Latest news with #SirDougNicholls
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
AFL Round 11 Bombers vs Tigers, 'Dreamtime at the G' live updates, blog, scores and stats from the MCG
We are set for one of the highlights of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, as Essendon plays Richmond in 'Dreamtime at the G'. The marquee game at the MCG will feature The Long Walk from Birrarung Marr, entertainment featuring Briggs and other artists, and an Indigenous dance ceremony before the bounce. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy great Cyril Rioli spotted for the first time at a footy match since high-profile legal case
Footy great Cyril Rioli had chosen not to return to his former club, Hawthorn, for their centenary celebrations last week. But on Thursday, he was spotted for the first time back at a footy match watching on as his old club Hawthorn were beaten 16.8 [104] - 15.6 [96] by Gold Coast in what was the opening game of this weekend's Sir Doug Nicholls round at the TIO Stadium in Darwin The footy great cut a big smile and stood up to applaud Gold Coast Star Bailey Humphrey who booted a stunning goal from just off the 50m arc, as Damien Hardwick's rampant side got off to a fast start booting five majors on the bounce in the opening quarter. 'He had a fair smile on his face when Gold Coast kicked that goal,' his former team-mate Luke Hodge said, as Channel 7's cameras panned around to Rioli in the crowd. 'Yeah, he did!' Brian Taylor added, before adding: 'Whose he barracking for?!' Hodge, who had recently admitted he was gutted that Rioli had distanced himself from the Hawks during their centenary celebrations, added: 'It's great to see him back at the football, though. Very relaxed.' Bailey Humphrey even managed to impress Cyril Rioli with this goal 👏 #AFLSunsHawks | #AFLDeadly — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 Hamish McLachlan, also on commentary duties, added: 'Isn't it nice to see him back? Absolutely.' At the end of the match Hodge was seen heading over to the stands where Rioli was sitting and was spotted having a catch-up with the Hawthorn great, having previously admitted he and other players had been unable to get in touch with Rioli in recent months. Speaking last week on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, Hodge, who played with Rioli at Hawthorn, opened up on his former team-mate's fractured relationship with the club. The Hawks' celebrations were soured by the absence of Rioli, who had, last year, been the lead plaintiff in a claim against the club after he and several other indigenous players and their families had alleged that they had been subjected to a racist culture at the footy club. 'We understand that Hawthorn and Cyril haven't come to the stage where I guess Cyril feels comfortable coming back into the football club just yet,' he told the programme. 'You can only [hope], as they say, time heals all wounds, but we're just hoping that it gets to that stage with Cyril.' He added: 'I haven't been able to speak to Cyril,' he said. 'I think there's been a lot of guys... I've reached out. I went to Darwin in 2021/22 for filming, tried to call him, got his old number, then got his new number from Hilly [Bradley Hill], tried to call... didn't get anything back from him.' Things you love to see 💛🤎 — 7AFL (@7AFL) May 15, 2025 Rioli stood up to applaud Gold Coast Suns star Bailey Humphrey who booted a stunning goal from just off the 50m arc Hodge said he was saddened by Rioli's decision not to return for the anniversary celebrations, adding: 'When you go through so much with a lot of guys, you want to see all their faces.' Rioli, alongside his wife, Carl Peterson and Jermaine Miller-Lewis lodged a claim of unlawful discrimination in the Federal Court. However, the claimants and Hawthorn would release a joint statement that was published on the club's website that they had resolved the dispute with the plaintiffs receiving an undisclosed sum of money. Hawthorn apologised to the players and their families for any 'hurt and distress' experienced during their time at the footy club. Speaking on his relationship with Rioli, Hodge said: 'We left on really good terms. 'I've got messages from Cyril from when his old man was crook, saying: "Family is before football. Go and spend time with your family". 'And then when he retired, he sent me a message saying: "Thanks for all the development and all the help". 'So I've had no issues with Cyril ever, but when he sort of ran into this with Hawthorn, it's sort of like he's parted ways with everyone there. 'There's very few of the mentors that he spent a lot of time with in that forward line who haven't been able to connect with him either.' Cyril's cousin, Daniel Rioli, is currently playing for the Suns, joining up with the Gold Coast outfit in 2024. The footy star enjoyed a solid outing at the TIO Stadium, amassing five tackles, four marks and 21 disposals.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
AFL greats praise ‘special' Welcome to Country to kick off Indigenous Round
AFL greats have lauded 'special' scenes in Darwin as the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round officially got underway. Before the Gold Coast Suns vs Hawthorn game got underway, the teams stood under the Maurice Rioli Stand at TIO Stadium for a Welcome to Country ceremony. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. 'As we come to together during Sir Doug Nicholls, I'd like to acknowledge the past players and the current players for leading the way for the next generation of Indigenous players for this great game that we all love, AFL,' a local Indigenous representative said. 'For thousand of years, we've called this place home. We are the Larrakia people, the saltwater people. This is the Larrakia country, and we are the Larrakia people. 'Under the souls of our feet, always was and always be Aboriginal land of the Larrakia people. We invite you to walk with us. On behalf of the Larrakia elders, we welcome you and the Gold Coast Suns football club and the Hawthorn football club.' A traditional Indigenous dance was then conducted, which you can watch in the video above. Fox Footy host Sarah Jones said: 'Guys, how beautiful was that.' Four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne said: 'It's always beautiful when you get a Welcome to Country like that and it's launching Sir Doug Nicholls Round.' Indigenous AFL icon Eddie Betts added: 'It's very special and it's different. 'Wherever you go in different communities all over Australia there's thousands of tribes — it's all about learning, growing. They've welcome us here to Larrakia Country and performed that dance, that was pretty special. Really looking forward to tonight. Hoping it's going to be a great game.' Indigenous players from the Suns (Joel Jeffery, Ben Long, Daniel Rioli, Malcolm Rosas) and Hawks (Karl Amon) then met at the centre circle to exchange gifts at the coin toss. Premiership players Jack Riewoldt and Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy the sight of AFL games being in played in Darwin was fitting for the league. 'Up in Larrakia Country, it's one of the great places to play AFL footy,' Riewoldt said. 'The Gold Coast Suns have spent a lot of time here, it's been a very successful hunting ground for them.' Lewis said: 'I love the Hawks going up early and investing in the community and indulging in the culture of the Indigenous community up there in Darwin. Long. Betts. Burgoyne. Rioli 🤩 #AFLSunsHawks | #AFLDeadly — AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2025 'Having played up there a couple of times and some community camps there, they're fantastic people and it gives great insight and meaning to the round, which is Sir Doug Nicholls Round.' Heading into the game against Hawthorn, the Gold Coast Suns had won all seven of their home games in Darwin since making the move to playing two home games per season their since 2022. It looked like that trend would continue when the Suns led 9.4 (58) to 7.2 (44) lead at halftime. Both teams are entrenched in the top eight with the Suns looking to play finals for the first time since joining the AFL in 2011. Tasmania will join the AFL as the league's 19th team in 2028, but it's not expected to be long before a Northern Territory team is added to the competition. as a 20th team. Adelaide (Kuwarna), Port Adelaide (Yartapuulti), Fremantle (Walyalup), West Coast (Waalitj Marawar), St Kilda (Euro-Yoke) and Melbourne (Narrm) will be referred to by their traditnaional names this weekend.
