Our Journalists

Josh Barnes is an AFL and sport reporter with News Sport and CODE Sports, who has previously worked as the Geelong Advertiser’s Chief Footy Writer and with Leader Newspapers.

@Josh__Barnes

Josh Barnes

Latest

Police & Courts

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Noah Balta of the Tigers celebrates kicking a goal during the round 16 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 30, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Fate of Tigers star unclear amid assault charges

Questions remain over whether Tigers star Noah Balta will return to pre-season training after he was slapped with assault charges over a late-night incident at Mulwala.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Darcy Wilson of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round 23 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium, on August 17, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

‘90 per cent mental’: Why second-year blues don’t worry young gun

Young Saints star Darcy Wilson played every single game in his first season, and now it is mental not physical preparation he is focusing on to avoid the second-year blues.

Essendon

The young Bomber tipped for 2025 breakout

Essendon fans will be crying out for more output from this young forward next season, and he might just deliver. See our season preview for the Bombers here.

Essendon

Ex-Don backs injury-hit Bomber to shine in 2025 and beyond

The Bombers have been searching for more key back support for Ben McKay and Jordan Ridley. One Essendon great says an injury-plagued high draft pick will be the man to chip in.

AFL

Group picture of the team. Picture: Kabaddi Melbourne Raiders/Instagra,

‘Competitive buggers’: AFL greats align for India’s top contact sport

Dyson Heppell thought he was about to have a relaxing summer after retirement, that was until Campbell Brown came calling. Now, he and a host of AFL greats are set to play India’s top contact sport.

AFL

Full injury list: Every club’s biggest Christmas concerns

The first chunk of the pre-season is over, with plenty of players racing the clock to prove their fitness before the start of the new campaign. We run the rule over who is fit at every club here.

AFL

Set up to fail? Every AFL club’s nightmare 2025 fixture slot

When the 2025 fixture arrived, most looked straight at the marquee games, but every club footy boss went for the day breaks between clashes. Which game is your team set up to fail in?

AFL News

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Mark Blicavs of the Cats is tackled by Darcy Parish of the Bombers during the 2023 AFL Round 18 match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at GMHBA Stadium on July 15, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

‘I don’t want to go to Geelong’: Dons fan anger boils over at AGM

Essendon has played in Geelong twice in the past 31 seasons — outside of the Covid years. But that didn’t stop fan anger boiling over about being sent down the highway in 2025 at the club’s AGM.

AFL

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Essendon Bombers President, David Barham speaks to the media during a press conference at The Hangar on August 19, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Barham: Any Dons living in past ‘working against the club’

Essendon president David Barham has told Bombers faithful the club must look to the future instead of being caught up in the glory days of the 80s and 90s and disunity of the past 20 years.

AFL

St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall put through his paces at St Kilda training on Wednesday. Photo: Jack Cahill.

Track watch: Saints’ first hint at extent of Marshall’s forward move

SANFL recruit Harry Boyd has been given the keys to St Kilda’s midfield as Rowan Marshall transitions into attack. How will their split work? JOSH BARNES has the latest intel.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/josh-barnes/page/2