AFL
- Thu AFL: West Coast Eagles d Sydney Swans: Crowd: 38,065 @ Domain Stadium
- Thu STV:
#AFLEaglesSwans#FoxFooty 357k (Only one FoxFooty H&A game bigger in 2016 –#AFL NTH MELB V HAWTHORN in June with 399k) - Thu STV:
#AFL#FoxFooty#AFLEaglesSwans National: 357k (Metro: Syd 34k Mel 141k Bri 20k Ade 39k Per 55k) - Thu TV:
#AFL 7mate#AFLEaglesSwans 180k (Sydney 42k Perth 138k) - Fri AFL: Western Bulldogs d North Melbourne: Crowd: 42,814 @ Etihad Stadium. This is the second best crowd the teams have drawn at the ground behind the 47,622 in rd6, 2016.
- NORTHERN Blues coach Josh Fraser says the sustainability of the VFL must be addressed and the historic competition has been “taken for granted”.
- Hot Wheels is showcasing ‘epic’ toy car racing for kids in a new local campaign with AFL player and new Hot Wheels ambassador Patrick Dangerfield.
- Craig Hutchison calls for inquiry at The Age over fake Caroline Wilson Twitter account
- The Western Bulldogs have agreed a three-year partnership with Powercor. The electricity distribution network will put its name to the Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy, and will also support the Australian rules football club’s flagship community programme and AFL Women’s team.
A-league
- Fri HAL: Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners: Crowd- 14,827 @Aami Park
- Michael Cockerill tells us why A-League premiers Sydney FC must consider moving to a boutique stadium
- A bold bid for the Socceroos to play in the Copa America has stalled with the idea of Australia pushing for a guest spot in the prestigious tournament not yet getting past the discussion stage to be presented to FFA decision makers.
- ACT chief minister Andrew Barr says soccer content is a sticking point for the viability for a new rectangular stadium in Civic, but plans will push ahead even if Canberra doesn’t secure an A-League licence.
- Brisbane Roar are pleased to announce a new partnership with the Queensland Christian Soccer Association. BRFC believe this new relationship with QCSA will ensure players can participate in football and be engaged in a positive training experience, regardless of individual circumstances.
- Charlton’s severely unpopular owner, Roland Duchatelet, is understood to be ready to end his chaotic tenure with the League One club, with an Australian consortium currently negotiating a possible takeover, according to a Daily Mail report.
NRL
- Fri NRL: Bulldogs d Rabbitohs: Crowd: 34,984 @ ANZ Stadium
- Fri NRL: Roosters d Knights: Crowd: 21,412 @ McDonald Jones Stadium
- Fri NRL: Broncos v Titans: Crowd – 34,592 @ Suncorp Stadium
- The NRL’s equalisation measures and use of third-party agreements is set to be put back on the table after Jack Bird’s defection to the sponsor-rich Broncos from the Sharks.
- Harvey Norman has agreed a partnership with New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and Queensland Rugby League (QRL) to support development pathways for female players from under-six level to open representative competition.
Super Rugby
- The SANZAAR saga is set to drag on through Easter after the ARU offered the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force more time to state their case for Super Rugby survival beyond 2017.
- The Rebels, through MRRU, issued a terse statement calling for compensation from the ARU over comments made by officials and senior management about the decision to dump one of the sides. “We unequivocally reject that the ARU has any ability to chop or cut (ARU words) the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby licence,” MRRU said in a statement.
- Western Force have confronted the Australian Rugby Union, demanding they stay loyal to their alliance agreement as they battle the Melbourne Rebels for Super Rugby survival. The Force claim the ARU have obligations under the alliance agreement signed last May by the club and the governing body that commits both parties through the current broadcast deal that ends in 2020.
- The Australian Rugby Union could be in violation of its own constitution if it decides to evict the Melbourne Rebels from Super Rugby. Under section 3.2 (a) of the ARU constitution, the voting members comprise the state and territory rugby unions, the Super Rugby licensees and the Rugby Union Players Association. At present, the Rebels are a voting member but the Force, having been taken over by the ARU, are not. In the event that the ARU wished to expel the Rebels, the Victorian Rugby Union, which is also a member, would surely vote against it. And given that the constitution requires a unanimous vote, theoretically the ballot would be defeated.
