Sam McClure is an award-winning AFL journalist and broadcaster.
The Australian Grand Prix’s launch event used to pull Hollywood celebs and true A-listers, but over the years it became a shadow of itself. This year it was back with a bang – and this is what it was like on the inside.
The 24-year-old was surrounded by screaming fans on Little Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday night for a sponsor’s event, but barely looked fazed.
F1 fans celebrate Oscar Piastri's arrival in Melbourne, taken by Sam McClure.
When The Age came close to publishing a profile of Victoria Golf Club, which included details of an internal dispute that ended up in the Federal Court, the club tried to bury it.
Australian Grand Prix boss Travis Auld is confident all 22 Formula 1 drivers and their teams will be in Melbourne by Wednesday for the first race of the season, despite at least one team being forced to change travel plans.
A suspension to Jai Newcombe would further test the depth of the Hawks’ midfield, already missing injured star Will Day and which lost James Worpel to Geelong in the off season.
Noah Anderson says Gold Coast are deliberately easing pressure on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as the star recruit works to rediscover his love of football — insisting enjoyment, not expectation, will determine how quickly the talented forward returns to his best.
Izak Rankine has revealed he pondered walking away from the AFL after he was thrust into the public spotlight for a homophobic remark. Plus, there was plenty more news from AFL captain’s day.
The fact that there are only 31 A-graders across the competition in 2026 says it all. The list is subjective. It’s for the players who make the difference, week-in, week-out.
The annual invitational at this course has nothing on the star power at the dinner, where the guests include a media mogul, a cricket World Cup hero, a radio and podcast supremo, and football royalty from the AFL and NRL.