Saving Football

Both the Matildas and Socceroos set a new standard for themselves at their recent World Cups. But given all that is happening at the levels below, are those high points that will never be reached again? And are those great moments being capitalised on by those running the game? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The domestic league, thanks to the epic failures of APL management, is in a recession. Dangerously so for some clubs, who may not make it through winter. Clubs are bleeding money, the APL can’t even cover the salary cap with distributions down. So what now? How do clubs not wither on the vine? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Out of the big pool of grassroots players, talented ones emerge. Playing fees are astronomical at representative level. Coaching courses are expensive and the reward, in all probability, isn’t a job that will make ends meet. We deep dive into what is being done to develop our kids to a world-class standard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football’s numbers have exploded in the last 12 months. The Matilda Effect is real. So too the Socceroo effect to a lesser extent. Boys and girls continue to flock to the sport. But there’s a problem. Clubs, mostly run by volunteers, are at capacity, turning players away, struggling to accommodate the ones they have in a facilities sense, and also coaching. How do we navigate a way forward in a co...

This week saw the AFL reach an agreement to give female players a significant pay rise and better working conditions. And, a start date for the new season! (August) Collingwood AFLW captain Steph Chiocci joined Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker to discuss what the deal means to her and others. Steph has played footy her whole life, recalling the days of not even having dressing sheds, and trying wit...

It remains the most unforgettable day in the history of the world’s most watched football league, the English Premier League. Sergio Aguero’s goal, 93 minutes and 20 seconds in to the last game of the season against Queens Park Rangers, who themselves survived relegation by the thinnest possible margin. The result handed City the title, and snatched it away from perennial winners, and neighbours,...

Coming soon to Code Sports, The Aguero Goal: Drama & Delirium. In this special podcast the events of 10 years ago, when Manchester City scored two goals against Queens Park Rangers in stoppage time to win the English Premier League, are recounted from four perspectives: Joelen Lescott, the Manchester City defender, one of the high-prized recruits purchased to deliver success. Nedum Onuoha, Que...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker’s special guest this week is two-time Paralympic Gold Medallist and winner of marathons the world over, Madison de Rozario. Madi discusses her epic wins in Tokyo, her life spent travelling the world, dealing with detractors who think her sport is easy (it bloody isn’t!), when she realised life would be different but still brilliant for her, and how she got to know h...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker combine to chat the serious and not so serious from the world of sport. Special guest is former Australian vice-captain and now Code Sports columnist Bianca Chatfield, who discusses motherhood in netball, selection dramas for the Diamonds, Super Netball expansion, how the broadcast deal has changed netball and being on The Block. Adam and Georgie also discuss the is...

Georgie Parker and Adam Peacock gather once more to chat in the midst of a massive weekend of women's sport - the World Cup final last weekend, AFLW and NRLW Grand Finals on the way. Katie Lynch from the Western Bulldogs joins to discuss the strides forward for AFLW, whether she'll ever play in front of 90,000 and what Georgie taught her about life. James Hird - coaching again? Yay, or nay? Georgi...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker talk about an emotion-charged night at the Shane Warne Memorial. There's also another night that needs dissecting - this one of celebration - the Buddy 1000 mayhem at the SCG. There's an in-depth chat about the Socceroos' woes, and CodeSports writer Brandan Bradford joins us to chat about a cycling story to warm the heart, Tim Tszyu and the Will Smith v Chris Rock c...

Walk with Warnie is a special one-off podcast episode created by Code Sports to mark Shane Warne’s State Memorial at the MCG. Timed for the walk through the streets of Melbourne to the MCG, we hope this special episode will give listeners time to reflect on the great man, maybe bring a smile to your face on what could be a sad day… but ultimately what could be a of day of celebration. For more on...

Adam Peacock, Georgie Parker and Linda Pearce chat about the bombshell news that Aussie icon Ash Barty has retired from tennis.  The trio discuss Ash's rise from talented junior to her first retirement, and her brilliant return and path to becoming world No.1. Linda and Adam share stories of covering Ash's career at some of the biggest events in the world, while Georgie gives the perspective of an...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker talk the serious and not so serious on Code Words. There's a celebration of golfing God Cameron Smith and the sledging of Naomi Osaka - what is right and wrong? And how should Eddie have answered it? Newcastle EPL manager Eddie Howe was asked a direct question about Saudi Arabia's human rights situation, what should he have done? Will Schofield also joins Adam and G...

Adam Peacock and the 12,000 day-old Georgie Parker sit down for their weekly discussion on the world of sport, and sometimes the world in general. With NRL and AFL men's competitions about to start, Georgie wonders where that leaves the women's comps. Curtainraisers, or standalones? It's a tricky subject. Speaking of tricky - how do you support a club with controversial ownership? Chelsea is going...

Georgie Parker and Adam Peacock join up and on the agenda is Russian athletes - do we feel for them? There's also the incredible story from the US about a sporting team getting into trouble for treating its players TOO professionally! Ash Barty had a special trip to Uluru this week, journalist Courtney Walsh went with her for Code Sports and reflects on a magical few days. Plus Georgie explains th...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker, fresh from her starring role at the Winter Olympic Games, return for their weekly chat about all things sport. We asked to pick her greatest Olympic moment and Georgie goes left field. Way left. There's chat about the ugliness of sport and politics mixing and an Aussie starring in Italy.  Our special guest is Will Schofield, an AFL premiership-winner now writer wit...

Adam Peacock and an Olympic-infused Georgie Parker chat about some of the deeper issues in sport. Fifteen-year-old Russian Kamila Valieva is competing at the Olympics after a positive test. What the hell?! Novak Djokovic won't take a vaccination to play, does this ruin his GOAT chances Ben Simmons and James Harden have traded NBA places, and now the truth comes out. What does an unsettled teammate...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker join forces to discuss the latest in the Justin Langer drama. What is really behind the players wanting to move on from the much-loved mentor? Simon Goodwin's private life hit the headlines this week - players are subjected to it, but is it OK for a coach's spare time to become a scandal? CODE’s resident Winter Olympics expert Lachlan McKirdy chimes in with his top...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker discuss the big talking points in sport, with some mention of small cats. Seriously though, the number five is relevant in women's sport now: is it time to move to the best of five sets in tennis and five days of Test cricket? Georgie also explains the key differences she has seen when analysing women and men’s sport. Adam explains the mess Australian football finds...

Georgie Parker and Adam Peacock go in-depth about the stories making headlines, including the Australian Open. What it's like at Melbourne Park experiencing the Barty run and the Kyrgios and Kokkinakis circus from Adam, and what it's like one step removed from the couch with Georgie! Georgie displays her immense Winter Olympics knowledge. No joke, she's all over it, prepping her head off to cover...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker (live from lockdown) go in-depth about some of the big talking points in sport this week. Nick Kyrgios is the talk of week 1 of the Australian Open - AGAIN! Adam and Georgie discuss how he's figured out his true worth. The Australian Open is under fire for how the Novak Djokovic case was handled, but does it really matter? And West Coast Eagles' decision not to have...

Adam Peacock and Georgie Parker are reunited for the first time in 2022 to chat about the Novak Djokovic situation. Everyone else is, so why not! There's a cross to Belgrade and a chat with CODE Sports contributor and respected journalist Sasa Ozmo, who gives us an idea on how Novak is viewed in his homeland, and what they think of the developing situation. Adam and Georgie run through some of the...

Adam Peacock is joined by Ben Jones from CricViz, the leading data accumulators in cricket. Ben has written detailed accounts of the story behind the numbers each day of the Ashes series and on this Code Words, he gives greater depth to the big questions so far. How great is Australia's bowling attack? Has T20 ruined Test batting? And is fielding the next frontier of analytics? Ben gives a fascina...

Georgie Parker and Adam Peacock delve into the stories behind the headlines with their weekly musings on sport and anything else that is on their minds - like why are hot chips so good fresh, but so poor after? Michael Neser looks set to miss out on a baggy green - again! Is he unlucky? Special guest is Code Sports' Daniel Cherny, who digs into the big cricket talking points as he prepares for his...