Summary
We’ve got the late fixture in the A-League still live, but OH&S says I have to stop now. That’s just ticked over to half-time, with the Victory leading their hosts Perth Glory 1-0 at the break.
Some emphatic performances in the AFL with the Eagles and Cats winning big, and Port edging Carlton, but the story of the day was surely the Bombers loss at the hands of the Saints.
Some lopsided results in the NRL as well, where the Sea Eagles, Sharks and Storm all helped themselves to handsome victories, with the Warriors, Cowboys and Panthers very much on the receiving end.
Wellington Phoenix ended Newcastle Jets’ distant finals hopes with an impressive 4-1 win, while the Wanderers, also out of finals reckoning, embarrassed a stuttering Melbourne City 3-0.
We’ll have plenty more Sportswatch tomorrow - including our feature liveblog from the AFLW grand final, and of course Ash Barty will be in action overnight in the Miami Open final. Thanks for your company tonight!
AFL: West Coast Eagles 16.8 (104) defeat GWS 7.10 (52)
And they’ve absolutely blown the Giants away in that second half - with twenty points without reply just to place a cherry on top. Do you think they wanted to send a message after that shock opening round loss to the Lions?
A fair dent in the percentage column for GWS, who sat atop of the ladder after round one, boasting 280% thanks to a charitable display from the Bombers.
A-League - goal! Perth Glory 0-1 Melbourne Victory
And we’ve got a belter of a goal to get things going in the 1 v 3 late fixture in the West - that’s the 5000th goal in the history of the A-League - and it’s a peach of a freekick from Ola Toivonen.
And if you’re ready (*boom boom*) for the king of stats, check out this from the A-League’s pre-eminent record keeper, the peerless Andrew Howe:
Liam Reddy concedes @aleague goal #5000.
— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) March 30, 2019
Goalkeepers who conceded milestone goals:
#1 Liam Reddy
#1000 Liam Reddy
#2000 Tony Warner - Reddy conceded #2001 ten minutes later
#3000 Matt Nash - Reddy (CCM) injured on the day
#4000 Liam Reddy
#5000 Liam Reddy#PERvMVC 0-1 25'
He’s been a veritable bee’s .. finger .. away from one of the most remarkable record hauls of all time, there Liam Reddy. Unbelievable.
NRL: Penrith 2-32 Melbourne
Ouch. After a pretty resolute first-half showing, amid treacherous conditions in Bathurst, the Panthers have finished with a 56% completion rate, as a raft of errors have seen the Storm, erm, storm home in this one. 26 unanswered points in that second half, with Brodie Croft, Josh Addo-Carr, Marion Seve and Jesse Bromwich all crossing the stripe.
NRL.com tells me that’s an 18th win for the Storm out of the last 20 matches they’ve faced the Panthers in. Eep. That’s even better than Sir Alex Ferguson v Coventry.
AFL: Geelong 20.6 (126) defeat Melbourne 6.10 (46)
Ay, ay, ay. Almost half Geelong’s inside 50s ended in goals. That’s a terrifying stat if you’re a Dees defender, but then, if you’re a Dees defender you knew that already because you’ve just lived through the past 120+ minutes of slaughter.
Is it too early to start the pump on these Cats? Or conversely should the Dees being looking nervously at the trapdoor already?
Super Rugby: Reds 13-32 Rebels
With the shock loss of the Waratahs to the Sunwolves on Friday night, we have a new Australian conference leader, and for one Rebel in particular it was a happy return to Queensland for star half Quade Cooper who left the Reds under such poor terms.
Jack Maddocks with two tries, with Cooper instumental in the lead up just after the break, as the visitors capitalised on a poor handling error to leap to a 25-6 lead.
Rebels host Sunwolves next - you would say “points in the bag” but then that’s evidently what the Tahs thought.
A-League: Western Sydney 3-0 Melbourne City
Four wins from the last six and if you’d missed the first seventeen rounds of the season you’d have to say the Wanderers are looking very promising under Marcus Babbel.
It’s a season that never quite got going for the former champions of Asia, but since the club has publicly backed the German, any hints of the player revolt that undermined his predecessor have melted away. Even Oriol Riera is scoring goals again. Two for the Spaniard, who remains an immense talent, if the club can/decide to retain his services.
Now to go on Twitter and read some comments from Melbourne City fans.
AFL - half-time: West Coast 8.4 (52) lead GWS 3.6 (24)
Ooph. With the game balanced on a knife edge, the Eagles have only gone and blasted five consecutive goals without reply in about 12 minutes! (Where have we seen that before?)
The Giants had been, until then, right in the contest. It’s by no means dead and buried now, but it might take something Collingwood-esque from the reigning champions to snatch defeat from here.
A-League - half-time: Western Sydney 1-0 Melbourne City
With Newcastle’s loss earlier in the night the pressure is off Melbourne City and by association Warren Joyce, with the big-spending franchise’s place in the six suddenly more secure.
Oriel Riera with a goal from the spot ten minutes before the break - it’s playing for pride for the Wanderers, but if they can snatch 7th spot from the Jets it might help Marcus Babbel build his case for his continued reign in the West.
AFL - half-time: Geelong 7.4 (46) lead Melbourne 3.4 (22)
Well after that first quarter shellacking it’s been a pretty quiet second stanza for Geelong-based ailurophiles, with the Cats adding just one major and extending their lead by just the solitary point.
Patrick Dangerfield continues to gambol around in midfield with 24 disposals, three marks and three tackles for the half. Clayton Oliver the best of the Demons with 26 touches and five tackles. Still a huge ask from here though, you’d warrant.
AFL - quarter-time: West Coast 2.3 (15) leads GWS 1.3 (9)
And a low scorer in the late kick-off from the West - the Giants seemingly matching whatever the champions can throw at them so far, like two twins fighting.
We’ll keep an eye on this one.
NRL - half-time: Penrith 2-8 Melbourne
It’s been tight and tense, but despite the Panthers enjoying the big cat’s share of the possession, it’s the Storm who shade it at the break.
Effectively a defensive error that lead to Cameron Munster’s try - treacherous, cool conditions in Bathurst in NSW’s west dictating play. Plenty more to come in this one no doubt.
Cameron Munster never says die and regathers his own kick 🙌#NRLPanthersStorm 2-6.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/EVNmtokiBA
— NRL (@NRL) March 30, 2019
AFL - quarter-time: Geelong 6.1 (37) lead Melbourne 2.2 (14)
Well, it looked good for about fifteen minutes - they even led by seven at one stage, the Dees, but from there it’s been un-Richtung-traffique (as they say in Strassbourg?)
Six separate goalscorers - could have been seven if Gary Ablett joined the party - but they’ve got a mountain to climb already, Melbourne.
AFL: Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) defeat Carlton 11.6 (72)
And like a massive black, white, silver and teal boa constrictor, they’ve just squeezed the life out of Carlton’s revival in this final quarter.
No score for seventeen minutes as Port Adelaide locked up the field, before back-to-back goals from Motlop gave the Power breathing space.
It’s a third consecutive season that starts with a 2-0 beginning for the Power. They missed out on the finals last campaign though - can they build from this solid start this time round?
NRL: North Queensland 16-42 Cronulla
My, my. They talked about the morale and fitness-sapping conditions in Queensland at half-time, but whatever they’ve put in the Sharks’ mash at half-time has done the job. Five tries in the first twenty minutes after the interval, and they’ve absolutely decimated their hosts!
I posed the question earlier of how much the Warriors were missing Shaun Johnson in their loss to the Eagles, I guess here’s the answer - watch this run.
BACK TO BACK TO BACK 👊#NRLCowboysSharks#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/8MZ3W39zWe
— NRL (@NRL) March 30, 2019
Influential performance from the Kiwi magician, who slotted 7/7 with the boot as well.
A-League: Wellington Phoenix 4-1 Newcastle Jets
It was billed as the last chance saloon for last year’s grand finalists, but they’ve finished with a whimper, the Jets, on a night that veteran David Williams stepped into a Roy Krishna-sized absence with absolute aplomb - scoring a hat-trick, and bringing his season tally to 11 goals.
Too lethal of the counter attack, the home side have secured their first finals spot in four campaigns.
AFL - three-quarter-time: Port Adelaide 9.8 (62) lead Carlton 9.5 (59)
And this one, is swinging like a pendulum do! Five goals for the Blues in the first quarter, none in the second, five in the third - let’s hope they don’t only fire in one direction, Carlton, with a huge final quarter to come.
It was actually Port who finished with the final three scoring shots of the stanza, after the Blues went on a fine run, with a 24-point turnaround of their own. Who will land the final blow at Adelaide Oval tonight?
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A-League - goal! Wellington Phoenix 4-1 Newcastle Jets
They beat a hapless Mariners 8-2 a few weeks ago, and now they’ve treated Gosford’s northern neighbours to half of that scoreline. It’s a combination of the two teenagers, Libby Cacace to Sarpreet Singh, and the Kiwi prodigy - who surely is in line to win the competition’s best young player - finishes with aplomb.
AFL: Essendon 9.11 (65) lose to St Kilda 10.16 (76)
“They think it’s all over, it is now.” Well, they huffed and puffed during that third quarter, the Dons, but at the final equation they’ve fallen short.
They kicked the last two goals of the match, Essendon, but by then they’d already left themselves too much to do, as both sides were guilty of a string of behinds over the final quarter.
It’s preposterous to think a coach could be under pressure after just two rounds of the season, but will the knives be out for Worsfold? Some of their fans booed the Bombers at the end of the first quarter, I didn’t catch the final reception but you can’t imagine it was too kind.
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A-League - goal! Wellington Phoenix 3-1 Newcastle Jets
No! The comeback’s off! It’s Williams again - and it’s his hat-trick - and that’s the pick of the lot! He receives the ball near the edge of the box, swivels sharply and bends an arching effort - and that’s arrowed right into the top bins! A superb strike, and Glen Moss can only look at the heavens. No chance for the Jets’ ‘keeper.
Three goals in five minutes - it’s football madness in the New Zealand capital.
And this time, surely this time. Is that the Jets’ season?
A-League - goal! Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Newcastle Jets
No! Is the comeback back on! An instant response from Roy O’Donovan, who flicks home from a Nikolai Topor-Stanley nod down. Here we go, here we go - this one’s come to life - a goal inside 90 seconds of the restart!
A-League - goal! Wellington Phoenix 2-0 Newcastle Jets
We’re on the hour mark and as they say in football - cometh the hour, cometh the man. The man upstairs with the TV that is - and having just returned from an FFA tribunal hearing for criticising VAR, coach Ernie Merrick will have to watch his Ps & Qs. Was that even a penalty??
David Williams appeared to be caught right on the edge of the penalty box, moving away from goal when he’s drawn some contact from Nigel Boogaard, and after a look at the footage, referee Matt Conger has pointed to the spot! Duly converted from Williams, his 10th of the season.
Is that curtains for the Jets’ season?
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Sheffield Shield - Stumps: Victoria 7-207, lead NSW by 375 runs
Honours more evenly shared on a rain-affected day three, on which Victoria’s top six all got a start but nobody took hold of the NSW bowling attack in the manner that Marcus Harris did in the first innings.
All the bowlers getting among the wickets, with Steve O’Keefe bowling an especially tidy 1/32 off 23 overs.
You’d imagine they’ll push to stretch the lead past 400 and then still have nearly two days to bowl NSW out. Commanding position therefore, for the team that’s looked so very good across the Sheffield Shield season.
AFL - three-quarter-time: Essendon 7.8 (50) trails St Kilda 8.12 (60)
Ooh-ee. Here it comes. THE RESPONSE. A low-scoring quarter in the end, but they’re threatening here, the Bombers. They’re gently tapping on the window like a wisteria on a dark, stormy evening.
They’ve pulled ahead in almost all the statistical categories, Essendon, but they’re still being out-tackled by St Kilda.
Watch. This. Space.
AFL - half-time: Port Adelaide 8.5 (53) leads Carlton 5.4 (34)
A big statement in that half from the home side, who fired 4.3 unanswered to head into the sheds. Connor Rozee with a double in as many minutes before Steven Motlop closed the quarter, after Robbie Gray had started the run.
Tom Rockliff running the show from midfield for the Power with 24 disposals and five marks - a twenty-five point turnaround since trailing at the quarter break.
NRL - half-time: North Queensland 10-6 Cronulla
A strong finish from the home side in a half that was a little one-dimensional at times, but we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and say “defences on top”.
Chad Townsend crossed for the first try of the game after just fifteen for the Sharkies, but they didn’t bother the scorers from there. A nervous wait for staff at Macdonalds Engadine if this scoreline persists.
How about the offload! 💥#NRLCowboysSharks 0-6.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/kIUbW0i5rX
— NRL (@NRL) March 30, 2019
AFL - half-time: Essendon 4.5 (29) trail St Kilda 7.9 (51)
And a better quarter for the Bombers, in that they actually kicked some goals (four more than the opening quarter), but they’ve still lost the quarter with the Saints firing five.
A bit of life for home fans though, with Jake “the Package” Stringer getting things going, before Mark Baguley, Devon Smith and David Myers also joined the party. What can John Worsfold spark from his players in the second half?
AFL - quarter-time: Port Adelaide 4.2 (26) trail Carlton 5.2 (32)
And a slightly tighter affair in our second AFLM game of the afternoon/evening, where both sides have traded goal for goal like two heavyweight sluggers.
Harry McKay and Brad Ebert got the first goals of the game for their respective sides, and closed the quarter with the last goals. We’ll keep tabs on this one, it appears to be bubbling nicely.
A-League - goal! Wellinton Phoenix 1-0 Newcastle Jets
Wowee. All the talk has been about Roy Krishna’s suspension tonight, but it’s a ninth goal of the season for David Williams - after just 33 seconds! He’s having an Indian summer the former Socceroo, and that will just add a few figures on his next contract. Sharp finish past Glen Moss after a deflected ball from Sarpreet Singh fell kindly for him.
Western United, who are keeping close tabs on both Williams and Singh (as well as coach Rudan) will be watching on keenly.
A-League - kickoff! Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
And we’re underway in the first of three A-League fixtures for the afternoon/evening, with Ernie Merrick’s Jets eyeing a big fat three points against his former club. We know he loves three points every time his chargers face the Victory, can they keep their finals hopes alive tonight?
Netball: And we’ve got Erin Delahunty keeping an eye across things at the pre-season tournament in Bendigo.
Magpies claimed victory against the West Coast Fever, 66-59 in today’s Bendigo blockbuster match. Vixens about to take on Queensland Firebirds.
She’s a woman with many hats today:
Good to hear @della79 using the platform she’s been given in calling these Bendigo preseason matches to defame goal shooters around the nation.
— Eric George (@ericpaulgeorge) March 30, 2019
You can take Sharnie Layton out of the league, but you can’t take the admiration for no-nonsense defending.
AFL - quarter-time: Essendon 0.2 (2) trail St Kilda 2.7 (19)
Ay, ay, ay. All the talk this week was about a “response” after a truly abject showing from the Bombers in round one - but having raced to a two-point lead, Essendon put the kicking boots back in the lockers. Nine unanswered scoring shots from the Saints, and truth be told, five or six of them probably should have been majors.
They’ve got away with that the Bombers, but a few boos from home fans tells you all is not well in Camp Essendon. Maybe the “response” can come in the second quarter?
NRL: Manly 46-12 NZ Warriors
Ach. Home fans didn’t need that. They refused to take the foot off the neck, the Sea Eagles, pilling 22 unanswered points on during the second half, Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans finishing with two tries a piece.
It’s a first win under Hasler, but a disappointing crash back to earth from a side that looked so promising in their opening game against the Bulldogs. We’ll find out very quickly how much they’ve missed playmaker Shaun Johnson - he’ll be in action later today for the Sharks.
Sheffield Shield - wicket! White 36, b O’Keefe (Victoria 5-183)
Big wicket for NSW, ending a dangerous 56 run partnership, can they rattle through the tail now? They’ve brought up the 350 lead, Victoria, will they send their visitors in before the end of the day, or keep building their lead? There are two full days to play - weather permitting, that is.
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AFL - first bounce: Essendon v St Kilda
And we’re away at Docklands in the first of four fixtures from the AFLM today, where the much-fancied Bombers will be keen to get the monkey off the back today after a horror-showing last weekend.
And they get the first score up - Shaun McKernan with a behind. They all count - just ask Saints fans after their nervy one-point win in round one!
NRL - 60’ gone: Manly 32-12 NZ Warriors
And it’s DCE and Turbo running the show - as the fullback and halfback combine once again and score a fifth Sea Eagles try right under the sticks. There was a beautiful pre-game tribute in Christchurch, but local fans won’t be finding too much solace in this result so far.
Sheffield Shield - at tea: Victoria 4-142, lead NSW by 310
It’s been a rain-affected third day of action in the Sheffield Shield final, with Victoria denied the chance to really pile the runs on by inclement conditions, but they have continued steadily to build their lead. If they can get past 400 it might go beyond NSW you’d imagine.
Will Pucovski with 51 the pick of the batsmen but Sean Abbott enjoying conditions with the ball, grabbing 3/67.
NRL - half-time: Manly 24-12 NZ Warriors
And it’s a promising first half from Dessie’s Dazzlers, still chasing the first win since the prodigal coach returned to Brookvale, as they lead the hot-and-cold Kiwis.
Five tries inside the first twenty-five minutes in a classic Warriors encounter - this from Joel Thompson probably the pick of the action.
Wow wow wow! Joel Thompson regathers and scores a fantastic try 😱#NRLManlyWarriors#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/bNlomjh1ch
— NRL (@NRL) March 30, 2019
But, back to people from the 21st century - let’s whip round the grounds and see what sporting news we have for you so far today.
Hi all! Thanks for joining us on Saturday Sportwatch where we’ve got sports action coming at you thicker and faster than Eddie McGuire apologies.
If you missed that tale from yesterday an update this afternoon, with the “AFL personality” withdrawing himself from commentary duties during today’s Essendon-St Kilda match. Neither McGuire nor Channel 7 are yet to confirm whether that’s just for today’s game. (But, almost certainly).
Preamble
After a week off for an international break the A-League returns and the race for finals spots heats up with Newcastle Jets almost certainly drinking at the last chance saloon tonight as they take on Wellington Phoenix. Under-pressure Warren Joyce will know whether his team are in the Jets’ sights immediately thereafter, as Melbourne City face the Wanderers needing to keep their spot in the six safe, and in the late fixture from the West it’s 1 v 3 as Perth Glory host Melbourne Victory.
Plenty of AFL action as well - Bombers v Saints, Power v Blues, Cats v Dees, and another late one from the West as Eagles face Giants. And in the NRL we’ve three fixtures, starting with Dessie’s dazzlers v the Auckland razzlers, then Cowboys v Sharks, and later on the Panthers host the Storm.
We’ll hopefully get some Netball updates in from the “Bendigo blockbuster” pre-season tournament, some Super Rugby and Sheffield Shield scores for you as well. If rain stays away on day three that is.
As always please fire us an email or tweet to join the coverage - this is a train that takes all passengers and stops at every station in the Australasian sports metro system. If you follow my drift.
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