Port Adelaide's Dougie Cochrane is tipped to go first in a mock AFL National Draft, after Essendon places a bid on the 195cm utility. Father-son and academy selections are expected to feature prominently in the top 10. Ethan Drever is projected second to Essendon, which needs to rebuild its midfield after losing Zach Merrett. Cody Walker is expected to join Carlton as a father-son selection, while Mitch Harris is tipped to Melbourne as the best key defender in the draft.
A 2003 Sporting News feature questioned whether LeBron James deserved to be the first pick in the NBA draft. The magazine said his status may owe as much to ticket sales as to talent. The draft lottery was moved to prime time to capitalise on his popularity. It said James had more ability than most high school players who had moved to the NBA, but his shooting and defence were unproven.
A retrospective mock draft reworks the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft using what is now known about each player's production. The author argues several teams would have chosen differently, with Malik Nabers going to Arizona ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr., Brock Bowers to the Giants, and Cooper DeJean to the Rams. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye remain in their original spots because their teams have succeeded with them.
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Newcastle's Lucas Vincent and Tyler McInnes showcased their skills during the NSW Country Colts Championships, narrowly missing the title after a thrilling one-run loss to North Coastal. Vincent, a top-order batsman and left-arm spinner, scored half-centuries against Central Coast and Southern Districts, while McInnes impressed with his leg spin, taking key wickets throughout the tournament. Both players are first-grade prospects with Stockton & Northern Districts Seagulls and will continue their campaign in the 2026-27 Rippit Premiership. The Newcastle team had strong performances from Harry Price, Drew Saxby, and Hunter Palmer before falling short in the final.
