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Nick SmartSports reporter

Nick Smart is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun/News Corp Australia covering mainly AFL and the NRL. Born in Melbourne but raised in Queensland, Nick started on the copy desk at the Gold Coast Bulletin before winning a cadetship in the sports department. He joined the Herald Sun in Melbourne in 2013.

@NickSmart85

Nick Smart

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AFL

‘You had one job’: Fans fume over AFL ticket fiasco

Desperate footy fans who logged on to secure Round 1 tickets were left frustrated after a website issue, forcing supporters to wait to lock in their return to live AFL.

AFL

Curnow opens up on ‘sadness’ behind Betts abuse

Ed Curnow knows better than anyone the magic that surrounds Eddie Betts – but he’s also acutely aware of the horrific abuse the Blues star has endured.

AFL News

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 09: Tom J. Lynch of the Tigers and Dougal Howard of the Saints clash during the 2020 AFL Second Semi Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the St Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium on October 09, 2020 in the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Lynch learns prelim fate after kneeing Saint

Tom Lynch has learned whether he’ll be free to play in Richmond’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide after coming under MRO scrutiny for kneeing Dougal Howard.

AFL News

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Shane Edwards of the Tigers handballs whilst being tackled during his period in the AFL quarantine hub at the Mercure on September 11, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Injury-hit Tigers to be bolstered by key ins

Richmond have been hurt by injuries to Tom Lynch and Ivan Soldo but several premiership Tigers are closing in on a return. Meanwhile, an in-form forward is in line to replace their sidelined talls.

AFL News

Kennett backs AFL ‘boys club’ accusations

The ringleader behind an AFL staff uprising has gone public with damning claims of bullying and intimidation, including a leaked email. And Jeff Kennett has backed up the claims from the staffer.

AFL News

AFL Round 7. Carlton vs Port Adelaide at the Gabba, Brisbane. 19/07/2020. Marc Murphy of the Blues . Pic: Michael Klein

Murphy to play on in 2021

Former Carlton captain Marc Murphy will play on next year after agreeing to a new deal, while GWS has provided an update on free agent Zac Williams. Get the latest trade news here.

AFL News

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: Chris Mayne of the Magpies collides with Patrick Cripps of the Blues during the round 14 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba on August 30, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Class act: Cripps praises ‘tough bugger’ Mayne

Carlton star Patrick Cripps has contacted Collingwood’s Chris Mayne to check on his welfare after a brutal, fair collision between the pair on Sunday fractured the Magpie veteran’s cheekbone.

AFL News

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: Sam Walsh and Marc Murphy of the Blues celebrate a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Carlton Blues at Optus Stadium on August 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Walsh: Hopes of breaking finals drought growing

A fortnight ago finals appeared out of the question for Carlton. But after two wins on the trot the Blues’ belief is growing, says one of their brightest stars. Can they break their seven-year drought?

AFL News

Steele Sidebottom of the Magpies runs with the ball during the Round 2 AFL Match between the Collingwood Magpies and Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Thursday, June 11, 2020. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Hub flight could end Sidebottom’s season

Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom will fly to Melbourne for the birth of his first child and may not return to Magpies’ hub. Meanwhile, the Queensland Government has knocked back a request from Richmond and Geelong.

AFL News

Suns Rory Thompson. Gold Coast Suns preseason game vs Geelong Cats at Riverway Stadium. Picturwe: Alix Sweeney

Injury news: More heartbreak for cursed Sun

A promising Gold Coast defender is facing another year out of the game after scans delivered devastating news from an incident in a scratch match last weekend. Plus a ruck scare at the Demons and more headaches for Hawthorn.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/nick-smart/page/13