The Sports Desk

Trust us. Listener discretion is advised. This is The Sports Desk's 2025 Christmas Special. Featuring Ethan Rigg, Ella Zammit, Tanish Prabhu, Jack Huggett, Justin Schwarze, Yianni Kottaras, Matilda McDermott and Jason Evans. This program marks Jason's last show as a SYN Media volunteer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the final time this year, The Sportsdesk hits the airwaves and it's a melancholic vibe in the studio as we bid farewell to THE great man, Liam Cole. A man responsible for a lot of the success the show has seen and someone loved within the family on the desk. He's with Tanish Prabhu and Jerry Ng for a show that is truely for the cricket lovers, discussing the third Ashes test and the BBL. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final Monday installment for the year and there's a real sentimental feel in the studio, certainly for Ethan Rigg. His weekend of sport was mixed, England 2-0 down, but it wasn't all doom and gloom as Everton close in on Europe and Lando Norris is champion of the world. The flip side is the shared sadness for Oscar Piastri by Yianni Kottaras and Jack Huggett. Ella Zammit returning from Japan lifted the energy, as she always does, as well as providing a review of all that has been achieved this year by this incredible crew! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hot show on The Sports Desk for your Friday night! Justin Schwarze leads the way through a collection of sporting moments of the year, as the desk meets Spotify for a wrapped, where Jerry Ng reflects once more on North Melbourne's monster year. Liam Cole and Tanish Prabhu are both entranced by the second Ashes test in Brisbane, where despite a Joe Root century, England's bowlers have the visitors on the back foot once more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The penultimate Monday show of the year sees Ethan Rigg and Yianni Kottaras excited about the spice of Formula 1's three-driver title fight. Jerry Ng is delighted as North Melbourne go back-to-back, the second test promises to shine under lights in Brisbane and Jack Huggett gives a rundown of OKC dominance in the NBA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final weekend of sport before summer kicks in, all to be covered on The Sportsdesk. Justin Schwarze thrilled by the stunning run of OKC in the NBA, Jerry Ng excired at the prospect of back-to-back North Melbourne AFLW premierships, Liam Cole on a power trip and Tanish Prabhu after a taste of 2026, confirms that Cummins and Hazelwood miss the second Ashes test. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Never a dull week in the world of sport, with Formula 1 having a bombshell doung disqualification for McLaren, leaving the door open for Max Verstappen's title charge. Despite that, Ethan Rigg and Jerry Ng aren't too worried about the prospect of Norris losing out, nor are Tanish Prabhu and Yianni Kottaras about Oscar Piastri's chance of a comeback. Australia defeat England in Perth on day 2 of the first Ashes test and a big week for AFLW as Brisbane and North Melbourne battle again for the premiership cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fire and fury of the Ashes has hit the studio, where with wickets tumbling on day 1 in Perth, Tanish Preabhu, Liam Cole, Jerry Ng and Justin Schwarze discuss the English woes and Weatherald's early departure. A huge week of AFLW, coaches sacked and finals heating up. As well as the AFL draft, bringing feel-good tales of a new generation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A huge week of sport coming up with the Ashes starting on Friday, with Ella Zammit and Ethan Rigg offering perspectives from both sides of cricket's oldest rivalry. A big week of NBA action has Jack Huggett wondering, are the Nuggets still contenders? Sky Sports Halo was a real talking point in the week, the panel giving their takes. Yianni Kottaras marvels a bright new era for Greece, who beat a World Cup bound Scotland, who join Norway and the Republic of Ireland on their way to North America in 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Friday on The Sports Desk, a heavy focus on cricket with Ashes fast approaching and the WBBL kicking off, as covered by Tanish Prabhu, Ella Zammit, Jerry Ng and a Movember embracing Liam Cole. The AFLW finals are truely hotting up, as well as the world of the NBA See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Brazil, Lando Norris has the championship within his grasp as he now sits one full race win of points ahead of the Driver's grid. Ethan Rigg, Jack Huggett, Ella Zammit and Yianni Kottaras weigh up the likelihood of that gap closing courtesy of Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri. Mercedes had a fantastic race, now sitting second in the Constructors and Kimi Antonelli's career best finish to boot. Liverpool are continuing to stumble with a Man City 3-0 thrashing. Man U' spark an impressive comeback to draw with Tottenham. Arsenal lose their winning streak, but only to a draw via a valiant Sunderland. The Roos cook a goaless Hawks, Carlton take a finals victory over the Eagles, the Lions threaten to become the next formidable conquerors after defeating the Demons, and the Crows put the Saints out of their misery, making the AFLW finals series a rather intriguing chase. Elsewhere the team attempt to seek & destroy the incoming 2026 Wild Card round. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To become a SYN success story, one must continue to progress forward in one's aspiring career, and that is what Matilda McDermott will be embarking upon in Adelaide after this edition of The Sports Desk. For one final time, she reviews the week in AFLW, where North Melbourne complete their second consecutive undefeated Home & Away season and doing so by trouncing the next best in the league, Hawthorn. Concerns are raised after a disappointing year for the Tigers, and Carlton celebration as a finals campaign has come to town. The rest of the team, Ethan Rigg, Ella Zammit, Jack Huggett and Yianni Kottaras break down how Australia on Halloween night directed a cricket themed horror film at the MCG against India, although vengeance was secured in a chili Hobart sequel. The weekend's results lead to a discussion as to how prepared are the Aussie cricket lineups shaping with The Ashes just three weeks away. The Melbourne Cup gets previewed, the hearts of baseball fans break for the Blue Jays and a massive week of Premier League Football, complete with a Declan Rice spotlight, is under review. Matilda also gets a very specially dedicated Minute Mondays to poignantly end her Sports Desk tenure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spooky season hits The Sportsdesk! A halloween show is a rarity, but always throws up something special and this week it was the debut as host for Tanish Prabhu, as he's joined by Liam Cole, Ella Zammit and Justin Scwarze. They discuss the scary hours ahead for Australian selectors as they start to finalise a squad for the first Ashes test in Perth. Staying in cricket, India come to town in a T20 at the MCG. The Jillaroos enter into a huge clash against New Zealand without star Tamika Upton. Over in the USA, the NBA season is hotting up and the Blue Jays win a huge one on the road in the World Series. The final round before finals in the AFLW, with finals places on the line, what shocks can be thrown up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take note on how many Oasis references Ethan Rigg makes on tonight's Sports Desk. He alongside Matilda McDermott, Ella Zammit, Jack Huggett and Yianni Kottaras call for Oscar Piastri to dig out his soul and soldier on as teammate, Lando Norris dominates the Mexico GP and takes the Championship lead by one single, solitary point. Max Verstappen podiums again, Charles Leclerc performs 40 laps on medium tyres and Oliver Bearman finishes 4th in an absolute belting of a drive. Liverpool are in a 4 losses freefall, Manchester United is getting it's act together. Sunderland shocks the system. In AFLW, the Roos keep on hopping, the Hawks supporters attempt to make their cases as the club that are only true formidable opponents to them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Justin Schwarze in the host chair leading the festivities alongside Jerry Ng and Liam Cole celebrating the return of the NBA. The big news being 'The Alien' and the Spurs dunking Dallas. OKC go 2-0 in back-to-back OT. And the Grizzlies have been watching too much of 'The Godfather' franchise. Cooper Connolly is the steady hand that sealed an ODI series victory for Australia against India. In AFLW, it's still stumping the team as to who is stopping North Melbourne. Instead, the attention switches to the AFLW All-Australian Squad, where a new segment makes it's debut called, Liam's Locks. Where Liam makes the guarantee of 15 players being selected for one of football's highest honours. Joining them is Monday's Matilda McDermott and Jack Huggett, bringing across Monday sports coverage like a rapid fire review of the week in NHL and a special preview of the F1 Mexico Grand Prix. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week of scorching weather in Melbourne and some scorching headlines hit The Sports Desk. Justin Schwarze, Jack Huggett, Jerry Ng and Tanish Prabhu all discuss a massive trade period, as well as India's trip down under for the ODI series against Australia. Can Erling Haaland continue his hot form as City take on Everton? The team let you know their thoughts on that and everything football related. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back into the wilderness is the now sacked Forest coach, Ange Postecoglou, after only just 39 days in the job. Only one of many crazy narratives to dive into on The Sports Desk. Jean-Philippe Mateta nets a hat-trick in Crystal Palace's draw with Bournemouth. Erling Haaland sinks Everton all on his own, Arsenal take another win on the killing road, and Liverpool fall to Man United 2-1, the Red Devils first win in Anfield in 10 years. The question is asked again for AFLW fans. Who can seriously stop North Melbourne? Cases are made for the Demons and the Hawks, as well as a Round 10 review. In F1, not since Wrestlemania 41 has a triple threat battle had this high stakes with Max Verstappen's big victory in Texas carving a potential path generational comeback to a 5th world title. Oscar Piastri's form continues to slip, and the second placed, Lando Norris, isn't carrying the same burden as the current leader or the 3rd placed title chaser, which could entail an incremental closing of the gap and claim the ultimate prize for McLaren and Britain. That's The Sports Desk, with Ethan Rigg, Jack Huggett, Ella Zammit and Yianni Kottaras See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ethan Rigg, Ella Zammit, Jack Huggett and Yianni Kottaras turn The Sports Desk into a celebration for the Australian Championship match between South Melbourne vs Sydney Olympic. Football in Australia is brewing something special. NHL coverage returns to the program for the first time in months, hear all about the teams who have gotten off to the best starts after the first week and the season's storylines to follow. It's also the episode where the team introduce their fellow presenters and the beloved Sports Desk community to the strangest niche sports that exist in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cricket has come around to slide onto The Sports Desk Friday team's, well... desk. Liam Cole, Jerry Ng and Tanish Prabhu tip their hats to the remarkable century of Beth Mooney in Australia's ODI World Cup victory over Pakistan after a 7/76 peril. Tanish breaks down how India falls to South Africa in their respective World Cup match. Pat Cummins might be on the sidelines with the Ashes fast approaching, does Steve Smith return to the captaincy position? Who can possibly stop North Melbourne in the AFLW? Adelaide vs West Coast is the game to watch this weekend and danger for the Saints, Liam claims, as they meet the 'Pies. Also tonight, a Trade Period update and a return of the ever controversial Sports Desk staple: Unpopular Opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An action packed time of year in sport, where everything hots up for the summer ahead. One which currently for Australia may not be off to the brightest start, Glenn Maxwell out of the ODI series against New Zealand. Where Bayern were off to a bright start in the Champions League, Nottingham Forest struggled in the Europa League, leaving Liam Cole and Jerry Ng to wonder if Ange is under pressure already. A massive week of AFLW and Australia got a massive win against New Zealand in the Women's ODI World Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.