Our Journalists

Ben HigginsSports Journalist

Leader Sport, Herald Sun and CODE Sports reporter covering community sport in the northern and north-west suburbs of Melbourne.

@ben_higgins84

Ben Higgins

Latest

Local Sport

Kristian Trajceski of Avondale competes for the ball during the round 22 NPL VIC Mens match between Heidelberg United and Avondale at John Cain Memorial Park in Thornbury, Victoria on July 15, 2023. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Brilliant Bergers, Gully wonder goal condemns South

TALKING POINTS: Heidelberg United brought Avondale crashing down, Paul Hodges condemns South Melbourne and Luka Kolic’s Goal of the Year contender.

Northern

Mitch Robinson flipping the bird to the crowd against Macleod.

Ex-AFL star’s big punishment for flipping the bird

Former Carlton and Brisbane star Mitch Robinson has copped a big whack after appealing a local footy suspension for flipping the bird to the crowd. See the incident.

Aussie Rules Live Stream

Geelong Falcons Coates TL live stream art.

Replays: Lions, Falcons face off in Coates Talent League

Venturing north to take on the Brisbane Lions Academy is always challenging. See how the Geelong Falcons fared in their Coates Talent League boys and girls double-header. Full REPLAYS.

Northern

HurstbridgeÃs Mitchell Moschetti and MacleodÃs Kurt Manuel during the NFNL Macleod v Hurstbridge football match in Rosanna, Saturday, June 17, 2023. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Manuel powers Macleod comeback blitz

Kurt Manuel was on fire as Macleod stormed home to knock off St Mary’s – and old premiership Kanga Jack Bianchin – to cement itself as one of the competition’s top teams.

Riddell

RDFL Diggers Rest v Macedon. Tom Hildebrand Macedon marks in front of Deven Costigan Diggers Rest. Picture: Aaron Cook

‘Lost opportunity’ in heart-stopping Anzac Day draw

Macedon will rue several missed gilt-edged opportunities as it salvaged a draw with Diggers Rest on Anzac Day, while a courageous Burra was awarded the Grumont Medal.

Northern

KinglakeÃs Bailey Robinson during the NFNL Old Eltham Collegians v Kinglake football match in Research, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Picture: Andy Brownbill

‘We’re not also-rans’: Kinglake’s statement upset

Kinglake sent a timely reminder to its NFNL Division 3 rivals with a stunning upset of a Brent Macaffer-less Epping at Epping on Saturday.

Local Footy

AFL Barwon footy and Netball. Geelong West v St Albans at Geelong West. Geelong West's Thomas Handley celebrates goal. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Local footy wrap: Flag contenders emerge amid surprise results

Teams announced themselves as genuine flag contenders, while others stumbled. There was a 17-goal quarter, career firsts and young guns firing — it’s all in our sweeping local footy wrap.

Northern