Nail-biting finishes, brilliant individuals kickstart Country Week

Melbourne Country Week got off to a flying start on Monday with the best cricketers from regional competitions making their mark. See who made a strong impression.

View in browser 10th February 2026

News Update Nail-biting finishes, brilliant individuals kickstart Country Week Melbourne Country Week got off to a flying start on Monday with the best cricketers from regional competitions making their mark. See who made a strong impression. READ MORE   How two of Victoria's worst animal abusers keep defying courts A Victorian couple who have continued offending despite being convicted of more than 100 criminal offences and given almost $400,000 in costs has prompted new calls for harsher pen... READ MORE   New challenge facing Dandenong City Dandenong City achieved something special last year, marching to the NPL Victoria grand final. It will take something special again in 2026 after a challenging off-season. READ MORE   US burger giant's secret Melb locations revealed Fresh recruitment ads reveal Wendy's plans to test two vastly different Melbourne markets in a high-stakes expansion gamble. READ MORE   The face of horror: Housemate from hell's terrifying vendetta The reign of hell is over for the victims of this one-woman crime wave, who made international headlines for her horror offending. THE NIGHTMARE IN FULL READ MORE   Bayside family's $1.76m 'holiday at home' win Ranked among Melbourne's top five weekend results, this $1.765m auction finish shows exactly what desperate upsizers are looking for in the current "choppy" market. READ MORE   Man found dead near Portsea Pier A man's body has been found floating off the popular Mornington Peninsula pier. READ MORE   Food icons end Frankston's $11m waterfront 'curse' A high-end slice of Melbourne is coming to the Frankston foreshore as the suburb's property "glow-up" continues to attract multimillion-dollar hospitality bets. READ MORE   Meet Victoria's 2026 preps Lunch boxes are being packed, shoes are being shined and uniforms ironed as the state's youngest students have started their first days of school. See our mega galleries. READ MORE   Melb's 30-to-1 property battle: Supply hits zero A brutal 30-to-1 buyer ratio has turned pockets of Melbourne into a property battlefield, forcing local families into a desperate search. READ MORE   More local news 'Befitting a Stephen King novel': Teen subjected to fatal bashing A Supreme Court justice has wiped away tears as he detailed a family's pain while sentencing the brutal thug for the horrendous assault that led to the death of a beloved teen. READ MORE   Flight attendant crashes to earth after child abuse material bust A flight attendant and ground handler who was once the captain of his Melbourne high school has been busted with more than 100 files of "grave" child abuse material after a flight ... READ MORE   Historic Kilmore pub set to roar back to life with lion's return A famous Victorian pub — once owned by underworld survivor Tony Mokbel — has launched a bid to try and restore its beloved emblem. READ MORE   Alleged firebug arrested for blazes lit near Bendigo A 28-year-old man has been accused of deliberately lighting four fires over a three-week period just prior to the state experiencing its worst bushfire season in years. READ MORE   Residents object to Stonnington council's 'greedy cash grab' Stonnington council has blocked a petition from thousands of residents calling for a reversal of "unfair" paid parking permits after they were told they had to pay for the "privile... READ MORE   Child flown out of Wunghnu in state's north after medical emergency A child has been frantically flown out of a small country town near Shepparton after a medical emergency. READ MORE   'Proud pedo': The Melbourne copper unmasked as vile grub A former Sunshine cop with children of his own who described himself as a "proud pedo" traded vile child abuse material in disgusting chatrooms. Now he faces the consequences for h... READ MORE   Crooked store owner busted with coke stash claims heavies bullied him A convenience store owner busted with a locked bag containing coke during Melbourne's tobacco wars says he was threatened by Middle Eastern heavies who demanded he pay them "protec... READ MORE   'Unreasonable burden': Caulfield residents slam heritage proposal A group of Glen Eira residents are rejecting their council's plans to slap heritage overlays on more than 100 properties, claiming it will devalue their homes and create bureaucrat... READ MORE   Mad Mongol's 'sadistic' attack on victim left brain exposed A sadistic bikie "viciously" attacked his victim in Ballarat so badly during a horrendous assault with a metal pole he needed urgent surgery to cover his brain. READ MORE   News from the Herald Sun Kids, breakouts and big concerns: Ultimate guide to AFL's next gen At some clubs, young guns form the nucleus of a premiership challenger. At others, there are recruiting question marks. So, how do your club's under-23s compare? We run the rule of... READ MORE   Revealed: AFL ticket prices for this season The AFL has announced the price of general admission tickets for matches at the MCG and Marvel Stadium during the home and away season. Plus there is a big shake-up to Anzac Day ti... READ MORE   King backs probe into claim Andrew leaked Epstein trade docs Buckingham Palace vowed the king will cooperate with authorities over allegations Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared classified information with Jeffrey Epstein when he was UK's tra... READ MORE   'F***ing coloniser': Pepper spray used as anti-Herzog protesters turn on police A Melbourne protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit turned violent as a group lit a fire and a demonstrator yelled at a police officer: "you're a f***ing coloniser a... READ MORE   'Horrendous': Gaming platform on notice The massive Roblox platform is allegedly exposing young people to child abuse and suicide content, just months after escaping the under-16s social media ban. READ MORE   Albanese, state leaders set to attend Future Victoria 2026 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will headline a powerhouse line-up at Crown later this month, where he plans to share his "vision for supporting Victoria's future growth and prospe... READ MORE   'Actually crazy': Melbourne girl smashes all-time TikTok record Content creator Leah Halton has thanked her followers after setting an "incredible milestone" thanks to a 12 second video she posted to the social media platform. READ MORE   'A lot of inaccuracies': Hutchy's big gripe after missing out on radio deal Media mogul Craig Hutchison has opened up on the "fast moving" negotiations in his failed bid to buy Nine's national radio network that includes Melbourne's 3AW and Sydney's 2GB. READ MORE   Allan splashes cash on Showpony health website rebrand as system fails The Allan government spent nearly $230,000 to "refine the brand identity" of a health service's website after a year of crippling shortfalls in the state's hospital system, that ad... READ MORE   Police escorts, fake identities and punch-ons — wildest Origin stories Ahead of State of Origin's return, Jon Anderson and a host of legendary V/AFL figures recall some wild behind-the-scenes stories from interstate footy's golden era. READ MORE   From the network 'Truth matters': Maxwell clemency bid for Epstein-Trump testimony Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer to Congress as her lawyer hinted what she might have to say about Donald Trump and Bill Clinton – if she were granted... READ MORE   Bedroom in Arles is a well-known series of paintings by who? The Chase Australia's official Shark, Brydon Coverdale, has created a new daily quiz challenge. Test yourself. READ MORE   Wealthy Aussies pocket $19bn tax break A $23.7 billion tax break is being blamed for worsening Australia's housing crisis, with 80 per cent of its benefits ($19bn) going to rich Aussies, locking out renters and first-ho... READ MORE   'Is she really alive?' Ex FBI boss casts doubt on Guthrie kidnapping A former FBI official has questioned whether Australian born TV anchor Savannah Guthrie's missing 84-year-old mum is alive and held by kidnappers as the ransom deadline looms. READ MORE   $23k wiped: Aussie home buyers' fresh blow A brutal tax grab and rising rates have wiped $23k from borrowing power as one in three investors quit. READ MORE   Shock suburbs where homes back to 2016 prices Exclusive data reveals dozens of major suburbs where prices are frozen at 2016 levels despite a soaring national property market. READ MORE   Meghan Markle stuns in pink at solo outing The Duchess of Sussex has made a rare solo appearance at a star-studded fundraising gala while Prince Harry remained notably absent. READ MORE   Dental company's bitter collapse leaves creditors owed over $1.4m A cash crunch, strategic failures and shareholder fallout have brought down a Sydney dental appliance manufacturer, leaving creditors owed more than $1.4m. READ MORE   Miranda Kerr reveals her family's extreme daily routine Miranda Kerr's quest to be a "grandma with great skin" demands a regime so rigid it has transformed her entire household. READ MORE   How to future-proof your career against the AI boom Australia's AI revolution reveals a stunning reversal where learning a trade has become safer than a university degree as machines replace office workers. ARE YOU AT RISK? READ MORE   How a friend's 7-word text stopped Sam from his third suicide attempt Sam first attempted suicide at just 12 years of age. It was a friend's text message, checking in on his 20th birthday, that was his turning point. Read the incredible things he is ... READ MORE   Kids think handwriting is 'boring' - is it the end of pencil and paper? New research shows children have negative attitudes towards handwriting and also struggle with a keyboard, but experts say the situation is not a write-off and the trend can be rev... READ MORE   Chunk and switch, but don't cram - new homework tips for students As the 2026 school year gets into full swing, the Australian Education Research Organisation has released new evidence-based study tips to help students get ahead with their homewo... READ MORE   Legendary TV anchor's daughter dies after cancer fight The beloved daughter of a veteran Channel 7 newsreader has lost her courageous fight against cancer, leaving behind three children and a devastated family. READ MORE   Keep up to date with the Herald Sun app: download now Get the most out of your Herald Sun subscription with our app for smartphones and tablets, including a new must have-recipe section and a feature to gift stories to friends and fam... READ MORE   Newsletters Today's Paper +Rewards Want to change how you receive these emails? Manage your newsletter preferences or unsubscribe from this newsletter. This email was sent to you by the Bayside Leader, PO Box 14999, Melbourne VIC 8001, Australia.