Essendon Bombers president Paul Brasher has reportedly stepped down from his position after the club’s embarrassing 84-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday evening.
After playing in finals last year, the Bombers have endured a horror season, slumping to 15th on the AFL ladder with seven wins in the opening 21 rounds.
Earlier this year, Brasher announced an internal review of the club with opinions split on whether it should have been an external review.
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Brasher told members the club was “examining every aspect of our football program”, with football director Sean Wellman overseeing the review.
“I think you’re going to see real improvement in the second half of the year,” he said at the time.
“We don’t want honorable losses. We’re happy about effort, but that is the baseline and we’re looking to improve upon that and not going to take to light about losing to good sides by narrow margins.”
But on Monday morning, several reports emerged Brasher had resigned after the Essendon directors once again pushed for an independent review at a board meeting over the weekend.
According to Herald Suncoach Ben Rutten, who is contracted for next year, is also under serious threat of losing his position, with the Essendon board preparing for a major upheaval.
Channel 7 journalist Tom Browne suggested Brasher’s resignation could prompt a last-minute play for legendary coach Alastair Clarkson, who led the Hawthorn Hawks to four premiership titles.
Essendon will reportedly hold another board meeting on Monday to determine the presidency.
Essendon recorded several unwanted milestones on Sunday, including Rutten’s biggest-ever defeat as coach, his most points granted as coach and Essendon’s second-biggest loss against the Power.
On Fox Footy’s coverage, a spectator was overheard screaming after the final siren: “This is f***ing embarrassing.”
Speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference, Rutten slammed his side’s “embarrassing effort” after fans booed players from Marvel Stadium.
“Were bitterly disappointed,” he said.
“It was the sort of game that our members and supporters who came to the game or were watching on TV… it’s not the sort of thing they should have to watch.
“It was an embarrassing effort from our guys. It’s not something we want to stand for and not something our members and supporters should have to watch at any stage.”
Kyle Sandilands has confirmed rumors he’ll be reprising his role as a judge on the returning season of Australian Idol.
The 51-year-old shock jock made the announcement on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday morning, despite getting a text from an unknown figure saying, “Don’t officially announce that you’re on it.”
The new father, who welcomed his first child Otto with fiance Tegan Kynaston last week, revealed he’s set to be the first judge attached to the show – which has been off-air for more than a decade and is finally returning to screens on Channel 7 in 2023.
And true to form, Sandilands said he only agreed to the gig if Seven bosses delivered his contract personally so he could sign the papers live on-air.
“I think this week they’re bringing the contract, I said I’ll only sign it on the radio show, so all the big head honchos have to march into the studio with the contract. I’ll sign it live on-air,” Sandilands said.
Sandilands also claimed he was heavily involved in recruitment for his three co-judges, while he ruled out Osher Gunsberg’s return as host due to his multiple Channel 10 hosting duties.
“They can’t sign on someone else unless I sign off on it… I’m not going to be doing the show with a bunch of knobs,” Sandilands said.
“I’ve got a long list of knobs I won’t work with. I’d like at least one other Australian, and I would love a big name US and a big name UK, but it all depends, everyone’s touring around … But there’s a lot of big stars interested.”
When pressed by Jackie whether any of the original judges would be returning, including Marsha Hines, Ian Dickson and Mark Holden, Sandilands said, “No, none of them.”
“I’m the only one who’s still alive, I feel the others have all passed away… I mean alive on TV,” he clarified.
Sandilands said the show would follow a similar format, which would see contestants audition around Australia before a top 12 is chosen for live shows.
As for whether he would soften his infamous brutal honesty, Sandilands said he’d be sticking to what he knows.
“I like The Voicebut I won’t be one of them wishy washedy Voice judges that say, ‘No matter how disgusting you are to look at, you’ve got a great voice.’
“I’m not interested in that sh*t. I can only be myself.”
At this point, Sandilands got a text advising him not to officially announce his role.
“Yeah, okay. Well, I haven’t signed on yet but I’ve verbally agreed,” he added.
australian idol aired for seven seasons on Channel 10 from 2003 until 2009, and made big stars of contestants including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy and Casey Donovan.
In 2020, the Seven Network announced at their annual upfronts that they would be reviving the series.
St Kilda great Leigh Montagna has implored the club to trade out some of its star senior players to bring more youth into the club in a “reset”, saying he thinks it “needs to go back to go forward.”
The Saints had their final hopes dashed after losing to Brisbane, falling to 11-10 to continue St Kilda’s drop off after a promising 5-1 start to the season.
Since Round 7 St Kilda has ranked bottom six in the ‘Core Four’ stats — with the footy (15th), without the footy, clearance and post-clearance contest (all 12th).
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“They’re in a real predicament … this is 15 rounds of football, it’s a bottom-four profile, so they have really struggled with their game,” Montagna said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.
Asked if their issues lie with personnel or system, Montagna said: “I think it’s a combination of both.”
The Saints’ finals hopes are over (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
It comes after St Kilda has aggressively recruited players via trade and free agency over the last four years, bringing Paddy Ryder (35 years old), Dan Hannebery (32), Tom Campbell (31), Brad Hill, Dean Kent, Mason Wood, Brad Crouch (all 29), Jarrod Lienert, Zak Jones (both 28), Dougal Howard (27), Dan Butler, Jack Hayes (both 26) and Jack Higgins (24) into the fold.
Looking at the age profile of those players combined with the rest of the senior core, Montgana questioned how much upside the Saints’ list has.
“This is the concern for St Kilda supporters when you think about where the improvement is going to come from in the years to come,” he said.
“How much room for improvement have they got these guys? How high is their ceiling? And that’s in conjunction with their core group of Seb Ross, Tim Membrey, Jimmy Webster, Jack Sinclair, Jack Billings, Rowan Marshall and Jack Steele, who are all 26 plus years old as well.
“There’s not a lot of ceiling room within the core group of players on top of that profile… the upside is a very small margin.”
“Heartbreak” awaits whoever finishes 6th | 02:27
Montagna did praise young guns Max King, Cooper Sharman (both 22), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (20), Marcus Windhager and Mitch Owens (both 19), who’ve joined the club over the same four-year period, but said he had “question marks” on their other youngsters.
He believes St Kilda should follow Port Adelaide’s blueprint from post 2018 and trade out their players with currency to try and bounce back quickly.
“I think they need to go back to go forward,” Montagna said.
“I think they need to trade out some of those players they’ve brought in and bring in some more young talent and reset — Brad Hill, Zak Jones and maybe Jack Billings or Jade Gresham to try and get some other young talent in.
“I look at Port Adelaide — they went through a period for five years where they were mid-table — then traded Chad Wingard, Jasper Pittard and Jared Polec when they were playing good footy — Jack Hombsch, Paddy Ryder and Dougal Howard.
“They made some change and got in those young players — Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee and Mitch Georgiades — then all of a sudden played in back-t0-back preliminary finals (in 2020 and 2021).
“I think there’s some concerns there for St Kilda, they need to have a real hard think about where their list is at moving forward.”
Australian cricketer Marcus Stoinis has sparked fury after seemingly accusing Pakistan paceman Muhammad Hasnain of having an illegal bowling action during the Southern Brave’s seven-wicket loss to the Oval Invincibles.
Stoinis top-scored for the Brave on Sunday evening, dismissed by Hasnain for 37 (27) after sharing a 55-run partnership with Captain James Vince for the second wicket.
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The 32-year-old all-rounder attempted to slap a 142km/h short delivery down the ground, instead gifting England’s Will Jacks a regulation catch at mid-off.
But as Stoinis made his way towards the pavilion, he implied the 22-year-old’s bowling action was illegitimate by miming a chucking motion – a not-so-subtle jab at his recent suspension from the sport.
In February, Hasnain was found guilty of having an illegal bowling action after a Big Bash League umpire reported him during the Sydney Thunder’s victory over the Adelaide Strikers.
Hasnain underwent biomechanics tests in late January, with the findings from the Lahore University of Management Sciences confirming his action breached the ICC’s 15-degree limit for elbow extension.
The Pakistani quick has since been declared fit to bowl again after undergoing remedial work, and Stoinis could face disciplinary action for the misdemeanour.
The Age’s Daniel Brettig tweeted: “This is poor. There’sa system in place to regulate bowling actions and it doesn’t include publicly questioning your opponent’s integrity.”
The Times’ Elizabeth Ammon posted: “Wonder if Stoinis will be in trouble for this implication.”
Stoinis is not the first Australian cricketer to accuse Hasnain of chucking; During last summer’s second Sydney Smash contest at the SCG, Sixers captain Moises Henriques yelled, “Nice throw, mate” to Hasnain after he unleashed a bouncer.
“Right from the first game he played and through to the tournament, it seemed that there was a few question marks there,” Henriques told reporters at the time.
“I didn’t have the protractor out.
“I guess from my point of view, we already knew it had been reported. I feel like the umpires are a little bit hamstrung in terms of what they can actually do on the cricket field, because they’re so worried about backlash and public opinion.
“I could definitely argue that what he was doing was not in the spirit of the game.
“And I also agree that possibly I got a little bit emotional and frustrated and I was a bit overt with my comments out in the middle. But you know, I called a spade a spade and that was my opinion.
“From afar, he seems like a good kid… hopefully he can get that action right and pass the test and hopefully he can have a long career.
“As long as he’s playing within the rules of the game that everyone else has to abide by.
“Good luck to him. It looks like he could have a long future if that all gets sorted.”
Hasnain has represented Pakistan in eight ODIs and 18 T20Is since making his international debut in 2019, taking 29 wickets at 33.68.
The Invincibles chased the 138-run target with 18 balls to spare on Sunday, thanks largely to a blistering century from Jacks – the second hundred in the competition’s short history.
The 23-year-old smacked an undefeated 108 off 48 deliveries at The Oval, clearing the boundary rope on eight occasions.
Hasnain finished with figures of 1/27 off 15 deliveries, while Invincible teammate Reece Topley claimed 3/24 to help restrict the Brave to 6/137 from their 100 balls.
Elsewhere, Australian superstar Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 43 (25) and snared a wicket in the London Spirit’s victory over the Northern Superchargers in Leeds.
The Brave will next face the Manchester Originals at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl on Friday morning AEST, with the first ball scheduled for 4pm.
Before being forced to flee Kabul as the Taliban returned to power, Maryam Nabavi was a print and radio journalist.
Her courageous reporting focused on democracy and women’s rights—particularly education for girls—in what was still a firmly patriarchal society.
Now a year on since the fall of the Afghan capital, Ms Nabavi is gradually getting used to a new, freer and more secure way of living with her son and husband in their adopted country: Australia.
However, the restrictions on the rights and freedoms imposed on women and girls in her native land continue to haunt her from thousands of kilometers away.
At the moment, she’s busy caring for her young son and learning English but she’s keen to restart her career.
She said she missed the purposefulness and excitement of her life as a reporter in Afghanistan.
“Since I came to Australia, I am not the same person anymore,” she said.
“The first days when I came here were very difficult for me. I spent days and nights crying and a deep sense of emptiness took over my whole being.”
Ms Nabavi is one of thousands of Afghans who have embarked on new lives in Australia, while grappling with the emotions of fleeing their country on the heels of the abrupt US withdrawal and the Taliban’s return to power on August 15 last year.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, 5,929 permanent humanitarian visas were granted to Afghan nationals between August 15, 2021, and the end of July this year.
However, almost 50,000 applications on behalf of more than 200,000 people have been lodged in that time and only another 31,500 places are available over the next four years.
After the crumbling of the Western-backed democracy in Afghanistan, the landlocked country witnessed a brain drain on a massive scale.
It shattered the aspirations of many young professionals like Ms Nabavi, who have been dreaming big for their country.
“All the years of studying and working hard got ruined,” she said.
“I didn’t know how to deal with these problems until I managed to see the positive side of my story with the help of a psychologist in Melbourne.”
A risky journey for the future of Victoria
Lina Safi’s first child, Victoria, was born in Melbourne while she was studying there.(Supplied)
When Lina Safi arrived in Australia from Afghanistan last year, it was a homecoming of sorts.
In 2011, she won an Australian Development Scholarship award to get a master’s degree in education.
She named her first child — who was born when she was studying in Australia — Victoria.
Back in Afghanistan, she put the qualification to use working in the Ministry of Education.
Ms Safi and her family’s journey out of Afghanistan last year was harrowing.
“Something that made us determined to survive during this risky journey was the future of Victoria,” she said.
“I am not going to describe in detail those two nights that we spent at the border [between Afghanistan and Pakistan].
“[It was] probably the worst experience of our life [and one] that we will never forget.
“Finally, we crossed the border on the morning of the third day, where a representative of the Australian embassy in Pakistan was waiting for us.”
Ever since, Ms Safi has been flourishing on personal and professional fronts, having secured a job in with a Victorian government department.
“There are many Afghans like me, with limited resources available, but skills and experience to offer, along with a determination to repay Australia for the haven that we have been provided,” she said.
Australians and visa holders were flown out of Kabul airport on an RAAF Globemaster,.(Supplied: Department of Defense)
Afghans highly educated, experienced
John Gelagin is the chief executive of Career Seekers, a non-profit organization that supports Australia’s humanitarian arrivals into professional careers.
He said recently arrived Afghans would make a major contribution to Australian society, if given the opportunity.
“The Afghan refugees that we are seeing at the moment are highly educated, with experience working in senior roles in the public sector and with international aid agencies,” Mr Gelagin told the ABC.
He added that one of the challenges for this group was the relatively small size of the Australian public sector, meaning that — in most cases — they will need to leverage their skills gained in the public sector into private sector roles.
“Although many of these people are still on their journey towards restarting their professional careers, we are seeing considerable goodwill on the part of employers in Australia towards Afghan refugees, recognizing both the circumstances they have endured and also the contribution they can make,” Mr Gelatin added.
He said that, among the recently arrived Afghans, were medical doctors, engineers, academics, IT professionals, accountants, senior team leaders and project managers.
“The caliber of their skills, knowledge and experiences has been impressive, and would be a welcome asset to Australia’s economy,” Deakin University research fellow Luke Macaulay told the ABC.
‘Australia is a land of opportunity’
Mir Ehsanullah Adeeb now works for a leading engineering firm in Australia.(Supplied)
Mir Ehsanullah Adeeb — who had an important role with Afghanistan’s Environment Protection Agency before coming to Australia — is already making a contribution to his new home.
Within months of his escape from Afghanistan, Mr Adeeb secured a post with a leading engineering firm.
“I am happy and proud to mention that I restarted my career in Australia in the sustainability team of one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the history of Victoria, which is conforming [to] my vision for my career life and giving me peace of mind while performing my job,” he said.
“Australia is a land of opportunity for everyone eager to chase their dreams and find their interest to build a bright future for the community and their own self.”
However, a year on since their departure from their home country, the dreams for a peaceful life remain paramount for this young lot of refugees now resettled in Australia.
As Ms Nabavi explained: “I always miss my country, the memories never leave my mind … my biggest wish is that the darkness will turn into light, and one day my country will be free, and there will be smiles on the lips of my compatriots again.”
The Essendon hierarchy will “rue” the decision not to pursue four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, Fox Footy’s David King has warned as the Bombers hit a new low on Sunday.
Players were booed by their own fans as they left Marvel Stadium after the 84-point loss to fellow non-finals contender Port Adelaide.
King said questions needed to be asked of the decision to implement the Ben Rutten handover from John Worsfold back in 2020.
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“For six months, if not 12 months, Alastair Clarkson has been sitting idle ready to be grabbed by a football club,” King said on First Crack.
“Why haven’t Essendon taken that step?
“Right now they lack system, they lack motivation and they lack standards as a footy club and I reckon the Essendon faithful are sick of it.
“Why are they gambling on a coach that is still developing when the absolute finished product is there?
“OK you’ve got to jump through a lot of hoops to get over the line, but if (Clarkson) signs at North Melbourne this week and Essendon could have got him with the list they’ve got right now, I think it’s a mistake they will rule for years.”
Essendon Press Conference | 03:59
Rutten remains contracted until the end of 2023, but has managed just seven wins this season.
The loss to Port Adelaide is their worst for 2022, and both the worst defeat and the most points conceded under Rutten.
King said matches late in a season showed the faith in a coach and the set up at a club when there was nothing but pride to play for.
“It’s very hard to get motivated and that’s when you find out what sort of football club you’ve got,” he said.
“That’s when you find out, can your coach continue to drive standards and continue to enforce non-negotiables?
“I’m looking at the Essendon hierarchy – are they ruthless enough from the top down?
“The 2020 Worsfold handover year, six and a half wins – Rutten was in charge of the tactical side of the game then. They won 11 games last year, they’ve won six this year.”
King showed vision from the second quarter when Bombers players were walking and allowing their opponents to get forward of the ball.
“This is Essendon in a nutshell,” King lamented.
Port Adelaide Press Conference | 03:57
“How lax is this? Have a look at them just standing around, ambling around. This is the forward 50. There’s 10 players within arms reach of this stoppage. That (game style) is going nowhere.
“I can’t understand what they look at when they review games at the moment if that is the output of a weekend.
“We can only judge the actions they put in front of us – that is not AFL standard.”
King said now was the time for “honest conversations” at the club after 2021’s surprising finals finish.
“I’m not just talking about the captain and vice-captain, I mean the whole football club,” he said.
“These guys have signed Ben Rutten – if they have to assess their own role in the football club and move on well so be it.
“When was the last time Essendon were genuinely ruthless as a football club? It was a long time ago.”
Speaking after the shocking loss, Rutten apologized to the club’s fans for the lack of effort on Sunday.
“It was the sort of game that our members and supporters who came to the game or were watching on TV… it’s not the sort of thing they should have to watch,” he said.
“It was an embarrassing effort from our guys. It’s not something we want to stand for and not something our members and supporters should have to watch at any stage.”
Popular Aussie bedding and homewares company, Koala, has laid off 30 local staff due to unstable economic conditions.
The company shot up in popularity, particularly during the 2020 and 2021 lockdown periods, due to its competitive pricing, being all online and offering four hour delivery to metro areas.
However, just like many other companies, supply chain issues, inflation and surging interest rates have all taken their toll.
A Koala spokeswoman told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that uncertain economic conditions had resulted in 30 Australian staff members being made redundant last week.
Describing the former staff as “amazingly talented”, she said the company was supporting them with an outplacement service and professional connections.
According to the company’s website, Koala has “more than 200” employees.
The company also confirmed it had consolidated its offices in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Alexandria after previously also having employees located in the CBD.
News.com.au has contacted Koala for comment.
But it isn’t just the Australian staff that have been impacted, with 10 roles also being made redundant in South Korea following an expansion to the region last year.
The spokeswoman again told the publications “economic uncertainty” was behind the move, along with the need to “reduce our start-up cost in the market”.
“For the near term, our operations in Korea continue as we explore more efficient ways to serve the market,” she said.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age also cited claims from multiple industry sources that Koala had explored the possibility of listing on the Australian stockmarket, before abandoning the plan amid the recent the recent technology downturn.
The spokeswoman for the company strongly denied these claims.
“Like any private company with proven success as a market leader in our categories and markets, we are fortunate enough to receive countless inbound introductions from potential investors,” she said.
“They see the opportunity for Koala to continue to disrupt the global furniture market.”
She did not offer specific figures, but said Koala’s margins were double those of some of its competitors, adding that the decision to offer furniture and other homewares has led to “incredible growth” in non-mattress sales.
“We will continue to invest in our operations across Australia and Asia,” the spokeswoman said.
In October 2020, Koala copped significant backlash after announcing it would cease manufacturing its mattresses domestically and make them in China instead.
Staunch supporter of Australian-made products, Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey, previously slammed Koala’s move, saying the name of the company implies the product is made domestically.
“Anyone selling imported mattresses are doing it because they can make more money,” Mr Harvey said.
“The marketing is dishonest… they are pretending they are Australian.”
The retail giant’s co-founder said overseas imports made it harder for local companies to compete in bedding and furniture.
Mr Harvey said his store predominantly sold made-in-Australia bedding, supporting local companies such as Sealy, SleepMaker and AH Beard.
When it was established in 2015, Koala marketed itself as a retailer of Australian-made furniture with a strong focus on sustainability.
However, most of its manufacturing has now moved to China and Europe, with the company deregistering itself in 2019 from using the Australian Made trademark.
“The decision to cease production of mattresses in Australia will provide significant innovation and quality improvements to help drive our continued growth across Asia-Pacific,” a company spokeswoman said at the time.
Koala said the move offshore would mean it would have greater influence in cultivating “sustainable behaviours” in its manufacturing and supply chain.
“We are always in search of the best manufacturers, suppliers, and makers around the world who meet or exceed our environmental and sustainability standards and conduct assessments to support this,” a spokeswoman said.
German racing legend Ralf Schumacher has pleaded for Alpine not to block Oscar Piastri’s path to Formula 1, arguing the team only has itself to blame for losing the prodigy driver.
Australian star Daniel Ricciardo became embroiled in F1’s mid-year silly season following reports he will be replaced by young compatriot Piastri at McLaren next year.
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The messy contract situation erupted after two-time world champion Fernando Alonso blindsided the F1 world and jumped into Sebastian Vettel’s vacated seat at Aston Martin.
Alpine then announced Piastri would replace Alonso in 2023, only for the 21-year-old Melburnian to reject the seat — a bold move for someone who is yet to drive in F1.
The Enstone team asserts that Piastri, Alpine’s reserve driver for 2022, should respect the contract, but the Victorian believes the commitment is not valid because an option clause expired.
The matter could be settled to the courtroom – Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer threatened to file a civil lawsuit to recover the millions of dollars spent on training Piastri this season.
“I expected more loyalty from Oscar than he is showing,” Szafnauer told Spanish publication The confidential.
“I started in 1989 in Formula 1 and I’ve never seen anything like this. And it’s not about Formula 1, it’s about integrity as a human being.
“For me, the way I grew up, I don’t need to sign a piece of paper and then have someone say, ‘You’re lying, because you signed this’.”
According to French publication Auto Hebdothe FIA’s Driver Contract Recognition Board has found that both Piastri’s Alpine and McLaren contracts are valid.
speaking to Sky F1 in GermanySchumacher argued Alpine’s contract woes were self-inflicted, calling on the F1 team to respect Piastri’s wishes.
“Piastri has done everything right,” he started.
“Now we can only hope that the sore loser – in this case Alpine – doesn’t put obstacles in the boy’s path. Piastri was with them, they had everything in hand, all they had to do was give him a contract.
“I’m sorry. I like Otmar, but he will be disappointed in his own performance, that he did not see it coming with Alonso and that he does not have a plan B. That’s the embarrassing thing about the whole saga.
“Accordingly, he has to blame himself. Oscar did nothing wrong. At the end of the day, Alpine could have questioned Alonso earlier and made it clear to Piastri that they would be relying on him in the future.
“He won Formula 3 in his first year, and Formula 2 as well. What should he be waiting for? I would have done the same if I had been offered a job.
“One thing was clear; Alpine wasn’t interested in putting Piastri in the car next year at the beginning because they saw that young drivers need a certain amount of time (until they arrive in Formula 1).
“They wanted to put him somewhere else for one or two years. There was an option from Alpine to (put Piastri in the cockpit), but it wasn’t taken because they didn’t expect Fernando Alonso to leave.
“When you have such a jewel, it’s criminal to let him go. If you’re then unable to get the contracts right yourself, you can’t blame the young man.
“You also have to remember one thing; Piastri’s manager Mark Webber has a very, very close relationship with McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl.”
On Friday, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem claimed the contract issue would be solved through their own means instead of in the courtroom.
“The FIA’s Driver Contract Recognition Board (CRB) was set up to deal with contract priority issues between drivers and F1 teams,” he tweeted.
“That’s why we rely on their decision to resolve any conflict.”
Meanwhile, Ricciardo is reportedly seeking a whopping $21 million payout to walk away from his contract with McLaren.
The 33-year-old is reportedly only party who can break his contract with the team, which expires at the end of 2023.
A payout would clear the way for McLaren to officially sign Piastri.
The FIA has finally broken its silence on the Oscar Piastri contract saga, confirming the ongoing dispute between McLaren and Alpine will be resolved without having to go to court.
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo became embroiled in F1’s mid-year silly season following reports he will be replaced by young compatriot Piastri at McLaren next year.
The news erupted last week after two-time world champion Fernando Alonso blindsided the F1 world and jumped into Sebastian Vettel’s vacated seat at Aston Martin.
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Alpine then announced Piastri would be the man to replace Alonso, only for the 21-year-old Melburnian to reject the seat — a bold move for someone who is yet to drive in F1.
Alpine believes that Piastri should respect the contract, but the Victorian believes the commitment is not valid.
The French team threatened to file a civil lawsuit to recover the millions of dollars in training it has spent on Piastri this season.
“Going to the High Court is over 90 per cent certain that’s what we’ll do,” Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer told Reuters.
“If the CRB (Contract Recognition Board) says, ‘Your license is only valid at Alpine’, and then he (Piastri) says, ‘That’s great, but I’m never driving for them, I’ll just sit out a year ‘, then you’ve got to go to the High Court for compensation.”
McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown and Otmar Szafnauer. Photo by Andy Hone/Pool via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
On Friday, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem claimed the issue would be solved through their own means instead of in the courtroom.
“The FIA’s Driver Contract Recognition Board (CRB) was set up to deal with contract priority issues between drivers and F1 teams,” he tweeted.
“That’s why we rely on their decision to resolve any conflict.”
According to French publication Auto Hebdothe CRB has found that both Piastri’s Alpine and McLaren contracts are valid.
The CRB, a group made up of independent lawyers, was set up to determine the legality of driver contracts and settle disputes between teams.
The body was founded in 1991 after seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher signed for Benetton despite having agreed to discuss a contract with Jordan.
Oscar Piastri of Australia. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Szafnauer also hinted at a potential collusion between Piastri’s manager Mark Webber, Alonso and his manager Flavio Briatore.
Webber and Alonso are close friends after their time in F1, while Briatore, who was a former team boss at Bennetton and Renault, has been Alonso’s long-term manager.
“Look, I have no record of it, but this is Formula 1 and maybe in a couple of years someone says that they have evidence of shared information, I would not be surprised,” Szafnauer said.
“I always tell everyone that in Formula 1 you have to act as if everyone knows everything. That there are no secrets in these things. When you ask someone not to say anything, they act like everyone knows.
“That’s how I’ve run my business in Formula 1 for 25 years. And if this (information sharing) has happened, you should not be surprised.”
Meanwhile, former F1 driver turned pundit Christian Danner said Piastri’s tactics “clearly has the handwriting” of Briatore.
Cameron Munster may soon be headed north with Wayne Bennett reportedly closing in on his marquee man.
Meanwhile, the Roosters have reportedly locked in a key forward after months of speculation surrounding his future.
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DOLPHINS NEW MARQUEE TARGET
Rugby League reporter Ben Dobbin believes Cameron Munster is set to sign a four-year deal with the Dolphins which would make him the highest paid player in the NRL.
“Munster is a Dolphin, in 2024 I think Munster is a Dolphin,” Dobbin said on Triple M.
“I think it will be a four-year deal,” Dobbin said.
“So that will be roughly around $6 million?” Gorden Tallis then asked.
“Is he worth it? Yes, can he change the fortunates of a club? Yes he can,” Dobbin said.
“Can you put tools around him and will it attract other players? Yes it will.”
While strong in his belief Bennett has his man, Dobbin revealed Bennett could make an audacious bid to lure Latrell Mitchell to Redcliff if the Munster bid fails.
The NRL supercoach mentored Latrell during 2020 and 2021, coming desperately close to a premiership last season.
“If they don’t get Cameron Munster, I’m going to throw you a smokey right now. I believe they will go after Latrell Mitchell… Wayne Bennett’s relationship with Latrell Mitchell runs deep,” Dobbin said on Triple M.
Tallis, however, believed Latrell Mitchell has his roots firmly placed at the South Sydney club, explaining he is the “happiest” he has ever been.
“It is too far away from his farm, I think for Latrell, there is a bigger picture for him,” Tallis said.
“I have never seen a guy more settled and going back to the country and doing what he is doing, that is more important to Latrell now than money.
“I think he is the happiest (he has been).”
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CRICHTON’S FUTURE SECURED
Roosters gun Angus Crichton has revealed his is set to re-sign with the Tricolours, ending speculation surrounding his immediate future.
Initially, the 26-year-old’s two-year contract extension was said to be a handshake deal with no formal contract being registered with the NRL.
Crichton himself acknowledged the speculation has been “tough” but never considered playing for any other club.
“I think we are really close to finalizing something, so hopefully in the next little bit I will sign on for the next two years,” Crichton told 9News.
“It has been tough to have that hanging over my head and to get it sorted will be a massive weight off my shoulders.
“I don’t want to play for any other team.”
Reports linked the Origin backrower to a move to the Tigers with the Roosters’ salary cap facing a big squeeze.
The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield revealed the immense cap pressure the Tricolours are under, with seven of the competition’s highest paid players on their books.
“In 2022 they have got Tedesco on $1.1m, Luke Keary on $850,000, Joseph Manu ($720k), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ($700k), Angus Crichton ($700k), Sio Siua Taukeiaho ($625k) and Victor Radley ( $510k) for a total of $5,205,000,” Rothfield said on NRL360.
With the impending arrival of Brandon Smith and an increase in salary for young gun Joseph Suaalii, Roosters bosses now have to squeeze the remaining 21 players into what is left of their salary cap.
The departure of Ronald Volkman, Freddy Lussick, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Lachlam Lam has opened cap space.
Sam Verills and Siosiua Taukeiaho are also set to leave at the season’s end, meaning the Roosters could have even more money to re-sign players for 2023 onwards.
