Ben Smith's Avatar

Ben Smith

@bensmith94.bsky.social

All-rounder for The West Australian's sport team, but mainly football (⚽) & rugby. Devin Booker, Tugay & emo night enthusiast. Views are sadly, my own. News tips: ben.smith@wanews.com.au

484 Followers  |  390 Following  |  657 Posts  |  Joined: 16.11.2024
Posts Following

Posts by Ben Smith (@bensmith94.bsky.social)

Preview
Matildas coach keeping quiet on ‘keeping decision Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has refused to rule goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold either in or out of Sunday’s Women’s Asian Cup opening game against The Philippines.

Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has refused to rule goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold either in or out of Sunday’s Women’s Asian Cup opener.

Further clouding goalkeeper conundrum: Jada Whyman not on park during 15 minutes open to media.

28.02.2026 08:38 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Gorry keeping faith in ‘keepers after Arnold training cameo Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry has backed deputy goalkeepers Jada Whyman and Chloe Lincoln to do their country proud should Mackenzie Arnold not front up for Sunday’s Women’s Asian Cup opener.

Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry has backed deputy goalkeepers Jada Whyman and Chloe Lincoln to do their country proud should veteran shot-stopper Mackenzie Arnold not front up for Sunday’s Women’s Asian Cup opener.

27.02.2026 06:44 — 👍 3    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
No mental scars from previous clash for Matildas’ opponents The Philippines’ coach Mark Torcaso has promised his side will “fight to the death” and says his side are more prepared for the Women’s Asian Cup opener than their previous 8-0 loss to the Matildas.

Spoke to The Philippines’ Australian coach Mark Torcaso this morning, who has promised his side will "fight to the death" and declared his side are more prepared for their Women’s Asian Cup opener than their previous 8-0 hiding by the Matildas.

27.02.2026 06:06 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Video thumbnail

Mackenzie Arnold made a brief appearance on the training track this morning before heading inside during the 15 minutes of Matildas training open to media.

27.02.2026 02:26 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

It took me less than five minutes to get angry at the Scrubs reboot (rest of the first two episodes were fine).

Never before have I related more to the cross Pingu meme.

26.02.2026 23:08 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
How rising stars could fuel Matildas’ Asian Cup quest For all the star-power Australia possess, it is the strides some of their lesser-known players have taken since the Women’s World Cup which could make a difference at the Women’s Asian Cup.

For all the star-power the Matildas possess, Winonah Heatley is one of four players with less than 35 caps to their name who could potentially find their way into Joe Montemurro’s starting 11 against The Philippines.

26.02.2026 07:50 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Tillies star under cloud as ex-Glory favourite spotted Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler have ramped up their Women’s Asian Cup preparations - but is a fellow star under a selection cloud ahead of Sunday’s opener against The Philippines?

Good news for Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler at Matildas training.

Also good news to see ex-Glory 'keeper Morgan Aquino at training.

The bad news? No Mackenzie Arnold in the portion open to the media.

26.02.2026 06:16 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
Preview
‘Minister of defence’ expecting fight for starting berth Matildas shot-stopper Mackenzie Arnold is adamant she is not simply assuming she will start in goal in Australia’s Women’s Asian Cup opener despite fellow custodian Teagan Micah’s injury.

Matildas shot-stopper Mackenzie Arnold is adamant she is not simply assuming she will start in goal in Australia’s Women’s Asian Cup opener despite fellow custodian Teagan Micah’s injury.

25.02.2026 07:31 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Stars sidelined at Matildas’ opening full training session Two of the Matildas’ biggest names were restricted to light duties, while coach Joe Montemurro may have tipped his hand to the positions some players may play in when the Women’s Asian Cup begins. SEE...

Two of the Matildas' biggest names did not train with the main group on a scorching-hot Wednesday morning - but did coach Joe Montemurro tip his hand as to how he views Alanna Kennedy and Kaitlyn Torpey position-wise?

25.02.2026 06:16 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

Perth has a Tillies fever and the only prescription is more Kerr-ball

25.02.2026 03:38 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
‘We want to put on a show’: Matildas ready to dazzle in WA Matildas winger Hayley Raso has declared her team will put on a show at the Women’s Asian Cup, with the Aussies excited to embrace the pressure of hosting a major tournament.

Matildas winger Hayley Raso has declared her team will put on a show at the Women’s Asian Cup, with the Aussies excited to embrace the pressure of hosting a major tournament.

24.02.2026 02:34 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Code-swapping Rosich ready to seize round-ball opportunity Australian Professional Leagues chief executive Steve Rosich says his time at WA’s AFL clubs prepared him for the rigours of running the A-League and awakening the sleeping giant that is the round bal...

Spoke to new APL CEO Steve Rosich about a few things, including his timeline for the Central Coast Mariners and a Western United update.

22.02.2026 01:15 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
‘Zero doubt’: Fowler confident ahead of Tillies return In a WA exclusive interview with The West, Matildas star Mary Fowler has declared herself ‘100 per cent’ confident in her surgically-repaired knee in the lead-up to their Women’s Asian Cup opener.

WA Exclusive: Mary Fowler has declared herself “100 per cent” confident in her surgically-repaired knee, despite just 15 minutes of action in the lead-up to the Women’s Asian Cup.

20.02.2026 07:46 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
‘Ready to go’: No coach concerns on Matildas superstar duo Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is confident their two biggest stars in Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler can positively impact their Women’s Asian Cup campaign despite twin returns from torn ACLs over the past ...

Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is confident Australia’s two biggest stars in Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler can positively impact their Women’s Asian Cup campaign despite twin returns from torn ACLs over the past year.

19.02.2026 05:07 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

'I never thought AI would ruin MY life,' sobs woman who voted for the AI Will Ruin Your Life Party

19.02.2026 05:04 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Glory get both good and bad news on injury front There is fresh news on the injury front for Perth Glory - and it’s a mixed bag as they plot a late-season finals surge.

There is fresh news on the injury front for Perth Glory - and it’s a mixed bag as they plot a late-season finals surge.

18.02.2026 06:59 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

A Yellowcard arena show (even though it may be a support slot) in the year 2026 AD.

We've never been so back.

17.02.2026 23:29 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Am wondering whether a certain popular sports writer will use their spot on a popular sports podcast this year to wish a Merry Christmas to the people who sacked both Frank and Dyche, like they did for Ange...

12.02.2026 01:39 — 👍 5    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Glory eye end to goal drought as Canberra visit beckons Perth Glory coach Stephen Peters admits their recent goal-scoring drought is a concern and has challenged his side to take the game to Canberra United and keep their finals hopes alive.

Perth Glory have not found the net in a Dub match since their 1-1 draw with Central Coast in mid-January, which amounts to 369 minutes including stoppage time - but Stephen Peters isn't worried just yet.

11.02.2026 08:18 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1
Preview
Young sprint stars keeping elder statesman on his toes Sprint star Rohan Browning says the emergence of hot-shots Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy is pushing him to stay sharp as he continues his quest to become the third Australian to break the fabled 10-se...

Spoke to Rohan Browning ahead of his Perth Track Classic appearance next week about the hunt for a sub-10 100m - and how Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy are spurring him on to greater heights.

08.02.2026 01:46 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Levi’s lofty ambitions: Wallaroos, Jillaroos and Olympics 2024 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi is not merely concerned with being the best possible version of a sevens player — she wants to conquer every terrain possible.

Spoke to Maddison Levi about her lofty goals.

She opened up on the prospect of one day being a dual international for Australia in both union AND league and retiring after the Brisbane Olympics.

She's one of Australia's great athletes for a reason.

07.02.2026 02:44 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Glory rue missed opportunity as Nix move top of table Perth Glory have missed an opportunity to keep pace with the top six in the A-League Women’s finals race after going down 1-0 to newly-minted ladder-leaders Wellington Phoenix.

When you're in a finals race - and specifically, this Dub finals race - the margins a fine. Perth Glory may come to rue that very avoidable 45+4 goal to Makala Woods.

06.02.2026 05:38 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Death of a Sports Section The Washington Post sports department was dismantled before its leaders gave it a chance to change

Me on the death of the Washington Post sports section.

This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry.
www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...

04.02.2026 16:20 — 👍 563    🔁 211    💬 14    📌 32
Preview
Glory’s closer ready to swap bullpen for starting role Jaiden Kucharski might be the A-League’s best super-sub given his remarkable record of scoring late winners off the bench - but the young forward has his eye on a spot in Perth Glory’s starting 11.

Jaiden Kucharski might be the A-League’s best super-sub given his remarkable record of scoring late winners off the bench — but the young forward has his eye on a spot in Perth Glory’s starting 11.

05.02.2026 03:40 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
03.02.2026 17:56 — 👍 11667    🔁 3037    💬 36    📌 22

I don't think 450K is low. That's still almost half a million dollars they otherwise wouldn't have. I think he's a decent prospect but also don't exactly set the league on fire.

04.02.2026 02:32 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0
Preview
Glory send ‘future Socceroo’ to Holland for six-figure fee Perth Glory have bade a fond farewell to midfielder Rhys Bozinovski after Dutch Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo side snapped up the 21 year-old for an understood to be six-figure fee.

Shrewd bit of business from Perth Glory, who effectively signed Rhys Bozinovski off the street (to use US sport parlance) to a two-year deal, and then shipped him off to Europe not long after. Understand the fee is in the region of $450K.

04.02.2026 02:15 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0
Post image

How it feels to watch Carlos Alcaraz

01.02.2026 11:50 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Shots aplenty, but Glory thwarted in goalless draw Perth Glory have missed a golden opportunity to move into second on the A-League Women ladder after they were frustrated by Sydney FC in an entertaining 0-0 draw at Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Fun game at SKFC last night. But one which could have seismic repercussions for Glory's Dub finals hopes down the line. Badawiya probably denied a clear-cut penalty, but Heather Hinz was in good form in between the sticks for Sydney.

29.01.2026 02:57 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
‘Absolute joke’: Glory coach unloads on ref after loss Perth Glory coach Stephen Peters has unleashed on the officiating during his side’s 2-0 loss at home to A-League Women table-toppers Melbourne City, claiming it felt like his side were facing 12 oppon...

Stephen Peters has unleashed on the officiating during Glory's 2-0 loss to Melbourne City, claiming it felt like his side were facing 12 opponents. In particular, he was ropeable over the lack of a second yellow to Alexia Apostolakis.

25.01.2026 05:25 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0