Latest news with #Footy
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bevo gives Baz a cheeky sledge
AFL: Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge couldn't help but give former player Bailey Smith, a cheeky clip ahead the much anticipated showdown between the Cats and Dogs.
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Can Bailey Smith tame the Dogs?
AFL: Former Dog Bailey Smith will face his old team for the first time in Round 11, with the Western Bulldogs dominating the league, can Bailey Smith be the man to tame them.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL round 10 Gold Coast v Hawthorn: Live scores, updates, SuperCoach scores
Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath says the pain of being overlooked in the club's wild finals ride last year and fighting a battle with his body in recent seasons has steeled his determination to make the most of his chances. The talented Hawk has slotted in perfectly to the back half this season and is coming off a strong fortnight, including 32 disposals against Richmond and a game-breaking 25 disposals against Melbourne last week. Importantly, he is again feeling confident in his body after soft tissue injuries meant he played only 11 and eight games across the past two seasons. 'Footy is a tough enough game anyway, but to have doubts going into games is really tough,' Jiath said ahead of Thursday night's clash with Gold Coast in Darwin. 'To actually have no doubts going into games is a massive thing for me now. 'When you spend time on the sidelines, it drags your confidence down a bit, but I feel as though I am getting my confidence back again … being able to play the footy I want to play. 'I feel as though my best footy is still ahead of me as well. I am getting better with each game and I am loving it playing down back with the lads.' Jiath, who turns 26 next month, has played 62 games in his seven seasons in brown and gold. He was available for the finals last season but after a late season niggle, he was overlooked when it came to the finals. 'I still think back to that elimination final (when the Hawks beat the Bulldogs) and not being picked and it drives me,' he said. 'Those sorts of setbacks drive you. Not being picked brings that edge and obviously with guys like 'Barra' (Tom Barrass) and (Josh) Battle coming in, it adds to the group so that puts pressure back on for spots. 'But I've always felt so supported at the club. The coaches, my teammates, the conditioning staff, and my family have all been so good for me and backed me in.' Jiath made a decision not to travel overseas at the end of last season on a break and set to work on rebuilding his body and giving it every chance of success. Other than a slight setback at the start of the year, he has had a clear run at it, having played two VFL games with Box Hill and six games with the Hawks, swiftly re-establishing himself as a key part of the backline, but also with a capacity to play in multiple roles. 'I didn't go away at all (in the off-season) … I just wanted to stick around and perfect every part that I could,' he said. 'I wanted to leave no stone unturned. The block I had this pre-season was probably the best I've had since 2021 in terms of training fully the whole pre-season.' He played almost half of his 62 games in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but feels as if he knows more about his body now which can hold him in good stead for the rest of his career. Jiath said the challenge of taking on the Suns in Darwin on Thursday is a big one for the Hawks, given the Suns' winning streak at the Top End. 'Gold Coast has some good form this season … we have to be ready for them,' he said. 'I played them once before up there and they smacked us (in 2022). 'It's a great opportunity for us and we're looking forward to the challenge.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Footy star confesses that he crashed his club CEO's car - and reveals why he told him NOT to complain about it
Brisbane Lions star Cam Rayner has recounted the hilarious story of how he once crashed a club CEO's car on his way home from a training session and why he hilariously told the footy boss not to complain about the damage. The 25-year-old medium forward is now in his eighth season at the footy club and is enjoying one of his best years yet off the back of his side's premiership-winning season in 2024. Born and raised in Melbourne, Rayner would be drafted to the Queensland club as the No 1 pick of the 2017 draft. The time between when a prospective player is picked at the AFL Draft to the moment they are heading out for their first training session is a very fast-paced process with club's going to great lengths to ensure that players can move to their new club's with ease. Many young footy stars, particularly those travelling interstate, are given housing by their clubs, with other players or members of the management. The move is designed to help them develop bonds around the club and Rayner, interestingly, moved to live with Brisbane CEO Greg Swann, who has been in the role since July 2024, having also spent time working as a CEO of Collingwood and Carlton. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Footy on Nine (@footyonnine) 'When I first moved up to Brisbane - Harley will know coming away from home - it's pretty much, exam, drafted and then you're gone,' he began, speaking to Channel 9. 'In between that little space, my birthday fell, so I went and got my licence and got up to Brisbane and that's the first time driving by myself - without anyone else in the car. 'Took Swanny's car - the CEO, who I was living with at the time - and drove it into the club and on the way out took out the boom gate at the footy club. 'I don't think Swanny found it funny at the time... he was a little bit pissed off...' he added laughing. In the years following his arrival, the footy star has gone from strength to strength and is actualising his potential as one of the best young stars in the league. Last season, he notably kicked 31 goals - including a major in the Grand Final - which was a career high tally for the forward. Rayner was then pressed on what kind of car Swan had been driving, revealing: 'It was a club car. So I was kind of like: "Mate, you've been handed that car anyway so don't start complaining if I drive it into the boom gate".' He then revealed the funny exchange he had with the CEO, after revealing on the show how he revealed the news to him. 'I went back to his house that night and we were having dinner,' Rayner said. Obviously, I like to have a bit of a joke and we've got a pretty good relationship and I said: "Mate, I've smashed your car into the boom gate". 'And he's gone: "It's gold mate," and has just sat on the couch. 'I'm like: "Nah seriously, go outside and have a look at your car, it's got a smash through the front of it". 'He didn't find it funny the second time, but obviously a good story to hold onto.' Interestingly, footy fans last year hailed footy coach Chris Fagan for his leadership and insight after he had predicted Rayner would one day make up for a shocking missed attempt at a goal during the 2018 season. The 25-year-old found redemption after he scuffed a shot in their round 20 clash against the Kangaroos in his first season at the club, which would have won the Lions the game. Last year, he booted a match-winning kick against Geelong to help the Lions book their spot in the AFL Grand Final against the Swans. 'I was pretty glad he had the ball in his hands in the dying stages to win a game of footy and, as a lot of our young players did, they stood up,' Fagan said at the time. 'They might have made some mistakes during that period, but it will stand them in good stead down the track, and I'm sure Cam Rayner in his career at this footy club will make up for that one over and over again.'
