Latest news with #PrideRound
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Karin Blair project pays dividends for Tipperary
Roving defender Karin Blair scored the winning point as Tipperary ended 20 years without a national title by edging out Galway in the Very League Division 1A final at Croke Park last season. But there will be fewer forays forward for the 24-year-old attacker turned stopped, now she has been entrusted with Tipp's No 3 jersey since 'big leader', Clodagh Quirke suffered her third cruciate knee ligament injury in the Munster semi-final against Waterford. 'At the start, I was like, 'Oh God, no,' Blair admits. 'You love taking your scores and even now, when I go back playing club, I play more so in the forwards or midfield. "Then you go into county training and they're handling out the bibs, there's no question now, I'm a back." Being part of a winning Tipp team at HQ was a joy, but that is in the rearview mirror now. The likes of Cáit Devane, Mary Ryan and Nicole Walsh, among others, have moved on. Injuries have had their say too. With the juniors and minors winning All-Irelands last year, there is fresh blood however, infusing the squad with a new energy. Last year's successful minor captain and minor player of the year, Sarah Corcoran has had an immediate impact, while the likes of Lucy Purcell and Caitlyn Treacy have also made their presence felt. After barely raising a gallop against Cork in their Group 1 opener – they lost by 18 points at The Ragg – it was vital Tipp responded and the ruthlessness they showed in accounting for Wexford by 32 on enemy territory was pleasing. Next up is a Limerick team that can secure qualification with victory at Cappamore (1pm throw-in). The same will apply to Tipp but though they will be favourites, the Premiers have been through enough to ensure complacency doesn't seep into the dressing room. The points are the most important aspect of the day but that it is Pride Round is something they are all cognisant off, Blair says. 'We've had the Pride flag hanging in our dressing room now for the last two weeks, just to kind of distill that in girls. We wouldn't really make like a huge thing of it, because it's just kind of like an accepted thing at this stage. We had a few pictures that we passed onto the GPA. 'It's great that people know, everyone can be themselves. And I feel like it is an environment, especially the camogie, where everyone does feel accepted. And I do feel like, in the past couple years, that it's really grown like that, that it's that kind of environment for everyone.'
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Sam Newman brands the AFLW 'a lesbian league' in disgraceful outburst as he and Wayne Carey clash over women in footy
Sam Newman has labelled the AFLW a 'lesbian league' while the ex-footballer appeared to question why there was a need for the AFL to continue to 'ram' events including Pride celebrations and Welcome to Country 'down our throats'. The 79-year-old is well known for voicing strong opinions on subjects from footy to politics. And, during an episode of his podcast 'You Cannot Be Serious', he stated that he didn't mind what sexual preference footy players had but appeared to question why the AFLW will be hosting a two-week Pride Round during the 2025 season. The former Geelong player also mixed up the letters in the acronym AFLW, appearing to call the women's football league the 'AWFL' and the 'awful' multiple times. 'Are the AFL responsible for the "awful", the "AWFL"?' Newman began, referring to the AFLW, while speaking with former North Melbourne player Wayne Carey. 'Are they responsible for the women's league?' he pressed. Carey subsequently replied: 'Of course they are...' Newman again proceeded to swap the letters around for the acronym AFLW: 'Well here we go again, did you know the "AWFL", the "awful", that's the women's league...' Carey quickly interrupted, noting Newman had flipped the letters around: 'Hang on, hang on, I just saw what you did there. You went AFLW and then you said "the awful", so that was a deliberate...' Newman responded: 'How do you reckon the "AWFL" is going? Do you reckon a lot of people are watching it?' Carey then corrected him, emphasising the phrase: 'AFLW,' to which Newman replied: 'The women's league.' 'That doesn't spell "awful",' Carey said. But Newman appeared to admit he had swapped the "W" around on purpose: 'I had the "W" around the wrong way... just to make it appropriate.' Carey, flatly responded to Newman's comment by saying: 'No,' before claiming he has a lot of admiration for the AFLW and it's players. 'Unlike you, and I'm going to tell you this, my mate Crock [Darren Crocker] coaches the North Melbourne women's side who won the Grand Final last year. 'I think it is an improving league. I know you don't watch it but I do. I do watch it. It's a game that, I tell you what you've got to admire. You've got to admire how the girls and women go about...' Newman interjected: 'Girls? Females.' Carey then attempted to pick up his sentence again but he was cut off by Newman who interjected saying: 'It's basically a lesbian league... Isn't it?' The former North Melbourne player then said: 'But, who cares what sexual preference they are?' Newman agreed with Carey, stating: 'Very well said.' 'You drove around with a number plate that had "hetero" written on it just so that people knew you were heterosexual,' Carey said. But Newman agreed with his co-hosts' previous comment: 'You make a very good point, who cares if you're a lesbian, a d**e or what you are and you play in that competition. 'You're spot on, this is why it is insulting again. Once again, the AWFL are having...' Carey again cut in to correct the former Geelong player: 'Stop saying "AWFL"... AFL Womens'.' Newman continued and appeared to also incorrectly phrase the term LGBTQIA+: 'The women's league are having a celebration of Pride Round, where they're acknowledging the contributions of the "LGBTPQIPQL" community.' Last week, the AFL confirmed the full fixture list for the 2025 NAB AFLW season, which is due to commence in mid-August. The league is due to extend its Pride Round celebrations across two weeks in Rounds nine and ten. League bosses have made the call to extend the round in order to allow each team to wear their Pride guernseys for one match at home. All teams are due to play with specially designed Pride guernseys over the fortnight and will play with Sherrins that will feature a rainbow design. AFLW fixtures chief Josh Bowler said following the release of the 2025 schedule that the league was hoping to celebrate iconic moments and create new traditions. 'It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend,' Bowler said. However, after reading out the new schedule on his podcast, Newman, who made 300 appearances for Geelong, criticised the AFL. 'The AFL are going to donate the proceeds to the LGBTQ community, so why do we keep being told we accept people, why do the AFL keep ramming this s*** down our throats, so to speak,' Newman said. 'Why do they, like Welcome to Country - which is a complete and utter hoax and a fraud - why do they keep doing it? If you're gay and you're a lesbian and a d**ke, good on you.' Carey asked Newman, whether we should have a 'heterosexual round', to which the former Geelong player responded: 'If we had a heterosexual round for straight people who live in this community and don't want to be bludgeoned by the AFL... we would have 90 per cent of the community agree with us.' Newman then went on to read out a note that he claimed had been sent into the podcast. 'Here's a gay man who has written in: "As a gay man I don't need an entire month of narcissism to celebrate my sexuality, my gay friends feel the same. The only people wanting Pride Month are militant male trans activists who want access to their lesbian and women's spaces". 'How refreshing from a gay person,' Newman added. 'It's straight white males who keep pushing it at the AFL and at every level.' He then wrapped up his point stating: 'Who cares what you are. Stop celebrating it. We're all one people.' The AFL is committed to ensuring a fair an inclusive culture throughout all levels of football, from the AFLW right down to grassroots footy The AFL is dedicated to ensuring a fair an inclusive culture throughout all levels of football, from the AFLW right down to grassroots footy. In the history of the men's elite competition, no AFL player has ever come out as openly gay. The AFL states on it's participation website that it is 'committed to embracing diversity and ensuring the sport is welcoming and safe for everyone who wants to participate, including people within the LGBTQI+ community.' The league has also partnered with Pride in Sport, a not-for-profit organisation that dedicates their work to ensuring inclusion within sport at all levels from athletes to volunteers. Earlier this year, the AFL was recognised for its work promoting diversity and inclusion at the annual Australian Pride in Sport Awards. The footy league was awarded Gold Status for its work contributing and campaigning for LGBTQI+ initiatives. The organisation was also awarded the Most Improved Sporting Organisation Award and LGBTQI+ Inclusive Innovation Award for the Jara Corporate AFL Queensland Pride Round. AFL executive general manager for inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said during the event: 'The AFL's vision is for everyone to love and connect with Australia's game. Achieving this goal is only possible when all people feel safe and have a sense of belonging, including LGBTQI+ communities.' Hosch added: 'There is no place for homophobia, transphobia, or biphobia in our community, or in our game. As a sport, we need to play our role in raising awareness of the importance of inclusion and educating others on what it means to be a sport for all.' 'This is important work, and one that we need to continue to work together on to ensure fans and athletes alike can be part of our sport, just the way they are,' AFL CEO Andrew Dillon added. Over the past 10 years, the AFL has worked to become more inclusive, through the introduction of several initiatives and education programmes. Some of those include the AFLW Pride Round and the AFL Pride and Allies Network. The league has in recent years taken a robust stance on clamping down on homophobic behaviour. In 2024, Port Adelaide player Jeremy Finlayson was found guilty of breaching the AFL's rules on conduct unbecoming in relation to a offensive homophobic slur against an Essendon opponent. He was banned for three games and required to attend appropriate Pride in Sport training. In handing down the sanction, the AFL stated: 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society. 'We want all people in LGBTQI+ communities to feel safe playing or attending our games and we know the incident that happened on the weekend does not assist this goal. 'As a code we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all.' AFL players and AFLW players also receive yearly inclusion training, as part of the AFL's LGBTQI+ Action Plan. 'The establishment of our inaugural Pride Plan last year will be instrumental in delivering our ongoing commitment to foster a culture of belonging in which all LGBTQI+ people within the AFL can thrive, safely and proudly as their authentic selves. 'We have made great progress and are committed to continuing to lead ongoing change to ensure our organisation is truly safe, inclusive and welcoming for everyone,' AFL executive general manager for people, Sarah Fair, said.
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
AFLW star Haneen Zreika announces exciting baby news and shares heartwarming footage of her telling her GWS teammates
AFLW player Haneen Zreika and her husband Ozzy are expecting their first child. The Greater Western Sydney Giants star, 26, recently revealed the exciting news to her teammates and shared a heartwarming clip of the moment on social media. In the footage, Haneen was seen arriving late to a team meeting before telling her fellow players the shock reason for her delay. 'Guys, I'm alive! I haven't been lying, I have been really sick... It's because I am pregnant,' Haneen told her teammates. The GWS squad were then seen jumping up in excitement as the whole team ran up to hug Haneen and congratulate her on the exciting news. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Haneen then revealed her due date as her squad cheered her on: 'It's a November baby. Thanks guys.' It is the first child for Haneen, who has played for Greater Western Sydney since 2018. Haneen is one of the most outspoken players in the league and made headlines in October 2022 when she pulled out of the AFLW's league's pride round due to religious beliefs - the second time she has done so. The Muslim athlete said she would not be playing in the club's fixture against Hawthorn on October 16 in Sydney, where the side would be wearing specially-designed pride jumpers. The round celebrates and honours the LGBTQI+ community, which is heavily interlaced with the league given the amount of gay players. She also sparked backlash in January that year when she made the same decision to pull out of the Giants fixture - and that outrage appears to have reared its ugly head again. Haneen said she felt she had a 'responsibility to represent her faith' during pride round. For her, this meant not wearing the rainbow jersey GWS designed for the round - and she revealed she felt like an 'outsider' when the AFL rejected her proposal to just wear the normal strip. In the footage, Haneen was seen arriving late to a team meeting before telling her fellow players the shock reason for her delay 'I didn't want to make a big deal of it, until the AFL rejected me from wearing a normal jersey. That was a shock to me,' the speedy midfielder said in the Disney+ AFLW documentary 'Fearless', which was released at the start of the season. 'I love what the AFL do and the way they include everyone, but you can't have a round where you include people but exclude someone that it impacts their faith.' 'I really feel like an outsider, like, "no mate, you're not part of us",' Haneenadded. Haneen has a number of gay teammates, including captain Alicia Eva, Katherine Smith and Pepa Randall; and insists she does not 'judge the girls' despite differing beliefs. 'They can be whatever they want. I still love and respect them and they're still my mates,' she said in the documentary series.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
AFLW makes shock move with its LGBTQ pride round as it goes where no Aussie sport has gone before
This year's AFLW season will feature not one but two weeks dedicated to LGBTQI pride in a first for Australian sport. The release of the schedule on Friday revealed that this year's Pride round will stretch from round nine to round 10, beginning with the Bulldogs vs Bombers match on October 10 and running through to the Suns vs Dogs game on October 19. According to the AFLW, the additional Pride matches will ensure every team can wear their Pride strip at a home game. Daisy Pearce's West Coast will host Gold Coast on the opening night of the AFLW season, while North Melbourne launch their premiership defence away to Geelong. The Eagles-Suns clash, confirmed in Friday's fixture release, immediately follows the previously announced season opener between traditional foes Carlton and Collingwood on Thursday, August 14. It is the first time the AFLW season will start during the AFL home-and-away campaign, coinciding with the final two rounds of the men's competition. The AFLW says the extension for Pride will allow every team to wear their special kit on their home ground (pictured, St Kilda's Tyanna Smith marks during the 2024 Pride Round) Also in round one, old rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will do battle for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup and GWS host Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in round five, in their first encounter since the Kangaroos ' breakthrough grand-final triumph under Darren Crocker last year. AFLW fixtures boss Josh Bowler said the league was looking to celebrate iconic moments, grow rivalries and create traditions with this season's fixture. "It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend," Bowler said. Geelong's GMHBA Stadium is the only major AFL venue where AFLW matches will be played in 2025. None have been scheduled at premier venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. Unpopular mid-week fixtures have been dropped in 2025, except for Thursday night features in rounds one, seven and eight, with the latter two falling either side of the AFL grand final. The fixture has been partially based on last season's ladder, divided into three groups of six, and is weighted towards ensuring more match-ups within each group. AFLW's two major themed rounds will both be played over two weeks; Indigenous Round in rounds three and four and Pride Round across rounds nine and 10. Intrastate rivalries are littered throughout the fixture, starting in round five when Fremantle host West Coast at the port. Sydney and GWS clash in round six, Gold Coast take on Brisbane in round eight and Adelaide do battle with Port Adelaide in round 11. The schedule for the final round of the home-and-away season has been left floating, to be confirmed closer to the date.
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
West Coast, Gold Coast join AFLW opening night party
Daisy Pearce's West Coast will host Gold Coast on the opening night of the AFLW season, while North Melbourne launch their premiership defence away to Geelong. The Eagles-Suns clash, confirmed in Friday's fixture release, immediately follows the previously announced season opener between traditional foes Carlton and Collingwood on Thursday, August 14. It is the first time the AFLW season will start during the AFL home-and-away campaign, coinciding with the final two rounds of the men's competition. Also in round one, old rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will do battle for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup and GWS host Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in round five, in their first encounter since the Kangaroos' breakthrough grand-final triumph under Darren Crocker last year. AFLW fixtures boss Josh Bowler said the league was looking to celebrate iconic moments, grow rivalries and create traditions with this season's fixture. "It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend," Bowler said. Geelong's GMHBA Stadium is the only major AFL venue where AFLW matches will be played in 2025. None have been scheduled at premier venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. Unpopular mid-week fixtures have been dropped in 2025, except for Thursday night features in rounds one, seven and eight, with the latter two falling either side of the AFL grand final. The fixture has been partially based on last season's ladder, divided into three groups of six, and is weighted towards ensuring more match-ups within each group. AFLW's two major themed rounds will both be played over two weeks; Indigenous Round in rounds three and four and Pride Round across rounds nine and 10. Intrastate rivalries are littered throughout the fixture, starting in round five when Fremantle host West Coast at the port. Sydney and GWS clash in round six, Gold Coast take on Brisbane in round eight and Adelaide do battle with Port Adelaide in round 11. The schedule for the final round of the home-and-away season has been left floating, to be confirmed closer to the date. AFLW grand final hosting rights will fall to the highest-ranked preliminary final winner. Daisy Pearce's West Coast will host Gold Coast on the opening night of the AFLW season, while North Melbourne launch their premiership defence away to Geelong. The Eagles-Suns clash, confirmed in Friday's fixture release, immediately follows the previously announced season opener between traditional foes Carlton and Collingwood on Thursday, August 14. It is the first time the AFLW season will start during the AFL home-and-away campaign, coinciding with the final two rounds of the men's competition. Also in round one, old rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will do battle for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup and GWS host Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in round five, in their first encounter since the Kangaroos' breakthrough grand-final triumph under Darren Crocker last year. AFLW fixtures boss Josh Bowler said the league was looking to celebrate iconic moments, grow rivalries and create traditions with this season's fixture. "It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend," Bowler said. Geelong's GMHBA Stadium is the only major AFL venue where AFLW matches will be played in 2025. None have been scheduled at premier venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. Unpopular mid-week fixtures have been dropped in 2025, except for Thursday night features in rounds one, seven and eight, with the latter two falling either side of the AFL grand final. The fixture has been partially based on last season's ladder, divided into three groups of six, and is weighted towards ensuring more match-ups within each group. AFLW's two major themed rounds will both be played over two weeks; Indigenous Round in rounds three and four and Pride Round across rounds nine and 10. Intrastate rivalries are littered throughout the fixture, starting in round five when Fremantle host West Coast at the port. Sydney and GWS clash in round six, Gold Coast take on Brisbane in round eight and Adelaide do battle with Port Adelaide in round 11. The schedule for the final round of the home-and-away season has been left floating, to be confirmed closer to the date. AFLW grand final hosting rights will fall to the highest-ranked preliminary final winner. Daisy Pearce's West Coast will host Gold Coast on the opening night of the AFLW season, while North Melbourne launch their premiership defence away to Geelong. The Eagles-Suns clash, confirmed in Friday's fixture release, immediately follows the previously announced season opener between traditional foes Carlton and Collingwood on Thursday, August 14. It is the first time the AFLW season will start during the AFL home-and-away campaign, coinciding with the final two rounds of the men's competition. Also in round one, old rivals Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will do battle for the Hampson-Hardeman Cup and GWS host Essendon in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Brisbane will take on North Melbourne in round five, in their first encounter since the Kangaroos' breakthrough grand-final triumph under Darren Crocker last year. AFLW fixtures boss Josh Bowler said the league was looking to celebrate iconic moments, grow rivalries and create traditions with this season's fixture. "It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend," Bowler said. Geelong's GMHBA Stadium is the only major AFL venue where AFLW matches will be played in 2025. None have been scheduled at premier venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. Unpopular mid-week fixtures have been dropped in 2025, except for Thursday night features in rounds one, seven and eight, with the latter two falling either side of the AFL grand final. The fixture has been partially based on last season's ladder, divided into three groups of six, and is weighted towards ensuring more match-ups within each group. AFLW's two major themed rounds will both be played over two weeks; Indigenous Round in rounds three and four and Pride Round across rounds nine and 10. Intrastate rivalries are littered throughout the fixture, starting in round five when Fremantle host West Coast at the port. Sydney and GWS clash in round six, Gold Coast take on Brisbane in round eight and Adelaide do battle with Port Adelaide in round 11. The schedule for the final round of the home-and-away season has been left floating, to be confirmed closer to the date. AFLW grand final hosting rights will fall to the highest-ranked preliminary final winner.
