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Jon RalphSports Reporter

Jon Ralph has covered sport with the Herald Sun, and now CODE Sports as well, for over two decades working primarily as a football journalist… (other fields)

@RalphyHeraldSun

Jon Ralph

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AFL News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Lewis Hayes of the Bombers reacts to an injury during the round nine AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium, on May 10, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Merrett spared as Dons confirm the worst for debutant

Zach Merrett has dodged a suspension for a swinging arm on Nick Blakey, but the Bombers have confirmed the worst for Nick Bryan. Plus, how hard will the Bombers go at the mid-season draft?

AFL

‘Like he’s played 100 games’: Insider’s view on Tiger cubs

Tom Lynch has declared he will finish his career at Richmond, content with mentoring the club’s next batch of stars instead of chasing a premiership. He tells Jon Ralph what Tiger fans have to look forward to.

Hockey

Shattered comeback star opens up on Paris Olympics coke bust

Banned Kookaburra Tom Craig is set for a return to the national team and has spoken out for the first time since his Paris Olympics drug bust, revealing that he feared his career was over.

AFL

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 08: Nick Daicos of the Magpies checks on Lachie Schultz after a collision during the round nine AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium, on May 08, 2025, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

AFL admits umpires made another error after Pie’s horror KO

Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz couldn’t get to his feet after a sickening collision on Thursday night – and the Pies have had their concerns about what happened in the aftermath validated.

AFL

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Harley Reid of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 06 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on April 20, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Eagles’ optimism grows that Reid will resist Vic mega offers

As it prepares to ask the AFL for a priority pick, West Coast’s optimism is growing that Harley Reid will resist a return to Victoria and ink a contract extension.

AnalysisAFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: Todd Goldstein of the Bombers and Tom De Koning of the Blues compete in the ruck during the round 13 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 09, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

Fixture whispers: Big Vic club’s tough break, the TV rights effect

Will the AFL break their promise on five-day breaks to a Victorian club? See all the fixture news, big winners, the matches set for prime time and more here.

AFL News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 08: Mitch Owens and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera of the Saints embrace after the round four AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium, on April 08, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Home of the Saints: NWM’s call, the chef and the slacker

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s future is the talk of Moorabbin as he helps spearhead St Kilda’s next era. But what’s life like inside the home of the rising star? Mitch Owens lifts the lid on the dynamic.

EXCLUSIVEAFL

Premier Peter Malinauskas & AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon announce dates for 2025 AFL Gather Round. 2 July 2024. Picture: Dean Martin

SA premier emerges as ‘secret salesman’ in Tassie’s stadium fight

The battle in Tasmania for a new stadium to pair with the AFL’s 19th team has taken a fresh twist, with an unlikely ally emerging in the continuing pitch for the Devils’ Macquarie Point stadium.

AFL News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Cooper Keogh of the Coburg Lions in action during the 2024 AFL Academy match between the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys and Coburg Lions at Ikon Park on April 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Cruel injury blow confirmed for Dons’ mid-season fancy

One of the leading contenders to fill the ruck void on Essendon’s list will miss the rest of the season after a cruelly-timed injury in the VFL.

AFL

NCA. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. 28th March, 2025 . AFL. Round 3. Carlton vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Two thumbs up from Luke Beveridge , Senior Coach of the Bulldogs after tonights win over Carlton . Picture: Michael Klein

Bevo dials up the pressure as coaching ‘uncertainty’ lingers on

Luke Beveridge’s future remains up in the air, and the premiership coach has dialled up the pressure on the bosses at the club as the Bulldogs continue to fly on the field.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/jon-ralph/page/9