Summary
And then, like that, there was no more sports. (Okay, lies: there’s more sport. But my typing fingers hurt). In the A-League, City missed a chance to jump above finals rivals Adelaide, drawing 1-1, while in the battle of the cellar-dwellers it was the Wanderers who broke their 11-game winless run against the feckless Mariners.
In AFLW, reigning premiers Western Bulldogs went 2/2 winning the Cats v Dogs derby, while earlier Collingwood were blown away by the hard-working Demons, who harried and hustled in midfield, and pounced with intent inside the 50.
In the WNBL, premiers Canberra have won game one of the finals series against Adelaide with Kelsey Griffin bagging 22 points and 12 rebounds, while in the two NBL dead rubbers Cairns Taipans and the New Zealand Breakers picked up Ws.
Perth’s season finished on a low in the BBL as the Scorchers went down to the Strikers, while the Thunder just edged the Hurricanes in a rain-affected match in Sydney.
And that’s Saturday Sportwatch!
Thanks for your company - join me tomorrow where football takes centre stage with two W-League semi finals and a top of the table clash in the A-League.
Big Bash: Sydney Thunder 166-6 (18.2) defeat Hobart Hurricanes 165-4 (19.0)
And in the second of the Big Bash fixtures the Thunder have edged the top-of-the-table ‘Canes in a rain-affected match, winning by four wickets with just a handful of balls to spare.
Waiting to see if that’s enough for a finals berth - my back of the envelope calculations suggest that Brisbane Heat will still hold fourth position on net run rate, thanks to the 10-over utter spanking they gave the Stars last night. A tough one for the Thunder, if so - winning a classic and moving level on points, only to still just miss out.
The Stars with one final game tomorrow against the Sixers, and then we’ll know our finalists.
Updated
Full-time: Melbourne City 1-1 Adelaide United
So it’s honours even in the end. Either side with chance to win it, perhaps City the more deserving of the claim to a win, but for all their little moments of class it took a calamitous passage at the back for them to finally find the net. Plenty of young talent up front, but the challenge for Warren Joyce will now be to make them gel on the run in to the finals.
Reds good value from their point, and they’ll be the happier. They keep fourth place and prevent their rivals from hopping above them into a home finals berth.
Updated
90 + 3 min: Adelaide with a sustained spell of “keep-ball” but as they look to play forward to Kitto City intercept and play forward with pace. Great scrambling from the Reds - they get as many as eight shirts back quickly. The fitness of both these sides has to be admired - they’re playing this game at a terrific tempo.
90 min: Five minutes added on for the lengthy injury to Mileusnic. McGree with a clever turn to hoodwink Galloway, but he couldn’t quite find a teammate and his cross just skims the back of the crossbar.
88 min: Both sides still attacking with pace, but a few heavy passes / moments of low quality undermining some otherwise impressive work from both teams. Wales and McGree combine in the final third, but the later is forced wide, and his tame shot is comfortably held by Izzo.
85 min: Vidosic with an interception, reading the pass from Elsey. He releases Wales, but the flying winger loses out to the Reds centre back who recovers well.
Harrison with a sharp turn that takes two defenders out of the play, before releasing Riley McGree. Who is fouled by former City favourite Jakobsen.
82 min: A few sloppy touches coming into this one - this time it’s Curtis Good with a heavy touch, and Blackwood is nearly through one-on-one from halfway, but Brattan recovers brilliantly to snuff out the chance!
Maclaren makes way, it’s Dario Vidosic who comes on. Handy old sub when you’re chasing a goal late on.
79 min: Freekick, handy position for City. Fiercely whipped in from Brattan, and it’s headed well clear from Blackwood. The Reds then look to break swiftly, but the new man Thomassen has a poor heavy touch, and the moment is lost.
77 min: Now a huge chance for Adelaide! A ball to the far post finds Goodwin, and instead of shooting the opening goalscorer crosses centrally for George Blackwood, but he can’t generate the power, and it’s gratefully clutched by Eugene Galekovic in the City goal! Big let off.
75 min: Wales and Jamieson combine well down the left, and the skipper looks to fire in a cross, but he can’t clear the first line of defence. It comes down the left again, and this time the former Red, Jamieson, takes on the shot himself, off the right foot - but it blasts high and wide! It looked fierce, but it faded wide as it traveled.
71 min: This has suddenly all got a little nervy from the visitors, as Maclaren almost fashions a second! Isaias gets his foot on the ball in midfield, and the Spaniard tries to settle it down for his side.
Goal! Melbourne City 1-1 Adelaide United (Maclaren)
68 min: Oh deary, deary me. They’ve put themselves under so much pressure. They play out from the back and it all gets a little intricate from the Reds. Maclaren presses the ‘keeper Izzo, whose cute dinked clearance is picked up by Brattan, who finds out wee Jamie completely unmarked, and he tucks the cross home with a backheel.
Calamitous stuff from the Reds, Marco Kurz must be chewing wasps!
Updated
61 min: Substitute Ryan Kitto does well to earn his side a corner with a blistering run down the right, but again the City defence clears well.
Melbourne then make the running, as Maclaren again drifts wide to find the ball. He combines well with Lachie Wales, who’s looping effort is deflected behind. Better from City - they’ve certainly got enough match-winners out there; but first they have to break through this resolute Reds defence.
56 min: Ooph. Harrison with the spectacular volley, but it sails just over the crossbar! It was a lovely cross from the left, well defended by Scott Galloway at the far post, but his header only found the young Brit lurking just outside the box. Better attacking stuff from the home side.
52 min: Maclaren drifts wide to pick up possession, you imagine the Reds will look to increasingly become more compact as the game goes on - but they’ve not looked good chasing games this season, City.
McGree strips his jacket and gets ready on the sideline. Can he make an impact? He replaces Berenguer.
A-League - second half!
45 min: And we’re back underway in our feature match. I wonder what choice words from Warren Joyce are ringing in his players’ ears? There’s some talk with his contract up in May that the Englishman could be fighting for his future, after what’s been a mixed season with the high-spending club. Will his players respond in this 45?
AFLW full-time: Western Bulldogs 5.4 (34) defeat Geelong 2.4 (16)
And it’s two in a row for the reigning premiers, who having shot 5/5 across the first three quarters blotted their copybook with four behinds in the final quarter. To little avail though, as they kept the Cats scoreless in the last.
They edge disposals, contested possessions and tackles but despite a fairly level contest in the middle of the park, they took the chances in front of the sticks. A good win, and they roll on, the Dogs.
Updated
And an update from the WNBL where the Canberra Capitals have won Game I of the three-game finals series against the Adelaide Lightning. Here’s the report from Australian Associated Press:
The Canberra Capitals are one win away from claiming the WNBL championship after an 88-67 victory over the Adelaide Lightning.
The Capitals overcame a fast start from the Lightning to strike the first blow in the best-of-three grand final series at AIS Arena on Saturday.
Adelaide started promisingly by jumping out to an early 12-point lead but Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo powered the Capitals to a 30-13 second term to wrest control away from the visitors.
A two-time WNBL champion and grand final MVP with the Bendigo Spirit, Griffin inspired Canberra’s first-half fightback on her way to a 22 point, 12 rebound performance.
All five starters finished in double figures, Kia Nurse leading all scorers with 23 (5-of-10 three-pointers) with Tolo adding 14 as the Capitals extended their winning streak to 12 games.
Half-time: Melbourne City 0-1 Adelaide United
So, late drama in the opening half of an A-League match, for the second time today, as Craig Goodwin’s header gives the Reds the lead. Harrison the pick of the new faces for City, but his namesake Harrison (Delbridge) getting turned inside out by Mileusnic; having already been fortunate not to concede a penalty against the Reds’ flyer.
Plenty of cut and thrust to this one. Big second half to come, as both these sides chase a top-four finish, and home final.
Updated
Goal! Melbourne City 0-1 Adelaide United (Goodwin)
42 min: It’s Mileusnic once again who causes havoc down the right, he’s just got too much trickery and pace for Harrison Delbridge, and he whips in a perfect cross for the Reds’ leading goalscorer. And he rises well, Goodwin, to nod home off the crossbar!
A few minutes earlier it was Harrison again who almost was the X-factor for City, as his backheel put fellow debutant Maclaren through, but the Socceroo dragged his shot wide. How costly could that prove?
AFLW three-quarter-time: Western Bulldogs 5.0 (30) lead Geelong 2.4 (14)
So a carbon copy of the first quarter, at least on the board, as the Dogs notched 1.0 in reply to 1.2 from Geelong. They’ve been enjoying more inside 50s, the Cats - they’ve definitely had their opportunities but perhaps not finishing as clinically as the Dogs.
Here’s Georgia Clarke’s long-range major:
Georgia Clarke! That's a classy goal for the @catswomens#AFLWDogsCats #AFLW pic.twitter.com/VuT6egrKwj
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 9, 2019
35 min: Harrison with another handy contribution as he tees up Berenguer, but the Frenchman fluffs his shot. Of the three debutants he’s looked the most lively so far, the young English striker. We haven’t seen too much of Thomassen for the Reds yet.
31 min: Apparently not! A good patch this for the Reds, but against the run of play the ball breaks kindly for Harrison. He winds up a fierce shot - but it’s blocked by Elsey.
So no clear-cut chances, but both sides showing plenty about themselves. It’s bubbling nicely as a contest, this one.
27 min: He’s not making too many friends tonight, referee Peter Green, as he penalises Ritchie De Laet for a foul on Goodwin. That did appear harsh on the City man. Adelaide look to apply pressure of their own, but the City defence clears well.
The Reds enjoying a good spell here, as Mileusnic tries to get past his man - he glides past Delbridge, then goes to ground inside the box! Was there a tug there? VAR may perhaps take a look.
22 min: A turnover from Adelaide but Jakobsen slides in to win it back - it looks to spark a dangerous counter, but the ref’s pulled it up! He didn’t like how the Dane slid in there, but, gee whiz, have Adelaide been hard done by there?
They’re both defensively minded coaches, so look for sharp transitions to be a feature tonight.
Updated
16 min: City enjoying the bulk of the early possession, probing down the flanks, as Harrison again draws a useful freekick. It’s Luke Brattan with the delivery this time, but a foul in the box from an attacker ends the sequence’s potential.
10 min: Back to the A-League, where it’s been a lively first ten minutes. City’s Harrison showing his pace to earn a freekick in a dangerous area. Berenguer with the delivery and it was Curtis Good who headed over, unmarked inside the six yard box! Adelaide with chances of their own, but it’s the home side shading it so far, with their front third threat more apparent, now that they’re no longer playing a right back at centre forward.
AFLW half-time: Western Bulldogs 4.0 (24) lead Geelong 1.2 (8)
So a big quarter for the hosts. As mentioned, Utri opened the scoring in the first half but it was three unanswered majors in a six-minute spree in that second quarter. Deanna Berry running clear of the defence before Bonnie Toogood fired home. Ellie Blackburn with a fourth, and it’s a sixteen point game, after the hosts trailed by two at the first break.
Updated
A-League Kick-off!
So, we’re underway in the late fixture between Melbourne City and Adelaide United, with both sides naming January signings up front for debuts. City with the youngster Shayon Harrison on-loan from Tottenham, the Reds naming on-loan Dutchman Jordy Thomassen up front. But, it’s the first look at Jamie Maclaren - fresh from Asian Cup with the Socceroos duty - in a City shirt that is the real talking point. Can he start paying back the faith that’s been placed in him, expected to inherit the mantle of star striker Bruno Fornaroli?
AFLW quarter-time: Western Bulldogs 1.0 (6) trail Geelong 1.2 (8)
Here’s the opener for the Cats, before Aisling Utri notched the Dogs’ first on the game:
Phoebe McWilliams gets on the board early in her first game for the Cats!#AFLWDogsCats #AFLW pic.twitter.com/4loIx2fPcu
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 9, 2019
Updated
Now there is a late fixture in the AFLW, where Western Bulldogs play host to Geelong. We’ll try and bring you intermittent score updates from that one, but we’ll head across town to AAMI Park where it’s a fixture that could determine who gets a home final in the A-League, as fifth-placed Melbourne City host fourth-placed Adelaide United.
Updated
Full-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Central Coast Mariners
90 + 6 min: Thar she blows! So, it’s a first win in 11 for the under-pressure Marcus Babbel and his misfiring Wanderers. Mike Mulvey’s Mariners now notch their ninth-straight loss on the road - joining the illustrious heights of the now-defunct New Zealand Knights.
A fair result on the balance of play. Sotirio’s slick counter attack seeing the home side win both halves, after Elrich’s flukey cross gave them the lead just before half-time. Big headaches for the visitors; how do they turn their season around from here.
Updated
90 min: There’s six minutes of additional time. They’re huffing and puffing, the Mariners but without Simon they’ve very much lost their focal point up front. At the very least they’re missing their nuisance factor up front today.
Duke looks to capitalise on a loose ball, but he’s well marshalled by Aiden O’Neill. I do feel for the 20-year-old, on loan from Premier League side Burnley. He’s been one of the Mariners’ best this season, but he’s just not had enough teammates step up alongside him.
87 min: They’re trying to muster a late rally, the Mariners but as Mallon and Sotirio come together it’s a silly freekick conceded, and the Wanderers look to suck the momentum.
Mitch Duke now looks to bustle his way past the Mariners backline, and the loose ball falls to Bonevacia who fires a fierce effort - but it whistles just past the post!
84 min: Mariners win a corner and look to build some pressure. It’s a poor set piece though and the Wanderers defence steps in. But it’s only partially cleared and Oar hangs up a tempting cross. Janjetovic beats the debutant Graham to it though, and clears the danger for the red and black.
80 min: Tommy Oar chargers through the centre, then tries a clipped effort from outside the box, but it’s comfortably held by Vedran Janjetovic.
He’s almost as good as a new signing, the former Socceroo, given the injury-blighted season he’s had, after joining amid such excitement in the same week as the now-departed Ross McCormack. Ah. Halycon days.
Goal! Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Central Coast Mariners (Sotirio)
76 min: It’s a fast break for the home side, and Roly Bonevacia rolls a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Jaushua Sotirio. He times his run well, and rolls it calmly past Ben Kennedy in the Mariners goal.
Now, any other teams in this league, you’d say that’s game over. But can the Wanderers contrive to give up the three points today?
75 min: Kye Rowles goes into the book for a heavy challenge from behind on Jordan O’Doherty, just the second Mariner in the book, and forth player in all. It’s not been a spiteful match, in fairness.
It’s feeling a little flat at the moment as the players head for a drinks break. It’s hard inside Spotless Stadium, which, look. Isn’t a great venue for football. Gee, they can’t wait to get back to Parramatta Stadium, can they, the Wanderers?
70 min: And a bit of niggle from the home fans, as their marquee striker, Riera, makes his ways to the sideline to a chorus of a few boos, and he’s replaced by Mitch Duke. The Spaniard hasn’t scored since Boxing Day and did miss that sitter in the first half - and you might recall Duke, another January signing, scored within seconds of his return to the A-League last week. Can he repeat the medicine?
And here’s that “fortuitous” opener from just before half-time:
A shot or cross from @elrich11?
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) February 9, 2019
Either way, the ball ended in the back of the net and @wswanderersfc have the lead. #ALeague #WSWvCCM #PlayFootball
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/p8NYDxHNLn
Updated
65 min: So an interesting patch of the game with momentum starting to swing towards the Mariners. Both these sides have squandered wins late on - on numerous occasions lately - so Wanderers’ coach Marcus Babbel might have to tweak something to lift his side.
It’s Mariners who go to the bench, and it’s another debut for a Sheffield United youngster, Stephen Mallon the man to come on, he replaces Millar.
Updated
60 min: It’s two debutants for the Mariners, who bolstered their squad significantly in the January window. Youngster Sam Graham on loan from Sheffield United makes his debut at left wing back, while former Premier League player Jem Karacan lines up alongside Tom Hiariej in the centre of midfield.
Andrew Hoole lines up a freekick from a handy area. You’ll remember he hit two absolute belters last weekend (only for his side to lose 3-2 to Melbourne Victory). And, ooph! That one’s not a million miles away either. Lovely strike.
Updated
A-League: Second half!
So, let’s pick up the action from round 18, where it’s 9th hosting 10th in the A-League. They’ve not been bad in recent weeks, the Mariners, but they have thrown away some impressive leads. 24 games without a clean sheet for the Gosford club - so the problems aren’t at the front.
One bright spot for CCM this season has been Matt Millar, and the fullback wins his side a corner. We’ll pick up the action here from the 55th minute.
Big Bash: Adelaide Strikers 175-5 (19.2) defeat Perth Scorchers 174-6 (20)
And in the first of two BBL clashes today, it’s the Strikers who have got home over the Scorchers. Just four balls to spare, but in fairness they had it well under control for most of the innings, thanks to man of the match, Jonathan Wells, who smashed 69 (42). Calm work too from Harry Nielsen, who put on an 88-run partnership with Wells, before seeing his side home with 44* (29).
Coulter-Nile matching his effort with bat with the ball, with 2-28, but the experienced heads of Marsh, Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff all going for over 10 an over. They finish the season last, the Scorchers - just wasn’t the year in the West.
Updated
Half-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 Central Coast Mariners
A dramatic close to the opening half of our early A-League fixture, where the Wanderers have grabbed what could only be described as a “fortuitous” goal. Perhaps a freak goal? It’s a cross from 35m out that’s evaded everyone and snuck in at the far post, Tarek Elrich the unlikely scorer; and it’s come just minutes after Oriel Riera managed one of the misses of the season.
All of this happening in the shadow of half-time, in what had been until that point a rather tense, and terse encounter - but you’d have to say, they’re probably value for their lead the home side.
AFLW full-time: Collingwood 1.3 (9) lose to Melbourne 3.8 (26)
And with just over four minutes to play, finally the home side has a major! Sarah Dargan with the ‘double soccer’ on a loose ball. Terrific skills, and she curls that one home between the posts.
Chiocci then does well to hold on to one under tremendous pressure. She lines the set shot - can the Pies go back-to-back late on?! Nope. It drags wide, just the one point added. They’re fighting to the final minute here though, the Pies.
And a close up of Sharni Layton on the bench with a bloody towel on the schnoz. It hasn’t been her day, with the Dees defenders swarming all over her. Melbourne chase one more - but the hooter beats them.
An emphatic win in the end - they’ve dominated almost every category, the Dees, and they run out deserved winners in the end.
Updated
Final quarter, 7:30 to play:
Tyla Hanks set up the opening goal of the game, and now she’s got the chance to score her own, she lines it up from the Dees .. and it’s there! What a pick up she’s proving to be, the youngster - that’s Melbourne’s third of the game, and surely that’s good night, nurse.
Layton drops back to help out her side in defence, the Dees are swarming for a fourth, and the Magpies force one behind for another behind.
Hanks hunts the ball again; surely not a second of the day?! She bangs a shot, but this time it drifts for a behind.
And we’ve had a crowd report: 7,228 here in at Victoria Park today. Tremendous crowd. It’s amazing what the match-day experience is like at these perfect boutique stadiums (*coughs* A-League).
AFLW final quarter - underway!
Collingwood start brightly, as Chiocci looks to fires her chargers; but it’s a terrific mark in traffic from Ainslie Kemp! If that goes to hand for black and white they’re a certain at six, but no dice, says the Dees defender.
Lambert with a terrific smoother on O’Dea up the other end, you have to admire the performances of both defences today.
AFLW three-quarter-time: Collingwood 0.2 (2) trail Melbourne 2.5 (17)
50m penalty for Lauren Pearce, but she doesn’t realise the buzzer is so close and handballs off inside the fifty, and the Dees hurry a shot, but it fires wide. A bit of a let-off for the home fans - if she’d settled for the set shot and plugged it they could have really put this game to bed.
Can the Pies use that as a mini morale-boost? Fifteen minutes to salvage this one!
Third quarter, 5:00 to play:
Ruby Schleicher marks on her own defensive line, as the Dees look to bomb a massive major from near the 50. They’ve added one behind, but the Pies remain scoreless since those early first-quarter minors. The intensity continues in midfield, with both sides scrapping fiercely. They’ve struggled to hit their forwards, Collingwood, when they have gone long it’s been too predictable or straight, and the Dees defenders have spoiled or marked well.
Chiocci fights well to fashion another inside 50 for her side, but Melbourne smother the intended target. They’re getting bodies everywhere, the Dees.
AFLW third quarter - underway!
Big defensive mark from Cunningham for the Dees to set the tone early on. Big 5-10 minutes for the Pies, they can’t afford to go further behind, but if they start brightly here in this quarter then this big, vocal crowd could really bring them home.
Kick-off: A-League - Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners
Now, we’ve got live A-League getting underway, as the Wanderers and Mariners go head to head. Surely somebody is going to notch a morale-boosting win today? They boast three wins from 34 this season between them, these two sides. Yikes.
Bad news for Mariners fans, with news that Matt Simon is a late scratching. We’ll bring you the key moments from that one, as we try and keep an eye on the AFLW as well.
And a big surprise this afternoon from the NBL - they’ve not been too flash this season, the Cairns Taipans, but they may have had a big effect on the finals makeup condemning the Brisbane Bullets to what’s that, a fourth straight loss? Here’s the report from Australian Associated Press:
The Brisbane Bullets are now relying on results to go their way to make the NBL finals after a crushing 79-68 loss to the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.
The Bullets must now beat the New Zealand Breakers in the final round and hope Adelaide loses to both Melbourne and Perth in order to sneak into fourth position.
The Taipans, farewelling club champion and skipper Alex Loughton, led by as many as 15 points in the third term, but had to slog it out in the final quarter to win.
Brisbane drew within two points at one stage and looked like overrunning the wooden spooners, but couldn’t finish the job.
Point-scoring machine Melo Trimble was kept relatively quiet, finishing with 23 points after a scoreless opening term.
The retiring Loughton had 11 points in front of 5,000 adoring fans at a packed Cairns Convention Centre. He scored the match-winning points in the last minute of the game for a hero’s reception.
Great stuff Alex Loughton - always love it when a real servant of the game goes out in style.
AFLW half-time: Collingwood 0.2 (2) trail Melbourne 2.4 (16)
Big clearance from O’Dea as Layton looked to win the ruck inside 50. Brazill with more terrific scrambling defence as the Dees looked to break quickly.
There’s been some phenomenal tackling today, neither side can get clear with the desperation on show. It’s Dees working the handball combos better, and they’re moving it better up the park, but again, it’s defences on top.
And finally, there’s the first major of the game - with just 90 seconds to the hooter. And who else, Elise O’Dea! A snapshot over the shoulder out of a crowded pack - 15 possessions for the half, she’s running the show!
Ooph. They were decent for 28 minutes, Collingwood, but in the shadow of half-time the Dees go back-to-back. Lauren Pearce no mistake from dead in front - Tyla Hanks with a terrific banana inside to find her. Great play, Dees!
Updated
Second-quarter, 10:00 to play:
Brazill and Chiocci working well at the back for the Pies - Melbourne enjoyed almost 2:1 inside 50s in that opening quarter, and they’ve started on the back foot again in this quarter. But the final kick isn’t quite sticking for the Dees. No change to the score, two behinds a piece.
Updated
Quarter-time: Collingwood 0.2 (2) level with Melbourne 0.2 (2)
So the Dees enjoying the lion’s share of possessions with Lise O’Dea leading the possession count, as the visitors harry and hurry in midfield. Neither side creating clear cut shooting opportunities in blustery conditions in Melbourne today. On Sharni-watch, there’s been a few good leads, the odd handy tackle but nothing too much to get too excited about for Collingwood’s big No 1.
Expect this one to open up a bit more as the game goes on.
First quarter, 5:00 to play:
Huge mark by Lauren Butler under pressure, and she earns the 50m free with her marker infringing. A quick tap and she pumps long looking for Layton in the goal square.. but it’s a terrific mark from the Dees defence.
They’re shading it in midfield the visitors, but they’ve only managed to squeak two behinds. It’s still very much cut and thrust at this stage.
Updated
AFLW: Collingwood v Melbourne - first bounce!
So Collingwood get going first in front of a terrific crowd packed in at Victoria Park. But it’s the Dees that fashion the first shooting effort, but it skews across the face of the sticks and goes dead.
Updated
And speaking of run chases - how’s this for a knock from last night:
71* (30) and 81* (30) for an unbeaten opening stand of 158.
Is that a record? Has the comp ever seen a shellacking like that from Bryant and Cutting?
Hell of a knock. Melbourne Stars needing to pull themselves together ahead of their final game of the season; don’t forget they can still sneak into the finals, at the expense of the Heat, if they can sink the Sixers tomorrow night.
Hi! Thanks for joining us - we’re not too far away from our first live feature match of the day from the AFLW, we’re at Victoria Park in Abbotsford, the spiritual home of Collingwood, and our 22nd AFLW venue. It’s Collingwood v Melbourne in that one.
But first an update from the Big Bash League. A decent total from the Perth Scorchers, who have just finished their innings of 174-6 (20). Half centuries to Josh Inglis (55) and the much-maligned Mitch Marsh (50*) with Nathan Coulter-Niles belting a remarkable 25 off eight. Rashid Khan the pick of the bowlers for the Adelaide Strikers who start their run chase shortly.
Preamble
Andiamo. It’s Saturday, which means it’s Sportswatch. And with several competitions heading into finals season we’ll try and whip round the grounds with matches from the Big Bash, NBL and WNBL all taking place.
The main focus will be round two of the AFLW where it’s Collingwood v Melbourne (*bonus feature alarm*: Sharni-watch) and Western Bulldog v Geelong. And also the A-League, where it’s the battle of the cellar-dwellars Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners, and then two sides looking to cement their finals places as Melbourne City play host to Adelaide United.
As always please join the conversation - fire us an email or tweet to enrich your fellow readers’ afternoon/evening. Los gehts!
