Geoff Parkes's Blog, page 6

‘Put the game over greed’: NYC Mayoral candidate’s campaign to fight FIFA’s World Cup ticket system

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor (and a longtime fan of Arsenal FC), has launched a campaign to challenge FIFA’s ticketing system for the 2026 World Cup. The World Cup is set to be played across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with the final scheduled in New York.

Mamdani has raised three issues with FIFAs ticketing structure: dynamic pricing, unlimited on resales, and no seats being set aside for local residents.

Dynamic pricing is a strategy where the price i...

Goodbye Dickie Bird: Cricket’s ‘Mr. Chips’

“Not that one, the middle one,” yells out Dickie Bird to a bemused member of the ground staff, who is trying to move the third of four adjacently positioned sight screens.

He waves his arms in animated fashion, completely failing to comprehend why his instructions appear to be so bemusing to the person barely 80 yards in front of him. Details matter to umpires, even when they get them totally wrong. No doubt scorers as well, maybe even coaches, although, for much of Bird’s playing and officia...

NRL News: Another twist in Radley tale as wedding blow revealed, Walters makes Marky Mark call, O’Brien set for new gig

Victor Radley has decided to rule himself out of the eagerly awaited Ashes rugby league series following his recent trials and tribulations with Sydney Roosters, dealing England’s hopes a massive blow. 

The 27-year-old lock has made the call a week after the Roosters imposed a 10-match ban and fined him $30,000, with close to 20 per cent of his salary docked, for bringing the club into disrepute while caught up amid the Brandon Smith drug controversy.

England coach Shaun Wane had told AAP ...

‘Can’t wait’: Ashwin seals deal to become first Indian star to make BBL switch

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shattered a long-standing barrier by signing with Sydney Thunder, becoming the first male Indian player to join Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).

His deal comes after he retired from international cricket in December and ended his Indian Premier League career last month, freeing him from the Indian board’s restrictions that bar male players from participating in global franchise leagues.

While Indian women have participated in the women’s e...

The Geelong juggernaut has never been stronger – and it all starts with ‘Bomber’ Thompson

It has been 25 years since Mark “Bomber” Thompson first coached the Geelong Football Club.

The former Essendon champion joined the Cats in 2000, after a glittering career for the Bombers which saw him play in three premierships, including captaining the 1993 flag.

While Chris Scott has carried on the legacy over the past 15 years, it was Thompson who started it all, building a Cats premiership dynasty from the ground up. He drafted the players he wanted, and taught them from scratch about...

The Brownlow has become the midfielder’s medal – but are the umpires to blame?

Awarding the 2025 Brownlow Medal to Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell has continued the justified belief that the Brownlow Medal is the midfielder’s medal.

2003 was the last time a non-midfielder won the award, with Adam Goodes playing as a ruckman. Prior to that, back pocket Gavin Wanganeen (1993) was the last defender, Scott Wynd (1992) the last pure ruckman, and Tony Lockett (1987) the last forward to win.

Along with the 38 midfielders to win since Lockett, Patrick Cripps being awarded the most...

Matt Rowell’s Brownlow caps off a remarkable rise for the Suns

Six years ago, during the 2019 season, the Gold Coast Suns were at their darkest point.

In their ninth year after entering the AFL, the Suns had shown no progress of establishing themselves as a serious football club. They finished the season with just three wins, and lost their last 18 games.

12 months prior, co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May left, amid a plethora of talent looking for the quickest way out of the club.

It was in this dark moment that the Suns received the boon they...

Bulldogs bogged down by rain in AFLW slugfest

At half-time at Whitten Oval, the heavens opened.

The round 6 AFLW clash featured the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions, with a decent show of Lions supporters, in town for the men’s preliminary final the day before.

The Bulldogs fans present were the ones most dedicated to the women’s game, as they missed out on attending their team’s win in the VFL grand final, scheduled for the same time.

“Lions too good in difficult conditions,” is how the Bulldogs accurately described the game on...

AFL crucial cogs, grand final: Which players need to stand up for your team?

There’s plenty at stake in the 2025 grand final, with the Lions hoping to go back-to-back and the Cats looking to claim the ultimate success.

Geelong

Oisin Mullin has been outstanding in the two finals games that the Cats have won; the 25-year-old got the better of Hugh McCluggage in the qualifying final and restricted Nick Watson to one goal in the preliminary final.

Mullin has grown in stature and is getting the praise he deserves after two flawless final’s games, being matched up ag...

AFL grand final TEAMS: Neale call confirmed, Cats settle on Stewart replacement

Brisbane have named co-captain Lachie Neale for the grand final, after weeks of debate and conjecture over whether the dual Brownlow Medallist should be recalled.

Neale injured his calf in the Lions’ qualifying final loss to grand final opponents Geelong, but has made a whirlwind recovery to save his season.

The Lions never guaranteed his selection, but after fully training throughout the week, the veteran midfielder has been given the green light to return.

However, the news isn’t so g...