Collingwood player Jack Crisp is on the cusp of breaking one of the AFL’s longest standing records. This weekend, he will take to the field for his 245th consecutive AFL match.

The last time he missed a match was in Round 17 of the 2014 season. Yep, 2014.

During Crisp’s streak the league has included players born as long ago as 1975 (Dustin Fletcher), and as recently as 2006 (Levi Ashcroft).

Crisp is currently tied with AFL great Jim Stynes, whose 244 match streak lasted from Round 16, 1987 to Round Four, 1998.

2 
The number of men’s tennis players who have made it to at least the fourth round of every ATP Masters 1000 tournament so far this year. Australia’s top-ranked tennis player, Alex de Minaur, is one of those two, alongside Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. De Minaur is set to play Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, the fourth Masters 1000 event of the year, after defeating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in straight sets. 

"Jamarra's health and wellbeing remains the absolute priority and he will be given whatever time he needs. We will continue to support Jamarra throughout this period.”
Western Bulldogs football manager Sam Power in a statement released by the club announcing that forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is taking a leave of absence to deal with personal issues. Ugle-Hagan has not played for the club since losing to Hawthorn in the 2024 elimination final. The 23-year-old was the number one draft pick in 2020. 

New Zealand’s most successful Olympian of all time is kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington. Carrington has been to four Olympics, from London 2012 through to Paris 2024, and has won a total of nine medals (eight gold, one bronze).

🏉 North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis' three-match ban for rough conduct was upheld by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night. Port Adelaide’s Josh Sinn left the field with a concussion after Curtis tackled him from behind and pinned his arms. The suspension will see Curtis miss the Kangaroos' upcoming fixtures against Essendon, Brisbane, and Richmond. The Kangaroos are currently 17th on the ladder, with just one win from seven matches. 

⚽ Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have taken one step closer to the final of the Champions League after beating Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final between the two sides. PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé silenced the Arsenal fanbase with a fourth-minute goal, and despite their best efforts, the Gunners were unable to equalise within 90 minutes. Arsenal now face the mammoth task of overturning the one-goal deficit away from home next week. 

🏀 The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics have both advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals after winning their respective first-round playoff series. The Pacers' 119-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks secured a 4-1 win in the best-of-seven series. The Celtics also won their series 4-1, dominating the Orlando Magic 120-89 in Game 5. In the semi-finals, the Pacers are set to face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Celtics will take on the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The Knicks currently lead the Pistons 3-2.

Australian tennis player Max Purcell has been handed an 18-month ban from the sport for breaching anti-doping laws. The 27-year-old received two intravenous infusions over the legal limit in December 2023. The two-time doubles major winner will be eligible to play again by the 2026 Wimbledon tournament. 

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) released a statement yesterday confirming that Purcell had accepted the 18-month suspension for receiving two 500ml IV infusions in December 2023. According to anti-doping laws, athletes are allowed to receive a maximum of 100ml every 12 hours. 

ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said: “This case does not involve a player testing positive for a prohibited substance but demonstrates that the anti-doping rules are broader than that.”

The length of Purcell’s suspension was reduced by 25% because of his willingness to cooperate with the governing body.

In a statement on Instagram, Purcell said:  “This case has been going on for months, seriously affecting my quality of life. From being unable to sleep and eat properly, and refusing to be by myself, to developing nervous and anxious tics which I still currently battle day to day. I’m so glad this is finally over for me and I can move on with my life.”

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Rugby Australia has officially announced that Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss will replace Joe Schmidt as the coach of the Wallabies. Here’s what you need to know about Kiss’ agreement with Rugby Australia and the experience he brings to the role. 

Kiss will begin his tenure as Australia’s coach in 2026. Originally, Schmidt had planned to step down after this year’s Rugby Championship, but he extended his contract to allow Kiss to fulfil some of his obligations with the Reds. 

Schmidt said: “My intention to finish at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship has been adjusted to fit with Les’s availability. I think he’s doing a great job with the Reds, so it was important to dovetail with his responsibilities there.”

When he takes the job in the middle of 2026, Kiss will be contracted on a two-year deal. That will ensure that Kiss is the coach of the Wallabies for the side’s home World Cup in 2027. 

After carving out his playing career in rugby league as a winger, Kiss began coaching rugby union in 2001. He served as an assistant coach for the Springboks, the Waratahs, and Ireland. In Ireland, Kiss worked with Schmidt, who was the side’s head coach, and the pair helped the side win back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015.

The 60-year-old was appointed as Director of Rugby for Irish rugby club Ulster and then head coach at English rugby club London Irish before joining the Reds in 2024. 

Kiss said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for Australian Rugby and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as Wallabies Head Coach from next year. Joe and I have a strong relationship and a long history of working together, and I am looking forward to building upon the excellent foundations he has laid…  To coach our national team through such an important period, highlighted by a home Rugby World Cup in 2027, is the honour of a lifetime and an opportunity I am truly grateful for.”

The Wallabies’ first fixture of 2025 will be against Fiji on Sunday 6 July. That will be followed by the first of three matches against the British and Irish Lions on 19 July.