Williams driver Carlos Sainz has criticised Formula One’s TV coverage for focusing on drivers’ girlfriends and celebrities instead of the racing. 

During Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, cameras cut away from key overtakes and battles, including Sainz’s own, to show off-track reactions. 

He told Spanish radio: “Last weekend, they didn’t show any of the four or five overtakes I did at the end, nor did they show Fernando’s pursuit of Lewis, they missed a lot of things.” 

What do you reckon? Is Sainz just peeved his overtakes didn’t make the cut? Or should people tune into Gogglebox if they want to watch someone watching something?

$US1.4 billion ($AU2.1 billion)
The estimated net worth of Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, making him the sport’s first-ever billionaire. Bloomberg reports the 40-year-old has earned hundreds of millions in salary and endorsements over his career, helped by a massive deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr and partnerships with brands like Nike and Armani. He now sits alongside icons like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer in sport’s billionaire club.

"I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan will be playing a Serie A match against Como in Australia. It's totally crazy. But these are economic agreements to give the league more visibility, things that are beyond us. There's a lot of talk about schedules and player health, and this all seems truly absurd.”
AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot speaking to French media about the decision to play a Serie A match in Perth next February. Serie A is Italy’s top professional football league. UEFA has given the move exceptional approval, but the plan has sparked backlash from players and fans. Serie A’s chief executive, Luigi De Siervo, responded to Rabiot’s comments, saying: "He forgets that he is paid millions of euros to do a job — play football. He should respect the money he earns, and accept the wishes of his employer, Milan, who pushed to play this match abroad."

Kepler Wessels is the only cricketer to play Test matches for both Australia and South Africa. Born in Bloemfontein, he debuted for Australia in 1982 and scored 162 on debut against England, one of the highest scores ever by an Australian first-timer. In 1992, following South Africa’s return to international cricket after apartheid, he switched allegiances to captain his homeland.

🏏 Beth Mooney produced a match-winning century to help Australia secure a 107-run victory over Pakistan at the Women’s World Cup in Colombo. With the Aussies struggling at 7-76, Mooney steadied the innings with 109 runs from 114 balls, combining with Alana King (51 not out) for a record ninth-wicket stand of 106. Australia’s bowlers then ripped through Pakistan’s lineup, with Kim Garth taking 3-14 as the hosts were dismissed for 114. The win keeps Australia unbeaten ahead of Sunday’s clash with India in Visakhapatnam.

🏐 The Diamonds have won their international netball series against South Africa with a dominant 67-40 win in Wollongong, sealing a 2-0 lead with one match still to play. Australia flew out of the blocks, capitalising on South Africa’s errors and extending their perfect record over the Proteas to 48 straight wins. Coach Stacey Marinkovich said the team will still “test and try what we’re going to do” when they look to reclaim the Constellation Cup from New Zealand next week. The final Test against South Africa will be played in Adelaide on Sunday.

🥊 Former UFC fighter and MMA coach Suman Mokhtarian has been shot dead in what police believe was a targeted attack in Sydney’s west. The 33-year-old was gunned down while walking in Riverstone on Wednesday evening and died at the scene. Mokhtarian fought twice in the UFC before becoming a coach at Australian Top Team. Mokhtarian was the subject of another assassination attempt in February 2024. 

🏉 Former AFL player Shannon Cox has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after killing two elderly women in a head-on crash north of Perth with meth in his system. The 39-year-old, who played 25 games for Collingwood between 2007 and 2009, drifted onto the wrong side of the Brand Highway last June. He collided with a car carrying Thelma Clausen and Coral Seinor, who both died at the scene. Cox had two prior drug-driving convictions and was on a community order at the time.

Whether you’re heading interstate for a footy weekend, a surf trip, or a long-haul sporting adventure, Samsonite has you covered

The sleek Upscape set keeps your gear organised and protected, while the eco-friendly Proxis™ Circular combines sustainability with durable, travel-ready design.And the iconic C-Lite in limited-edition Colourburst ensures you arrive in style, whether it’s to the stadium, the gym, or a team getaway.

With lightweight construction, shock-absorbing wheels, and smart interiors, Samsonite makes packing for sport as smooth as a perfect pass — so you can focus on the game, not the luggage.

Australia’s Alex de Minaur has reached another career high, recording his 50th win of the year to advance to the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters, marking his most successful season yet.

De Minaur defeated Portugal’s Nuno Borges in straight sets to become only the third man in 2025, after Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz, to reach 50 victories. The world No.7 now leads the ATP Tour in hard-court wins this season and is only the fourth Australian man in history to achieve the milestone. 

He said: "For me, it just shows consistency and that is what I am most proud of. Showing up every single week, and it is an amazing number. I am hoping for many more to finish off the year and not stay at 50. It has been a successful trip to Asia so far."

The 25-year-old will now face world No.18 Daniil Medvedev for a place in the semi-finals, as he targets his first Masters 1000 title.  Novak Djokovic is the highest-ranked player left in the draw. 

Alexei Popyrin’s victory at the 2024 Canadian Open marked the first time an Australian men’s player had won a Masters 1000 title since Lleyton Hewitt won at Indian Wells in 2003.

The winner of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments receives 1,000 ranking points, making them the most prestigious tournaments on tour outside grand slams (where the winner receives 2,000 points). There are nine Masters tournaments every season.

Enjoying the newsletter?

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

Send them this link to sign up.

The AFL’s most chaotic time of year is back. The AFL Trade Period sees every club wheeling and dealing to reshape their team lists ahead of the 2026 season. Here’s what you need to know.

The AFL Trade Period is a 10-day window after the Grand Final where clubs can officially exchange players and draft picks. It’s a chance for teams to strengthen their squads or move up the draft order before the AFL Draft in November.

This year’s trade window opened on Monday, 6 October at 9am (AEDT) and closes next Wednesday, 15 October at 7.30pm, overlapping with the Free Agency period which runs from 3 October to 10 October.

Clubs can trade players, draft picks, or both. Most deals involve two clubs, but trades involving three or four clubs are allowed. A key change this year lets clubs trade draft picks two years in advance, meaning they can now move 2025, 2026 and 2027 selections.

Even after the Trade Period closes, clubs can still sign delisted free agents and trade draft picks up until the Draft, which takes place on 19-20 November.

Draft picks are assigned in reverse ladder order, with the West Coast Eagles holding pick No.1 after finishing last. That being said, the order isn’t always neat because clubs are allowed to trade future picks. For example, Hawthorn holds Carlton’s first-round pick this year due to a 2024 deal.

The AFL’s Draft Value Index (DVI) assigns points to every pick (pick No.1 is worth 3,000 points, pick No.2 is worth 2,481, and so on). The system helps balance trades and lets clubs match bids for father-son or Academy players. A revised DVI will debut this year, reducing points further down the order to ensure fairer deals.

Free Agency allows players with eight or more years at one club to move. Unrestricted free agents can leave freely, while restricted free agents (usually top earners) can have their offers matched by their current club.

The AFL also hands out compensation picks if a club loses a free agent and doesn’t gain one of similar value, based on the player’s age and new salary.

It’s been a busy first week of the AFL Trade Period. Brisbane made the biggest splash, landing West Coast Eagles captain Oscar Allen and Essendon ruckman Sam Draper, while West Coast strengthened its backline by adding dual-premiership Brisbane Lion Brandon Starcevich.

Fremantle brought home Judd McVee (Melbourne), sending pick No.23 the other way, and St Kilda continued its aggressive push for talent by securing Sam Flanders (Gold Coast), Tom De Koning (Carlton) and Jack Silvagni (Carlton). Elsewhere, Charlie Spargo (Melbourne) joined North Melbourne, Jacob Wehr (GWS) signed with Port Adelaide, and Malcolm Rosas Jr (Gold Coast) made the move to Sydney.

Plenty of names are still in the mix for trading between now and next Wednesday, including Essendon captain Zach Merrett, Bulldogs star Jamara Ugle-Hagan, and Carlton’s two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow.