpires] were going off memory and not the vision and we should always look at the vision. "All the field umpires from the game have all been coached this afternoon that they should have stopped the game." Former AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain, who officiated in two grand finals, offered some insight into the whole saga. "You watch the action and behaviour of the umpires — I'm familiar with their policy and they've done everything in accordance with their instructions," he told ABC Sport. "Had they stopped the play, had they known Schultz was concussed, and when the ball was in Nick Daicos' hands, had they stopped it then, that also would have been appropriate, OK? "Once the ball gets down inside-50 and Jamie Elliott has the football, (Collingwood's) medical staff are with the injured player, and the responsibility's handed over to the medical staff, because they're trained in these instances. "So, then the umpires will be waiting on their feedback as to how to behave. They didn't ask the play to be stopped, and they didn't ask for a medical cart. So, everything that we've heard and seen is fine. I think the more intriguing element relates to the communication that has come to hand about what has or hasn't transpired off the ground with the communications with the umpires. I'm intrigued by that." Chamberlain suggested there had been a miscommunication between the AFL and the umpires in the wake of the incident. "I haven't spoken with Laura but, from what I've read and what I've taken in, it appears as though the AFL is intimating that somebody within the footballing department has communicated directly with the umpires to get their take on things after the game and that they've misled the AFL. That's what's being intimated," he said. "Why I'm confused and curious is that everything is recorded. What are we being deceitful about? When talking about the umpires, what would they be lying about? "I'm intrigued as to what the answer to that question is." Less than 24 hours after the footage aired on Channel 7, the AFL was forced into a backflip. The league released their third statement on this drama, and second in a day, explaining the reason the league declared the umpires did not see Schultz was not because of "wrong information" from the officials, but rather a miscommunication between the umpiring department and head office. "Our process in determining what happened Thursday night failed and for that we take full responsibility," Kane said. "Today we have determined there was a miscommunication from members of the umpiring department, not the field umpires, which formed the basis of our initial public statement on Friday. "Those team members have been counselled and reminded of the importance of ensuring our process is fully followed regarding these types of incidents and in this instance it was not." In Wednesday's statement, Kane also said she had directed her colleague Josh Mahoney to conduct a review into the league's processes to ensure a miscommunication such as this does not occur again. Players' Association boss Paul Marsh said he is "disappointed" in the immediate handling of a player's injury. "It is now clear that the umpires noticed Lachie Schultz's injury and had the opportunity to stop the play to ensure he left the field safely," he said. "What this highlights to us is that the process of dealing with vital health and safety issues on the field is unclear, and there are many recent examples of the industry needing to better prepare everyone for when these situations occur. "Equally, we are disappointed that the AFL failed to appropriately review a serious on-field incident, but acknowledge that they have taken responsibility for this." This statement from the association was after the AFL had blamed the field umpires for giving head office the wrong information, but before the league had walked back that claim. Schultz is currently sidelined due to the AFL's concussion protocols. As previously mentioned, Clark did not face any sanctions for his involvement in the clash, and is free to play this weekend. The AFL is now looking into its internal processes following the miscommunication blunder that led to them claiming the field umpires had not seen Schultz, then that the umpires had given them "wrong information", then a third statement overriding the previous two and exonerating blame from the umpires.
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Newest official NZ rugby team set to face Sri Lanka's finest
If you're a rugby tragic, the scene at Karaka Rugby Club on Tuesday night would've warmed the heart. As the rain pelted down on the club's premier team training under floodlights after a hard day's work, inside the clubrooms the quart bottles were being popped open as dinner was cooked and the speeches prepared. This was no ordinary rugby club function, though. Families, friends and dignitaries were gathered on the tables and leaners to farewell and wish good luck to the first ever New Zealand Under 85kg team on their first ever overseas tour. Their destination: Sri Lanka, not exactly top of mind when it comes to rugby but on that certainly makes sense at the end of the long and arduous journey this team has been on to its existence. NZ U85kg team photo. Photo: Blake Armstrong/ActionPress "A lot of credit goes to those guys who have worked behind the scenes," said newly minted U85s captain and first five Jared Percival, who has also played for Mid Canterbury in the Heartland Championship and represented New Zealand in Australian Rules Football . "All those guys have a massive role and have played a huge part in growing the National Cup, getting us recognition and getting this New Zealand team over the line." The new side, who will play in a black jersey, perform the haka and represent the legacy of every other side that's represented New Zealand, was always going to be the next step after the introduction of the National Club Cup in 2020. The U85 kg grade had existed in club rugby for two and a half decades previously, developing a cult following among those involved. Probably the most important devotee to the grade is Sir Graham Henry , whose influence as a World Cup winning All Black coach was crucial in getting the team up and running. The NZ Under 85kg side prepares. Photo: Johnny Hendrikus/NZ Rugby "I suppose we're looking like the original All Blacks, they were nicknamed the 'All Backs'," said coach Ngatai Walker, who played Under 85kg rugby right back when the grade was first conceived in the 1990s. "I think that's similar to us. Like we want everyone to be able to read and react to the pictures that are in front of them on defence and attack." Why Sri Lanka? The thought process around playing Asian sides dates back to when the idea of a national team was first floated, in that the general size of players there would more or less match up with a New Zealand team. However, Sri Lankan rugby does have a long and rich history, with the Colombo Football Club established in 1879. In an odd quirk, their first ever international match was against a team marketed at the time as the 'All Blacks' in 1907 - who were actually the precursors to the Kiwis rugby league side but playing under union rules. Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, was also the country were Sir Colin Meads first played in a black jersey. Meads was a member of the NZ Colts side that toured there in 1955, playing in all eight fixtures and scoring three tries. Lately, the Sri Lanka Tuskers won the Asia Rugby Division 1 title last year and flogged Malaysia 59-19 two weeks ago. Dilruksha Dange of the Sri Lanka Tuskers in action at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Matt Impey/ "They like to throw the ball around, they're not they're not shy with the offloads," said Percival on the footage that they'd been able to see of their opposition. "So it's going to be an awesome game to be a part of and a spectacle as well." The New Zealand side's selection has been an interesting one, given that it is entirely based on last year's season (the 2025 club season starts this weekend). The team includes loose forward Lewis Craik, with the Dundee native reversing the usual trend of kiwis ending up playing for the Scottish national side. "I mean, growing up in Scotland I never, ever thought I'd get the chance to put on a black jersey and represent New Zealand for rugby," said Craik. Lewis Craik packs down on the side on the NZ Under 85kg scrum as they prepare to play Sri Lanka. Photo: Johnny Hendrikus/NZ Rugby "The last few days (in camp) it feels like we've known each other for about two years… everyone plays a little bit harder, a little bit faster." Craik, Percival and the rest of the squad were congratulated by Henry and given a crash course in what wearing a black jersey means by two-time World Cup winning All Black Keven Mealamu. Walker admitted that the expectation on his side is to play up tempo, exciting rugby, as well as continuing the tradition of winning. "(Sri Lanka) are a really proud rugby nation. So yeah it's pretty cool but we know that is a big challenge and they're really proud," said Walker. There is expected to be a lot of interest in the two tour fixtures, with reports out of Sri Lanka saying interest is high in the side the locals are calling the 'weight grade All Blacks'. Prime Minister and footy fan Dr Harini Amarasuriya is looking forward to the occasion, telling local news that the games "promise to energise the nation's rugby enthusiasts as they witness a powerhouse of the sport take on our national team." The NZ Under 85kg team find themselves a very unique situation where predicting just what will happen is almost impossible, however Percival confirmed that the traditional grade post match traditions will be honoured. "I think it'd be rude to say no. You know, there might be some boat races , with events in between tests…at the coaches discretion." New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers Kick-off: 10:30pm Sunday 4 May NZT Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers Kick-off: 1am Sunday 11 May NZT Racecourse Grounds, Colombo Live coverage on Sky Sport Forwards: Pasia Asiata (Poneke Wanderers, Wellington) Ben Biggelaar (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland) Rory Cavanagh (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland) Lewis Craik (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato) Jeandre Du Toit (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland) Luke Eyre (Massey Rock n Rumble, North Harbour) Josh Gellert (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland) Frazer Harrison (Auckland University Squids, Auckland) Tyler Koning (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Jack Laity (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland) Callum Nimmo (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Ridgley Paxton (Karaka Razzlers, Counties Manukau) Josh Purdon (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Tom Rowland (Eden Lizards, Auckland) Simon Sia (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato) Matt Treeby (Tawa Ducks, Wellington) Backs: Campbell Busby (Auckland University Squids, Auckland) Taine Cordell-Hull (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Jackson Ephraims (Takapuna Bombers, North Harbour) Ben Megson (Grammar TEC Old Boys, Auckland) Ned Milne (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Francis Morrison (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland) Jarred Percival (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) - Captain Jamie Petford (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland) Adam Preston (Tawa Ducks, Wellington) Eamon Reilly (Ponsonby Hustlers, Auckland) Ben Scott (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) Pieter Swarts (East Coast Bays Badgers, North Harbour) Coach: Ngatai Walker Manager: Grant Wilson
