Shane Jackson: From Wicklow Grit to Warrnambool Glory

Jon Ralph on Sackings, Stand Rules & the State of Footy

A 250‑episode milestone and a cracking chat to celebrate it. Sam, Leon and Rich open with family chaos, birthday shoutouts and a chaotic debrief on the Stone Auto win before welcoming Jon Ralph from the Herald Sun and Fox Footy — the AFL oracle himself. Ralphie breaks down Michael Voss’ sacking, Carlton’s list mess, the coaching landscape, and why the Blues keep tripping over their own shoelaces. The boys dive into the stand‑rule farce, zoning, defensive transition, player accountability, Pendlebury’s golden‑number circus, and the AFL’s looming push for full‑time club psychiatrists. Sharp, funny, occasionally unhinged — classic Sport & Life.

Leon’s OAM, Sam’s Stirring & Dan’s Dodgy Sponsor Pitches

Leon’s fresh off receiving the Olympic Order of Merit after being told he had 6–8 weeks to live, and the boys unpack the whole wild ride: the secret first ceremony, the Sydney cocktail marathon, ambassadors, Nestlé royalty and a room full of Olympians. From there it’s pure Sport & Life: how sports get into the Games, why the Commonwealth Games can’t shake the “second best” tag, athlete payments (plus chocolates), corruption clean‑ups, and whether Brisbane 2032 is heading for glory or disaster. And of course, it ends with a full AFL spray: boundary umpires, dodgy throws and Sam’s sermon on keeping sport in the hands of real fans.

From Underbelly to Winx: The Many Lives of Andrew Rule

A wide‑ranging, story‑packed conversation with one of Australia’s most decorated journalists and crime writers, Andrew Rule. From his early days at the Gippsland Times to covering disasters, war zones and the rise of Underbelly, Rule walks Sam and Leon through a career built on curiosity, courage and an uncanny ability to read people. He reflects on the investigations that changed the country — including his work exposing Geoff Clark — and the legal and personal risks that come with naming names in the underworld. Rule also shares vivid memories of growing up around Framlingham, the characters who shaped him, and the complex world of sources, secrets and trust. There’s time for sport too: his brief life as an amateur jockey, his love of racing, and the inside stories behind his acclaimed book on Winx. Plus, tales of Lionel Rose, Billy Longley, the Carlton Crew, and why crime — from Shakespeare to the modern day — continues to fascinate us all. A cracking episode with a master storyteller who has lived it, written it, and seen more than most.

Shane Jackson: From Wicklow Grit to Warrnambool Glory

Irish-born champion jockey turned rising trainer Shane Jackson joins the show to unpack his journey from Wicklow to Warrnambool, the craft of building elite jumpers, and the resurgence of his stable’s headline act, Point Nepean. He talks family, community, the future of jumps racing, and why the ‘Bool remains one of the most powerful training hubs in the country. A sharp, honest, insightful chat with one of racing’s most respected modern voices.

Ron Barassi: The Legacy, The Laughter, and the Life Behind the Legend

In this deeply personal and often hilarious episode of Sport & Life, Leon and Dan sit down with Ron Barassi III — son of the late, great Ron Barassi — for a warm, generous, and revealing conversation about the man behind the mythology. From childhood memories of running amok at training and leaving ice creams on Channel 7 seats, to table‑tennis battles where an 82‑year‑old Ron still had the fastest hands in the room, Ron III paints a vivid portrait of a father who was endlessly patient with the public, fiercely competitive, and quietly vulnerable as Alzheimer’s crept in. The episode traces the Barassi family’s roots back to Guilford, the bust in the town square, the renaming of Brunton Avenue, and the emotional rollercoaster of Melbourne’s 2021 premiership — complete with Ron repeatedly asking, “So what are we watching?” as the Demons stormed home in Perth. There’s humour, heartbreak, football folklore, and a rare insight into how a family navigated fame, legacy, and the slow fade of a giant of the game. A beautiful tribute, told with honesty, affection, and plenty of Barassi bite.