Our Journalists

Shane Jones is a sports reporter for Leader, Herald Sun and CODE Sports, who has been covering sport around Australia for almost a decade. He was based in Bundaberg from 2015 until 2020, covering local sport for the NewsMail before making the move to Victoria in 2022 to cover country sport around the state.

Shane Jones

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Local Sport

Nicholas Pantzidis in front of the Elaine Cricket Club nets. Picture: Elaine Cricket Club.

WATCH: Country cricketer’s ultimate act of sportsmanship

Playing his 100th game and with friends and family watching on, Nicholas Pantzidis had reached 199 not out when he did the unthinkable. See one of the cricket highlights of the year.

Local Footy

Goulburn Valley FL, Round 10, Echuca Murray Bombers V Shepparton Bears, at Victoria Park, Echuca, Baxter Slater, 39, Echuca &Bryce Stephenson, 22 Sepparton, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Echuca’s major boost ahead of premiership defence

A delay in the start of a major project has given Echuca some good news ahead of the new season. But it will come at a cost for 2026. Here is what we know.

Local Footy

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Liam Hetherton of Team Sloane marks the ball during the Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match between Team Heppell and Team Sloane at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Every Murray Bushranger boys player analysed

The Murray Bushrangers will be looking to continue its strong recent form of producing first round draft picks for AFL clubs. We look at this year’s boys under-18 team.

Local Footy

Cody and Arli Walker could follow in their father, Andrew Walker's, footsteps to play AFL. Picture: Madeleine Blanche Photography.

Blue heaven: Walker boys on path to being Blues brothers

Ahead of the 2025 Coates League season we meet the son of a gun being mentored by Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, and discover he has a younger brother who could be even better. Carlton fans start salivating now.

Local Footy

Bendigo FNL, Round 7, Maryborough V Golden Square, at Princes Park, Maryborough, Kya Lanfrancji, 5, Maryborough Magpies & Kai Daniels, 11, Golden Square Bulldogs, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

How Pyramid Hill landed Daniels for drought breaking pursuit

Pyramid Hill has one of country’s longest footy droughts and it has received a boost in its bid to go one step further in 2025 with the brother of a NBA rising star finally joining the club.

Local Footy

Ben Cunnington playing for Warrnambool last year. Picture: Warrnambool footy photos/Peter Goodman

Health scare for North Melbourne star puts footy on hold

A former AFL hero who starred in local footy says he’s hopeful of coming back despite suffering a major health scare in the pre-season.

Ballarat

The winning Loreto College Division 1 open crew who won the Head of the Lake. Meg Lynch, Isabella Rossato, Eliza Dodd, Olive Lanyon, Mia McTigue. Picture: Shane Jones.

Loreto College returns to the top in Head of Lake

The Ballarat Clarendon College run of dominance is over in women’s Division 1 open after Loretto College prevailed for the first time since 2020. But it was not all bad news for the rowing powerhouse, who won the men’s event. Check out the day’s action here.

Local Footy