Australian Associated Press – Page 6

May 13, 2026

St Kilda cut from AFL Pride game after Lance Collard homophobia case

Round 17 fixture to instead feature Western Bulldogs against Sydney
Saints player Collard banned for use of homophobic slur

The fallout continues from the Lance Collard AFL tribunal case, with St Kilda cut from the annual Pride Game against Sydney.

The fixture, which celebrates LGBTIQA+ inclusivity, was supposed to take place when the Swans were hosting the Saints in round 13 at the SCG. Instead, the fixture has been switched to the Swans’ match against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.

May 12, 2026

Australia’s top sprint hope Kaden Groves quits Giro d’Italia due to crash injuries

Groves was involved in a crash as race opened in Bulgaria last week
GC contenders Jai Hindley and Ben O’Connor remain in race

Kaden Groves, Australia’s best sprint hope for a stage win at the Giro d’Italia, has been forced to quit on the fourth stage as a result of injuries suffered on day one. He follows another Australian star, Jay Vine, who suffered concussion and a broken elbow when crashing on stage two.

Groves was among several riders injured in a mass crash 600 metres from the line as the race opened in Bulgaria on Friday. The 10-time Grand Tour stage winner was bloodied and limping afterwards, but initially seemed “OK” said his team, Alpecin Premier-Tech.

May 11, 2026May 12, 2026

Michael Voss quits as Carlton coach after disastrous start to AFL season

Blues confirm departure and appoint Josh Fraser as interim coach
‘We have not seen the intended evolution in our game,’ club says

Michael Voss has quit as Carlton coach following a disastrous start to the AFL season, the Blues admitting the club is in “genuine transition”.

Out-of-contract at season’s end, Voss decided to move on with the Blues 1-8 and effectively already out of finals contention.

May 11, 2026

‘Really scary’: horror crash leaves Australia’s Jay Vine with broken elbow and concussion

UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider forced to abandon Giro d’Italia
Vine to fly home after extent of 30-year-old’s injuries confirmed

Ill-starred Australian cycling star Jay Vine has suffered a broken elbow and concussion in his Giro d’Italia-ending crash – but his decimated UAE Team Emirates-XRG team have been left relieved his injuries weren’t even more serious.

The 30-year-old Vine, who suffered a third serious crash in just 13 days of racing in 2026 and has now endured a reported 23 spills in his brilliant but accident-filled five-year career, will not need surgery, the team revealed on Sunday.

May 11, 2026

Lucas Herbert banks $5.5m and secures US Open spot after winning first LIV Golf title

Australian holds nerve in dramatic climax to event in Virginia
‘I didn’t help myself,’ says Herbert after seeing final-round lead slashed

Australian golf star Lucas Herbert has held his nerve to claim his maiden LIV Golf League title and secure a priceless ticket to next month’s US Open in New York.

Herbert had a five-shot final-round lead slashed to one before regaining his composure to see off the challenge of Spanish great Sergio Garcia in a dramatic climax to LIV Golf Virginia.

May 9, 2026

Craig Bellamy tight-lipped over Melbourne Storm future amid ‘private’ illness

NRL coach undecided on plan for next season in light of medical condition
Rugby league veteran turns spotlight on return to form in Wests Tigers clash

Craig Bellamy is staying private about his illness, the veteran Melbourne coach wanting the spotlight to remain on the Storm rather than his health.

Bellamy fronted the media at AAMI Park ahead of the Storm’s Sunday afternoon clash with Wests Tigers, with the side looking to stop a record-extending seven-match losing streak.

May 8, 2026

Alex de Minaur’s form slump continues in racket-smashing exit at Italian Open

Australian defeated 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by Matteo Arnaldi in second round
World No 8 has now lost four of his past five matches on clay

Alex de Minaur has been reduced to racket-smashing frustration as his alarming slump in form continued with another early clay-court tournament exit at the Italian Open.

Australia’s world No 8 was downed 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by home favourite Matteo Arnaldi, who was cheered to the rafters at the Foro Italico by the excited Rome crowd on Friday morning.

May 6, 2026

Cameron Smith given ‘every assurance’ LIV Golf will continue amid funding uncertainty

Future of rebel tour in jeopardy after Saudi investment withdrawn
Australian golfer laughs off retirement talk: ‘I’ve got a while yet’

Cam Smith has laughed off retirement rumours, and said he has been given “every assurance” LIV Golf will continue beyond this year.

The future of LIV – and Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC team – is in jeopardy after Saudi Arabia withdrew funding of the breakaway league.

April 30, 2026

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy diagnosed with neurodegenerative disorder

Rugby league veteran to stay at NRL club amid horror start to season
Specialists say coaching ability not affected in immediate future

Craig Bellamy has been diagnosed with an unspecified neurodegenerative disorder but will remain as coach of Melbourne Storm in the immediate future, the club has said.

The club issued a statement 24 hours out from Melbourne’s NRL clash with the Dolphins in Brisbane, with the 66-year-old Bellamy recently undergoing a series of medical tests.

April 28, 2026April 29, 2026

Jarome Luai confirms he will join PNG Chiefs as NRL expansion side make first signings

Tigers star agrees to $1.2m-a-season tax-free deal after PNG visit
Try-scoring record-holder Alex Johnston also confirms 2028 move

Jarome Luai has declared he wants to grow a nation after confirming he will leave Wests Tigers to take up a tax-free contact and become the face of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs in 2028.

Luai has signed a two-year deal with the Chiefs, which includes an option in his favour for a third year.

April 24, 2026

Alex de Minaur’s horror run continues with loss to Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in Madrid

Australia No 1 defeated 6-3 6-1 by 19-year-old in second round
World No 8 has lost six of past 10 matches in alarming stretch of form

Alex de Minaur has suffered a startling defeat, crushed by the latest teenage Spanish wonder boy in the second round of the Madrid Open.

On a day when Carlos Alcaraz caused consternation by announcing his withdrawal from the upcoming French Open with a wrist injury, 19-year-old Madrid local Rafael Jodar filled his place seamlessly by blowing away the Australian 6-3 6-1 in 75 one-sided minutes.

April 24, 2026

AFL player Lance Collard’s ‘crippling’ ban for allegedly using homophobic slur slashed on appeal

Tribunal verdict upheld that St Kilda player guilty of conduct unbecoming
Reduced four-week suspension comes with two weeks suspended

St Kilda forward Lance Collard will serve a two-week suspension over his latest homophobic slur after having his ban reduced by the AFL appeal board.

Collard was initially banned for seven weeks, with a further two weeks suspended, after being found guilty of calling a VFL opponent a “fucking faggot” last month. He denied the allegation.

April 22, 2026

Daria Kasatkina sinks to 11-year ranking low after first-round defeat at Madrid Open

Australian loses 6-3 3-6 7-6 (15) to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur
28-year-old drops from No 12 last April to world No 83 in next rankings

Daria Kasatkina’s career in Australian colours has plummeted to a new low at the Madrid Open after she suffered an agonising first-round defeat which will send her tumbling to her lowest world ranking for 11 years.

On a day when all four Australian women crashed out in the clay-court event, Kasatkina suffered the most frustrating reverse, succumbing 6-3 3-6 7-6 (15-13) to qualifier and lucky loser Daria Snigur after being unable to convert four match points.

April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

WorkSafe to question Carlton and AFL over handling of Elijah Hollands’ ‘mental health episode’

‘You are loved’: father Ben Hollands shares public message
Blues player admitted to hospital on Monday night

Carlton’s management of Elijah Hollands’ public mental health episode will come under scrutiny from WorkSafe Victoria.

Hollands, 23, was admitted to hospital on Monday night, after his concerning and erratic performance in the Blues’ game at the MCG against Collingwood last Thursday night.

April 17, 2026

‘If not us, then what?’: fears grow for rugby talent lost to league amid Moana Pasifika demise

Coach Umaga calls for more support for union in Samoa and Tonga
Super Rugby club’s future in grave doubt beyond this season

All Blacks great and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga fears the region’s talent will gravitate to league and derail the Tongan and Samoan Test sides without a Super Rugby presence.

The Super Rugby Pacific franchise is set to be disbanded after ownership on Wednesday confirmed it would not continue funding the “unviable” operation beyond this season.