Petracca injury investigation extended
AFL: The investigation into Christian Petracca injury suffered during the 2024 King's Birthday match is set to extend out longer than anticipated
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News.com.au
37 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Kidding ourselves': Debate erupts over AFL's plan to revive State of Origin
The AFL is in talks to revive State of Origin, but there are fears the proposed showdown would only be an 'exhibition game'. As the NRL's State of Origin heads to a decider following Queensland's Game 2 win in Perth, it appears increasingly likely the AFL will bring back a State of Origin game as soon as next year. 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. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said earlier this year: 'I can't rule it in and I can't rule it out, but it will certainly be a conversation I'd like to have with the players and the clubs, 'There seems to be a bit of a groundswell for it.' It has now emerged that the WA government is in talks with the AFL to hold a State of Origin game in Perth during pre-season in the first week of February in 2026. WA deputy premier and sports minister Rita Saffioti said talks were in the early stages but the AFL is 'very keen' on the idea. 'It's not a done deal,' Saffioti said on Friday. 'But I know the AFL was very keen, and we're very keen. 'Everyone is very excited about having a WA State of Origin game in the AFL, there's some good discussions happening at the moment.' The game between the Fremantle Dockers and the Indigenous All Stars in February this year was considered a major success, and the AFL is considering holding a State of Origin match in a similar as soon as next season. But not everyone is a fan of the idea. Brian Taylor pointed out the hot conditions in Perth in February and noted team selection would be based on reputation instead of form if the match is held in pre-season. Taylor, who played for Victoria in a 1986 State of Origin game, said on Triple M: 'What are we trying to do here with State of Origin football, playing it in February? Do you know how hot it is in Perth in Feb? 'How many players are in form on the 6th of February? How are you picking the team? On the year before? 'It's about current form, it's about players playing well, like the All Australian — to achieve the status of getting selected in the side. 'I think this game is not going to work if it's in Feb. 'We currently have three byes currently in our season. Let's put one of those byes aside for a State of Origin weekend when the players have reached top form, halfway though or two thirds of the way through (a season).' NRL players earn $30,000 for each State of Origin earn match, and Taylor said a financial incentive may be required to get AFL players invested in the concept as a genuine competitive game. 'Let's give the players all of the gate, so a player could get $10,000 to $20,000 each per game,' Taylor said. 'Then they'll absolutely want to play.' He added: 'It has to be played mid-season, it has to be picked on form. Players are barely started their pre-season in the first week of Feb. 'Are we kidding ourselves? Are we trying to make this work?' Leigh Montagna said the likelihood is any State of Origin clash would be an 'exhibition game' in the mould of the Victoria vs All Stars game in 2020, held to raise funds for bushfire relief. 'It's different, it's an exhibition game,' Montagna said on Triple M. 'You're probably still thinking of State of Origin in the 80s and 90s when it was South Australia vs Victoria and they were playing for keeps. Now it's more of an exhibition game. 'I'd love to see (Christian) Petracca in the same forward line as Toby Greene and Paddy Dangerfield and the Victorians play together. And I'm sure the other states would like to see their players play in their state jersey. 'It's just no longer going to be what it was like in the old days. It's an exhibition. You pick them (the teams) on reputation.' Taylor replied: 'Why do we need an exhibition game of our own game in our own country? People see 20 games a year. 'It can't be (held) before they've even completed their pre-season. What a load of nonsense.' The last State of Origin match was between Victoria and South Australia in 1999, and it remains to be seen what state or amalgamation of states would take on Victoria if the concept is revived. 'We think this would be an incredible drawcard for the state,' WA deputy premier Rita Saffioti added. 'I know many of the players are actually excited, particularly those based over east, are very keen to play for their state, so I think there's a huge push from the players. 'Pre-season is a good time to do it, as opposed to in-season ... the clubs are already playing pre-season games,' Saffioti said. 'And we saw the Indigenous All Stars, we had some incredible players out there ... it makes a bit of sense to do it during February.'
The Age
39 minutes ago
- The Age
Concussion grounds Eagles high-flyer, permanently; Bont about to get ball rolling on Dogs contract
'As much as this isn't the way I would have liked to go out – I respect the decision. I'm gutted I don't get to pull the jumper on and run out one more time, but sometimes this is the way the game goes, and I am forever grateful to the West Coast supporters who have also shown me love and respect. 'I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with my career over the journey. 'I've always loved the game and winning a premiership is every kid's dream, but the lifelong friendships and relationships you build through footy mean more to me than anything. I will forever be indebted to West Coast and I will always bleed blue and gold.' McGovern, whose intercept mark launched the passage of play that led to teammate Dom Sheed's match-winning goal in the 2018 grand final, played his 197th and final match against Melbourne early last month. The 33-year-old was subbed out in the second quarter that day after sustaining a concussion when Demon Jake Melksham nudged him forward in an aerial contest, resulting in his head crashing into Harry Petty's back. Loading Match review officer Michael Christian cleared Melksham of any wrongdoing, but the Eagles confirmed barely a fortnight later that McGovern would consult the league's concussion experts because of ongoing symptoms. McGovern will go down as one of the best key defenders in his era after West Coast selected the Claremont product with the No.44 pick in the 2010 rookie draft. He signed a one-year deal in February to continue playing into next season after winning his first club best-and-fairest award in 2024. McGovern's 77 intercept marks in the Eagles' 2018 premiership season remains the most ever recorded in a single year. West Coast football boss Gavin Bell paid tribute to McGovern's rags-to-riches rise. 'To see 'Gov' come from WAFL reserves when he was drafted through to what he has achieved as a premiership player and five-time All-Australian, it's just a wonderful example to our current players,' Bell said. 'It didn't start off easily for him, and he had to get to work, focus on his strengths and develop his game. Even to overcome the injury setbacks he has battled in recent years, to bounce back and become our club champion for the first time last year showed his commitment to getting the best out of himself.' Bont to get contract 'rolling' Andrew Wu Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is expecting contract talks with the club to play out smoothly, in a strong indication the superstar midfielder will not be going anywhere. Dogs fans cannot yet breathe a sigh of relief, but there is little chance of Bontempelli departing Whitten Oval any time soon. Discussions have begun between Bontempelli, 29, and the Bulldogs on a new deal that will likely see one of the greatest players to pull on the red, white and blue become just the eighth player in the club's 100-year history to play 300 games. 'It's going well, obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up, those conversations will happen,' Bontempelli, who missed the first six games of the season due to injury and proposed to his partner last November, said on Friday. 'There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why I, no different to other years, took my time a little bit with it. Loading 'Those conversations will definitely start to take place, pretty much as of next week. So the ball will well and truly get rolling with that. I see it going quite smoothly.' Despite speculation that Collingwood are interested in a blockbuster trade to move him across Melbourne, Bontempelli said no such offer had been relayed to him through his manager Tom Petroro. 'That information never really came to me at all, to be honest,' Bontempelli said. The Bulldogs captain was speaking at the unveiling of touch and track technology that allows blind and low-vision fans to follow the game live at a venue. Launched by the AFL and Telstra with technology company Field of Vision and Champion Data, the hand-held device includes a magnetic ring which moves across a tactile map of the field, mirroring the ball's movement in real time. The device uses distinct vibrations to mark goals and behinds, and developers are working on how other key plays, such as turnovers, can be recognised. Previously, fans such as Bulldogs supporter Shaun Keath, have relied on radio commentary and the kindness of friends and family to inform them of the on-field action. Loading 'I'm always nagging my wife, 'where's the ball, where's the ball?' So it's going to be great to actually be able to enjoy it a lot more than I am,' Keath said. 'I've only even been able to listen to it and been quite antisocial because I've got to have my headphones in, and I rely on the crowd and what they do as well.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Spencer Leniu and Ezra Mam embrace says it all after State of Origin Game 2
The long-running feud between Ezra Mam and Spencer Leniu dating back to a Vegas racism row is all but over after the pair were seen clearing the air before sharing a warm embrace after State of Origin Game 2 on Wednesday night. Vision, which you can watch above, showed Leniu approach Queensland's 18th man after full-time, with the pair engaging in a brief conversation that ended in an embrace. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The touching moment showed they have seemingly finally buried the hatched some 16 months after the Blues enforcer labelled Mam a 'monkey' in the Las Vegas season opener between the Roosters and Broncos in 2024. Leniu copped an eight-match ban for the slur which he insisted was unintentional and was nothing more than 'one brown man saying something to another brown man'. The fallout continued even after he served his suspension with Leniu aggrieved at some of the commentary around the situation from people in the media, namely from Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston, who said the punishment should have been far harsher. Leniu clearly held a grudge against the Maroons great for his remarks and accused Thurston of being 'two-faced' and 'fake' following a sideline spat back in April. Thurston claimed the following day he was 'shocked' by Leniu's hostility, 'which was not of a racial nature, but overly aggressive in tone and unwarranted'. Leniu then posted on his Instagram: 'I never wanted to talk to JT. He kept trying to come to speak to me. 'I said, 'Lad idc (I don't care) if that you hate me for what I did. But don't come up to me asking me questions like we're Algood (sic). 'Don't be two face. Hate me lad I'm eetswa (sweet) with that. But don't be fake. I hate fake people.' Since then Leniu has been on a self-imposed media ban and stayed out of the limelight. In a great show of character, after full-time, he sought out Mam to bury the hatchet and clear the air with the Broncos star. And speaking after the exchange, Mam said it had all been settled. 'It's great that me and Spencer got the chance to see each other face-to-face last night,' Mam told The Sydney Morning Herald.
