Sport

Marnus Labuschagne has given the biggest hint yet at the make-up of Australia’s top order for the first Ashes Test in Perth next week.

Rape charges against a high-profile AFL player and his friend have been dropped after a key witness admitted fabricating evidence about the alleged assault.

A ‘scientific, factual and unemotional’ presentation has set the stage for the major shift.

Marnus Labuschagne has declared he does not care where he bats in the Australian line-up as the fight for top order spots reaches its apex ahead of the first Ashes Test.

MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: He will go down as one of the NRL’s greats, but the four-time premiership winner continues to flounder at the highest levels of competition.

The key player immediately pointed to the same foot he recently had surgery on.

GEORGIE PARKER: I think it’s a terrific idea, but there is no getting away from this key issue.

Essendon kicked off their pre-season without Zach Merrett, who is set to be replaced as captain after his failed attempt to leave for Hawthorn.

His club has been left scrambling after the premiership player walked out to join a key rival.

The Aussie contender’s nightmare run has extended into a second year but there is hope on the horizon.

Australian hope Oscar Piastri finished fifth in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as teammate Lando Norris won again to extend his F1 championship lead to 24 points.

The AFL will introduce a wildcard weekend in the first week of finals for the 2026 season.

When a Melbourne star was taken out of the game a curious ‘grey area’ emerged.

Stewards have ordered the Cox Plate winner to serve his suspensions concurrently. He also has to pay a hefty fine.

There were intense scenes in the last game of the series and noisy fans eventually turned on their own.