The Score: Sally Pearson’s April Fool’s prank, Essendon’s recruiters helped by NAB League app

Hurdles champion Sally Pearson has added practical joker to her stunning CV with an April Fool’s Day prank which had hundreds of fans convinced she was changing sports.

Hurdles champion Sally Pearson has added practical joker to her stunning CV.

The Olympic champion pulled off an excellent April Fool’s gag when she announced on Instagram that she was switching to the heptathlon for next years’s Tokyo Olympics.

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Pearson cleverly wrote: “BREAKING NEWS: I wanted you all to read this from me first, before the media received wind of my decision.

BREAKING NEWS: I wanted you all to read this from me first, before the media received wind of my decision.https://t.co/qSrdO7xps0 pic.twitter.com/dLpLQdwiiW

— Sally Pearson OAM (@sallypearson) March 31, 2019

“After spending the weekend speaking it over with my team, I have decided to walk away from hurdles. Instead, I will be making the switch to Heptathlon ahead of #Tokyo2020.

“I feel this is the best decision for my future. I am proud to now be a heptathlete. Thanks for all the messages of support. Love you all 💕💕

There were plenty of suckers including The Today Show who quickly sent out a tweet saying: “JUST IN: @sallypearson has announced she’s quitting hurdles in favour of the Heptathlon!”

Luckily they later added: “Or is she . . . “

Sports presenter Tony Jones did a live cross into the Channel 9 breakfast show and threw newsreader Tom Steinfort under the bus revealing he’d excitedly messaged him about the breaking news involving one of the Australia’s biggest sports stars.

Sorry @TheTodayShow 🙉🙈🙊 I couldn’t help myself!! No I will not be retiring from hurdles to take up heptathlon 😂 Happy #AprilFools Day everyone 😏 https://t.co/4sUBVGARfv

— Sally Pearson OAM (@sallypearson) March 31, 2019

Jones was onto the April Fool’s joke although not everyone was with hundreds of comments on Pearson’s Instagram post congratulating her on her new career move.

Pearson was then forced to fess up: “Sorry @TheTodayShow 🙉🙈🙊 I couldn’t help myself!! No I will not be retiring from hurdles to take up heptathlon 😂 Happy #AprilFools Day everyone 😏

Sally Pearson had hundreds of fans fooled when she announced she was changing sports. Picture: Adam Head.

Timing is everything in football.

An email sent by Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell last week to some of the club’s wealthiest supporters lamented a frustrating performance in Round 1 against GWS.

But it expressed confidence that they had a group capable of turning things around and “playing the football we know we are capable of.”

The letter then went on to seek support from the Bombers family “as we strive to expand our current training and administration facilities to become a fully enhanced community hub”.

While Essendon’s Tullamarine base is relatively new, the club is already working on a stage two development.

But it’s fair to say performances like the one dished up against St Kilda won’t encourage the well-heeled Dons coterie men to get their chequebooks out.

Recruiters have a new way to keep track of the best football talent in the NAB League. Picture: Scott Barbour/AFL Photos.

It didn’t take long for the new NAB League official app to get a fan club.

The new era of Under 18 football is into its second weekend with the biggest development the ability to log on and watch every game live complete with full stats.

This was a godsend for some Essendon recruiters who found themselves stranded at Tullamarine after their flights to Sydney were cancelled on Saturday.

The Bombers talent scouts were heading north for a double-header but instead they drove back to the club’s headquarters and logged onto the app.

They then sat back in the comfort of their office and watched the games on a big screen.

THE WHISPER

Which prominent journo is feeling unloved and has resorted to ringing around town in a bid to have her name added to invite lists?

Originally published as The Score: Sally Pearson’s April Fool’s prank, Essendon’s recruiters helped by NAB League app