The Match Review Officer has completed their review of Sunday’s game against Brisbane, with Marlion Pickett and Trent Cotchin offered financial sanctions.
Charges laid:
Marlion PickettRichmond, has been charged with Engaging in Rough Conduct against Rhys Mathieson, Brisbane Lions, during the third quarter of the Round 20 match between Richmond and the Brisbane Lions played at the MCG on Sunday 31 July, 2022.
In summary, the player can accept a $3000 sanction with an early plea.
Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Careless Conduct, Low Impact, High Contact. The incident was classified as a $5000 sanction as a second offense. The player can accept a $3000 sanction with an early plea.
Trent CotchinRichmond, has been charged with Misconduct against Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions, during the first quarter of the Round 20 match between Richmond and the Brisbane Lions played at the MCG on Sunday 31 July, 2022.
In summary, the player can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.
Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Misconduct. The incident was classified as a $1500 sanction as a first offense. The player can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.
Incident explained:
The Match Review Officer has reviewed the events leading up to Zac Bailey’s injury. The Vision from match was inconclusive. The AFL has interviewed Bailey and found that Bailey was unsure if injury was sustained in bump or subsequent contact from Marlion Pickett. No sanction applied.
Ange Postecoglou called for a more “decisive” Celtic after the Hoops opened their Scottish Premiership title defense with a 2-0 home win against Aberdeen.
In front of 60,000 fans at Parkhead, Celtic made the perfect start when defender Stephen Welsh scored in just the third minute.
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However it took until the 75th minute for the Hoops to seal their win via a brilliant goal from Portuguese attacker Jota.
Former Socceroos coach Postecoglou – embarking on his second season in charge of the Glasgow giants and now having a coaching staff that includes Australian great Harry Kewell – wasn’t entirely satisfied with his side’s performance despite the victory.
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Ange Postecoglou applauds the fans after Celtic’s win. Picture: Steve Welsh/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Postecoglou was especially frustrated with Jota’s lack of cutting edge in the first half.
“There is no doubt the boy has talent and he is determined to be the best footballer he can be,” Postecoglou told Clyde Radio.
“But, he was one of the main culprits in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
“He was wasteful with the ball and he gave away possession when he didn’t have to. These are the kind of things we have to avoid.
“We have to keep these guys on track and not let them get away from the things we want them to do.
“The good thing is he addressed it at halftime and in the second half, not just his goal but his general play was really good.”
It wasn’t just Jota that was wasteful in front of goal, but the entire team too.
“It was a solid performance but we were just wasteful in front of goal,” Postecoglou said.
“I was disappointed because I thought we could have been a lot more clinical.
“Sometimes you can fall into the trap of knowing we will create loads of opportunities and because of that you are not as focused as you should be.
“My view is we are creating opportunities so let’s take as many as we can. “
Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy, who joined Celtic less than two weeks ago, was among the substitutes and entered the contest in the final 10 minutes as a replacement for Matt O’Riley.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien has reportedly conceded the club’s 2022 campaign is over — putting a timeline on his own tenure as the man to lead Newcastle forward.
The Knights have struggled this season, recording only five wins from 19 games, with pressure mounting on the men from the Hunter to turn their fortunes around.
O’Brien’s future as the club’s head coach has been firmly thrust into the spotlight, and now the 44-year-old has admitted he may have “six to eight weeks” at the start of the 2023 season to save his job.
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“I spoke to Adam O’Brien this morning, he asked me ‘how are the punters seeing it from outside’,” The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield said on NRL360.
“I said I think everyone is happy that you are safe for the rest of the year, I then said I think you have six to eight weeks at the start of next year.
“I have agreed, 100% I have agreed.”
But NRL360 co-host Paul Kent disagreed, questioning why the club would take a gamble on a coach that has failed to meet expectations in 2022.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have signed Peter Parr as the director of football, handing over control of the Knights’ football operations.
How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22
Kent believes that Parr won’t be willing to gamble at the start of next season as beginning each year strong is crucial to slotting into the top eight.
“If that is the case, I would now shorten that, Peter Parr has now come into the club, why would Newcastle take a gamble on the start of next year?” Kent asked.
“If you gamble the first six to eight weeks next year, after that it is all over.”
“What he is saying is this season is over, what he is saying is that the patience and the loyalty that he expects from the board will go for six to eight weeks next year,” Rothfield said.
NRL360 host Braith Anasta likened O’Brien’s situation to that of embattled Titans coach Justin Holbrook — who is also facing the ax after a tumultuous 2022 campaign.
Both made the decision to dump experienced halfbacks in Mitchell Pearce and Jamal Fogarty, and both are paying the price.
“The start of next year is just everything for both coaches,” Anasta said.
“The six weeks to start next year is going to be everything.”
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“The halfback, Mitchell Pearce going, he took them to finals two years in a row and he walked,” Rothfield added.
Meanwhile, O’Brien came under fire for referencing his resume as an assistant after the club’s poor performance against the Bulldogs.
O’Brien worked under Craig Bellamy during a successful period for the Melbourne Storm, explaining he knows how to win premierships.
“Previous to getting this job here I was involved in four grand finals,” O’Brien said.
“I know how those teams prepared. I know the systems they used defensively.
“You don’t unlearn that knowledge. Applying it and getting it ingrained is clearly going to take some time.”
Kent slammed O’Brien’s claims, explaining there is a major difference between watching someone else teach a system and implementing it in your own team.
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Inside Klemmer’s failed move to the Eels | 02:08
“If Adam O’Brien had his chance again he would have shut up and said nothing,” Kent said.
“And what he said there is irrelevant because it doesn’t matter if you have seen it… you have got to start being the head coach and making decisions.
“There is a big difference between being the assistant and the head coach, to know what it looks like doesn’t mean you can teach it.
“Everyone just looks at what everyone is doing, okay we will start coaching that.
“We spoke about it earlier in the year when Trent Barrett was trying to integrate Penrith’s style of attack into Canterbury.
“They are two different playing groups and sometimes you can’t just sit down and teach a fifth grader four-unit maths, you need to take the stepping stones to get there.”
Death, taxes and Dean Boxall providing box office reactions when Ariarne Titmus is in the pool.
The legendary coach endeared himself to the Australian public during the Tokyo Olympics last year when Titmus took home the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle.
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The best ever – McKeon wins 11th Gold | 00:24
As Titmus raced home and touched the wall first, Boxall channeled his inner ‘Ultimate Warrior’ from WWE and frightened a poor Tokyo official who had no idea what to do to keep Boxall in check.
And Boxall was back at it again at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, albeit nowhere near as wild as the Tokyo celebrations.
Boxall was watching the Australian’s women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay in which Titmus was competing alongside Madi Wilson, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kiah Melverton as Emma McKeon did not take part in the event.
MORE COVERAGE
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history
Medal Tally: Aussie gold rush continues as Women’s 7s erase Tokyo pain
‘Oh my goodness’: World record holder’s ‘shock’ result in ‘unbelievable’ boilover
Hang it in The Louvre. Picture: Channel 7Source: Channel 7There’s nothing quite like a Dean Boxall embrace. Picture: Channel 7Source: Channel 7
With Titmus winning the gold medal in the 200m individual freestyle event, the Aussies were always set to be a red-hot favorite going into the event.
Unsurprisingly, the girls in gold swimming caps delivered in spades as they set a time of 7:39:29, 12 seconds ahead of second-placed Canada while host nation England took home the bronze medal.
It was Titmus’ anchor split in particular that had Boxall going bonkers.
Titmus clocked 1:52:82 in a blistering spell that is also the fastest 200m freestyle relay split of all time.
It also helped Australia set a new world record for the event to truly assert their dominance.
Boxall, along with several others on social media, were left with their mouth agape at what had transpired.
Tabraiz Shamsi’s maiden five-wicket Twenty20 international haul sealed South Africa’s 90-run thrashing of England on Sunday as the Proteas completed a 2-1 series win.
The 32-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner took 5-24 as England, set 192 for victory, collapsed to 101 all out with 20 balls to spare at Southampton after losing their last eight wickets for 49 runs.
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Earlier, in-form South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks hit 70 — his third fifty of the series — and Aiden Markram made an unbeaten 51 as the Proteas posted a competitive 191-5.
Recalled left-arm quick David Willey took 3-25.
Shamsi’s haul was all the more impressive given his expensive return of 0-49 in England’s series-opening win in Bristol.
But South Africa have been much improved in the field since that 41-run defeat and this win gave them a first T20 series success in England, as well as their first white-ball bilateral series victory in the country since 1998.
By contrast, defeat left England still searching for a first series win under new white-ball captain Jos Buttler following one-day international and T20 reverses against India and a drawn ODI campaign with the Proteas.
Moeen SMACKS fastest 50 ever for England | 01:46
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Jonny Bairstow (27) was the only England batsman to make more than 20, but Buttler and white-ball coach Matthew Mott do have at least seven matches at this level scheduled in Pakistan in September in which to turn things around before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
England’s chase suffered an early setback when Buttler was out for 14, caught at short third man off spinner Keshav Maharaj.
The out-of-form Jason Roy fell for 17, caught behind off Anrich Nortje — in after South Africa decided against risking fellow fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s injured ankle ahead of next month’s three-Test series in England.
And when Moeen Ali was brilliantly caught one-handed by a leaping Tristan Stubbs off part-time spinner Markram, the hosts were 59-4.
Shamsi then cleaned up Liam Livingstone before taking two wickets in two balls, with Sam Curran caught in the deep before Willey was clean bowled.
Jos Buttler is still yet to win a white-ball series as England skipper. (Photo by Steve Bardens / AFP)Source: AFP
Chris Jordan survived the hat-trick only to be lbw to Shamsi. Adil Rashid holed out off Shamsi before Maharaj ended the match when he dismissed Bairstow with the aid of a catch by David Miller — a memorable way for the South Africa captain to finish his 100th T20 international.
England’s decision to recall Willey in place of Richard Gleeson reaped an early reward when he had potential danger man Quinton de Kock chopping onto his stumps for a three-ball duck.
But South Africa recovered, with the Proteas 53-1 at the end of the powerplay. Hendricks completed a 42-ball fifty and he then upped the tempo with three boundaries in a 16th over bowled by Curran.
He was eventually well caught by wicketkeeper Buttler off the expensive Jordan (1-52).
But Markram, back in South Africa’s T20 team for the first time since last year’s World Cup, having first provided solid support, went on to a 36-ball fifty before Miller chipped in with a quickfire 22.
LIVE: Emma McKeon has cruised into another final as the Australian swim sensation continues her assault on the history books on Day Four of the Commonwealth Games.
On Day 3, McKeon broke the Commonwealth Games record with a stunning 11th career gold medal, and her meet isn’t finished yet with more medals still up for grabs.
In the swim finals scheduled for Tuesday morning (AEST), McKeon heads a raft of Australians including Kyle Chalmers, who withdrew from one event to prioritize the massive 100m freestyle final.
Follow all the action from Day Four at the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below! See the full schedule at the bottom.
Medal Tally: Aussie gold rush continues as Women’s 7s erase Tokyo pain
McKeon was back in the pool – and is now back in another ending.Source: Getty Images
McKeon once again hit the pool on Day Four in the women’s 100m freestyle heats, with fellow Aussies Shayna Jack and Mollie O’Callaghan also successfully qualifying for the semi-finals.
O’Callaghan qualified first in 54.28s, ahead of Jackthird in a comfortable 54.28s.
“I was definitely trying to hold back,” Jack said after her race.
McKeon only managed third-fastest in her heat and sixth-fastest overall as she cruised to the finish in 55.36s.
The 28-year-old won the same event at the Tokyo Games last year and is a massive chance of doing the same in Birmingham.
Read more on the rest of the swimming results below, or skip to the morning finals’ schedule at bottom.
ALL-TIME COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
Australia’s men’s triples lawn bowls team came within an inch of pulling off one of the all-time great comebacks only to fall just short in a gold medal heartbreak.
Barry Lester, Carl Healey and Ben Twist – all sporting brilliant gold-dyed haircuts – were down by as many as 12-1 to England’s team of Louis Ridout, Nick Brett and Jamie Chestney.
But the Aussies charged back into the fight as the home side began to fall apart, with Australia snagging four in the 12th end en route to tying the scores up at 12 apiece.
England didn’t score from the ninth end until the 16th, but claimed a single on that second-last leg and then did the same on the last leg – after Australia missed a host of chances at the death.
DIAMONDS DEMOLISH SA… BUT COP BIG BLOW
In easily their toughest test of the Commonwealth Games so far, the gold-medal-favorite Diamonds went up a gear to defeat South Africa 74-49.
From the start, the Diamonds were in fine form, shooting with outstanding accuracy and harrying the South Africans all over the court with exceptional pressure.
Australia is undefeated after three Pool A games. They play Wales tomorrow before a huge match with more-than-dark-horses Jamaica.
But a calf injury to Paige Hadley, who had played just 15 minutes in the second game after missing the opener, looms as a potentially defining moment in their campaign.
FULL STORY.
Diamonds’ dream run soured as star sidelined with calf injury
Kyle Bruce nearly claimed an incredible gold medal with this lift.Source: Channel 7
AUSSIE ROBBED IN WILD HEARTBREAK
Kyle Bruce has been controversially robbed of a gold medal in the men’s 81kg weightlifting after a heartbreaking judges’ decision.
23-year-old Bruce was a gifted rugby flanker who only entered the gym to improve his ability on the field, before swapping to weightlifting full time and going on to claim a silver medal four years ago.
This time around, I have finished second in the snatch portion of the competition by lifting 143kg before twice failing to lift 147kg.
He successfully lifted 180kg in the clean-and-jerk portion for a stunning total of 323kg which had him in a second. Then, with the gold medal on the line, he attempted to lift 183kg on his final attempt.
He struggled with the lift and was wobbling, but was initially given three green lights from the judges to indicate a successful lift… only to have it overturned almost immediately afterwards by the jury, who spotted a small movement of Bruce’s left elbow.
That relegated him to a silver medal, behind England’s Chris Murray in a Games Record 325kg total.
He said: “It got overruled for a press-out. I haven’t seen the video so I’m not sure. But sometimes this is how sport goes and you know, congratulations to Chris on winning it
“He was the good lifter on the day and I just got a bit unlucky there, but it is what it is, I’m humble in defeat and I’m happy.”
He adds: “Coming away with a silver, not gonna lie, is quite disappointing… I’ll be ready for 2026. I’ll come back and I’ll have some redemption.”
FULL STORY: ‘Devastated’ Aussie in tears after gold ‘stolen away’
Meanwhile, Sarah Maureen Cochrane competes in the women’s 64kg final at 11pm AEST.
Resilient Chalmers sets Games record | 00:27
CHALMERS WITHDRAWS AS AUSSIES SURGE INTO MORE FINALS
Kyle Chalmer has withdrawn from the 100m butterfly so that he can focus on his 100m freestyle final in the evening session.
His scintillating semi-final swim last night (local) has him the firm favorite to claim gold in his favored event, and it’s no surprise he’s going all-in.
Teammate Cody Simpson qualified fifth for the semi-finals in 52.47s, just behind fourth-placed Matt Temple, the Australian record holder touching in 52.28s.
“It’s a great heat swim for him,” Ian Thorpe declared on Channel 7 of Temple.
Simpson has already won a gold medal for his involvement in the first heat of the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay, although he did not swim in the final.
FULL STORY: Legends not surprised as Chalmers pulls out of event at last minute
Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers won his 100m freestyle semi final. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown qualified fastest for the 200m backstroke final (2:10.95s), with fellow Aussie minna atherton also making it through in third (2:11.38s)
McKeown won the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the recent 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
She also reached the final of the women’s 200m individual medley, qualifying behind Abbey Harkin in equal fourth with 2:13.24 and Ella Ramsay in km in 2:14.03. McKeown was seventh in 2:14.23s.
All three Aussies also qualified for the Women’s 100m Breaststroke semi-finals: Chelsea Hodge fourth in 1:07.68, Jenna Strauch fifth in 1:07.80, and Abbey Harkin sixth in 1:07.85.
debutante Grayson Bell qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 50m breastroke in fifth after winning his heat in a personal best 27.63s. Sam Williamson won his own heat in 27.20s to qualify third-fastest. Joshua Young also qualified with his 27.96s.
Recent world championships silver medalist Lani Pallister qualified first for the final of the women’s 800m freestyle with a strong 8:32.67s. Ariarne Titmus qualified second-fastest with a very measured 8:36.17. Kiah Melverton was fourth-fastest in 8:40.29. Could we see another podium sweep?
MORE COVERAGE
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history
‘It is shocking’: Thorpe stunned as England world record holder toppled in ‘unbelievable’ boilover
AUSSIES SET TO RACK UP LAWN BOWLS MEDALS
Australia’s day has started in sensational style in the Lawn Bowls, with three teams all winning their semi-finals.
Carl HealeyBarrie Lester and Ben Twist are into the men’s treble final (9pm AEST) after beating Fiji 26 – 13. They will face England, who beat Wales 15-5 in the other semi-final.
Damian Delgado and Chris Favel are into the men’s pairs B6-B8 final after beating England 17-4.
And serena bonell and Cheryl Lindfield are into the women’s pairs B6-B8 final after seeing off South Africa 19-12 in their own semi. Both Para Pairs B6-B8 Finals take place on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Aussie Ellen Ryan competes in the finals of the women’s singles at 1.30am AEST on Tuesday.
Ellen Ryan of Team Australia is into the women’s singles final.Source: Getty Images
SIX-TIME COMPETITOR LEADS AUSSIE BRONZE
Australia’s six-time Commonwealth Games competitor Jian Fang Lay has led the Aussie team to bronze in the women’s table tennis.
She won the opening doubles with yangzi liu, who won her own singles game before Jian Fang Lay sealed the 3-0 over Wales with a singles victory of her own.
Jian Fang Lay now has eight minor medals to her name.
minhyung jee was the other member of the team.
Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!Source: Getty Images
KEY OVERNIGHT EVENTS
SWIMMING
In the morning session (4am AEST Tuesday), medals are on offer in the:
– men’s 100m freestyle final (Kyle ChalmerWilliam Xu Yang, Zac Incerti)
– women’s 200m backstroke final (Kaylee McKeown, Minna Atherton)
– women’s 200m individual medley final (Kaylee McKeown, Abbey Harkin, Ella Ramsay)
– men’s 50m freestyle S7 final (Matthew Levy, Joel Mundie)
– women’s 100m breastroke SB6 final (Isabella Vincent, Ella Jones)
– men’s 50m backstroke final (Ben Armbruster, Andrew Jeffcoat, Bradley Woodward)
– women’s 50m butterfly final (Alex Perkins, Emma McKeon, Holly Barratt)
– men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final (Australian team)
HOCKEY: The Kookaburras play their second game of the Games – facing NZ at 6am AEST.
JUDO: Aussie judoka Joshua Katz (60kg) and brother Nathan (66kg) are both competing for bronze medals overnight.
DAY FOUR SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEST)
Lawn Bowls and Para Lawns Bowls, 5.30pm
Hockey, 6:00 p.m.
Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, 6.30pm
Weightlifting, 6.30pm
Judo, 7.00pm
Swimming and Para Swimming, 7.30pm
Badminton, 8:00 p.m.
Boxing, 9:00 p.m.
Netball, 9:00 p.m.
Squash, 9.00pm
Artistic Gymnastics, 10.00pm
Track and Para Track Cycling, 11.00pm
Hockey, 11:00 p.m.
Weightlifting, 11.00pm
Beach Volleyball, 11.30pm
Boxing, 3:30 a.m.
Weightlifting, 3.30am
Hockey, 4:00 a.m.
Swimming and Para Swimming, 4.00am
Beach Volleyball, 4.00am
Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3, 4.30am
Follow all the action from Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below!
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien has come under fire for his comments in a press conference after the Knights slumped to yet another loss.
The Bulldogs defeated O’Brien’s troops 24-10 on Sunday — their 14th loss of the season, which leaves them in 14th place.
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The year started on a bright note for Newcastle, who won their first two games, but it’s been downhill ever since and O’Brien knows the club faces a long road to get back anywhere near the top.
The 44-year-old was an assistant coach at Melbourne and the Roosters when they made it to grand finals, but he’s not enjoying the same success with the Knights.
“It is a hard one for me as well,” O’Brien said in his post-match press conference. “Previous to getting this job here I was involved in four grand finals.
“I know how those teams prepared. I know the systems they used defensively.
“You don’t unlearn that knowledge. Applying it and getting it ingrained is going to take some time clearly.
“Week to week we can talk about one area of that defense and we can fix it in seven days, but then we will let another area of our defense down.
“It is going to take a bit of time and I know some people don’t want to wait that long, but it is.
“I have seen how the teams prepare in those four grand finals. How the players performed. How the club prepares. How it performs.
“I have seen all that stuff and I haven’t unlearnt that, but it is going to take some time.”
Referencing his own exploits as an assistant coach didn’t go down well with everyone, as some footy pundits called O’Brien out.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield addressed the presser on radio on Monday morning.
Rothfield suggested if results don’t improve by a third of the way through next season, O’Brien’s job could be in jeopardy.
“He said after the game, ‘Well I’ve been to four grand finals’. That was as an assistant coach. He’s basically saying ‘I’m not the problem’,” Rothfield told the Big Sports Breakfast.
“When you’re a team, I think it’s one in, all in. You don’t start playing blame games like that. I just thought it was a silly thing to say and they’ve been terrible in recent weeks.
“Adam O’Brien was talking himself up yesterday … just because you’ve come out of a good system, doesn’t guarantee you’ve got what it takes and some guys are good assistant coaches and some guys are good head coaches.
“I hope they do give him a bit more time, the rest of this season and a rebuild alongside (incoming director of football) Peter Parr but geez, to let guys like (Zac) Hosking and (Jacob) Kiraz go, who weren’ t even on $100,000, they’ve really got to sort the pathways out.”
Rugby league reporter Tony Adams tweeted of O’Brien: “Now he’s throwing his own players under the bus – ‘It’s not me, it’s them’.”
Newcastle is likely to be without superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga for the rest of the season because of his latest concussion, and the heat is on the rest of the Knights players to show some fight as the 2022 season winds down, even though they are out of final contention.
“We have got the right people in the job. We just need to have a plan and we need to coach the hell out of it and hopefully we look back at this season as a year that helped us grow,” O’Brien said.
“Had we scraped into the finals this year it would have stuck a bandaid on a problem that is still there.
“We need to stick tight and work our way out of it.”
Theo Pourchaire has breathed life back into his fight to be crowned the 2022 Formula 2 Champion by claiming an impressive win in the Budapest Feature Race.
Tire degradation proved to be strain on the whole field, as neither compound seemed to last as long as the drivers needed it to, but the ART Grand Prix driver made his mediums survive to the finish.
Gambling on the overcut, Enzo Fittipaldi’s risk was rewarded with his second podium of the weekend, as pole-sitter Ayumu Iwasa went on the recovery to claim third after losing out off the line.
F2: Jack Doohan wins Budapest Sprint Race in style
Commanding all the attention in the final nine laps, Frederik Vesti was on fire as he used the alternative strategy to breeze his way up from P9 post-stop to P4 at the checkered flag, despite the Mercedes junior receiving a five-second time penalty early on.
Running the same strategy as the ART rookie, Juri Vips got the better of Hitech Grand Prix team mate Marcus Armstrong for fifth. The New Zealander had been in the fight for the win initially, with a blistering start promoting him to the lead before dropping off the leading pack after his pit stop.
Liam Lawson managed to cut ahead of Richard Verschoor for seventh. Fortunately for Championship leader Felipe Drugovich, he didn’t end the race empty-handed. The MP Motorsport man clung on to two points in ninth ahead of title rival Logan Sargeant. The Williams junior was one of the drivers to endure the painful opening laps on medium tires, with low temperatures and a lack of grip initially sending the American plummeting down the order.
READ MORE: Verstappen recovers from P10 to take Hungarian GP win as Mercedes secure double podium
With four rounds to go, the fight for the title is far from over. Pourchaire’s victory has reignited his campaign, slicing Drugovich’s advantage to 21 points heading into the summer break. Sargeant remains in P3, 40 points behind the Sauber junior, while Fittipaldi’s run of form promotes him up to fourth.
ART Grand Prix extend their hold on the Teams’ Championship on 250 points. Carlin move up into second by a single point, as MP Motorsport slump down to third on 206.
For more on F2, visit the official series website.
Formula 2 Highlights: 2022 Hungarian GP Feature Race
A lawyer for two brothers accused of being hired “muscle” in the alleged kidnapping of Stuart MacGill has told a court that the cricketing great was a regular cocaine user and “actively” involved in a drug deal central to the case.
Richard and Frederick Schaaf are awaiting trial over the alleged abduction of Mr MacGill from outside his home on Sydney’s lower north shore last year.
The pair on Monday appeared before the Supreme Court in an effort to be danced while they fight the charges.
Their barrister attacked Mr MacGill’s credibility, arguing that he went willingly with a group of men to an abandoned house in southwestern Sydney and said there was no physical evidence that he had been brutally assaulted.
Stuart MacGill has alleged he was abducted from outside his Cremorne home. Picture: Adam Yip/Daily TelegraphSource: News Corp Australia
The pair have pleaded not guilty to charges of take/detain in company with attempt to obtain advantage, with the matter expected to go to trial mid next year.
They were arrested along with four other men, including Mr MacGill’s de facto brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos, after the former Test spinner alleged that he was taken to a Bringelly property.
He has claimed that he was threatened with a gun, assaulted and demands were made for money over a drug deal gone wrong.
The court was told on Monday that Mr MacGill allegedly introduced Mr Sotiropoulos – the brother of his partner Maria O’Meagher – to a cocaine dealer.
Mr Sotiropoulos has since been charged with a supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and will stand trial alongside the Schaaf brothers.
Mr MacGill alleges that a group of men forced him into a car outside his home and confronted him after the drug deal ended in a “rip off”.
The two men watched from Bathurst Correctional Center on Monday as their barrister Avni Djemal argued they should be released on bail ahead of a trial next year.
Mr Djemal said there was evidence that Mr MacGill had willingly participated in a meeting at the Bringelly house and agreed to look at photos in a bid to identify the drug dealer.
Mr Djemal said Mr MacGill was released at Belmore and allowed to get into a cab.
Richard Schaaf has appeared before the Supreme Court in a bid to be released on bail. Pictures: Facebook.Source: SuppliedFrederick Schaaf has pleaded not guilty to allegedly kidnapping Stuart MacGill. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
“The evidence implies Mr MacGill to a high level. I’m surprised he’s not charged with the actual drug transaction that he says, in his evidence, ‘I had nothing more to do with it, I just introduced the brother-in-law, Mr Sotiropoulos, to a person who I knew used to sell drugs’,” Mr Djemal said.
“The gentleman, now a registered source, he says that this gentleman, MacGill, was an avid user of cocaine and said to be on it all the time or drunk or desperate for money.”
Mr Djemal further told the court that Mr MacGill had an “active” role in negotiating the weight of the drugs involved in the deal to the point that the dealer had offered him a gift because he “put this deal together”.
The Bringelly property where Mr MacGill was allegedly held captive. Source: 7 NEWSSource: Supplied
He further said there was no evidence to support Mr MacGill’s assertions that he had been punched to the front and back of his head, knocked to the ground and suffered a concussion.
Mr Djemal said the only evidence of any injuries was Ms O’Meagher saying she felt a lump on Mr MacGill’s head.
“He doesn’t have one physical injury after those events,” Mr Djemal said.
“If the hits to the front of your face have produced no lumps and you say the onslaught was to the front, the side, knocked you to the ground, how could that be?
“How could his word be that there was a kidnapping? What if he went, saw photos and got brought back?”
Mr Djemal argued that Frederick Schaaf should be released so he could undergo dental treatment because he was at risk of losing his teeth.
The hearing before Justice Richard Button continues.
“No medical evidence had confirmed his claim that he had lumps at the back of his head,” he said.
According to his police statement when the men let him go “the big fella” said he should wear sunglasses, in effect, to make out as if he was injured, Djemal submitted.
“If you’ve been punched, why the façade?”
MacGill, 51, told police he was forced into a car at Cremorne on Sydney’s north shore and taken to Bringelly, south of Sydney.
Three assailants then allegedly tried to extort money from MacGill before dropping him about 45 minutes’ away in Belmore about an hour later.
He could not identify the men who kidnapped him but said they spoke Tongan.
He waited for a week to report the incident to the police, saying he was so frightened by the experience and had been threatened with a gun.
The Crown on Monday submitted that Frederick Schaaf had two phones, one located inside the car allegedly used in the kidnapping.
But Djemal said his other covert Cipher phone was nowhere near the car, and argued his other overt phone was left inside the car while it was borrowed.
Djemal submitted the car was slow to cousin Elijah Schaaf who then used it for the kidnapping without Frederick’s knowledge, helped by Vaeluagaomatagy Felio.
Justice Richard Button has reserved his decision on the bail applications.
AAP
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