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A damaged aircraft is seen in a destroyed hangar at the Antonov International Airport, near Hostomel, Ukraine, March 31, 2022, in this still image obtained from a social media video taken with a drone on March 31, 2022. Babylon'13/via REUTERS/File Photo KYIV - Fifteen of Ukraine's civilian airports have been damaged since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was quoted as saying by local media on Saturday. Ukraine, which the state aviation service says has 20 civilian airports, has been exploring avenues to partially open its airspace. It has been completely closed since the start of the war. Ukrainians who want to fly abroad currently have to go via road or rail to neighbouring countries to catch flights. For those living in the east, the journey out of Ukraine can take a day in itself. "We conducted a risk assessment and determined the needs of the air defence forces to partially open the airspace," local news agency Ukrinform quoted Shmyhal as saying at a transportation conference. "Security issues and the military situation remain key to this decision," he said. Shmyhal added that Russia had attacked Ukraine's port infrastructure nearly 60 times in the last three months, damaging or destroying nearly 300 facilities and 22 civilian vessels. A senior partner at insurance broker Marsh McLennan told Reuters earlier this month that Ukraine could reopen the airport in the western city of Lviv in 2025 if regulators deem it safe and a political decision is made. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Suchir Balaji , a 26-year-old Indian-origin former OpenAI employee, was discovered dead in his Buchanan Street apartment on Thanksgiving Day last week. The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death as suicide, with no signs of foul play. Days after, his mother Poornima Ramarao has opened up about her son’s death. In an interview with Business Insider, his mother revealed that Balaji had grown increasingly disillusioned with artificial intelligence (AI), particularly OpenAI’s shift toward commercialization with ChatGPT . Poornima Ramarao said, “He felt AI is a harm to humanity,” describing how her son, Suchir Balaji, transitioned from boundless optimism about AI’s potential to profound skepticism. Reflecting on his tragic death, she added, “It doesn’t look like a normal situation.” Suchir Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before resigning in August this year. One of his early contributions, a project called WebGPT , is credited with laying the groundwork for ChatGPT. Balaji had openly voiced concerns about potential copyright violations by OpenAI and other AI firms, particularly the use of copyrighted material to train generative AI models like ChatGPT. These concerns drew attention amid a growing wave of lawsuits from writers, programmers, and journalists accusing AI companies of unauthorized use of their work. OpenAI issues statement Expressing its condolences following the passing of the former researcher, OpenAI has released a statement on Thursday, December 26. The company confirmed its support for Balaji's family during this challenging time. The statement, shared on OpenAI's newsroom, marks exactly one month since Balaji's death on November 26. “We were devastated to learn of this tragic news and have been in touch with Suchir's family to offer our full support,” the statement read. “Our priority is to continue to do everything we can to assist them.”NSW Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Tommy Herschell spends his days saving kids’ lives. He is not a nurse or a surgeon, a lifeguard or a firefighter, rather each week the former teacher goes back into schools across the country to help put a stop to bullying. Mr Herschell brings bullies and their victims together, resulting in kids opening up about how being targeted by their classmates feels and, in many cases, seeing playground bullies break down in tears and confront their own behaviour. WATCH CHARLOTTE’S WISH DOCUMENTARY HERE His methods may go against the modern-day policies of many schools, but there is overwhelming evidence Mr Herschell’s self-funded Find Ya Feet programs work better than organisations with multimillion-dollar budgets. I t is why Mat and Kelly O’Brien, parents to 12-year-old Charlotte who took her own life after relentless bullying at school, asked for him to join politicians, education experts and leading principals at The Sunday Telegraph’s roundtable into bullying. Tommy Herschell of Find Ya Feet at the bullying round table. Picture: Rohan Kelly Mr Herschell told multiple stories that brought those in the room to tears, one of them about a young boy whose life he saved a few days after Charlotte’s death in September. “It was only a few days after Charlotte passed where a young fella stood at the side of the room and he said, ‘I’m at the point where I’ve had enough, I don’t want to be here and I want to take my own life’,” Mr Herschell said. Grieving parents discuss bullying in schools with ministers and industry leaders at the round table. Picture: Rohan Kelly. “I said, ‘Hey boys, let’s give this fellow an opportunity to tell his story’ and when he got to tell that story, all the other students understood him and could empathise with him. “A few days later that young man messaged me and he said ‘your workshop saved my life, and I’m just so grateful’.” Mr Herschell’s sessions see him rock up in a “Find ya feet” trucker cap and allow the occasional swear word. Sometimes he brings his mates, such as NRL star Nicho Hynes or Test cricketer Mitch Marsh, where they listen to kids and open up about their own experiences of bullying. When asked what he thought could change in the classroom, Mr Herschell said modern-day teachers were like “car salesmen who are not allowed to look under the bonnet”. “I’ve started putting counsellors in schools myself and I call them ‘mental mechanics’,” he said. “They dress like me, talk like me, have the odd swear word, but the improvement in these young people is through the roof .” More Coverage Crackdown on bullies: ‘No single issue that concerns parents more’ Cydonee Mardon and Josh Hanrahan Australia praised for world-leading social media ban Julie Cross and Angira Bharadwaj Originally published as Charlotte’s Wish: How Tommy became a caring, swearing mental mechanic to stop bullying Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories NSW Cyclist in critical condition after being hit by car A man is fighting for life after he was hit by a car in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday morning. Read more NSW Was Biddy’s killer ‘a ticking time bomb’? The mum of 10-year-old Biddy Porter hopes a newly announced inquest into her daughter’s death will look at the role of the Department of Education, GPs and the killers family to see if signs of danger were there. Read moreDear Eric: I am one of many lonely adults struggling to make close friends. It’s never come easy for me, and it’s compounded by the fact that I’m an introvert who works from home part time with three small children, living far away from family. My husband is a great friend and support, but I’d love to have more female friends. Several years ago, when we moved to our current area, I started inviting people to barbecues, large parties, out to dinner and on vacations. I work hard to listen when people talk and remember what they share, texting them on birthdays or big days that they mention. I offer to watch children and plan play dates. While I feel friendly with a large circle of people, I’m rarely on anyone else’s invite lists and don’t get any texts on my birthdays. Am I expecting too much from friendships as an adult? Should I be happy and not lonely with what I have? I know I’m lucky to now know so many of my neighbors, but when I stop interacting with them, they forget about me. I’m exhausted with the one-sided effort. — Tired of Trying Dear Trying: I’m going to tell you something that will probably annoy you. I apologize in advance. You may be too good at socializing, to the point where the people around you assume your calendar is always full and/or don’t think you’re someone who needs the kind of friendly check-ins we all do. This is counterintuitive, of course, but people are strange. Being the consummate social butterfly in what you describe as a very social area has many benefits — you should be proud of what you’ve done — but it might be impeding deeper connections. Try to narrow your scope. Are there a few people with whom you’d like to develop a closer relationship? If so, focus on cultivating a series of meaningful interactions with them. Don’t be afraid to tell them your plan, i.e., “I’d love to be better friends. Can we get together?” I’ve found that one of the benefits of making friends as an adult is you can say what you really mean. You’re obviously quite gifted at the art of community-making, no small feat. But if you’re running the party, you don’t always get the benefit of the party. Being more strategic and focused won’t narrow your social group but could elevate some of those casual acquaintances to the level of friends. Dear Eric: I just read the letter from “Former Friend,” whose son’s classmate stays in touch long after their son had fallen out of contact. I offer some thoughts on behalf of someone who is still in touch with many of my son’s former classmates. One, they might genuinely enjoy you as a person. As they become adults, it’s a wonderful opportunity to form independent friendships. Two, some young people might see you as a parental figure that they don’t have. You might be seen as a resource for advice. Three, sometimes you’ve been the safe space in their life. Decades ago, I was a young person whose mother was deceased and whose father was abusive. I would have given anything just to have a safe adult to talk to. Dear Still Friends: I think you make a great point about the potential for the letter writer to play a needed role in a younger person’s life. If the letter writer isn’t finding value in the friendship, it’s worth figuring out what could make it meaningful. 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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said federally required tallies taken across the country in January found more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless — a number that misses some people and does not include those staying with friends or family because they don't have a place of their own. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of COVID-19 pandemic assistance. The 2023 increase also was driven by people experiencing homelessness for the first time. The numbers overall represent 23 of every 10,000 people in the U.S., with Black people being overrepresented among the homeless population. People are also reading... Albany school support staff call for schools to close Jan. 6 As I See It: Why I really resigned from the Corvallis Planning Commission Unsafe left turn on Highway 20 in Linn County leads to fatal crash Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Samaritan Health Services CEO resigns Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Christmas Eve hit-and-run causes domino effect in Albany Corvallis high schoolers: We don't trust district to handle bias reports Oregon State men head to the beaches of Hawaii looking to keep momentum going Albany man indicted in attempted murder case A man walks past a homeless encampment Oct. 25, 2023, in downtown Los Angeles. "No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve," HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a statement, adding that the focus should remain on "evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness." Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness — one of the areas that was most affected by the arrival of migrants in big cities. Family homelessness more than doubled in 13 communities impacted by migrants including Denver, Chicago and New York City, according to HUD, while it rose less than 8% in the remaining 373 communities. Almost 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33% jump from last year. Disasters also played a part in the rise in the count, especially last year's catastrophic Maui wildfire, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. More than 5,200 people were in emergency shelters in Hawaii on the night of the count. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents assist state police as they order people living in a homeless encampment to move to a different designated location during a sweep ahead of a Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans. "Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing," Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement. "As advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience have warned, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase as more people struggle to afford sky-high housing costs." Robert Marbut Jr., the former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness from 2019 to 2021, called the nearly 33% increase in homelessness over the past four years "disgraceful" and said the federal government needs to abandon efforts to prioritize permanent housing. "We need to focus on treatment of substance use and mental illness, and bring back program requirements, like job training," Marbut said in an email. The numbers also come as increasing numbers of communities are taking a hard line against homelessness. People living in a homeless encampment pick up belongings Oct. 23 after Louisiana State Police ordered them to move to a different designated location during a sweep ahead of a Taylor Swift concert in New Orleans. Angered by often dangerous and dirty tent camps, communities — especially in Western states — have enforced bans on camping. That follows a 6-3 ruling this summer by the Supreme Court that found outdoor sleeping bans don’t violate the Eighth Amendment. Homeless advocates argued that punishing people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness. There was some positive news in the count, as homelessness among veterans continued to trend downward. Homelessness among veterans dropped 8% to 32,882 in 2024. It was an even larger decrease for unsheltered veterans, declining 11% to 13,851 in 2024. "The reduction in veteran homelessness offers us a clear roadmap for addressing homelessness on a larger scale," Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. "With bipartisan support, adequate funding, and smart policy solutions, we can replicate this success and reduce homelessness nationwide. Federal investments are critical in tackling the country's housing affordability crisis and ensuring that every American has access to safe, stable housing." Several large cities had success bringing down their homeless numbers. Dallas, which worked to overhaul its homeless system, saw a 16% drop in its numbers between 2022 to 2024. Los Angeles, which increased housing for the homeless, saw a drop of 5% in unsheltered homelessness since 2023. A rat sniffs the hand of a sleeping man experiencing homelessness Dec. 18 in downtown Los Angeles. California, the most populous state in the U.S., continued to have the nation's largest homeless population, followed by New York, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts. The sharp increase in the homeless population over the past two years contrasts with success the U.S. had for more than a decade. Going back to the first 2007 survey, the U.S. made steady progress for about a decade in reducing the homeless population as the government focused particularly on increasing investments to get veterans into housing. The number of homeless people dropped from about 637,000 in 2010 to about 554,000 in 2017. The numbers ticked up to about 580,000 in the 2020 count and held relatively steady over the next two years as Congress responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with emergency rental assistance, stimulus payments, aid to states and local governments and a temporary eviction moratorium. Emergency housing resources for older Americans in need Emergency housing resources for older Americans in need Homelessness is intertwined with the cost of living, and the high cost of living is hitting older adults fairly hard. A Westat survey for the Department of Health and Human Services found that older adults are the fastest-growing cohort of the homeless population. Emergency housing for seniors can keep that number from climbing higher. Caring.com details how to access it. The number of homeless seniors isn't based solely on people remaining homeless as they age; it also includes those whose first experience with homelessness came after they turned 50. In 2023, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that 1 in 5 homeless people were over the age of 55. For seniors and other older adults, fixed incomes make it hard to battle the ever-increasing cost of expenses. Endhomelessness.org cites that 2.35 million older adults are paying over half of their limited income to rent. Based on Caring.com's July 2024 survey of seniors in the workforce , that's exactly why 1 in 15 retired seniors worry about losing their homes. Shelter use in homeless people older than 51 has gone up over 10% from 2007 to 2017, according to the HUD. But luckily, so has the number of shelters. Between 2022 and 2023, the HUD reports that emergency shelters added 28,760 more beds in emergency shelters, though this is a reduction in the amount of beds available during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. What Is Emergency Housing? Emergency homeless assistance, or emergency housing, is a temporary solution. It's designed to provide shelter while those facing housing instability figure out their next step. Emergency housing for homeless seniors gives someone the immediate ability to remain housed and safely sheltered. Local nonprofits are often involved in placing people experiencing homelessness or housing instability into emergency shelters. Low-income seniors, seniors who are low on funds and might not make rent, or seniors who need to leave their homes for other reasons can use emergency housing. How To Find Emergency Housing For Seniors Many cities have their own emergency housing programs. There are also nationwide programs that provide emergency housing for seniors. The internet is the fastest tool for locating local emergency housing. Libraries have free internet access, for those who might not have a computer or Wi-Fi to begin their search. The list below leads to websites that include phone numbers for emergency homeless assistance. Senior Programs for Emergency Housing Crisis Hotline 2-1-1 Seniors in need of immediate assistance and resources should call 2-1-1 or contact the United Way online . The 2-1-1 crisis hotline partners with United Way, which is committed to helping homeless seniors find local shelters or access transitional housing. The service can also connect seniors with other resources, including food, mental health support, or funding for health care expenses. Calling 2-1-1 is often required as a prerequisite before trying to get into a shelter or obtaining other assistance. Because 2-1-1 is for people in crisis, there are no eligibility requirements. However, some programs seniors may access through 2-1-1 do have eligibility requirements. Seniors can simply dial 2-1-1 from nearly anywhere in the U.S. to be put in touch with the programs and resources they need. Housing Choice Voucher Program Designed specifically for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, the Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program offering low-income housing options and rent assistance. These vouchers are available through your local public housing agency (PHA). This program enables and encourages participants to choose their own housing. Housing options don't need to be a part of subsidized housing projects, but there are limits on unit size. Typically, participants must pay 30% of their monthly adjusted income towards their rent, and the voucher program pays the remainder. Applicant income and family size help the PHA determine eligibility. Citizenship and eligible immigration status also play a factor. The family's income cannot exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area where they're applying to live. Of the vouchers, 75% must go to people whose income is at or less than 30% of their area's median income. Contact your local public housing agency . Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program The Section 202 program helps expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services for seniors. This program gives low-income seniors options that allow them to live independently, with support for cooking, cleaning, transportation, etc. This program is open to any very low-income household that has at least one person 62 years old or older. Applicants must submit an application in response to a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) posted on Grants.gov . U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing Voucher (HUD-VASH) The HUD-VASH program was created as emergency homeless assistance for veterans. Its goal is to give homeless veterans access to permanent housing through public housing authorities. Veterans receive rental assistance through the HUD Housing Choice Voucher program and additional case management services through the VA. By December 2023, the HUD had allocated nearly 112,000 vouchers to help house veterans nationwide. To help veterans achieve stability and remain housed, VA case managers may connect veterans with support services such as health care, mental health treatment, and substance use counseling. If you or your loved one is a low-income senior with eligible military service, you may apply. Your local VA can tell you if your service qualifies you for HUD-VASH. Senior veterans may apply online or call (877) 424-3838. Emergency Housing Resources by State Click here to learn more about the emergency housing options for seniors available in your state. The Bottom Line Low-income seniors who aren't in assisted living or independent living communities might find themselves facing housing instability. Emergency housing for seniors can help you or your loved one seek shelter. Crisis hotlines and public housing agencies can offer support. Senior Emergency Housing FAQ Finding emergency housing for seniors depends heavily on your area. The first step is to call the Crisis Hotline at 2-1-1. Finding a shelter takes less time than applying and getting approved for low-income housing voucher programs. The 2-1-1 hotline can direct you to local resources and locators. Yes and no. The duration depends on the type of housing. Shelters have limits that vary. Some shelters allow people to stay for up to six months, though that can vary based on demand. Seniors can remain in Section 202 supportive housing as long as they meet age and income requirements. Yes. Many counties have financial emergency programs that help seniors handle home repairs or short-term financial crises like utility shutoff. These programs allow the senior to focus their funds on their rent or mortgage. This story was produced by Caring.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. 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(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has promised to reduce government waste and employed wealthy businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the charge. So far, spending on federal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies are prime targets for Musk and Ramaswamy, and a recent report shows just how widespread federal DEI spending has become. The report from Do No Harm shows 500 ways the Biden-Harris administration “infused DEI into the federal government.” Those examples include federal agencies starting dozens of equity training programs, doling out federal contracts and jobs based on race and gender, and teaching Americans more about their country’s racism, both past and present. The DEI explosion took off after Biden issued executive orders on his first day in office as well as another in June of 2021. The first executive order “established that affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our Government.” The second order established “that it is the policy of my Administration to cultivate a workforce that draws from the full diversity of the Nation.” Biden also issued other executive orders, including around gender and sexuality, to the same effect his first year in office. Those orders gave federal bureaucrats not only permission but actually direct orders to embrace DEI policies across the board. And Do No Harm’s report shows they did, full-throttle, citing 80 “Equity Action Plans” submitted by agencies that promised over 500 taxpayer-funded actions. Some of the actions are seemingly mild, such as the U.S. Social Security Administration tracking more racial data. Other examples of DEI policies, though, made the federal government the nation’s teacher. For example, a blog for the U.S. Treasury Department lectures Americans on racial inequality. More directly, the federal government began implementing training programs for many federal employees that fully embrace racial ideology labeled “woke” by its opponents. For instance, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission invested in training for employees to consider equity more in its regulatory decisions. “Training will address how equity and environmental justice involves removing barriers underserved communities may face in the context of the Commission’s practices, processes, and policies,” FERC said in its Equity Action Plan. “Training also will address how, consistent with FERC’s mission and statutory duties, the Commission considers the impact of its actions on such communities. More specific trainings geared toward the responsibilities of different program offices and issue areas also may be identified or developed and offered.” Other actions seem to favor some groups over others. Changing the “percentage” of benefits received necessarily requires giving contracts, grants, or other federal resources to certain groups, almost always at the expense of white Americans, even more often white men. For example, the American Battle Monuments Commissions in its Equity Action Plan called for “expanding the percentage of U.S.-based contracted goods and services awarded to minority-owned, women-owned, and service disabled veteran-owned enterprises.” In fact, the ABMC pledged to pay a worker for this sole purpose. In another instance, the Smithsonian Institute pledged to recruit more Black and indigenous interns. “One of the simplest ways to ensure equity and accessibility in internships is to provide a livable stipend and advertise it clearly in promotion materials,” the federal group said in its Equity Action Plan. “Many units include a statement directly in their internship description about their commitment to equity. They also are intentional about making the application process simple and transparent, offering access services for interviews and allowing for multiple formats in place of a required essay.” The Smithsonian Institution , the federal steward of America’s past, also promised to begin promoting a historical framework that emphasizes American racism in the past and today. The federal group pledged to “Address the historical roots and contemporary impacts of race and racism in the United States and globally through interdisciplinary scholarship, creative partnerships, dialogue, education, and engagement.” The Center Square has reported on other examples of DEI policies and grants becoming the norm in recent years as well, though much of this kind of spending began before the Biden-Harris administration took power. Those include: $2.6 million in taxpayer dollars to train students to promote critical race theory. Millions to train school teachers in DEI ideology around race and gender. A portion of New York's $9 billion in federal COVID funding was spent training staff in ‘privilege’ and to recognize ‘equity warriors,’" among other related themes. $1.2 million for research find evidence that racism is the culprit for minorities struggling to sleep at night.
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AFL News Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Forwards were the order of the day for the Giants and Swans as they added some impressive front-end talent on night one of the 2024 AFL draft. Both NSW sides were always bound to have a big say in the first round with five picks between them, but there was a clear desire from the two teams to prioritise attacking talent. The Giants added forwards with two of their three selections. Ollie Hannaford was their first at pick 18, and while the GWV Rebels player can play across the lines, he excelled in the second half of the year upfront, including a bag of six goals against the Geelong Falcons in the Coates League qualifying final. They also added Cody Angrove, the athletic West Australian who relishes playing high half-forward and has won back-to-back Colts premierships with Claremont. Ollie Hannaford (L) was the Giants’ first draft selection in 2024, with defender Harry Oliver (R) following the very next pick. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images However, it is Hannaford who looms as the most intriguing prospect given that he is still a relative unknown in the forward line. Motivated by a disappointing snub earlier in the year, he made the most of his chances to grab a spot on the Giants’ list. “I missed out on the National Combine invite,” Hannaford said. “So I think that was a bit of a kick in the bum that sort of fuelled the fire for me. “You go back to square one with your mentors and get back at what you’re good at. We went back to the drawing board. One of the coaches, Eamonn Gill, was the forward coach and I hadn’t really played there much so he helped me out. “Early on I wasn’t kicking goals but was learning off him. Then I started playing some good footy and kicking a few goals as well.” ð¬ "It's a dream come true." We speak with GIANTS draftee Ollie Hannaford ð2 https://t.co/ZUsoqgi6RV pic.twitter.com/CcSw2gs3dT — GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) November 21, 2024 Hannaford was a name on the radar of several clubs, including the Swans, but the Giants have always shown they’re one to disregard phantom drafts and use their first pick on the player they believe is the best talent. It was a surprise for Hannaford who had a small gathering with friends, and even his mum wasn’t in attendance because they thought he would slip to the second night of the draft. “Ollie shifted forward in the second half of the season and became a genuine threat with his athletic package mixed with a genuine desire to compete,” Giants’ head of talent Adrian Caruso said. “He suits the way we want to play with his aggressive and attacking nature coupled with strong speed and power traits.” An ability to balance out his attacking and defensive work is what set Hannaford apart in 2024. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images The Giants also took the impressive Harry Oliver with their other first-round selection, a silky left-footed defender who is an elegant user of the ball. He finished the season in the under-18 All-Australian side and the Coates League team of the year thanks to his speed and line-breaking ability. But it’s hard not to be drawn to the two forward additions for the Giants. They join a list that already includes superstars such as Toby Greene and Brent Daniels, while will be competing with other exciting youngsters such as Darcy Jones, Harvey Thomas, Conor Stone and Phoenix Gothard. Ollie Hannaford is a certified draft bolter â¡ï ̧ The GWV Rebels forward saved his best until last with this freakish dribbler in a six-goal haul. Watch our top @TalentLeague #AFLDraft moments: https://t.co/qiKkOwRzgr pic.twitter.com/WnYKOhJRbB — KommunityTV (@KommunityTV) November 20, 2024 In a sense, it’s doubling down of their orange tsunami game plan. Where other teams might have felt a need to add depth in other positions, Adam Kingsley and his team clearly want forward pressure to be at the front of their plans. And Hannaford’s words, stemming from a background in rugby, will be music to his ears. Hannaford and Angrove join a forward line that already boasts the likes of Greene, Daniels and Jones. Picture: Brett Costello “(Making tackles) is something I pride myself on,” he said. “Dad was a rugby player back in the day and learned a thing or two from him, so I just love the contest. It’s something I’ve thrived off. “The Giants are a great team and they’ve played some good footy this year. So, if I can get into that forward line hopefully I can have that defensive presence as a small forward as well as a goal threat. “I think that will help them, hopefully, to what they’re trying to achieve, which is obviously to win a premiership. So yeah, I can’t wait.” The Swans also pulled a surprise on night one, reaching with their second pick to select Ned Bowman, the young forward out of South Australia. Whether it was his high-flying mark that went viral in an under-18s game that got Sydney’s attention, most considered Bowman a second-round prospect at best. However, he clearly adds to a position the Swans are relatively short on, with the 187cm forward playing in a very similar mould to Will Hayward. If he can add his X-factor, his strong marking ability and solid set shot into Sydney’s forward line, there’s no doubt he will be a handy addition. “I am not sure where they get their rankings from,” Sydney’s head of list strategy Chris Keane said. “We go off our order for all the work we have done across the year so that’s all we can go off. “We really love his attributes. He is a really good athlete who is going to add some speed and power to the front half of our game. “We wanted to address that part of the ground if we could but also align with the talent that we had in order, I think that ticked both boxes which is really pleasing.” More Coverage Behind the scenes: The key draft moments, intel you missed Jay Clark Originally published as Ollie Hannaford: The tackle-loving forward set to add to GWS Giants’ Orange Tsunami Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories AFL News Draper opens up on pre-draft phone call to new coach Sid Draper and Tyler Welsh have stood together as Crows for the first time, opening up on a whirlwind 48 hours. But it was what Draper did before that which really impressed the club. Read more AFL Clubs still circling Thomas, wait on AFL’s tick for return Tarryn Thomas recently plead guilty to a series of menacing calls to his ex-girlfriend, but clubs are still interested in monitoring his rehabilitation with a potential AFL return in mind. Read more
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