Latest news with #StKilda
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL: Gold Coast Suns intent on keeping Sam Flanders
Suns coach Damien Hardwick has suggested rival clubs shouldn't waste their time trying to lure midfielder Sam Flanders away from the Gold Coast. Flanders, 23, is contracted to the Suns until the end of the 2027 AFL season; however, reports have emerged that St Kilda and some other Victorian clubs are keen to bring Flanders back to his home state sooner. However, Hardwick has no intention of letting go of the Gippsland product. 'We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere,' the Suns coach said on Friday. 'I've got a real soft spot for Sam. He's one of my favourites. He's been really challenged this year with injury but … we're really positive about his back end of the year. 'He's the solution for us. He's an outstanding player. When he plays at his very best with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and Touk Miller … we're a different side.' Flanders isn't the only Suns star being reportedly chased by Victorian clubs, with off-contract on-baller Rowell and forward Ben King also linked with moves south. However, Hardwick said the Suns – who have won eight from 12 this season ahead of their clash on Sunday against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium – were set to become a club that top players from other teams would want to join in a similar way to fellow Queenslanders and reigning premiers Brisbane. 'We've got to make sure this is the very best environment for players,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said, 'We've got opposition clubs speaking to our players and we're speaking to opposition players. 'We want to keep our very good players, (and) we're also happy to take a few as well.' Hardwick's Suns are hoping to avoid a third successive defeat on Sunday after suffering back-to-back loss before their bye last weekend. 'We're really bullish about how far we can go,' he said ahead of the 'next shift' in the Suns' battle to play finals football for the first time. 'We've put to bed the first part of the year. This part of the year is really important. The contenders stand up and the pretenders fall away. That's the challenge from here on in. 'We're really excited about the next block of four games (against the Giants, Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood) that's going to present an opportunity for us. 'We're firmly zone in on what that looks like. We've got some areas of our game that we really like, but we've certainly got a lot of improvement left in us as well.' Originally published as Gold Coast Suns star Sam Flanders isn't 'going anywhere' despite interest from Victorian clubs
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sam's our man, says Suns coach
Suns coach Damien Hardwick has suggested rival clubs shouldn't waste their time trying to lure midfielder Sam Flanders away from the Gold Coast. Flanders, 23, is contracted to the Suns until the end of the 2027 AFL season; however, reports have emerged that St Kilda and some other Victorian clubs are keen to bring Flanders back to his home state sooner. However, Hardwick has no intention of letting go of the Gippsland product. 'We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere,' the Suns coach said on Friday. 'I've got a real soft spot for Sam. He's one of my favourites. He's been really challenged this year with injury but … we're really positive about his back end of the year. 'He's the solution for us. He's an outstanding player. When he plays at his very best with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and Touk Miller … we're a different side.' Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders is among of Suns coach Damien Hardwick's 'favourites'. Gold Coast Suns Credit: News Corp Australia Flanders isn't the only Suns star being reportedly chased by Victorian clubs, with off-contract on-baller Rowell and forward Ben King also linked with moves south. However, Hardwick said the Suns – who have won eight from 12 this season ahead of their clash on Sunday against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium – were set to become a club that top players from other teams would want to join in a similar way to fellow Queenslanders and reigning premiers Brisbane. 'We've got to make sure this is the very best environment for players,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said, 'We've got opposition clubs speaking to our players and we're speaking to opposition players. 'We want to keep our very good players, (and) we're also happy to take a few as well.' Hardwick's Suns are hoping to avoid a third successive defeat on Sunday after suffering back-to-back loss before their bye last weekend. 'We're really bullish about how far we can go,' he said ahead of the 'next shift' in the Suns' battle to play finals football for the first time. 'We've put to bed the first part of the year. This part of the year is really important. The contenders stand up and the pretenders fall away. That's the challenge from here on in. 'We're really excited about the next block of four games (against the Giants, Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood) that's going to present an opportunity for us. 'We're firmly zone in on what that looks like. We've got some areas of our game that we really like, but we've certainly got a lot of improvement left in us as well.'
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Carlton coach Michael Voss reveals how he's handling the contract call for star big man Tom De Koning
Carlton coach Michael Voss says he's balancing his conversations with out-of-contract big man Tom De Koning between personal chats and knowing when to 'leave him alone' as he weighs up a multimillion-dollar offer from St Kilda. Voss has drafted in another ruckman, Marc Pittonet, to help De Koning out in Saturday's clash with North Melbourne, a game the 6-7 Blues have to win to remain in the hunt for finals. Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow is also a confirmed starter to tackle the Roos, having been subbed out of last week's win over West Coast with a calf niggle. But while the focus is on the now, Voss said he couldn't ignore the De Koning situation and while the 25-year-old wasn't being hassled by anyone at the club to make a decision, there had been conversations. The Saints have reportedly offered De Koning a $12m mega contract, a figure the Blues can't match. Voss said he had taken questions from De Koning on the club's future but never at any stage urged him to make a call. 'I reckon two years ago, we were sitting in the same situation – then he walked into my office one day and signed the next day,' Voss said on Friday. 'He'll make that decision whenever that is in due course. But I look at what he's providing us, the investment he has in our team and how much he loves his teammates … this is his team, and he sees himself as that. 'When we have these conversations, that's what we talk about – the team, how he's going to get better and what that looks like in the future. 'We're more than happy to have those he needs from me is the reinforcement of what he brings to the team, how important he is to us as a player and he'll continue to do so. 'The dialogue I have had with Tom is ongoing. We have had some more personal chats with that, but there's also knowing when to leave him alone and give him space to get on with playing football.' Voss said Curnow 'trained pretty much the whole session' on Friday and was expected to take his spot against the Kangaroos, and the Blues had a 'laser focus' on what's needed, with so much at stake. 'We're laser focused in on making sure we play well. We've got a system we want to play, we've been really proud of some aspects of our game that we're getting right,' he said. 'We're laying those foundations down, but we're also really clear on the things we need to be better at – that's where all our energy has been. We haven't shifted our focus, it's the next contest, it's the next team we play and that's North Melbourne. That's what gets our sole attention.'
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Good things take time': Bont contract talks to begin
Marcus Bontempelli expects negotiations to go smoothly as talks finally ramp up on his next contract with the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain, one of the greatest players in the AFL club's history, said on Friday morning that talks will start in earnest next week. The delay in that process inevitably has led to speculation about the 29-year-old's future, but Bontempelli is giving no signs that is looking elsewhere. Coach Luke Beveridge noted this week that the star midfielder has had a lot on his plate this year - a pre-season calf injury, a marriage to plan and part-ownership of a Melbourne cafe. "It's going well - obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up," Bontempelli said. "There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why - probably no different to other years - I took my time a little bit with it. "But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well-and-truly get rolling with that. "I see it going quite smoothly." Likewise, he is pleased that troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club this week and is back training. But just as Beveridge won't predict when the former No.1 draft pick might play again, Bontempelli has no expectations about Ugle-Hagan's potential comeback. "Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment - hopefully getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at a playing again," Bontempelli said. Bontempelli's on-field output was quelled by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager in round 14, but the Bulldogs still won by 72 points. The 'Dogs captain was unfussed by the attention. "That is the big badge of honour, the big responsibility, you get sometimes," he said. "The opposition will pay you closer attention - it is a feather in your cap. "You have to look at that as a positive. Ultimately, in those scenarios you can look at it as an advantage and how you get a win in that area, by somewhat sacrificing your own game in the end for others to benefit." Bontempelli was at Marvel Stadium to help launch the 'Touch and Track' technology, designed to help blind people follow the game live. Blind footballer and keen Bulldogs fan Shaun Keath felt there was a missed opportunity on Friday. "I should have had a word with you earlier and got you to sign today - it would have been a great scoop," Keath said as he showed the system to Bontempelli. "I used it (Touch and Track) last week when The Bont flogged St Kilda and it was near-perfect, so it was great. "I don't need the headphones in all the time as well ... heaps more enjoyable." Touch and Track has been in development for a couple of years and Bontempelli noted "good things take time" - a bit like his contract talks.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jockey Zac Spain – ‘Zachariah the Electrifier'
A professional jockey is not your typical darts player stereotype but Zac Spain has mixed with the best of both worlds. Spain, or 'Zachariah the Electrifier' on the competition circuit, has a dream exhibition match-up next month against Shane McGuirk, the reigning WDF world champion. Spain, an avid thrower off the track, won a tournament in March for the shot at McGuirk on July 19 at the St Kilda Sports Club. The 28-year-old tuned up last weekend with solid performance at the three-day DartPlayers Australia event in Albury. 'I was more than competitive, which was good,' dartboard sniper Spain said. 'I made quarter-finals Friday and then I made top 16 in both events Saturday. 'I got knocked out first round Sunday but I had my chances to go further … probably nerves got to me a little bit, to be honest, a little bit of pressure, but I was rapt. 'I wanted to see how I went against the best in Australia and I felt like I held my own.' Group 1 jockey Spain played darts from an early age, followed his father into the sport growing up in the Northern Territory, and made junior representative squads but eventually racing took priority. Spain picked up the arrows again two years ago and now spends about three hours a day behind the oche. 'I love it, something outside of racing,' Spain said. 'Every day I'm not riding, I'm pretty much on the board. 'Even at night, my partner Tyrah is studying at the moment, so when she's downstairs I'm upstairs having a throw on the board.' Spain plays competition darts on Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively in Gladstone Park and Boronia. Spain, who also plays online for fun and bragging rights against brother Adrian, has the social media alter ego, The Darting Jockey, on Instagram and TikTok. The 'Electrifier' nickname is saved for main events only. 'My old man gave me the name when I was younger,' Spain laughed. 'My full name is Zachariah and he used to call me 'Zachariah the Electrifier'. 'I got a shirt made up with the name on the back and I wear it to the bigger events … it's a bit lairy.' Spain has seven rides on Saturday including Losesomewinmore, one of three for leading Adelaide trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly who recently opened satellite stable at Flemington. 'He's a nice horse, I had a little gallop on him Tuesday and put him through his paces,' Spain said. 'He worked up super.'
