Five must-read sport stories right now on CODE

CODE is jam packed with in-depth, must-read stories that’ll kick off your next catch-up at the pub or family BBQ.

Here’s a taste of five articles right now on Australia’s newest subscription-based sport journalism website and app (download via App Store or Google Play).

CodeSports serves up the best articles from in-depth analysis on the breaking news, to feature reads on everything from the NBA to the Premier League, the Matildas to cricket, the AFL to the NFL - and all sports in between.

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AFL

To recount only the dramas of Jake Carlisle’s career would be to sell it short.

Today, still young at the age of 30, Carlisle is a father of three sons, content in retirement and optimistic about life out from under the unrelenting microscope of the AFL.

It was not always this way. Indeed, the emotional toll of his 151 senior AFL games with Essendon and St Kilda has impacted Carlisle at least as much as the physical one, which saw him popping painkillers like Tic Tacs to get through his final three years with St Kilda.

READ THE FULL STORY BY DANIEL GARB HERE

MATILDAS

To properly evaluate the Matildas’ year, some basic philosophy is required.

Pessimists, or realists, as they like to call themselves, will argue three wins from 16 matches is cause for terrible concern and foreshadows impending doom.

Optimists, who argue with the pessimist with a smile, point toward being one kick away from an Olympic medal for the first time ever, and playing depth built over 16 matches.

Who you are, and how you think, steers you one way – ‘Good times ahead!’ – or the other – ‘The end is nigh!’

And in the middle of it all lies the truth as the Matildas embark on a generation-defining 18 months.

READ THE FULL STORY BY ADAM PEACOCK HERE

ASHES

It’s hard to discuss the Ashes without acknowledging the series’ rich history.

For me, it started with staying up late on the couch with Mum and Dad watching the footage beamed back from England. There were so many great series throughout my childhood, but the Lord’s Test of 1993 was the one I recall most vividly.

The image of Michael Slater tucking one down to fine leg, sprinting down the pitch and punching the air to bring up his century had me covered in goosebumps. I wanted to experience that. It ignited a dream.

My first experience at Lord’s wasn’t quite so triumphant.

In fact, I was dragged out of the ground by four security guards.

READ THE FULL STORY BY MIKE HUSSEY HERE

WBBL

Once more, the women’s game is coming to the rescue of Australian cricket.

With the Australian men’s team dragged again into unsavoury controversy, and Cricket Australia fighting fires on multiple fronts, it has been left to the stars of the WBBL to light up our television screens and inspire the nation with their skill, determination and grace.

This is not the first time the women have saved the day. Indeed, in an era where the brand of Australian men’s cricket has been repeatedly battered by behavioural, cultural and political issues, the WBBL has evolved into one of the country’s most watched sporting leagues, male or female, and independent research has found the Australian women’s squad is the most beloved team in the country two years running.

READ THE FULL STORY BY LACHLAN MCKIRDY HERE

NRL

Very few people in rugby league have had the opportunity to build a roster from scratch. It’s been 14 years since the last expansion club, Gold Coast, was formed and you’d need to go back to the Super League era for the one before that.Wayne Bennett is one of those to have done it before. He built the Broncos into a force for an entire generation. And now he gets the chance to do it all again – 35 years later! – with the Dolphins.

READ THE FULL STORY BY COREY PARKER HERE