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Good afternoon!
As 2025 comes to a close, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the year that was in sport.
Reply to this email and let me know what your top sporting moment in 2025 was.
I’ll then compile the most popular responses and put them in a poll next week so we can crown a TDA Sport highlight of the year!


Friday’s headlines
Here’s what’s making news today…
🏏 The Perth Scorchers have booked their spot in the Women’s Big Bash League decider, knocking out the Sydney Sixers with an 11-run victory last night. Beth Mooney was the hero once again, punishing the Sixers with a blistering 76 runs off 44 balls. Sixers keeper Alyssa Healy will rue a missed opportunity to dismiss Mooney on just nine runs. The Scorchers’ Alana King then sealed the deal with the ball, taking three wickets to defend the total. The Scorchers now fly to Tasmania to face the Hobart Hurricanes in the Grand Final tomorrow night.

Alana King of the Scorchers celebrates taking the wicket of Ashleigh Gardner of the Sixers (AAP)
🏉 In yet another twist for the Wests Tigers, former chair Barry O’Farrell is set to return to the club just 10 days after he was sacked. The club's majority owners, Holman Barnes Group, have bowed to pressure from the NRL, inviting O'Farrell and three other ousted independent directors back to the board. The chaos hasn't saved CEO Shane Richardson, whose resignation stands. Shaun Mielekamp, former boss of the A-League’s Central Coast Mariners, is tipped to take over as interim CEO by the end of the week.

Barry O’Farrell (Getty)
🏉 Tom Silvagni has been identified as the Melbourne man from a famous AFL family found guilty of rape. A court lifted a suppression order yesterday afternoon, allowing media to name the 23-year-old son of Carlton legend Stephen Silvagni and brother of current St Kilda player Jack Silvagni. He was remanded in custody last week after a jury found him guilty of digitally raping a woman in January 2024.
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
🏀 The NBL’s Illawarra Hawks staged a stunning late comeback to defeat the Brisbane Bullets 100-85. Despite trailing early, the defending champions flicked the switch in the final minutes, closing the game on a 16-2 run to seal victory. Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee was the hero, recording 30 points and 10 rebounds. The loss is Brisbane's fifth straight, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the ladder.

JaVale McGee was a standout for the Hawks last night (AAP)

TDA’s top three…
Sport to keep an eye on this weekend…
Swimming: Australia vs the World
Talking points: Swimming gets a shake-up tonight with the inaugural "Australia vs The World" clash in Brisbane. It is swimming, but not as you know it. Forget times and world records: this event is all about team points, power plays, and chaos. Stars like Cam McEvoy and Kaylee McKeown will lead the Aussies against a global all-star team in mystery relays, "skins" elimination races, and even a 200m medley where a roulette wheel decides the stroke order.
How to watch: It all kicks off at 7:30pm (AEDT) tonight on 9Now.

Kaylee McKeown will be in action tonight (Getty)
WBBL Final: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers
Talking points: The WBBL crowns a champion tomorrow night as the Hobart Hurricanes host the Perth Scorchers at Bellerive Oval. It is a classic battle of rest versus rhythm. The Hurricanes, playing in their first-ever Grand Final after finishing on top of the table, haven't played a full game in 11 days, while the Scorchers have battled through two sudden-death finals and cross-country travel this week alone to reach the decider. The last time these two teams met was last month, and the Hurricanes won by seven wickets. The Scorchers will be looking to star players Beth Mooney and Alana King to help them secure an upset and win a second WBBL title.
How to watch: The match starts at 7:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday. You can watch it on Channel 7, Foxtel, or Kayo.

Beth Mooney (left) has been one of the Scorchers best this season (Getty)
English Premier League: Liverpool v Brighton
Talking points: The significance of this match will not be lost on English Premier League fans as it could mark the dawn of a new era for Liverpool without their long-term marquee player, Mo Salah. All eyes will be on Anfield as the reigning champions host Brighton in the Premier League, and the focus remains on the explosive fallout between Salah and the team’s manager, Arne Slot. The Egyptian star publicly claimed his relationship with the manager was dead after being left on the bench for the third game in a row and is unlikely to play another match for the Reds.
How to watch: The match kicks off at 2am on Sunday. You can watch the English Premier League on Stan Sport.

The relationship between Slot and Salah has deteriorated (Getty)

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Looking forward… (All times are AEDT)
A-League Women
Tonight
Perth Glory v Wellington at 10pm
Saturday
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar at 2pm
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide at 4:50pm
Canberra v
Melbourne City at 5:30pm
Sunday
Western Sydney v Central Coast at 7pm
Where to watch: Paramount+, Channel 10
A-League Men
Tonight
Central Coast v Auckland FC at 7:35pm
Saturday
Western Sydney v Brisbane at 5:00pm
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide at 7:35pm
Perth Glory v Sydney FC at 9:45pm
Sunday
Wellington v Newcastle Jets at 1:00pm
Where to watch: Paramount+, Channel 10
WNBL
Tonight
Canberra Capitals v Southside at 7pm
Saturday
Geelong Venom v Bendigo Spirit at 7pm
Sunday
Sydney Flames v Adelaide at 12:30pm
Townsville Fire v Perth Lynx at 6:30pm
Where to watch: 9Now, ESPN (via Kayo, Foxtel, Disney+)
NBL
Tonight
Adelaide 36ers v Melbourne at 7:30pm
Perth Wildcats v Sydney at 9:30pm
Saturday
Cairns Taipans v Tasmania at 5:30pm
SE Melbourne v NZ Breakers at 8pm
Sunday
Melbourne United v Sydney at 2:30pm*
Brisbane Bullets v Perth at 4:30pm*
Where to watch: ESPN (via Kayo, Foxtel, Disney+), Channel 10*
Big Bash League (Men)
Who: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Time: 7:15pm on Sunday
Where to watch: Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo




