Good evening!

Here’s your weekly office tipping update - because it’s really important.

Orla, our video editor, has extended her lead at the top to three points. Her strategy of always tipping the favourites is yielding some impressive results.

Nish (the tech guy) has snuck into second place while yours truly has slipped all the way to third. I won’t name and shame those at the bottom of the ladder.

I’ll be tipping the favourites this week.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

3
The number of games Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell will miss after being suspended by the AFL for rough conduct. Mansell pushed St Kilda’s Liam O’Connell into a marking contest where he was concussed by the elbow of Richmond’s Tom Lynch during Saturday’s meeting between the two sides.

Quote of the day

“Of course, I was happy about joining Red Bull, but when I thought about it carefully, the idea of suddenly racing for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix felt so unreal. I don’t want to raise expectations too much, but for this Japanese Grand Prix, I want to finish on the podium. That said, I know it won’t be easy right from the start.”
Yuki Tsunoda on his promotion to the Red Bull Formula One team from its feeder team, the Racing Bulls. Tsunoda was brought up to the Red Bull team to replace struggling Kiwi driver Liam Lawson and race alongside four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen. His first race for Red Bull will be at his home grand prix, the Japanese Grand Prix, this weekend. Tsunoda’s best race result is fourth place in the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.

Random fact of the day

Japanese soccer player Miura ‘King Kazu’ Kazuyoshi is widely recognised as the oldest active player in the world. The 58-year-old is playing his 40th season of professional football and is currently on the roster of Japanese fourth-tier team Atletico Suzuka Club. Kazuyoshi played 89 games for Japan during his international career and helped his country win the 1992 Asian Cup.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🏉 South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell will make his highly anticipated return to the NRL this weekend in the side’s derby match against the Sydney Roosters. Mitchell missed the first four matches of the season with a hamstring injury and will start in the centres. Jye Gray has retained his position at fullback after a strong start to the season helping the Rabbitohs win three of their four opening matches. 

🏀 Five NBA players have been suspended after Monday’s on-court fight between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart is suspended for two games for escalating the altercation. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser, as well as the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo all received one-match suspensions. The brawl broke out following a foul and saw the five players as well as two coaches ejected from the match. 

⚽ Lionel Messi’s longtime personal bodyguard has been banned from the Inter Miami sideline by the club. Yassine Cheuko has attracted social media attention for his close protection of Messi. He told House of Highlights in an interview: "I was in Europe for seven years…and only six people invaded the pitch. I came to the USA and in just 20 months, 16 people have already done so. There's a huge problem here. I'm not the problem. Let me help Messi." Inter Miami told ESPN that Cheuko is still a part of the security team, but it was a club decision not to have him on the pitch.

I’ve got 1 minute

Daria Kasatkina to be Australia’s top ranked women’s tennis player

Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina is now Australia’s top-ranked women’s tennis player after becoming a permanent resident.

Kasatkina, whose application was accepted by the Australian government last week, said she “didn’t have much choice” after publicly criticising the war in Ukraine and Russia’s LGBTQ+ laws.

Context

During a video interview in 2022, Kasatkina revealed that she was gay.

Later that year, she left Russia, citing its strict LGBTQ+ laws.

On Monday, she said: “For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it.”

Kasatkina’s first tournament as an Australian representative will be this week’s Charleston Open in South Carolina.

The 27-year-old has taken the mantle of Australia’s top-ranked women’s tennis player from world number 62 Kimberly Birrell.

What they said

"It's my first official day as an Australian player. Honestly, it feels different, I'm not going to lie. It's emotional for me. I have to get used to it. But I'm really happy to start this new chapter of my life representing Australia on the big stage."

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Super Netball starts on Saturday - here’s what you need to know ahead of the 2025 season

The 2025 season of Super Netball tips off this weekend with the opening fixture set to be a grand-final rematch between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens. Here’s what you need to know before the season gets underway.

Can Adelaide Thunderbirds three-peat?

In 2024, the Adelaide Thunderbirds won their second title and became the first Super Netball side to win back-to-back titles since the competition began in 2017. The Thunderbirds look to be a threat again this year after winning the Team Girls Cup, a round robin style pre-season tournament between all eight Super Netball teams. This season, the side remains relatively unchanged. Jamaican internationals Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson have been among the side’s keys to success in recent seasons due to their defensive prowess. In 2024, the pair were ranked one and two in the league for possession gains, intercepts, and deflections.

The challengers

After losing in last year’s final, the Vixens are expected to produce another strong season under the captaincy of Australian representatives Kiera Austin and Kate Moloney.

The West Coast Fever finished third, missing out on the final by a single goal, and are also expected to contend for the title this year. The side will begin the season without 5-time Super Netball MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who is on personal leave.

Two-time title winners the New South Wales Swifts finished sixth last season but are expected to be the most improved team in the competition this year after signing Grace Nweke. The New Zealander is one of the best goal shooters in the world and her attacking prowess will boost the two-time title winners' hopes of securing a record third title.

Super Netball moving past accusations

Last week, Netball Australia (NA) concluded its investigation into accusations against the Queensland Firebirds of a ‘toxic culture’ and gaslighting. In a statement, NA described the accusations as “not substantiated” and said no further action would be taken. The governing body commenced its investigation into the accusations, made by former player Rami Kamo, in August last year.

How to watch

You can watch every game of Super Netball on Foxtel, Kayo, and Binge. All Sunday matches will also be available to stream for free on Kayo Freebies.

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Looking forward…(All times are AEDT)

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