If you were forwarded this email (hi! welcome!), you can sign up for the newsletter here.

Good afternoon,

It may not be summer yet, but Australiaโ€™s national cricket teams are back in full swing.

Yesterday, the womenโ€™s team sealed a series victory against Bangladesh with a nine-wicket win in the second of three ODIs. Georgia Voll starred with 131 runs. The third and final ODI will be played on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the menโ€™s team is leading South Africa by 133 runs after three days of Test cricket. Day Four of the first Test begins at 6:30pm tonight with Nic Maddinson and Travis Head opening the batting in Australiaโ€™s second innings.

Iโ€™ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

2 hours, 20 minutes, and 38 seconds
Thatโ€™s how long it took two-time Olympian Izzi Batt-Doyle to run the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, setting a new Australian record for the womenโ€™s marathon. Batt-Doyle beat the previous national record by 46 seconds. (For those doing the maths, it is about 3:20 per km.) The 31-year-old finished sixth in the womenโ€™s race and improved her own personal best by over two minutes.

Izzi Batt-Doyle ahead of the Paris Olympics (AAP)

Quote of the day

โ€œI believe that my body is still peaking.โ€
Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge after winning the Melbourne Marathon in a course-record time of two hours, nine minutes and 10 seconds. The 41-year-old Kenyan claimed his first marathon win since Berlin in 2023, and the 17th of his career. Kipchoge added: โ€œThe oldest athlete is still competing but I am happy to run with the Gen Zs.โ€

Kipchoge crosses the line in Melbourne (Getty)

Random fact of the day

The record for the oldest swimming world champion belongs to Brazilโ€™s Nicholas Santos, who was 42 years and 303 days old when he won the menโ€™s 50m butterfly at the 2022 FINA World Championships. He announced his retirement after that race.

Iโ€™ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed itโ€ฆ

๐ŸŽ๏ธ Aussie racing driver Brodie Kostecki has won his second Bathurst 1000 after race leader Anton De Pasquale ran out of fuel on the final lap of Sundayโ€™s 161-lap race. Kostecki looked out of contention after a disastrous pit stop dropped him from first to fifth, but he fought back following a late safety car. De Pasqualeโ€™s fuel drama handed Kostecki and his racing partner Todd Hazelwood the lead, with Will Brown and Scott Pyne finishing second and Zach Bates and Aaron Seton third. An emotional Kostecki told his team over the radio: โ€œI love you guysโ€.

Kostecki and Hazelwood celebrate victory on Mt Panorama (Getty)

๐Ÿ‰ Perth Bears CEO Anthony de Ceglie has stepped down, less than a year before the clubโ€™s planned entry into the NRL in 2027. De Ceglie led the expansion club through its start-up phase, securing commercial partnerships, launching merchandise and attracting more than 20,000 foundation members. General manager of football Gareth Holmes will take over as interim CEO while the club considers its next steps. De Ceglie said he had โ€œno doubtโ€ the Perth Bears would โ€œcontinue to grow and grow, and become a behemoth of the national sporting stageโ€.

Former Perth Bears CEO Anthony de Ceglie (Getty)

๐Ÿ‰ The Wallabies remain winless at Aucklandโ€™s Eden Park since 1986 after losing 50-19 to New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup. Australia led 7-0 early and trailed by just three points at half-time, but the All Blacks pulled away with four second-half tries. The result extends New Zealandโ€™s winning streak against Australia to 12 matches. The teams will meet again on Australian soil on Saturday afternoon, with the Wallaroos taking on Scotland at midday.

All Blacks captain Codie Taylor raises the Bledisloe Cup (Getty)

๐ŸŸ๏ธ A crowd of 5,114 watched the Sydney Swans take on Carlton at Henson Park in Sundayโ€™s Pride Round clash. Thatโ€™s well above the AFLWโ€™s average attendance of roughly 3,300 per game this season. The Swans couldnโ€™t quite match the crowdโ€™s energy, losing to Carlton by 27 points despite Chloe Molloy kicking three goals. Carlton captain Abbie McKay left the field with an ankle injury in the final quarter, but coach Mathew Buck said the decision not to return her was precautionary. The win strengthens Carltonโ€™s top-four hopes, while Sydney will next face Collingwood on Sunday.

Abbie McKay of the Blues runs the ball (Getty)

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.

A message from A-Leagues

The A-Leagues are back this week, kicking off Friday 16 October with Sydney FC taking on Western Sydney Wanderers, before the Ninja A-League Women season begins on Saturday.

You donโ€™t need to know every player to enjoy the atmosphere, so round up your mates and make a game day of it. A limited allocation of tickets is available from $5 for juniors, $25 for adults and $50 for families (2 adults + 2 juniors).

Iโ€™ve got 1 minute

Charles Leclerc, Red Bullโ€™s head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen, and Kimi Antonelli celebrate on the podium (Getty)

F1: Verstappen wins in Singapore as Antonelli edges closer to title

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing seven seconds ahead of Ferrariโ€™s Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Mercedesโ€™ Kimi Antonelli moved closer to a historic world title.

What happened

Verstappen dominated the weekend, qualifying first for both Saturdayโ€™s Sprint race and Sundayโ€™s Grand Prix before winning both races. Leclerc and Antonelli finished second and third, respectively.

It was Verstappenโ€™s first Singapore Grand Prix victory.

Meanwhile, Australian Oscar Piastri finished fifth, behind his McLaren teammate and reigning world champion Lando Norris in fourth.

Antonelli closing in on championship

With six races remaining on the 2026 F1 season, Antonelli is closing in on his first world championship. If successful, he would become the youngest driver to win an F1 title.

The 20-year-old leads the driversโ€™ standings with 340 points, ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell on 238 points. The record for the youngest world champion currently belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won his first title in 2010.

The next race is the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, running from 23-25 October.

Antonelli could clinch the title there if several conditions are met:

  • He wins the race

  • Russell finishes ninth or lower

  • Ferrariโ€™s Lewis Hamilton finishes outside the top four

Help us grow!

Enjoying the newsletter?

If you are, why not share the love with your friends? Weโ€™d love your help in getting the word out there.

Send them this link to sign up.

Iโ€™ve got 2 minutes

Carltonโ€™s Lachie Cowan (left) and Will Hayward (right) (Getty)

Two AFL players went to hospital on the weekend. What happened?

Carlton players Lachie Cowan and Will Hayward both received hospital treatment on Sunday morning. The AFL club says the two cases were separate, and both players have since been discharged.

Hereโ€™s what to know.

Background

On Sunday, 7News were first to report that police and ambulance crews were called to Haywardโ€™s South Yarra home early Sunday morning. The publication also alleged that an illicit drug in the form of a white powder was being used by some players at a party on Saturday night. Those claims are unconfirmed.

What happened

Carlton released a statement on Sunday afternoon confirming that Cowan and Hayward had been admitted to hospital โ€œunder separate circumstancesโ€.

According to the club, Cowan received medical treatment and underwent observation, while Hayward received stitches for a minor cut to the head. Both were discharged on Sunday morning.

TDA asked Carlton if illicit drugs were involved. The club did not comment on this.

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics responded to an incident in South Yarra at about 5.15am on Sunday. Advanced Life Support paramedics attended, and a man in his 20s was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition. The statement did not name the patient.

Response

Speaking on radio show Nova 100 this morning, Independent Federal MP Andrew Wilkie said: โ€œThis is more evidence that the AFL havenโ€™t yet cleaned up their act...The players have got to do better to act like the role models and the elite sports people they are.โ€

Wilkieโ€™s comments come after five Sydney Swans players were suspended in August for a โ€œserious breachโ€ of the clubโ€™s standards. A Victoria police investigation into allegations of sexual assault linked to some of the players is ongoing.

Looking backโ€ฆ

AFLW (Round 9)

Who: Western Bulldogs v Essendon
Result: Western Bulldogs won 65-22

Who: St Kilda v Collingwood
Result: St Kilda won 39-37

Who: Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles
Result: Port Adelaide won 26-22

Who: Geelong v GWS Giants
Result: Geelong won 96-33

Who: Richmond v Adelaide
Result: Adelaide won 62-30

Who: Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne
Result: Gold Coast Suns won 61-39

Who: North Melbourne v Fremantle
Result: North Melbourne won 58-30

Who: Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions
Result: Hawthorn won 65-40

Who: Sydney Swans v Carlton
Result: Carlton won 59-32

NBL (Round 4)

Who: Illawarra Hawks v Tasmania JackJumpers
Result: Tasmania JackJumpers won 122-112

Who: South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United
Result: Melbourne United won 104-99

Who: Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers
Result: Perth Wildcats won 100-84

Who: Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers
Result: Adelaide 36ers won 84-78

Who: Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans
Result: Cairns Taipans won 110-100

Australia v Bangladesh (Womenโ€™s ODI Series)

Who: Australia v Bangladesh (1st ODI)
Result: Australia won by seven wickets

Who: Australia v Bangladesh (2nd ODI)
Result: Australia won by nine wickets (Australia win series 2-0)

Bledisloe Cup (First Test)

Who: New Zealand v Australia
Result: All Blacks won 50-19

WNBA Playoffs (Semifinals)

Who: Dream v Liberty (Game 3, Dream led 2-0)
Result: Dream won 85-83 (Dream win series 3-0)

Who: Valkyries v Aces (Game 3, Valkyries led 2-0)
Result: Valkyries won 87-77 (Valkyries win series 3-0)

Australia Cup (Final)

Who: South Melbourne v Melbourne Victory
Result: South Melbourne won 1-1 (4-3 on penalties)

Looking forwardโ€ฆ (All times are AEDT)

Test Cricket

Who: South Africa v Australia
(First Test, Day 4)
Time: 6:30pm tonight
Where to watch: Fox Cricket, Kayo

TDA asks