Latest news with #WarwickCapper
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
AFL legend Warwick Capper denies exposing himself in lewd performance that shocked audience as brain injury fears intensify
AFL cult hero Warwick Capper has denied claims he exposed himself during a controversial performance at a recent sportsman's night, amid growing concerns about his health. The 61-year-old former Sydney Swans star appeared at the Altona Sports Club earlier this month, where he allegedly simulated crude acts and made bizarre statements on stage. Capper, famed for his tight shorts and flamboyant persona in the 1980s, was accused by patrons of acting inappropriately, including simulating oral sex as a worker attempted to help him with his phone. Witnesses claimed he also boasted of drug use and made lewd remarks about the event organiser's wife. Some audience members were visibly uncomfortable with his behaviour. Despite the backlash, Capper strongly denies that he exposed himself. 'I play too much into the 'Warwick Capper' persona to make people happy and have a laugh and I probably shouldn't,' he said in a statement following the event. The venue's owner, Dennis Ryan, expressed deep concern over Capper's wellbeing. 'I don't think he's well. I just don't think he's well. I think he's had too many smacks in the head. We had a meeting about it afterwards. I'm a bit concerned for Warwick,' Ryan told News Corp. Capper has recently spoken about the toll of concussion symptoms stemming from his football career. He joins a growing list of former AFL players facing cognitive and behavioural issues believed to be linked to repeated head knocks. It comes after Capper's partner Lisa Arocca shared the moment that made the couple realise the former Swans star was having serious issues with his memory. The pair were in an Uber on the Gold Coast when the driver asked who they were visiting. Capper replied, 'My son, Indiana.' Then the driver asked where Indiana lived. Capper paused, looked at Arocca and said, 'I can't remember.' In that moment, the man once known as 'The Wiz' realised something was wrong. 'Maybe I have got a problem,' he told her. For Arocca, it was devastating. 'This was bad because one thing Warwick had was a strong memory. He remembered everything,' she told News Corp. Now, Capper forgets names, repeats stories and at times can't follow his own train of thought. 'I can still remember most of the games. But sometimes I forget people's names,' he said. Capper has been through it all. football fame, nightclub tours and even ventures into politics and adult film. But now, the repeated stories and blank expressions suggest something far more serious than ageing. 'I started going downhill a bit I think about seven or eight years ago. I'm just not quite as switched on' he said. He now keeps notes in his phone to track each day. 'I write my whole day now, in my phone, so I don't forget,' Capper said. His speech is often disjointed. His behaviour has at times become erratic. And Capper was recently banned from AFL venues for six months for being 'rude to a girl' at the MCG. Capper, who is displaying the worrying symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), speaks openly of head knocks. 'I got knocked right out. Didn't know where I f***ing' was though,' he said. He reflects on the times when players were told to 'just give it a rub' and keep going. He's not alone. Capper lists friends like John Barnes, Greg Williams, and John Platten who are also suffering. 'He's the worst I've seen, he thinks he's Ron Barassi' he says of Platten. Capper tells those same stories repeatedly, often forgetting he's just told them. Despite undergoing cognitive tests through the AFL's concussion program, Capper says he was informally told his results were 'pretty bad.' But there's been no official diagnosis, no follow-up. 'Not great,' the examiner had said. Arocca notices the changes every day. She once asked him to leave bags of clothing in the hall to donate. An hour later, Capper threw them all in the bin. 'He had a blank look on his face,' she said. 'In spurts he is fine, and then he isn't.' Though many see his outlandish public persona, Arocca sees the gentle man behind it. 'He has a heart of gold,' she said. 'But I know he doesn't want to admit all this. It's really sad.' Capper is now on the path to becoming a grandfather. But the road to reconciliation with son Indiana has been rough. The pair once had a falling out, with Indiana accusing him of being 'a disgrace.' But today, they're back in touch. Capper's longtime manager, Peter Jess, is furious at how the AFL has treated him. 'They should have wrapped their arms around him and got him proper treatment,' Jess said. 'They're just waiting for these guys to fall off the perch.' Jess believes Capper's behaviour is a sign of frontal lobe damage. He's pushing for the AFL to fund an $8000 MEG scan for Capper. 'This is not the real Warwick,' he said. 'It's f***ing frightening.' Capper, meanwhile, isn't complaining about his decline just yet. 'I'm not in a wheelchair yet,' he said. He still works the pub circuit, still tells his stories, still flashes that same blond-haired bravado. But the sparkle is dimmer now.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Warwick Capper's partner reveals the shattering moment over his son that proved the footy cult hero has a devastating health problem
Warwick Capper, once the flamboyant poster boy of the Sydney Swans, is confronting a far more sobering chapter in his life. Now 61, Capper's memory is fading, and his partner Lisa Arocca has shared the moment that brought everything crashing into focus. The pair were in an Uber on the Gold Coast when the driver asked who they were visiting. Capper replied, 'My son, Indiana.' Then the driver asked where Indiana lived. Capper paused, looked at Arocca and said, 'I can't remember.' In that moment, the man once known as 'The Wiz' realised something was wrong. 'Maybe I have got a problem,' he told her. For Arocca, it was devastating. 'This was bad because one thing Warwick had was a strong memory. He remembered everything,' she told News Corp. Now, Capper forgets names, repeats stories and at times can't follow his own train of thought. 'I can still remember most of the games. But sometimes I forget people's names,' he said. Capper has been through it all. football fame, nightclub tours and even ventures into politics and adult film. But now, the repeated stories and blank expressions suggest something far more serious than ageing. 'I started going downhill a bit I think about seven or eight years ago. I'm just not quite as switched on' he said. He now keeps notes in his phone to track each day. 'I write my whole day now, in my phone, so I don't forget,' Capper said. His speech is often disjointed. His behaviour has at times become erratic. And Capper was recently banned from AFL venues for six months for being 'rude to a girl' at the MCG. Capper, who is displaying the worrying symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), speaks openly of head knocks. 'I got knocked right out. Didn't know where I f***ing' was though,' he said. He reflects on the times when players were told to 'just give it a rub' and keep going. He's not alone. Capper lists friends like John Barnes, Greg Williams, and John Platten who are also suffering. 'He's the worst I've seen, he thinks he's Ron Barassi' he says of Platten. Capper tells those same stories repeatedly, often forgetting he's just told them. Despite undergoing cognitive tests through the AFL's concussion program, Capper says he was informally told his results were 'pretty bad.' But there's been no official diagnosis, no follow-up. 'Not great,' the examiner had said. Arocca notices the changes every day. She once asked him to leave bags of clothing in the hall to donate. An hour later, Capper threw them all in the bin. 'He had a blank look on his face,' she said. 'In spurts he is fine, and then he isn't.' Though many see his outlandish public persona, Arocca sees the gentle man behind it. 'He has a heart of gold,' she said. 'But I know he doesn't want to admit all this. It's really sad.' Capper is now on the path to becoming a grandfather. But the road to reconciliation with son Indiana has been rough. The pair once had a falling out, with Indiana accusing him of being 'a disgrace.' But today, they're back in touch. Capper's longtime manager, Peter Jess, is furious at how the AFL has treated him. 'They should have wrapped their arms around him and got him proper treatment,' Jess said. 'They're just waiting for these guys to fall off the perch.' Jess believes Capper's behaviour is a sign of frontal lobe damage. He's pushing for the AFL to fund an $8000 MEG scan for Capper. 'This is not the real Warwick,' he said. 'It's f***ing frightening.' Capper, meanwhile, isn't complaining about his decline just yet. 'I'm not in a wheelchair yet,' he said. He still works the pub circuit, still tells his stories, still flashes that same blond-haired bravado. But the sparkle is dimmer now. 'He's always been a bit radical,' Arocca said. 'But now it is a constant rollercoaster ride of being forgetful.' She's holding on, though. 'I just take it day by day.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Footy champ Brendan Fevola announces shock career move with starring role in feature film
Famed Australian footy star Brendan Fevola is set to make his movie debut. The former AFL champ, 44, will step before the cameras on Tuesday for the new Australian feature film Yesterday's Hero. Produced by Victorian filmmaker Cameron Miller the 1980s set film follows the rise to fame of an labourer who launches a career as a comedian. No details about Brendan's role have emerged, however the Herald Sun reported on Monday that the fan favourite will be sharing scenes with another former AFL great Warwick Capper. The publication said that the pair will travel to Melbourne 's Lalor Football Club to shoot their big screen moment. The cast also includes US actor Corey Feldman and former Neighbours actor Krista Vendy and comedian Chris Franklin. Yesterday's Hero is being made as a tribute to Miller's son, Shaun who died in 2012 from congenital heart disease (CHD), twelve years after the filmmaker started shooting the the film. Miller later founded the Shaun Miller Foundation for CHD sufferers. It comes after Brendan shocked his Fox FM co-stars in march when he revealed he would be stepping away from the program. The celebrity footy star told listeners he would be competing on the upcoming season of Channel Ten 's The Amazing Race and would be absent for some time. 'I'm leaving the show... not for good, though,' he began. 'I got an opportunity last year to do something with my 18-year-old daughter Leni - to travel the world on the TV show The Amazing Race! So, I won't be on the show as of Monday.' Co-host Fifi Box then wished Brendan all the best and asked if he had any idea when he would be returning. 'I could be away for a couple of days, a couple of weeks, depends on when I get eliminated... I am not worried about the race, I am worried about whether Leni and I punch on or not. That could be our elimination,' he joked. Brendan has co-hosted the top-rating Fox Melbourne breakfast show since April 2016. In October, Brendan teased fans about a massive career change. The Carlton Football club legend said he was itching to get back into footy as a coach. His shock announcement came after he spent a day training with Collingwood's AFLW team. 'It makes me wanna be a coach,' an emotional Fevola told his co-hosts Fifi Box and Nick Cody at the time 'You wouldn't understand how much I loved it,' he said. 'I was up and about all day yesterday. I haven't trained for any of the teams I've played for in the last 14 years, not once.' Fevola, who rose to fame as a top goal kicker for the Carlton Football Club's AFL premier side in the early 2000s, said he was originally asked along to the training session by Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly. Fevola, who rose to fame as a top goal kicker for the Carlton Football Club's AFL premier side in the early 2000s, said he was originally asked along to the training session by Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deep gaps exposed as Lions eclipse Suns on significant night for AFL in Queensland
The Brisbane Lions took a retro theme into their match against the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba on Sunday night. The team rolled out in the original Brisbane Bears strip from 1987. The cute and cuddly Carrara Koala roared at diehard fans from the LED scoreboard – an unsubtle reminder of the days when the club played its 'home' games a full 80 kilometres down the M1. Other relics from the past (cheerleaders; Mike Brady's original club song) would have been better left there. Warwick Capper was a no-show. Christopher Skase was unavailable. See how far we've come? was the message to the home crowd. The purpose was to pay tribute to those who had done the hard yards to raise the profile of the indigenous code north of the Tweed River. Nearly 40 years later, fresh off their fourth premiership, the Lions still battle for respect from parts of the Victorian media who mourn the development of the national competition. As for the Gold Coast Suns – based at the Bears' old Carrara home – they're still battling, full stop, after 14 years in the AFL without a finals appearance. Advertisement Related: From the Pocket: Swans' slump leaves little room for further gambles | Martin Pegan In the short history between these two clubs, the 28th 'QClash' (other informal names: the Sunshine Stoush, Pineapple Grapple, Banana Bash, etc) carried more weight than most. Entering round eight, the Lions sat second on the ladder. The Suns were third, with a game in hand. They'd notched a series of impressive wins, notwithstanding some paltry opposition. They'd also inexplicably coughed up a game to Richmond. This was statement time, on a significant night for the code in Queensland, in front of a packed house. The Lions' longer history in the AFL has gifted them some additional blasts from the past. The Ashcroft boys (sons of Marcus, who played 318 games for the Bears and Lions 1989–2003) collected 39 possessions between them in the first half. Levi is more nuggety than his older brother Will, but he's just as creative and clean and, at 18, looks like he's been playing at this level for years. Jaspa Fletcher (son of Adrian, 107 games 1993–1997) has been one of the Lions's first-picked players all year. The Suns haven't been around long enough for that. What they do have is one of the strongest junior academies in the competition that will nurture the club (and its grassroots) for many years to come. Of course, they've also had endless concessions from the AFL – not least another fixture that seems designed to ensure they can't possibly fail this time. But on a wet, greasy night at the Gabba, a 17-point loss to the reigning premiers felt like a lot more, exposing a deep gap in maturity and mental preparedness between the Suns and the top echelon. Advertisement On countless occasions, the Suns approached the forward 50 arc and bombed the ball on to their forwards' heads when the situation called for a bit of patience and craft. They have big forward targets – Ben King is one of the best, while academy prospect Jed Walter is still learning – but collectively, the Suns had just four marks inside 50 for the night. Territory is supposed to be everything in the modern game, but if you can't hit a target or secure the ball in your half of the ground, not so much. They barely stuck a tackle in attack. In the end, Will Ashcroft (a Norm Smith and premiership medallist in just his 31st game last year) accepted the Marcus Ashcroft medal for best on ground from his dad. It completed the circle between the Lions and the Bears nicely. But really, you could have thrown a blanket over the Lions' better players on the night. They smashed the Suns around the ball: the Ashcrofts, Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage had 30 clearances between them. Sun Matt Rowell, one of the biggest inside midfield bulls in the competition, was limited to just one – a free kick. Thus the Lions succeeded in taking away the Suns' key strengths, while maximising their own. Questions will continue to be asked of the Suns, but as coach Damien Hardwick reflected later, they were hardly given a chance to shine by a mature team that is ready to go again. 'We had a down week today, in a part of the game we're normally very strong at,' he said. 'But there's a reason this side [the Lions] was holding up the premiership cup nine rounds ago. They're pretty good.'
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Deep gaps exposed as Lions eclipse Suns on significant night for AFL in Queensland
The Brisbane Lions took a retro theme into their match against the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba on Sunday night. The team rolled out in the original Brisbane Bears strip from 1987. The cute and cuddly Carrara Koala roared at diehard fans from the LED scoreboard – an unsubtle reminder of the days when the club played its 'home' games a full 80 kilometres down the M1. Other relics from the past (cheerleaders; Mike Brady's original club song) would have been better left there. Warwick Capper was a no-show. Christopher Skase was unavailable. See how far we've come? was the message to the home crowd. The purpose was to pay tribute to those who had done the hard yards to raise the profile of the indigenous code north of the Tweed River. Nearly 40 years later, fresh off their fourth premiership, the Lions still battle for respect from parts of the Victorian media who mourn the development of the national competition. As for the Gold Coast Suns – based at the Bears' old Carrara home – they're still battling, full stop, after 14 years in the AFL without a finals appearance. In the short history between these two clubs, the 28th 'QClash' (other informal names: the Sunshine Stoush, Pineapple Grapple, Banana Bash, etc) carried more weight than most. Entering round eight, the Lions sat second on the ladder. The Suns were third, with a game in hand. They'd notched a series of impressive wins, notwithstanding some paltry opposition. They'd also inexplicably coughed up a game to Richmond. This was statement time, on a significant night for the code in Queensland, in front of a packed house. The Lions' longer history in the AFL has gifted them some additional blasts from the past. The Ashcroft boys (sons of Marcus, who played 318 games for the Bears and Lions 1989–2003) collected 39 possessions between them in the first half. Levi is more nuggety than his older brother Will, but he's just as creative and clean and, at 18, looks like he's been playing at this level for years. Jaspa Fletcher (son of Adrian, 107 games 1993–1997) has been one of the Lions's first-picked players all year. The Suns haven't been around long enough for that. What they do have is one of the strongest junior academies in the competition that will nurture the club (and its grassroots) for many years to come. Of course, they've also had endless concessions from the AFL – not least another fixture that seems designed to ensure they can't possibly fail this time. But on a wet, greasy night at the Gabba, a 17-point loss to the reigning premiers felt like a lot more, exposing a deep gap in maturity and mental preparedness between the Suns and the top echelon. On countless occasions, the Suns approached the forward 50 arc and bombed the ball on to their forwards' heads when the situation called for a bit of patience and craft. They have big forward targets – Ben King is one of the best, while academy prospect Jed Walter is still learning – but collectively, the Suns had just four marks inside 50 for the night. Territory is supposed to be everything in the modern game, but if you can't hit a target or secure the ball in your half of the ground, not so much. They barely stuck a tackle in attack. In the end, Will Ashcroft (a Norm Smith and premiership medallist in just his 31st game last year) accepted the Marcus Ashcroft medal for best on ground from his dad. It completed the circle between the Lions and the Bears nicely. But really, you could have thrown a blanket over the Lions' better players on the night. They smashed the Suns around the ball: the Ashcrofts, Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage had 30 clearances between them. Sun Matt Rowell, one of the biggest inside midfield bulls in the competition, was limited to just one – a free kick. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion Thus the Lions succeeded in taking away the Suns' key strengths, while maximising their own. Questions will continue to be asked of the Suns, but as coach Damien Hardwick reflected later, they were hardly given a chance to shine by a mature team that is ready to go again. 'We had a down week today, in a part of the game we're normally very strong at,' he said. 'But there's a reason this side [the Lions] was holding up the premiership cup nine rounds ago. They're pretty good.'
