The Score: A 10pm curfew for players the night before AFLX didn’t go exactly to plan

AFLX may have been given a big tick from headquarters but there was one aspect that didn’t go according to plan, with a 10pm curfew the night before falling flat with players.

AFLX Team Logos.

The AFLX got a big tick from headquarters although we hear the lead-up didn’t go according to plan.

The players all went out on mass for some bonding the night before the pre-season extravaganza with the league having a bus ready to take them home at the 10pm curfew.

The amount of players ready to leave at that time … zero.

Let’s just say the bus was probably five or six hours early.

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HAMILTON IN THE CLEAR AFTER CANCER BATTLE

Racing personality Adam Hamilton has revealed he’s been given the all clear after a battle with bowel cancer.

The trotting expert, who is now the TAB’s head of media and communications, said he’s “incredibly lucky” to have come through after an intensive eight months of treatment.

Hamilton, 49, wasn’t aware of any major issues until midway through last year when he was instructed by his doctor to have a colonoscopy.

“The referral sat on my desk at home for about a month,” Hamilton told RSN 927. “I walked past it a few times.

“And then I thought, ‘Don’t be one of those guys. Don’t be one of those people who just says I hear it’s a nightmare prepping for it, I hear it’s a nightmare going through it’.”

"Absolutely you do (have a new perspective on life). What are the most important things? There's nothing more important than them (family).@tabcomaumedia @AdamTABSports with @MFelgate7 on his battle with cancer #RacingPulse pic.twitter.com/D1UnOBGZ4L

— RSN927am (@RSN927) March 12, 2019

The colonoscopy revealed the cancer and three days later he was sitting in a specialist’s office which then kick-started a series of operations and treatments, including two rounds of chemotherapy.

His final operation was on February 23 where part of his bowel was removed with his surgeon, Satish Warrier from the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, revealing he was in the 15 per cent of “lucky” patients.

“(He said) ideal world is you fall into the 15 per cent of people who are cured or treated properly by those treatments and then when we open you up and take out the affected areas the cancer is gone,” Hamilton said.

“I count myself as absolutely being in that incredibly lucky category because that’s exactly what happened when they opened me up. I’m just tremendously pleased to get the all clear.”

Hamilton urged people to have bowel cancer tests when they hit the age of 40 rather than at 50 which has historically been the recommended time to go through the checking process.

BECKHAM STITCHED UP WITH ‘EMBARRASSING’ STATUE

David Beckham was on the receiving end of a classic James Corden prank which left the former football star less than impressed.

Earlier this month the LA Galaxy kicked off its 2019 season with a ceremony honouring Beckham who had been their marquee player from 2007 to 2012.

However, a few days before the official ceremony Corden had organised for Beckham to be shown a fake sculpture which had a massive chin, three teeth and a huge backside. The scary sculpture looked more than a little like the abominable bust unfurled in honour of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at Madeira Airport two years ago. .

Beckman branded the statute “embarrassing” and ordered film crew to stop the cameras before Corden appeared to reveal the prank.

James Corden and David Beckham share a laugh.

RAIKKONEN’S STUNNING SECRET TO SUCCESS

Let’s put Daniel Ricciardo to the side for a moment because surely Kimi Raikkonen has to be our favourite Formula One driver.

It’s been 18 years since he made his debut and the 39-year-old boasts one world tile, 21 race wins and 103 podiums.

And his secret to success?

Partying, particularly early in his career which he says made him a better driver all around.

In his biography, ‘The Unknown Kimi Raikkonen’, he reveals that in 2012 he went out drinking for 16 days between two grands prix in Bahrain and Spain (where he finished third).

“Obviously it’s been a joke often,” he told Beyond the Grid podcast. “But I actually think it’s more true than a joke that I’ve often been driving better [after] doing whatever I want between the races than if I’m just not having fun and drinks and stuff.

“There’s too many proven theories … that [you drive] better [after you’ve had] a bit more fun.

“That whole summer was more or less racing and partying. It’s nothing new — for me it’s normal. Outside it might look a bit weird, but for me, in the past, it was a very normal story.”

Raikkonen has left Ferrari and will drive with Alfa Romeo for the 2019 season.