Hello & happy Thursday!  On this next instalment of The Forward Line, Annie Poulton and Emilie van Baalen sit down with founding member and former TFL Co-Host, Emily Thompson. In this conversation Em chats to us about her pathway from Melbourne Law School, to private practice, to landing her dream role as In-House Counsel at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Enjoy!

Friday Night Feels. No mics, no notes and a whole lot of 'off-the-cuff' vulnerability.  Thank you to Cristin... this one was special.

Ciao folks! Something a little different coming today.  Ahead of our Season 3 release, the Founder of The Forward Line, Annie Poulton, sits down with a listener and long-term friend, Cristin Ruyg.  They discuss Sports & Politics, the nuances around 'Trapping an overhead' Rule in Field Hockey, and why working "too much", eventually catches up with you. Part 2 is coming soon, and then its back over to Chloe & Emilie for all the usual gas-bagging. ** Oh and also, it is really hard to be vulnerable, so go easy on AP in the comments pls xoxo

Hello everyone & happy Thursday! The Pod Squad is back together again & the time has come to sit down and talk about The Hawthorn Football Club.  Today on the show we are covering one of the biggest stories in Footy right now and answering the complex questions: How did historical allegations of racism levelled against one of the biggest clubs in the competition, shake the footy community to its core & taint the reputation of a group of Premiership Greats?What is the role of the AFL in this type of dispute, and do they have an active duty to protect all players from racism at work?And most importantly, what is being done to rectify the hurt of the complainants? We also referenced a couple of articles in the show! Click here to read more about the Binmada Report and click over here to scrub up your legal knowledge of the concept of Procedural Fairness. Okay bye! Thank you for listening! We hope you enjoyed the show! If you did, please like, subscribe, share on social media and scream it from the rooftops! Spreading the word helps us grow

Folks, in 2019 when we first launched The Forward Line, we sat down in a room at Melbourne Law School and wrote a “dream list” of guests we hoped to one day interview on the podcast.   Bridie O'Donnell was the first name on our list & it will be easy for you to see from this conversation, why that was.    Bridie started her career in medicine! She is trained practitioner and worked as an Orthopaedic Surgical Assistant for 8 years before taking up cycling. Bridie then rode competitively from 2006 – 2017, with multiple pro-teams and carved our her speciality in the individual time trial.   She has represented Australia 3x at the UCI Road World Championships and in 2016, she broke the Women’s Hour World Record in Adelaide, riding an astonishing 46.882 kilometres   Since retiring from cycling, Bridie has excelled in all that she does – whether it is presenting on Radio or TV, working in Medicine or writing a Memoir. She has also held very senior positions in the Victorian State Government, both in the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, and in the Department of Health.   But you'll probably know Bridie best for her work on SBS as a Lead in the Tour de France Commentary Team and this was the hat she was wearing when we spoke to her on Friday night   Our interview took place at midnight on Bridie’s time, and she had a HUGE day inclusive of 6 hours of commentary and long drives. Despite these demands, Bridie looked fresh as a daisy and was ever-the professional   This was such a special interview to have been a part of – Bride speaks so well. Her remarks on professional women’s sport & the need for equal opportunity are insightful, and internally challenged me to think about my own biases and the way I use language.     We talk about the supportive workplace culture at the SBS Commentary Team, surprise run ins with President Emmanuel Macron, the history of women’s the pro-peloton, the course and sportswomanship.    To follow Bridie's TDFF journey, you can find her here on Instagram or here, on Twitter.  We hope you enjoy the show!

It's here! Instalment #3 of Tour De France Femmes: An Australian Preview with Grace Brown.   To the Cycling World, Grace needs know introduction. After starting cycling in 2015, Grace has achieved some remarkable results. Carving out her speciality in the Individual Time Trial, Grace is a 2x and the current Australian National Time Trial Champion, and she placed came 4th at the Tokyo Olympics last year in this discipline.   But she’s also an all-rounder! With Stage wins, podiums at One Day Classics and a heart-breaking close second-place with her new Team FDJ at this year’s Women’s Tour of Britain, it’s easy to see why Gracie Elvin has named Grace as one of the best Women’s Cyclists in the World.   But above all else, Grace is an excellent person. We spoke to her less than 24 hours before she left for Paris, and she was relaxed in her home-base in Italy. There was smoothie making in the background, not a hint of nerves and she was one of the humblest people that I have met in sports.   You’ll see throughout this interview that Grace has a cracking sense of humour, a calm energy but behind all that, there’s also a fierce competitor. We talk FDJ, COVID, the Course and videography! Watch out for Grace on stages 3, 4 and 6 of this Bike Race – I heard she’s looking for a Race Win!   To follow Grace's TDFF Journey, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter. Enjoy the show & here’s Grace...

Howdy folks! Thanks for tuning in to Instalment #2 of our TDFF Coverage. Today on the show we are sitting down with pro-cyclist, Nicole Frain. Nicole is the current Australian Elite Women's Road Race Champion and as such, she will get to the wear the Green & Gold jersey when she lines up in Paris tomorrow!  In this conversation we discuss Nicole's win at Nationals, as well as the pressure that come with wearing such a highly-coveted jersey. We also delve into her recent mid-year transfer to Team Parkhotel Valkenburg in the Netherlands, their race strategy & what it means to ride the TDFF. Nicole was a bundle of fun & her enthusiasm really shone through in this episode. We are so grateful that she found some time to speak with us only days out from the race. To keep up with Nicole's TDFF journey, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show!

Hellllo folks. Happy Friday! Our team is so thrilled to be launching a mini-series today, The Forward Line's very own Tour De France Femmes: An Australian Preview. In the lead up to the TDFF, we will be releasing daily episodes. We are speaking to a bunch of Australians who are currently in France including riders, commentators & spectators! For our first instalment, we are sitting down with Grace Elvin **squeals** Grace is a former pro-cyclist, an Olympian, a current SBS Tour Commentator and one of the Co Founders of The Cyclists Alliance; an independent union that represents & provides holistic support to women in the peleton. This was a cracking episode to kick off our series and despite her demanding schedule and some touch-and-go French hotel wifi, Gracie was relaxed & ever the professional. Her takes are insightful, very approachable if you are a new cycling fan and above all else, she was a total ray of sunshine to interview!  To keep up with Gracie's TDFF adventures, make sure you are following her on Twitter and Instagram. Remember to tag us too so we can see your comments & enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Saturday! Thank you for joining us for our third instalment of the Saturday Series. Today we are speaking to Australian Diver and 3x Olympian, Anabelle Smith! Anabelle holds multiple medals from various competitions across the years including the Rio Olympics, World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. But today she's here to talk to us about her journey to Tokyo. During this conversation, Anabelle takes us right to the heart of the competition of the Women's Individual 3m Springboard. We talk the morning of, the wait in the call room and her individual performance.  We then take the conversation a little more broad, as Anabelle discusses some of the challenges for up & coming divers including what its like having your body constantly on display.   To keep up with Anabelle's latest news you can follow her on the Socials @anabellesmith and @beingbelle_ and via her website  https://www.anabellesmith.net  Anabelle was so generous with her time and a delight to talk to! We hope you enjoy the show.

Hello & Happy Saturday! TFL is very excited to be back with another instalment of the Saturday Series. Today we are speaking to triathlete, Emma Jeffcoat. Emma is a former Surf Life Saver, who turned to international triathlons in 2015. Since then, she's had raging success. Emma was part of the team  who took home a Bronze Medal at the 2019 Hamburg ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships, and in 2021 she was crowned the Australian National Champion for the Elite Sprint Triathlon Championships held in Devonport.  But on today's show, Emma is here to talk to us about her latest achievement as a member of the Tokyo 2020 Australian Olympic Team. As you’ll hear throughout the episode, Emma competed in both the Women’s Individual Triathlon and the inaugural Mixed Team Relay. We discuss what it's like making your Olympic debut in a COVID year, handling a typhoon on race day and Emma’s life outside of sport, including her passion for Nursing. Emma was a ray of sunshine to interview, so down-to earth and generous with her time! To keep up to date with her latest news, you can follow her on Instagram @emmajeffcoat.  Enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Thursday! On today’s episode, we are sitting down with prominent road cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell. Tiffany is one of Australia’s most experienced female cyclists, boasting a decade of professional riding experience, two Commonwealth Games appearances and several other impressive accolades. Since 2016, Tiffany has been racing in the UCI Women’s World Tour with the Canyon//SRAM Racing Team, which sees her competing in road cycling races all over the world. She made her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she captained the Australian Team in the Women’s Cycling Road Race. In this conversation, we discuss career pathways, the Australian Cycling Team’s Olympic campaign, and the challenges faced by the sport in 2021. We also touch on the 'Zwift movement' and how the Canyon//SRAM Racing Team are identifying new talent in a virtual world, as well as Tiffany’s creative side designing freelance cycling kits and other items. Tiffany was a candid, open and wonderful person to sit down and talk to. We hope you enjoy the chat as much as we did. To keep up to date with Tiffany and her latest news, you can follow her on Instagram - @tiffanycromwell or via her website. The Canyon//SRAM Racing Team’s website can be found over here.  Enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Saturday! Welcome to the launch of TFL’s new segment, The Saturday Series. Today on the show, we are sitting down with Australian Rower, Lucy Stephan. Born and bred in Nhill, Victoria, Lucy learned to row as a boarder at Ballarat Grammar. She marked her presence on the international rowing stage in 2012 and since then, she has taken the rowing world by storm with an impressive list of achievements. She is a multiple-time Australian Champion, two-time World Champion, dual Olympian and Tokyo 2020 Olympic GOLD Medalist. In this conversation, we discuss Lucy’s Tokyo 2020 journey, her fabulous crew consisting of Rosie Popa, Annabelle McIntyre and Jessica Morrison, what’s next for Lucy and the importance of a Mecca Face Mask on the eve of an Olympic Final. Lucy is humble, candid and what we would describe as a force to be reckoned with! We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did. To keep up to date with Lucy and her latest news, you can follow her on Instagram - @loosey_stephan. You can also follow her incredible crew on Instagram, Rosie – @rosie.popa and Annabelle – @mcintyre.annabelle. Jess is not on social media, however, you can keep up to date with her via the Rowing Australia website – https://rowingaustralia.com.au Enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Thursday! Can you believe we are in mid-August!? Sending especially good vibes to all our Aussie listeners who are currently in lockdown. On today's episode, we start with a deep dive on the GOAT or as some of you may know her, Simone Biles. We discuss mental health in Sport following her very brave withdrawal from 5/6 of her Artistic Gymnastic Finals at the Tokyo Olympics. Then, if you are anything like us you may also be feeling a little post-Tokyo despair BUT do not worry... we have your back. Join us for a conversation on our favourite medal moments, the stories that broke our hearts & the athletes who best encapsulated the Olympic Spirit. We also have a surprise new ‘Seasonal Host’ to introduce to you. Watch out for her 'G'day'.   Lastly, we recommended you read Sally Jenkins article on Simone Biles in The Washington Post, and listen to the 'Story of Simone Biles' by The Daily Podcast. We'll see you soon guys! *TFL Media is an independent organisation run entirely by young women. Our creative artwork is designed and produced by Molly Mathews.

Helloooooooo & Happy Thursday! It's finally time. We are back for Season Two. If you're an old listener, welcome back, thank you for your patience. If you're a new listener, welcome too! It's lovely to have you here. Today we sit down with Riley Wolff. Riley is a digital creator who founded the international running blog, 'Tempo Journal' - though Tempo is SO much more than just a blog. But before he was shooting for Nike New York, Riley was a self-proclaimed rascal. Today, he takes us back to the beginning at Uni and through his early career path working at Adidas and MAAP. We talk founding Tempo, international success and his other baby, Hunter Athletics.  Riley has also just written a book. It is called A Lifetime For A Moment: Brett Robinson's Marathon Journey. It's currently available for pre-order with the Ballarat Running Company so go, go, go & get your hands on it. Thanks team, we hope you enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Thursday! On today’s Episode we are sitting down with an incredible woman who needs little introduction – beloved Netballer, Jo Weston. Jo's a renowned Melbourne Vixens and Australian Diamonds player, often adorning the Goal Defence bib on court. In the midst of her seventh season, she has an impressive list of accolades including as the recipient of numerous awards with the Vixens and a Diamonds squad member at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 World Cup. Off the court, Jo is a hard-working student at Deakin University, currently completing her Masters. She is also on numerous Boards and continues to use her platform to advocate for player rights and social change. It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with Jo and hear about her intelligent and fun insights into life on & off the court. We hope you enjoy the show!

Hello & Happy Thursday! Last week of August - only 4 months of the year to go! Today, we’ve got a pretty varied episode lined up for you all. 1. With the F1 up and racing, a few eyebrows were raised by the sudden appearance of a PINK Mercedes! And no, we don’t mean an actual Mercedes car turning pink, but Racing Point developing (coughplagiarismcough) a pink doppelgänger of the 2019 Mercedes car that has landed them in some serious hot water. 2. The AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round started on an interesting note with the announcement that they would not display the Aboriginal flag, leading to some serious increased awareness around the fact that the flag is COPYRIGHTED. This led to all 18 clubs adorning Free the Flag tees and supporting the movement. We take you through the basics of copyright and what it means, the #freetheflag movement, and some potential pathways to getting freedom for the flag. 3. Stage 1 of the Tour of Poland ended with a bang - and not a good kind. A huge collision resulting from a sprint battle between Dylan Groenewegen and Fabio Jakobsen rocked the cycling world on a number of fronts. We talk through a few practical and legal issues that have been thrust into the spotlight - such as the downward sprint and event organiser liability. To find out more about the free the flag movement, check out the great work being done by @clothingthegap.You can find an explanation of the movement here: https://clothingthegap.com.au/pages/free-the-flagand a timeline of the journey so far here: https://clothingthegap.com.au/pages/free-the-flag-journey

Hello and Happy Thursday! We hope you are all well. On today’s episode, Chloe is sitting down with Australian Rules Football player, Allen Christensen. It was an absolute privilege to talk to Allen and have such a raw & powerful discussion. We kicked off the conversation with some footy chat, discussing Allen’s journey to playing AFL. We talk about the day he was drafted to Geelong Football Club and then follow his career through to the present day where he now plays for the Brisbane Lions. We then take the conversation off-field where Allen opened up about his challenges including a gambling addiction. As a proud Tiwi man, Allen also talks about his experiences as an Indigenous Australian in the AFL during the Adam Goodes era. We explore the changes Allen inspired within his own footy club and he offers some fantastic insights into how the Australians can better educate themselves about our national history and First Peoples. Additionally, we give you the inside goss on what ‘hub’ life is really like for AFL players. And by the end of this episode, we’re 100% positive you’ll have found a new podcast to add to your weekly repertoire after you hear about Allen’s own podcast, Addicted to the Game, which he runs with his brothers Luke and Aaron, and friend Jimmy. To keep up to date with Allen’s news, you can follow Addicted to the Game via Instagram and Twitter @attgpodcast We hope you enjoy the chat as much as we did!

Hello & Happy Thursday! We hope you are well and if you're stuck in the Melbourne Lockdown 2.0, we hope you are staying SANE (if not, don't stress...Chloe's got an unrelated sports tip to offer you). Our first story today considers the ‘Netflix effect’ of Athlete A and the impact of the documentary on the Gymnastics industry. We chat about the bravery of the athletes who have come forward, the #gymnastalliance movement and the institutional responses both Internationally & in Australia. We then look into a potential corruption scandal currently dominating the Championship after the SNEAKY SALE of Wigan Athletic FC. We run through the tumultuous events as they unfolded and provide an update on the most recent appeal. **Content Warning: Please note our final segment discusses sexual assault. If you find this content distressing, please pause the episode at the 27 minute mark. This segment compares the treatment of AFL player Jordan De Goey against NRL player Jack De Belin. Both athletes were charged with sexual assault but following intervention by the criminal law, their playing careers have taken two very different paths. De Goey was allowed to play on the following week. De Belin has been banned from competition for the last two years. We ask, why? Please note, the mainstream media is labelling De Goey's charge as, "indecent assault". Following amendments in the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), "indecent assault" is now called "sexual assault" and is located in Section 40 of the Act. However, these terms are interchangeable and are used synonymously throughout the show. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to organisations such as Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or Lifeline (13 11 14). They are here to help

Hello & Happy Thursday! We hope you are all staying safe and we are especially thinking of our Melbournian friends. On today’s show we are sitting down with the Australian Olympic Committee’s (or the AOC’s) Social Media Coordinator, Georgia Thompson. Growing up in Armidale NSW, Georgia developed a passion for sport from a young age with the support and encouragement of her parents. After graduating from high school, she went on to study a Bachelor of Communications (focusing on journalism) and a Bachelor of Sports Science, at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. It was whilst she was studying that she gained some incredible experiences in the media. She worked at Bathurst Producers and New England Broadcasters within her first year of university, and then landed her first role as a content producer at the Netball World Cup in 2015! By October that year, she was employed by the AOC as a Digital Media Assistant. Since then, Georgia has continued to work her way up the career ladder to her current role. Today, as Social Media Coordinator, Georgia has been imperative in keeping the Olympic spirit alive in Australia after the delay of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics through campaigns such as #OlympicDay. In today’s episode we chat with Georgia about her career pathway and experiences with the AOC, her insights about how athletes handle their relationship with social media in contrast to their sponsorship obligations and how she copes with the challenges of being a young female in the sports industry It was wonderful to sit down with Georgia and have such an open and honest discussion and we hope you enjoy the chat as much as we did!

Hello & Happy Thursday! Happy July! Only 8 weeks of Winter to go and for some of our fellow Victorians, you’ll be spending the next month back in Stage 3 Lockdown. We are sending you big love, please stay safe. So what else is making headlines this week? Firstly we have a big announcement (excuse us for being self-indulgent) but after 6.5 years of study, Chloe and Annie have finally finished their Juris Doctor degrees, officially joining the club of ‘unemployed law graduates’. To other students deciding when to graduate, we would 110% recommend a mid-year finish so you can go travelling in Europe for 6 months before you start full time work….oh wait… Alas, onto ACTUAL sports news. Today we start over at Netball AUS HQ where the Super Netball League is in some serious hot water. Did you hear about how they introduced a wild rule change but didn’t consult with any of their players beforehand? Cute. We then go State side and examine the NBA’s newest bling – Not the Championship Ring but the Oura Ring. Made by a Finnish company, the Oura Ring is helping the NBA with the early detection of COVID-19… but is it simultaneously jeopardising the players’ right to privacy? **Content Warning:Please note our final segment discusses the racial vilification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples. If you find this content distressing, please pause the episode at the 22 minute mark. You may have seen last week that some pretty abhorrent comments were made about AFL Legend, Nicky Winmar on another Australian Sports Podcast titled, You Cannot Be Serious. Today, we take a deep dive into Australian Defamation Law and offer some thoughts about how Winmar’s upcoming legal action might play out. We also recommended you read this article by Associate Professor, Gregory Phillips if you are looking for some further commentary on this issue; https://theconversation.com/the-land-we-play-on-equality-doesnt-mean-justice-62101. Enjoy the show