Sport

MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Knowing when to call it a day is the hardest decision any player can make. The Manly skipper appears set to make that call for himself leaving the Sea Eagles scrambling.

GEORGIE PARKER: Harley Reid is again in the headlines for the wrong reasons as he finds life in the spotlight only gets harder as the pressure mounts.

MITCHELL JOHNSON: Usman Khawaja’s decision to attend the F1 race in Melbourne while injured speaks to his attitude towards his Queensland team ahead of the Sheffield Shield final this week.

JUSTIN LANGER: I never thought leading a team or club would involve the lessons I have had to learn this month.

MITCHELL JOHNSON: My dad loved watching the best drivers in the world go at it but not any more and this is why.

RICHO’S TOP 10: There were a lot of storylines out of the first proper weekend of footy but none were more damning than this one.

CAITLIN BASSETT: The pre-season tournament provided some telling insights into who would stand out in 2025.

KIERSTEN DUKE: I have no idea why Shane Flanagan thought roasting his new half-back publicly would help make him a better player as all it showed was who really needs the help at St George.

MITCHELL JOHNSON: The pinnacle of the domestic red-ball season will not be played at one of the best grounds in the country in what is a bitter blow for the sport.

MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: He is the latest prodigy to come out of Leichhardt Oval but faces the same dilemma as the stars before him.

GEORGIE PARKER: The AFL might pretend that footy was back last week, but this weekend it really was. Here are five things we have learnt about this season already.

JUSTIN LANGER: The start of each season is a new beginning and West Coast have several new faces to play alongside club superstar Harley Reid.

MITCHELL JOHNSON: The 150th Test match between Australia and England should honour tradition instead of becoming a novelty act.

RICHO’S TOP 1O: We all know despite HQ’s best efforts the soft launch of the season has failed. Here is what the AFL can do to get fans back on side.

When Graham Arnold quit as Socceroos coach, he was replaced in three days. Where is that foresight now?