The Big Deal Weekly: Concussions in AFL, Brayshaw's retirement, NRL launches season, Big Bash expansion, Thompson's ATP title triumph, LeBron's contract, Everton's point deduction reduction & more
Newsletter no.72, 1 March 2024
The AFL has again seen concussion become the major talking point with a significant retirement and a large suspension.
Elsewhere, the NRL is launching its season, while the Big Bash eyes potential expansion.
All that and more in this week’s wrap.
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AFL AND CONCUSSIONS
The AFL world has been hit with concussion news, headlined by the retirement of Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw.
The league medically retired the Dees midfielder, but it’s a complicated process with five years left on his contract.
Rival list bosses have agreed there’s no set protocol for medical retirements. Recent retirees Marcus Adams, Paul Seedsman and Paddy McCartin did not have long-term deals.
PEP RUBBED OUT
Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper will miss the opening four rounds of the AFL season after copping a lengthy ban.
The Port star was sent to the tribunal after his incident with Crows defender Mark Keane.
He will miss games against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and Essendon.
TREDDERS’ TALKING POINTS FROM THE AFL
Coaches share their view on the mid-season trade period.
Harry Sheezel, Jordan Ridley and Ben King sign contract extensions.
Peter Sumich leaves West Australian after Harley Reid column.
NRL LAUNCHES SEASON
‘Unpredictable, unrelenting, unmissable’.
That’s the line for the NRL’s ad campaign for the 2024 season.
It’s quite a different look from the NRL’s Las Vegas commercial, which is focused on the players not using helmets or pads.
Underbelly star Gyton Grantley narrates the ad, which features the competition’s biggest names throughout.
With plenty of exciting moves, is the NRL better positioned than the AFL?
We discuss on the audio wrap.
BIG BASH - BIG EXPANSION?
Canberra and New Zealand look the favourites for a new franchise in the Big Bash, while Singapore could be an option.
However, there are complications.
Cricket Australia will not expand it is convinced adding a ninth team is financially sustainable.
Canberra believes it has those boxes ticked, but Cricket NSW and Cricket Victoria believe a Canberra team would diminish their playing stocks.
New Zealand is eager for two teams, and only one side would be detrimental to its own domestic competition.
While, the Singapore and Jakarta pitches circle around TV audiences.
Plenty to watch for.
THOMPSON’S ATP TITLE WIN
A decade after his grand slam debut, Aussie Jordan Thompson is celebrating a career highlight, clinching a maiden ATP Tour title in Mexico.
Thompson pocketed $212,000 for his singles triumph over Casper Ruud before teaming with fellow Aussie Max Purcell to win the doubles.
He split $74,000 with Purcell for the win, and became the first man since Nick Kyrgios in Washington DC two years ago to claim both the singles and doubles in an ATP Tour event.
LEBRON’S CONTRACT AND CLIPPERS’ NEW LOOK
LeBron James is seeking a multi-year deal with the Lakers this summer, which will take him to the age of 42.
He’s after a max contract of $60 million USD a season despite his age.
Meanwhile, on the other side of LA, the Clippers are undergoing a rebrand.
New colours, new uniforms and a new $2 billion arena.
NFL CAP RISE
The NFL has again seen a significant rise in its salary cap.
Each franchise was allotted $255.4M USD, which is a $30M increase for each team.
The cap spike is partially due to final COVID-19 deferments as well as media revenue.
EVERTON’S REPRIEVE
Everton has moved up the Premier League table after its 10-point deduction was reduced to six on appeal.
The decision moves Everton up from 17th to 15th and five points shy of the drop zone.
However, it puts Luton Town in a tougher predicament, now four points from safety.
MLB UNIFORM SHAMBLES
The MLB uniform controversy is in all sorts, with a union leader saying among players, the ‘universal concern is the pant’.
Nike has made the uniforms lighter and more flexible, but the see-through designs have caused issues.
Players have started silent protests by wearing uniform pants from last year throughout spring training.
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