Ben Simmons’ mother wanted the NBA star to play footy for Essendon

THE SCORE: HOW Ben Simmons’ mum wanted him to don the sash, Adam Treloar’s secret talent and some rumblings in Channel 7’s football commentary box.

Could Ben Simmons have made it in the AFL? Pic: AFP

IT hasn’t been a great couple of days for Essendon fans and this news isn’t going to help.

The mother of NBA superstar Ben Simmons wanted him to play football for the Bombers rather than pursue basketball.

Often these tales take on a life of their own but in an interview with 60 Minutes, Julie Simmons’ admits she was pushing her son towards AFL.

“I was (pushing him towards footy). I love footy,” Julie says.

“I’m really happy that he’s playing in the NBA, I mean that’s his dream. You know, I think football was, it might’ve been a nice sort of back-up, perhaps.

“One of my brothers used to say, ‘You know what Ben, if it doesn’t work out in the NBA, you can always come back and play for the Bombers’.”

Ben confirmed his love of Aussie rules and the Bombers, even having a kick-to-kick with reporter Tom Steinfort during the interview.

“I love playing the game, it’s a very fun game,” he said. “I was always the ruckman, I wanted to play forward and kick goals.

The Philadelphia 76ers star said he’d used the physicality learnt on the footy field during his amazing rookie season.

“I think I’ve used two hip-and-shoulders this season,” he said. “I’ve dropped a couple of people but then it comes out at the wrong time.

“But it’s just the way I play, I think that physicality side of footy has definitely translated to basketball.”

.@NBA superstar @BenSimmons25 on his love of footy, and sneaking in the odd hip-and-shoulder for the @sixers.

See more on @60Mins this Sunday with @TomSteinfort pic.twitter.com/WMhQJs9GvE

— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2018

GOT HIM! SEVEN POACHES TEN’S MAIN MAN

CHANNEL 7 hasn’t wasted any time in signing the man who made the Big Bash a raging television success.

Dave Barham has been poached from Channel 10 to become Seven’s Head of Cricket, just two weeks after the network signed a historic six-year agreement with Cricket Australia.

Barham, a former director of AFL films, has been the brains behind the innovative coverage of the T20 competition which was a raging ratings winner for Ten.

One of his masterstrokes was putting together a fresh new commentary team and with Fox Sports sharing the rights with Seven, they’re all expected to find a home in the new set-up.

Channel 7 will telecast 43 of the 59 Big Bash matches, including the finals, as well as all home Test matches and the 2021-22 Ashes series.

Barham said he is looking forward to “re-energising” the coverage of Test cricket.

Pie Adam Treloar can chow down at pace.

FASTEST FANGS AT THE PIES

Anzac Day medallist Adam Treloar has a secret talent ... speed eating.

And the Collingwood star takes this skill seriously with a meticulous preparation before challenges.

Last month Treloar was part of a celebrity competition at the Preston Hotel which involved consuming a 500 gram chicken parmigiana.

It was a race against the clock with Treloar taking on teammates Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy.

The midfielder was never threatened, consuming the parma in four minutes and thirty seconds with a minute to spare from Sidebottom.

Howe tried to go with his teammate but had to stop for fear of vomiting a couple of times while Grundy didn’t engage in the race and took his time.

Player manager Ben Niall, the man responsible for the rejuvenation of the High St pub, said Treloar had form in the speed eating arena with a ribs record also to his name.

“He’s so competitive that he just wants to win everything,” Niall said of Treloar. “He hadn’t eaten all day in preparation, he didn’t have breakfast or anything.”

Treloar’s time hasn’t been beaten with plenty of punters having a crack given if successful they receive a free parma.

Is all sweet in among Channel 7’s football commentary team? Pic: Wayne Ludbey

THE WHISPER

Some rumblings in the Channel 7 commentary bunker.

We hear a new combination had some teething problems with the senior member bristling at the dominance of airtime by his co-commentator.

It all boiled over after a recent game in Adelaide with heated words exchanged.