North Melbourne beat Brisbane: AFLW 2025 grand final – as it happened

Thanks a lot for following along as history was created in multiple ways as North Melbourne defeated Brisbane by 40 points in the AFLW grand final at Ikon Park. We’ll have more on the ruthless Roos in the coming days, but for now you can dive into the match report.North Melbourne foundation player, and a premiership player last year, Nicole Bresnehan presents the cup to Jasmine Garner. Bresnehan has missed almost all of this season due to a torn ACL but gets to play her part in the trophy lift.🏆 BACK-TO-BACK 🏆#AFLWGF pic

Mark Wood Ashes blow as England pace bowler ruled out of Gabba Test

Mark Wood is set to be ruled out of England’s next Ashes Test at the Gabba after reporting soreness in the troublesome left knee that required surgery in March and forced him to miss the entire home summer.The eight-wicket defeat suffered in Perth last week was Wood’s first competitive game since the Champions Trophy in February and his first Test outing for 14 months. That he is now struggling after sending down 11 overs in the first Test is of huge concern given the size of England’s task ahead.Though a voluntary session, that Wood was missing from England’s return to the nets at Allan Border Field on Saturday morning was notable and confirmation soon followed that he had reported soreness in the joint. The second Test, starting on Thursday, is expected to come too soon

If we are witnessing the death spiral of the cult of Bazball, let’s savour what it created | Barney Ronay

The Life Cycle of a Cult1. The Big Idea. A charismatic leader or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.So here we are then. They’re getting ready to storm the compound down in Brisbane

Looking for Lando: My crash course at the track where F1 star Norris learned to drive

Monaco, Las Vegas, Singapore. The list of pitstops on Lando Norris’ road to the top of Formula One is like a luxury travel agent’s catalogue.So when I was asked to trace the young man’s journey ahead of a weekend in which he could become the first British champion driver since Lewis Hamilton, my hopes were high.As the taxi pulled up outside the Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorchester, however, my excitement was taken down a few gears.It may seem an inauspicious place to blood the talent of those who will become some of the most glamorous, fiery competitors in sport, but here, in the shadow of an industrial estate not far from Yeovil, is where a growing number of Formula One stars are made

‘Call us rubbish’: Ben Stokes hits back at claims that England are ‘arrogant’

Ben Stokes has accepted the criticism that followed his England side’s two-day defeat in Perth as part of being in the results business but said he draws a line at the notion his players were “arrogant” in their approach.That particular word was used by former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in a strongly-worded column for the West Australian newspaper and has been a theme of the wider reaction.The majority of England players sitting out a two-day tour match in Canberra this week in favour of extra training in Brisbane only added fuel to the fire.Perceptions can only be truly changed out in the middle but the size of the task ahead of England is now considerable. This much-hyped Ashes series resumes with a day-night second Test that gets underway on Thursday at the Gabba – a ground that last witnessed an England victory back in 1986

Imran Sherwani, Great Britain Olympic hockey hero, dies aged 63

Imran Sherwani, who starred in the Great Britain hockey team that won Olympic gold in 1988, has died at the age of 63, his family have announced.Sherwani revealed in 2021 that had he been diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s in 2019, and his family continue to raise awareness of the condition. He represented Great Britain and England 94 times, culminating in scoring two goals in his team’s 3-1 final victory over West Germany in Seoul.Sherwani’s second goal, which in effect clinched the contest, sparked a famous reaction from BBC commentator Barry Davies, who asked: “Where were the Germans? But frankly, who cares!”It sparked British hockey’s greatest moment for thousands watching at dawn back home in the UK. Imran was the third Asian player to play for GB after Sutinder Kehar and Kulbir Bhaura, his 1988 teammate