In summary
It’ll be disappointment for Tom Hawkins, but a draw can be as good as a win in the logjam for finals. And he knows the elation of the after-the-siren win, so perhaps it’s only fair if he gets to find out what it’s like when you miss. If he ever needs cheering up, he can always watch this a few more times.
Or this one, which remains a thing of sonic and visual beauty.
That corker aside, the NRL gave us a great game as Manly pipped the Warriors, an entertaining win for North Queensland over Canberra, and the Sharks showed what they can do in thrashing the Roosters.
In the AFL, Gary Ablett’s 300th was a lovely moment for a very nice fellow, and his Suns did the right thing by him and got him a win. The Tigers beat Port, Adelaide did for Carlton, and the Weagles got a narrow win over the Doggies.
That’s it for today - we’ll Sportwatch with you tomorrow, and next weekend, and even the one after that. Thanks for the company, see you then.
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A pulsating game between Geelong and GWS - it promised it right from the start. Not the highest scoring, but high intensity throughout. And plenty of errors on a greasy night in western Sydney, but that also added to the tension and closeness of the teams.
As for GWS - premiership contender? People have said that, but one of the things that defines those teams is their ability to get things done when times are tough. The Giants did that tonight, trailing for much of the game, restricted for much of it, but in the end gathering the momentum through that last quarter to hit the front. The way they were playing, it ended up being Geelong who were the luckier side to get away with a draw. Though had Hawkins landed the kick, you couldn’t have begrudged the win to the side that dictated so much of the game.
Either way, it’s another chapter in what is turning into a fascinating rivalry. The best game yet between these teams, and there have been a couple of good ones.
Port Adelaide (8.15.63) beaten by Richmond (11.10.76)
Finally they get there. A win for the Tigers, who have let a few games slip this season, based on producing their best in the second half after the game had nearly got away. Alex Rance struggled with a hard tag to curb his defensive rebound, but came back in the second half as well. Sam Powell-Pepper gets a late goal for Port, but it matters not. Relief more than elation for all those Tigers wan and weary.
More confident now! Jayden Short runs onto the ball at half forward, skirts around one, and launches from 60 metres. Darcy Byrne-Jones is pleading with the goal umpire to believe that he got a fist on the ball diving towards the line, but they award it a goal. 57 plays 76.
A quick shift over to Adelaide Oval, where Richmond leads by 13 with 3:30 to go. Tigers fans will still not be remotely confident.
It's a draw! GWS (10.8.68) draw with Geelong (10.8.68)
Hawkins kicks a point! Well, good lord. It’s true that he was fairly deep in the pocket but it wasn’t an impossible shot. And he was reasonably close, kicking from about 30. Would have fancied it, but he stabbed a bit at the kick, perhaps distracted by the siren sounding as he came in for the shot. The shot from the right pocket slid to the right side, and Hawkins is still shaking his head in dismay even minutes after the kick. It’s a draw! A fair result, perhaps, from two teams who gave it everything.
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Hawkins marks in the pocket! 28 seconds left! Heath Shaw has the clearing kick, which is just about out on the full on the flank but even so, is deliberately out of bounds. Tuohy takes the reply, spears it into the pocket, and Hawkins, who has also had a dirty night under close defensive attention, finally gets a grab almost uncontested - somehow with 36 players in the forward 50, he was still able to find a lick of space.
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Players fighting at every stoppage with grim intensity. But it’s stoppage after stoppage. Time ticking. GWS keep locking the ball in or finding the boundary. The 60-second mark approaches.
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Under two minutes to play, GWS by a point...
So nearly could have been the game for Geelong. A fast burst out of defence, no one in the forward half. Aaron Black is running onto the loose ball with plenty of space and a full head of steam. On its third bounce, the ball lobs up over his head as he approaches, and falls to the favour of GWS. The cruelty of the Sherrin’s shape.
A rushed behind with four minutes left. GWS lead.
Geelong responding, Aaron Black running hard to get behind the defence, from the forward flank, drills the long ball to Parsons in the goal square but the GWS gang defence spoils the near mark. Whooshka. What a game. Ball out of bounds on the wing now.
Scores level with 6 minutes to play
Patton! Huge grab late in the game! Under close scrutiny near the goal line, the long ball in, and he clunks a ripper. Vice-like. Then has the composure to kick around the corner, on the left, and level the scores. And roars to the crowd. The goes to the bench. What for? Last few minutes and he’s eight-foot-ten. The score is 67-67.
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Richmond in front by eight points. Martin and then Butler with goals. GWS have locked the ball in their forward line for the last few minutes. Pressure building.
Alright. Not bad.
Get out of Danger's way! #AFLGiantsCats pic.twitter.com/j5Wu9r8fPT
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
Great pressure from GWS on the wing. Menegola, Simpson, Motlop, all trading handballs by the boundary line, but every time they think they’re out, they run into a dead end. Giants win the ball back, Scully sprints back into 50, and wins a free kick for high contact as the ball comes in. Well played to that point, but he misses the shot from directly in front 40 out. The ball tracks to the other end via Dangerfield, who takes off on a grass-burning run through midfield. He loses it on the third bounce, butters up to Lonergan, the inside 50 is loose but GWS kick it out on the full. Buzza gets the free kick but his shot is smothered! Plenty of errors out there but it’s exciting stuff. The ball flying around, down to the other end. Combat inside 50, lots of players fighting for it, and finally, Whitfield snaps from the pocket! Goal! It’s six points the difference, the Cats are flat, the Giants are growing. What next? 61 plays 67.
Rory Lobb - can he drag GWS back into it? There’s a feeling of momentum shifting. And it’s mostly down to one man. He’s had a shocker of a night to this point, but he’s given room to run and jump at the ball and marks deep in the pocket. Lines up and slots the goal. Then Geelong are under pressure in defensive fifty, Tuohy tries to clear and kicks it to Lobb again. This shot is easier but he misses! A moment later he’s there again, a huge mark to cut off a clearing kick to the wing. But he kicks it out on the full. Zach Guthrie gets the ball, and kicks it out on the full in return. A few errors in the Cats’ game - can they keep their composure? It’s 54 plays 67, a margin of 13.
AFL - big call early in the quarter, as Lachie Whitfield got right into the back of Patrick Dangerfield while falling to the ground, but managed to pull his own weight away and avoid falling onto the other player. Might have done enough to avoid conceding the free? But it’s paid, and it’s in the forward pocket, and Dangerfield slots it home. The lead is 19 points. 47 plays 66.
Robbie Gray goaled for Port to kick clear, but now Rioli and Stengle nail goals for the Tigers. It’s a four-point game! We’ll switch focus there once this once finishes.
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The NRL ladder
NRL - the wash-up on the ladder is that the Sharks are solidly in second place, the Eagles in third, and the Roosters have dipped to fourth. The Cowboys are in sixth, but only one win behind second. Tight races in both the rugby league and the Aussie rules comps.
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The Cats have shut down GWS’ transition play today, they’re not letting the Giants run through midfield as they like to do. But Geelong haven’t entirely hurt their opponent as much as they should have. Rhys Stanley does get a goal to take the Cats to 60 points and a three-goal lead, but GWS get a late one back. It’s a bit of brilliance for Dangerfield during a tackle, getting a foot free to toe the ball into space, and Hawkins kicks it further into space to run on. But Aidan Corr is faster running back, gets to the ball on the ground, and Hawkins is clumsy in tackling him, brushing him high. From the free, the Giants do find their transition play and send it down the other end. Jeremy Cameron has had a very quiet night for a gun forward, but not so quiet that he’s going to miss an uncontested chest mark or a shot at goal from 20 metres out.
At three-quarter time, it’s 47-60. A tight final term coming up.
Tigers captain Trent Cotchin has the first goal of the third quarter, keeping Richmond in touch at 43-33. From there, it’s been all behinds, as both sides slip back into their first-quarter mode.
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AFL - Geelong’s lead out to 12 points, 41 to 53, after Menegola parts the heavy traffic in the forward 50 to mark, and goes back to kick one. He’s been super impressive since establishing himself this year - he was a fringe player at Geelong, and before that at Fremantle and Hawthorn, but has played 10 games this year.
Canberra Raiders beaten by NQ Cowboys 18-31
Well, scrap that comeback. Another blazing run from Morgan, who could have had his third try just about, but went safety first and dished it to Te Maire Martin while being tackled close to the line. The score is converted, and with only a few minutes left, the Cowboys will bring it home given the scores are 18 to 31.
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NRL - what a try from Nick Cotric! Remarkable stuff, receives the ball in his own half and is on the move. Gets past one... two... three, four and five tackles, slapping off one, evading others. He bursts through the defensive line, gets onto open highway, and outruns everybody pursuing to ground the ball under the crossbar.
Render unto Sezer that which is Sezer’s: in this case, it’s an easy conversion goal. The gap narrows to 18-25, and that was the play of the day.
AFL - underway in the clash involving the north end of the ladder, the western edge of Sydney, and the city south of Melbourne. Geelong defender Taylor is pinged for a deliberate out of bounds, a bit harsh there, and Callan Ward kicks a goal to narrow it to two points. Geelong bounce back quickly though, Wylie Buzza attacking the ball with great energy in the forward fifty to mark Tuohy’s pass with a juggling effort that takes the ball away from two defenders. He lines up and drills the shot. It’s 40 plays 47 to the visiting Cats.
Jack Wighton brought down six metres from the line with one tackle in the set. Canberra can’t break through.
And again! Michael Morgan kicks through to himself, gathers, gets over the line. But has he lost control of the ball? Opinion is divided, but the opinion that matters is the video review official, who eventually deems it a try. North Queensland go to 23 points as Ethan Lowe wanders up for another kick, and pops that over as well with a minimum of fuss. 25 plays 12, and this is getting out of control for Canberra.
NRL - the Cowboys pull clear again, this time thanks to Morgan. Nothing sophisticated about that try, it was the old-fashioned ball receive five metres from the line, then hurling the entire body at the defenders to bash through. The ball is planted. Lowe knocks over the penalty from a friendly angle. The visiting Cowboys lead 19 to 12 over Canberra.
Jarrod Croker is off the field with concussion.
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A little bit more quality coming into the Power-Tigers game (TIGERPOWER is a great name for an energy drink). Butler nails the goal below for the Tiges, then back come Port Adelaide with the next two. Suddenly it kicks out to a 15-point deficit at half time. Port is ahead at home 41 to 26.
No ifs, Butlers or maybes - this was a cracking goal from Dan Butler! #AFLPowerTigers pic.twitter.com/uIzl1uh2Bx
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
The Raiders could just about draw level if they can get this conversion. Joseph Tapine gets over for the try to make it 10-13. Stand by. Yep. Sezer seizes the moment.
The @raiderscanberra start the 2nd Half in style!#NRLRaidersCowboys 10-13 after 46 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/k4W6BMym3K
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
Half time too in the NRL, 6 to the Raiders and 13 to the Cowboys after Coote popped over a field goal.
Half time in Geelong v GWS, and this is already a cracker. Jordan Murdoch, the fast left-footer, gets clear for Geelong and nails a goal to take the lead out to 14 points. But then with under a minute ago, the Giants deliver inside 50 and Patton turns neatly to wrongfoot Harry Taylor. Not many forwards have done that since the Cats defender made his surprise entrance to the AFL all those years ago. Patton marks, kicks from 40 metres in the pocket, and his kicking action right now is perfection as it yields him his 100th career goal. Then with 30 seconds on the clock he makes sure not to concede anything before half time, dropping back into defence to mark the ball as Cam Guthrie stormed out of the centre and pumped it forward.
It’s 33 plays 41, and the second half to come.
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“Welcome to the big time, Wylie Buzza!” is the call, as the pass from Mackie thuds onto the debutant’s chest. He takes the shot from outside 50, runs in a wide arc and gives it a mighty thump with the left boot. It sails through, flat but travelling with pace. Strong kick. It’s 26-33 in favour of Geelong.
The other game continues to be disastrous, 1 goal 6 behinds to Port, 1 goal 4 to Richmond. But as I type, Sam Lloyd finally puts a goal through for the Tigers, and for all of humanity.
This is why he's all the buzz! First AFL goal for Wylie Buzza. 👏 #AFLGiantsCats pic.twitter.com/SVjBjjBctU
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
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AFL - An utterly Harlem Globetrotters string of possessions takes Geelong down the wing, Menegola flicking a ball back that was about to go out, Guthrie involved and Simpson. But eventually the chain is cut off at full forward. GWS force through a behind that could have attracted the umpire’s attention, but they get away with it. At least, as far as the scoreboard goes. There’s a knee injury for GWS, twisted in the tackle that got the ball to the line - Jeremy Finlayson, who has been impressive to this stage. The ball comes back, and Duncan misses a snap from the pocket. The Cats could well rue not converting this period of dominance on the scoreboard. So much talent in the Giants team. Finlayson is getting ice strapped to the knee, so his night is done. Hopefully not his season.
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NRL - Antonio Winterstein over for a try, but the conversion goes begging. The Cowboys are up 12-6.
That tap back from Cooper! 👏#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/uvU8xtnfy2
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
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Johnson gets the chance to immediately atone, hunting down a tackle in the forward pocket to have Zach Tuohy pinged for holding the ball. Then Johnson, the originator of the J-curve kick from the set shot, instead kicks a straight drop punt from the right forward pocket, and drills it. Back to 25 apiece.
1 goal 6 plays 1 goal 4 in the other game. Sloppy Joe.
“Keep your hands to yourself please,” scolds umpire Razor Ray Chamberlain at Spotless Stadium as the players squabble. Good advice for life in general. Shane Mumford, the giant GWS ruckman, gives away a free kick with a late hit in the midfield, which is paid downfield in Geelong’s forward line. Then Johnson gives away another fifty-metre penalty as Aaron Black kicks. Black actually missed the shot at goal, so Johnson’s indiscipline ensures the shot is retaken and kicked. Johnson was going after Dangerfield, trying to whack him about. A bit shaken perhaps, Johnson was cleaned up late in the last quarter in a heavy collision. 19-25.
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AFL - quarter time, it’s 3.1 apiece in the GWS-Geelong game. Meanwhile, Richmond and Port Adelaide have got underway with a fairly scrappy start. 8 points plays 10 in favour of the Power.
Lowe pops over a penalty goal for the Cowboys, and they’re up 8 points to 6.
NRL - an early try for Elliot Whitehead, a reply from Te Maire Martin, both converted, and the Raiders-Cowboys game is 6-all early in the match.
Te Maire Martin scores in his @nthqldcowboys debut! #NRLRaidersCowboys 6-all after 14 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/0mo48kZ6Z8
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
Whitehead with the opening Try of the game!#NRLRaidersCowboys #NRL pic.twitter.com/nZVFSOCp6o
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
A family affair - now Zac Guthrie messes up a relatively simple shot on the run. Two chances, two brothers, two misses as it lobs into the pocket.
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Cracker of a contest! The Giants looked good again, another long ball inside 50, but Harry Taylor read it perfectly. The defender marked, then had his area infringed upon thus winning a fifty-metre penalty. So instead of wandering up the field he sprinted out of defence, caught the Giants napping, handed the ball off at the back of the centre square, and the inside 50 found Blicavs whose tumbling snap went through at the height of the post. Guthrie should have kicked another a minute later running back towards goal but his dribbling shot goes the wrong side of the post under pressure. He was trying to keep it under a potential smother. The first behind of the match, and it’s 18-19 to the Cats.
The Cats have three or four promising entries, but some calm defending under pressure from the Giants is enough to thwart them all. Then the ball heads down the other end, where Patton clunks a strong mark just outside fifty, then makes a beautiful connection with the kick. He’s in touch. 18-12.
All Geelong’s debutants have had a touch of the footy early. Sam Simpson’s first kick isn’t good though, trying to pass to Dangerfield on 50 even though the champ had three to beat. Couldn’t mark, GWS flow down on the counter, but Geelong win the ball back at half-back, and Parsons gets around a couple sprinting back down the field to lob a clunky swirling kick home for a goal from the arc. 12-12.
A little shake and bake from Parsons, who's squared the ledger for the Cats. #AFLGiantsCats pic.twitter.com/G6DAjeAHxe
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
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Revenge is sweet for Steve Johnson, the Geelong premiership player who was ultimately discarded. He wins a free kick on the forward flank, picks up the smart handball to Wilson, and Wilson kicks beautifully from outside 50. It’s 12-6 so far.
In other footy news, well worth reading Russ on the Bachar Houli affair and the problems with the AFL tribunal.
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An early goal for Tom Hawkins, a nice long set shot after he was scragged off the ball. Jon Patton replies in quick time. The big full forwards for each team on the board immediately. Early signs of a classic?
The game is at Spotless Stadium.
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AFL - next game up is the big one, currently second versus third on the ladder. Geelong versus Greater Western Sydney. The Giants were top at the start of this round, but Adelaide’s win earlier today has sneaked the Crows to the top. Thus, if the Cats win today they’ll join those other two teams on 40 points though with a lower percentage, or if the Giants win they’ll go straight back on top.
A couple of huge outs for Geelong though - captain Joel Selwood hasn’t come up from his concussion last week, and dynamic forward Daniel Menzel twinged something in the warm-up. So two debutants come in: Scott Simpson was the one already scheduled, but now Wylie Buzza has come in from the emergency list. “One of the great names,” says some unidentifiable male voice on the telly. Then there’s the third debutant, Zach Guthrie, brother of current Geelong midfielder Cam.
Last time Geelong had three debutants their names were Gary Ablett Jr, Jimmy Bartel and David Johnson. Two Brownlow medals, five premierships, umpteen All-Australian jumpers. Here’s hoping it’s an omen.
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Manly defeat New Zealand 26-22
There could have been an equaliser with seconds to go, but the big run down the ground was neutralised, bundled into touch. Passing options on the inside were ignored. In short, the Warriors blew it. They’ve never won in Perth from nine attempts, and despite a big lead early today, they managed to sustain that run.
Rugby - it’s a cracker. It’s 21-21 between the All Blacks and the Lions with four minutes to play. Get on over to our live blog of that game.
Gary Ablett gets a win in his 300th - Suns (18.10.118) beat North Melbourne (14.15.99)
A comfortable win in the end that will keep Gold Coast just one game out of the eight, and a dominant display really by the Suns. The Kangas will remain 17th, having lost so many games this year by under a goal.
Ablett? A lazy 37 disposals, 14 contested. 10 clearances, 6 from the centre. He’s still flying.
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Aaron Mullet, business in the backline, party at the front line. On the counter, he received a handball over the top on the wing, runs into an empty spot, and lobs the long kick home from outside 50 thanks to Daw’s shepherd. A late consolation goal, and nearly another for the same player 30 seconds later, but this time his kick fades.
Certainly won’t now! Ablett starts off a chain of handballs from just outside 50, then there’s a long ball in, a classic spill and crumb, and Touk Miller snaps the sealer for the Gold Coast Suns. Then out of the centre square, Ablett again with a brilliant clearance, sells the dummy to get out of traffic, and the wobbly inside-50 eventually results in a goal to Swallow. Ablett was in the vicinity too, to receive that handball, but the symbolic moment was missed. He goes back to the centre square for the bounce and wins that clearance as well. Still just so, so good.
AFL - Fourth quarter at Metricon, the Roos have closed the gap. Lynch kicked his fifth but the Victorian side has kicked four of the last five. Brown gets his third, Majak Daw gets the most recent. The margin is still 14 points though, and only a couple of minutes left. Won’t quite be enough time.
Yep, he's back! Five goals to Tom Lynch! #AFLSunsRoos pic.twitter.com/zIXfU3Osj3
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
Roach nearly gets through the line for the Warriors, but his hamstring goes ping. There’s never a good time to do one, but that is really inopportune. He comes off, and seconds later there’s a grubber kick from through into the in-goal. Thompson misses it, Wright tries to clear it, did any attackers get there? The ruling is that it was knocked on by the Warriors and went dead. No try.
Game really on! Dylan Walker goes over for another Manly try, and it looks like they might be starting to run away with it even though they miss the kick. But finally the Warriors end a run of 26 points against, as Nicoll-Klokstad gets over and Johnston converts. It’s 26-22 in favour of the ‘home’ side in Perth.
NRL - Tom Trbojevic over again! Manly in front, and the conversion is kicked. It’s 22-16 to Manly now. It wasn’t a very exciting try though, I’ll be honest, so let’s look at that brilliant break from Cherry-Evans right on half time.
What a half of footy!
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
The final ball from DCE 👌#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/VWblMYI5WW
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Three-quarter time and it’s 84 plays 61 in favour of the Suns. Ablett a cheeky 24 stats, Lyons leading with 32.
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AFL - North Melbourne string a couple of goals together, like a drunkard finally sequencing a couple of recognisable words. Ben Brown gets one, then Waite marks strongly in the pocket and delivers with the kick. Long to the square, Brown very nearly the pack-crashing mark for a third. But not quite.
Rugby - hello, I thought Sonny Bill Williams had just been sent off. A red card for the All Blacks. But it was a replay of earlier. Then I thought it was a replay from another game, but it was today. There’s a reason that I’m not doing the rugby blog. I did cover the 2011 World Cup, and watched the final out of my brain on painkillers after breaking my shoulder a couple of days earlier. My match report... let’s say it was a work of impressionist literary exploration.
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AFL - the Roos did manage to clamp down on the Suns for the start of this second half, but eventually Gold Coast found a way through. Sexton his second, Lynch his fourth - the big gun is firing today. It’s 46 plays 84 in favour of the Coasters.
Two minutes to half time, but too slow from the Warriors! Too easy, too many options. Cherry-Evans has the vision, with 30 seconds left on the clock, and he took the defence away to open the field up before finding Akuila Uate on the wing. Uate has no shortage of pace, and tore over the line to draw level. Here comes the kick... it misses. Wright has two from three, and scores are level at the break.
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Hello, we’ve got a game here. Brian Kelly scores for Manly, and Matthew Wright nails the kick. It’s suddenly back to 12-16 in bucketing rain in Perth. Two minutes to half time.
The @SeaEagles have woken up and they are turning it on now!#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/7MLQYYuDJJ
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
NRL - Finally, the Sea Eagles open their account. Shaky defence from the Warriors, and some sharp work from Tom Trbojevic to get over. The conversion comes through as well. Much needed after the Warrior’s third try via Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. In Wellington, the All Blacks have slotted a penalty against the Lions to break that 0-0 deadlock.
Up the middle goes @ApiKoroisau.
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
Over goes Turbo!#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/CR7I9YGIxZ
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Rugby - It’s quite funny, I’m writing this from the Guardian office and every time something happens in the All Blacks game, there are groans and cries from various people around the place who are all watching along on their screens.
Let’s see if the coaches hug and make up later today.
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NRL - Manly off to a bad start against the NZ Warriors, the latter crossing twice within 10 minutes. Shaun Johnson misses the second conversion. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad followed on from Bodene Thompson in scoring the tries.
Back-to-back!
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
Real fast.#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/c8raidrWUa
Bodene Thompson storms over!#NRLManlyWarriors#NRL pic.twitter.com/GMvKxZUDnD
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
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The Glod Clots, if I may call them that, are stomping the Kangaroos right now. Ainsworth gets his third, Swallow gobbles another, then Sexton poetically scripts a third. Corey Wagner has a couple of goes at getting one back for the Roos but muffs both of them. Suddenly it’s 71 plays 32 as half time nears. But with 21 seconds to go, there’s a throw-in near the goal and Waite is able to crumb a handball out of the pack to soccer one through.
Speaking of the soccering form of football, you should probably read David Squires’ cartoon from this week. As you should every week. Timmy ‘Organic’ Cahill features prominently.
Here we are, for you unionists - the Lions versus All Blacks blog is up and running, and apparently it is absolutely pelting with rain in Wellington. Luckily they invented those boots. Gerard Meagher has the action for us from that game, as the fireworks go off and the players run onto the field. Ok, fine, I’m watching it too.
Gary Ablett is already the leading disposal-winner on the ground, because of course he is. Not far into the second stanza and he’s had the ball 13 times. Hasn’t kicked a goal yet, which Jack Martin does after a very clever juggling mark on the boundary line that managed to keep the ball in, then an equally clever kick from deep in the pocket. A minute later, May marks strongly in defence, starting a coast-to-Gold-Coast run of possession that sees the ball spill loose in the goal square at the other end, leaving Lynch free to run on and thump it off the ground for his third. It’s 51-29 now, and suddenly the Sunshiners look like thunderclouds. Ominous.
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Quarter time in that game, and the Suns are back in front. Ainsworth gets his second, then Lynch slams a couple in a minute. It goes to the break at 39-29 in favour of Gold Coast.
“Any chance of any vision of Gary Ablett heading out for his 300th?” asks Winnie. “As a Geelong fan I’d love to see this, but it’s not FTA in Melbourne.”
Better than that, Geelong fans should want to see him back in the hoops. Could happen at the end of the season, if fairytales do come true. I can’t find any video, but I did find this terrible Photoshop if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to combine a chuckle and a cringe.
Gary Junior's 300th is about to begin! #AFLSunsNorth
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
Tune into it here: https://t.co/J6u0WVKWud pic.twitter.com/ub9d0e3tZH
AFL - a fast start to the Gold Coast versus Roos game, three goals each with a fair chunk of the first quarter still to go. Brown and Atley for the Roos, then Wright, Martin and Ainsworth get them back for the Suns, before Hrovat draws it level. As I type, Jarrod Waite gets rid of his opponent and slots the Roos’ fourth. Ablett wins a free kick after being slammed to the ground, but makes a rare kicking error in trying to go inside 50. Almost makes up for it with a contest once they trap the ball in, but the Little Master misses the snap at goal. It’s Gold Coast 20, North 27.
Carlton (12.5.77) beaten by Adelaide (13.11.89)
Riley Knight puts the game beyond doubt with a couple of minutes to go, so even though Levi Casboult scrambles a final goal from a loose ball in the goal square, it doesn’t make for a grandstand finish. The Crows hop over the Giants to the top of the ladder, although GWS can take that back if they win against Geelong tonight. The Cats, of course, are third. Should be a tasty clash to close out our blog in the evening, Australian time.
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NRL - Cronulla win 12-44 at Gosford
Leutele scores again! Once again with Wade Graham involved, and Sosaia Feki with a sensational pass inside. With only 40 seconds to go, that’s a bonus.
The @cronulla_sharks finish the game in style!#NRLRoostersSharks #NRL pic.twitter.com/tJ2jQHY2oW
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
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NRL - scrum feed for Cronulla only 10 metres out. The Sharks are showing serious discipline - they’re well home but still smashing away. Fifita gets through a tackle but is eventually put down.
The Warriors play the Sea Eagles next, in Perth for whatever weird reason that is, where apparently it’s freezing and pissing down rain. Advisability of selling that home game: currently questionable.
Now the Roosters win a scrum feed, after the kick. They’re about 20 out. But eventually give up possession with a knock-on. Not a good arvo for them.
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AFL - another close one as the Blues and Crows get near the finish line. It was only just over a goal the difference, but Jenkins kicks his third as I type to extend Adelaide’s lead. There’s a rushed behind for Carlton in their reply, that won’t be enough. The difference is 13 points but there’s a decent four or five minutes of clock time remaining.
But Bird makes up for it, getting back to force a dead ball. Goal line drop-out to follow.
Jack Bird gives away a late penalty with an equally late shove, and the Roosters kick for touch. First tackle is 20 out from goal.
NRL - in the meantime, the Sharks have turned a lead over the Roosters into a flogging with 10 minutes to go. Beale has gone over, then Luke Lewis, and Maloney keeps his perfect kicking record for the day intact after each try.
Deja vu for @LukeLewis1983 👏#NRLRoostersSharks #NRL pic.twitter.com/LTvvk3CJyi
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
Ablett's 300th on the way
A nice little pre-game interview with Gary Ablett Junior, as he prepares to play his 300th game. He always speaks well, the Son of God. The Gold Coast Suns are about to tackle North Melbourne at Metricon up in Queensland.
The Eagles led at every change today, and held on at the last. They’re up to 7 on the ladder, though there are plenty of games to go this round. We’ll have a fair few of them on the blog today.
Nathan Vardy beautifully laconic in his post-match interview. “Everyone says enjoy your footy, but it’s easier to enjoy it when you’re actually playing it.”
Then to Cameron Mooney about the winning goal, “Oh, mate, you know what it’s like when you get on the end of one.”
Western Bulldogs (11.14.80) beaten by West Coast Eagles (12.15.87)
A rare away win for the Eagles, getting the victory at Docklands stadium. 42 disposals from Andrew Gaff to help get them there. They lost a close game at the last gasp during the last round, but managed to hang on today. Gaff is giving Vardy a rev-up: “We try to grow as individuals each game, and it’s great to see Vards step up.”
The Dogs are now percentage and a game out of the top eight.
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And again! Lovely spot-up from Bob Murphy out of defence, a straight roll through the middle for the Dogs, but once again it’s Vardy with the defensive mark almost in the opposing goal square.
Another turnover, and another entry. McGovern takes a mark for the Eagles, then Vardy takes another. Standing up under pressure.
The Dogs pushing forward, but Drew Petrie takes the relieving mark at centre half back. The Eagles pushed their big forward into defence immediately after the last goal.
And Vardy kicks the goal! The least likely perhaps from the stoppage, the eight-foot-whatever lank-a-thon that is Nathan Vardy picks up the loose ball after it spills free and rams it over his left shoulder. He’s played every game this year for West Coast after struggling with injury and opportunity to a handful of games at Geelong the last few seasons. Three minutes left, 80 plays 87.
Ball-up in the Eagles goal square...
AFL - goal to Jake Stringer, and it’s a one-point ball game! The Western Bulldogs are now trailing 81-80, after Stringer charged down a kick-in following a behind, with Mitchell trailing too far off to apply the tackle. Mitchell has a mass of tape and padding wrapped around his face to try to stop that bleeding, you can’t exactly strap the inside of a player’s mouth. So they’ve gone with as much as possible.
Maloney with the sideline kick, 25 metres out, and he clips the upright but gets the ball over. He’s hit five out of five today, looked like it was carrying wide but eventually the breeze just pushed it through. 26-12, the Sharks 14 points up.
Try! Hit back they do, some lovely work from Graham again, cutting out his full-back, and then Ricky Leutele gets on the outside of the tackler and charges over the line. Lots of acceleration from Leutele, lots of awareness from the Sharks going down the left. They lead 24-12 with the kick to come.
They’re back at it again, Wade Graham flattening Maloney near the try line. Beale eventually catches the ball in the in-goal, and once again the Sharks defence stands up under serious pressure. Now they’re aiming to hit back.
... but some great aquatic defending keeps the poultry out.
NRL - the Chooks are besieging the Cronulla line. Three tackles now within 10 metres of a try...
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AFL - Sam Mitchell off the field with blood coming from a split lip. He doesn’t want to come off, but the blood rule applies. And Mitchell is trickling as slowly off the field himself to buy his teammates a bit of a breather. They’re under the pump, the Eagles.
AFL - Adelaide kicks clear again via Tex Walker, back to a nine point lead. In the meantime, the Dogs looked done but have mounted yet another push back, with goals to Hunter and Wallis, but then misses from the Bont and Bob Murphy. Not good when your two spiritual leaders can’t nail the goal to get you right back in the contest... but what’s this? Some tough work in the forward 50 and Roughead scrambles the snap home! It’s now West Coast 81, Western Bulldogs 73. They’ve come from five goals down with half of the last quarter remaining.
Half time at the Roosters v Sharks game is coming to an end, the Roosters with the kick-off as we get going again, the score still 20-12 in favour of the Sharks.
AFL - scores are level! It was Gibbs again with the delivery inside 50, and Liam Sumner marks 20 out and gets flattened as he takes it. Gets the 50 metre penalty and quickly plays on to kick the goal, as there was a bit of a melee starting to break out. Smart play, wanted to defuse things and avoid any risk of getting the ball turned over. It’s 50 plays 50.
AFL - goal to Bryce Gibbs after a good centring ball, and the Blues have pushed back to 44-50. They’re not ready to go away. Still more than half the third quarter ahead of us.
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NRL - It’s the Roosters and the Sharks today in the main game. The Roosters had scored a try to push the scores back to 12-14, thanks to Ryan Matterson and Gordon’s conversion, but the Sharks have pushed back ahead thanks to Sosaia Feki and a subsequent Maloney goal. It’s 12-20 to the Fish.
The @sydneyroosters hit back through Matterson!#NRLRoostersSharks 12-14 after 30 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/R7RUVbGpuJ
— NRL (@NRL) July 1, 2017
AFL - in the other game, Carlton versus Adelaide, Josh Jenkins has just been put through into an open goal for a vital score. It’s a low-scoring game, this one, it was locked at 37 plays 44 for a very long time to start the final quarter, but now Jenkins has pushed Adelaide’s score up to 50. It’ll take something special from the improving Blues to dig deep and make up this difference.
AFL - Western Bulldogs try to get something going. They’re level on the ladder with West Coast on points, and have had a pretty average season to date in nominally defending their breakthrough premiership. They’ve conceded a couple of goals in the third quarter against the Eagles, but have hit back with the last goal to Toby McLean and now a long point after a good mark to Tom Campbell. They’re 17 points down, 49 to 66, and trying to get some momentum.
Now, I don’t want to be accused of being a big-sport shill in a Sydney or Melbourne ivory tower, but it does seem like the majority of the sport being played professionally around Australia today is either in the AFL or NRL. If you’re a rugby fan, the Lions are indeed taking on the All Blacks, which will have its own dedicated live blog on the Guardian later, I’ll link to that. There are the Marble Bar races of course, which no one in their right mind would forget. But if there are other sporting events that I’ve missed, big or small, send them through to geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or tweet them to @GeoffLemonSport.
Good afternoon, sports devourers of the southern continent, and welcome to another welcome edition of Sportswatch, where we do exactly the thing that the title implies. It’s a wintry and miserable day in Perth, cold but sunny towards the eastern coast in Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra, decidedly pleasant in Adelaide and Sydney, and damnably near 30 degrees in Darwin. Ah, Darwin. You maverick renegade. Wherever you are, let’s keep an eye on the ball-scrambling pursuits around our country together.
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Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, take the opportunity to read this excellent interview, about a top footballer’s struggles with mental illness, gambling and drink.
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