Summary
So we’ll leave it there for Saturday Sportwatch. St Kilda with a big fourth quarter as well to close the gap against West Coast in the other late AFL game, but the Eagles have edged that one 12.16 (88) to 10.10 (70).
Adelaide’s seventh win from the last eight Showdowns is the headline story, but the Demon’s one-point win over Gold Coast was also big news, as too way Collingwood’s late five-goal haul to clinch an exciting Magpies-Blues contest.
Melbourne Storm the main story from the NRL tonight, putting a whopping 64 points on top-four aspirants Parramatta. Ouch. Ben Hunt also with a late error to condemn the Dragons to a come-from-in-front loss against the hot-and-cold Warriors.
And it’s three from three for the Melbourne Vixens in the Super Netball, as they made easy work of Maria Folau’s Thunderbirds.
We’ll have all the second A-League semi-final action tomorrow night - thanks for your company tonight, join us again for a pulsating Big Blue clash as Sydney FC take on Melbourne Victory.
Alex Keath is awarded the Showdown medal. Alongside Daniel Talia he was immense at the back, keeping the Port to just three goals across the first three quarter, before Talia’s injury disrupted the Crows’ backline.
Rory (s) Sloane, Laird and Atkins all impressing for the Crows, with Walker and Lynch both popping up at key moments with five goals between them.
Rockliff the standout for the Power, 41 touches, six marks and six tackles but far too few teammates came with him.
AFL: Port Adelaide 9.14 (68) lose to Adelaide 13.10 (88)
Riley Knight grabs a second - that’s the cherry on top, but how about the work from Lachlan Murphy to turn possession over in the build up, who’s congratulated by his teammates.
Sam Gray gets a consolation. You can’t sniff at a six-goal quarter, just a crying shame they only kicked three over the first three quarters, Port.
And there it is - Showdown 46 is over - and the bragging right will once again go to the Crows.
They made hard work of it near the end, having skipped to a 44-point lead early in the fourth. And that’s four on the spin for Adelaide: The Pride of South Australia.
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AFL - Showdown 46 - 4th Qtr, five to play:
It’s take 20 minutes, but finally they’ve broken this Port 5.2 unanswered scoring run - it’s a rushed behind, but they’ll take it, the Crows. Himmelberg then lines up another set shot, but he’s 55m out and it fades behind for a solitary point.
Five to play, and who else: it’s Tex! He wants it. He gets it! We’re back out to 20. Goodnight, nurse.
AFL - Showdown 46 - 4th Qtr, 22 gone:
Don Pyke beginning to look very agitated on the sideline, and Crows co-captain Rory Sloane looks to inspire his troops with two sterling marks in quick succession. Betts fires a snap but it even misses the little sticks, and then Greenwood takes a screamer of a mark, only to then kick straight into his marker. Sloppy stuff!
At the other end, it’s a scrappy melee, and from the ground Howard “soccers” an effort goalwards - and it crawls through!
I don’t believe this - we have a twelve-point game.
They’ve been a bucket of tepid sick for three quarters, the Power. Where has this come from??
Updated
AFL - Showdown 46 - 4th Qtr, 15 gone:
Talia is off the field with a suspected broken nose, and suddenly they’re finding a bit of space up front, Port.
Powell-Pepper has worked hard, and he becomes the first Power player to kick multiples. But hello. Is this getting interesting? Having missed a sitter earlier, Dougal Howard has now finished a set shot, and just two minutes later Xavier Duursma fires Port’s seventh.
4.2 unanswered since Lynch’s goal inside the first minute of the final quarter. 44 was the margin then, now it’s 18. They couldn’t. Could they?
AFL - Showdown 46 - final quarter.
Walker involved again early on, as he did to start the third quarter, and he helps Lynch help himself to his third on the game. Can he outscore Port Adelaide single-handedly?
Youngster Kane Farrell has other ideas, he snaps one back. They’ve announced a crowd of just shy of 50,000. Ouch. Some of these kids will be begging their parents never to be brought back.
AFL - Showdown 46 - three-quarter-time: Port Adelaide 3.12 (30) trail Adelaide 10.8 (68)
Blergh. What a damp squib this has turned into.
Rockliff the best of a bad bunch with 28 disposals, but he’s ploughing a near lone furrow in black, white, silver and teal.
NRL: Melbourne 64-10 Parramatta
Ooph. The reports of the return of the Eels has been horribly overstated - they’ve been diabolical tonight, Parramatta.
The Storm in no mood for charity - they’ve put on ELEVEN tries, with nine separate scorers. Smith enjoying the chance to stretch his all-time point-scoring record, adding a cheeky 20 points from the boot, without even breaking sweat. Mon dieu.
The flying Foxx! #NRLStormEels #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/iO8niVeYB4
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2019
AFL - Showdown 46 - 3rd Qtr, 22 gone:
Ach. This is starting to get ugly for the Power. The youngster Riley Knight helps himself to a major, and now it’s Elliott Himmelberg who fancies it. Betts has a word, encourages his teammate to take his time and settle it down - and he slots it sweetly.
3.10 plays 9.8, the heart has gone out of this big Port crowd, as they huddle together under the gentle drizzle. Their side goes 15 minutes without a score, before finally earning a rushed behind.
AFL - Showdown 46 - 3rd Qtr, 15 gone:
Skipper Tex fancies one, and he lands his 12th of the season to take the Crows out to a game-high 28. We’ve seen little of Betts aside from that early missed set-shot - thankfully for the Port fans.
Karl Amon now takes matters into his own hands, and helps the home fans find their voice again with a third goal of the evening. They follow this with two behinds, the Power - they’re shooting 3.10 so far. It’s not inspiring stuff from the team that came into the clash 7th on the ladder.
AFL - Showdown 46 - third quarter!
So, plenty of chat that that wasn’t perhaps the most objectively exciting footy many have seen this year.. what can we hope for in this second half?
Updated
NRL - second half: Melbourne 52-6 Parramatta, 58’ played
Good grief. The Storm have put on five tries in 11 minutes. FIVE. Did somebody say Magic Round?
They’ve still got 22 minutes to endure, the Eels. This could be an absolute bloodbath.
🔥🔥🔥
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2019
What a stint from @ryanpapenhuyzen!#NRLStormEels 52-6 with 23 minutes to go. pic.twitter.com/9wTQyErB5n
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Cricket: And we’ve got international one-day action, where England have been sent in to bat in the second ODI against Pakistan. Not that they’ve made a bad fist of things so far.
Simon Burnton is your man on the mark from the Ageas Bowl:
Your thoughts on that first half of Showdown 46?
Not a lot of love from the ABC commentary team on the effect the 6-6-6 rules have had on this one, and the inability of either side to find space.
“I just feel sorry for the big crowd, because the football’s rubbish”.
AFL - Showdown 46 - half-time: Port Adelaide 2.8 (20) trail Adelaide 6.5 (41)
A good response - it’s Rozee who pounces first on Rockliff’s punt up field, and he fires Power’s second of the night.
They continue to fashion shooting opportunities, Power, but they’re not making them count. The Crows defence, expertly led by Talia, is not giving up clear chances, with several desperate smothers and punches denying the Power front line.
They’ve been the dominate side for large parts of this second quarter, Port, but they drift further behind on the scoreboard.
AFL - half-time: St Kilda 4.5 (29) trail West Coast 5.6 (36)
Another tight affair in Melbourne at Docklands where it’s just seven points the difference. Hurn, Sheed and Gaff running the Eagles’ midfield, all with nearly 20 disposals each, but no multiple goals from anyone, yet.
They’ve led from minute one, West Coast, but the Saints have enjoyed the last three scoring shots to tighten it up a little.
NRL - half-time: Melbourne 24-6 Parramatta
They may be playing in Brisbane, but veteran Queenslander Cameron Smith doesn’t mind it - nor does his fellow Maroons playmaker (and fellow Cameron) Munster, who crosses for the first try of the game.
Dale Finucane and the flyer Josh Addo-Carr also among the tries, with Jahrome Hughes crossing just before half-time. Long way back for the Eels in this one - Shaun Lane’s four-pointer their only consolation.
AFL - Showdown 46 - 2nd Qtr, 15 gone:
They lead disposals, inside 50s and contested possessions, the Crows, but it’s Power ahead in tackles and clearances. Alex Keath and the Crouch brothers leading the disposals, but now a contentious free, and the Power fans aren’t happy.
Port pinged for hanging on too long, Amon the guilty party, but seems harsh that - could he even hear the umpire’s whistle? Freekick from dead in front and Tom Lynch slots a fourth for the Crows.
The youngster Murphy now lining up, just his second Showdown but he helps himself to a goal. 23 points the lead - key minutes here for the Power.
AFL - Showdown 46 - 2nd Qtr, 8 gone:
Eddie Betts looks to fire back for the Crows, but from the set shot he can only manage the point. Another key error from Port and this time it’s Rory Atkins who sinks the major, and Adelaide’s third!
Scott Lycett fires between the sticks, and the home fans roar - but the video review show it’s touched on the line by Luke Brown. Just the point, they trail by 12, Port.
AFL - Showdown 46 - second quarter!
15 seconds played, and whammo - there’s your response! Sam Powell-Pepper capitalising on a good tackle to fire Port’s first of the game; more of this say the home fans. Scoring at this ratio for the rest of the half and they’ll be 120.2 plays 2.1 at the big break. Imagine.
AFL - Showdown 46 - quarter-time: Port Adelaide 0.2 (2) trail Adelaide 2.1 (13)
A frenetic, anxious start from both sides, but it’s the team that’s won six of the last seven that starts the brighter.
Dan Houston goes to play on with five to play, but slips, what an error! The Crows swarm, and it ends with Rory Sloane who fires home a second goal for Adelaide.
Updated
AFL - first quarter, 15 gone:
It’s a bit greasy, with some light rain making handling a touch tricky early. The Crows edging the inside 50s 8-3, but neither side fashioning clear shooting chances. Credit the defence for that. Some nerves out there, with shots sailing into touch on the full.
It’s 12 minutes before a first scoring shot, and it’s Rockliff for Port, but it’s just a behind! The Crows go up the other end - and it’s a point to Murphy. Finally, with 17 on the clock a first goal - it’s David Mackay, and Adelaide draw first blood!
AFL - Showdown 46 - first bounce!
And we’re away! And it’s a full-blooded start, as you’d imagine, to a 46th all-South-Australian affair in which the tally reads 23-22.
Tackles and smothers flying in everywhere as you’d imagine, but as yet with three minutes played - no score.
And for our Premier League fans, it is of course the final week of a remarkable season - and after all the drama, the twists, the turns - tomorrow night it will all be decided.
Liverpool are so desperately close to lifting their first domestic league title in 30 years, but you just know it will be so close, but so far away, such has been the metronomic precision with which Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have ground out results since Christmas.
Until Sunday, here’s a terrific feature from Stuart James, where he talks to five of the players involved in previous final-day title showdowns:
Around the grounds: So! We’re not too far away from Showdown 46 - our feature match of the evening.
There’s also late NRL action as the Storm take on the Eels, and elsewhere in the AFL it’s Saints v Eagles. Don’t Skype a long-lost relative.
NRL: New Zealand 26-18 St George-Illawarra
Oh my. Exeunt, chased by a bear. I’ve put the mock on the Red V something absolutely fierce (see earlier). They’ve not added a single point in that second half, and in NRL’s “Magic Round” it’s Stephen Kearney’s men who have brought the razzle-dazzle.
David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo and Peta Hiku running in three unanswered second-half tries and snatching the two competition points!
WOW!
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2019
Warriors take their first lead of the game 😱#NRLWarriorsDragons #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/vqbFpWeu77
AFL: Gold Coast 9.6 (60) lose to Melbourne 8.12 (61)
Ay, ay, ay! It’s exploded to life - Nick Holman sent the home fans into raptures in the 30th minute with a clutch goal. But with about 40 seconds to play up popped Marty Hore to fire home and lock it up 60-60. And with literally just seconds before the siren, who else, but Tom McDonald slotting an effort - into the post, but who cares - a point does it!
It was a dour slugfest early on, but for the faithful who traveled to Carrara - what a corker of a finish!
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AFL - final five, scores locked! Would you believe it, with about eight minutes to play, the Suns have snatched the lead - a seventh lead change of the game! James Harmes then with the chance to win it for the Dees, but his effort hooked wide, for just the point, to make it 54-54.
And speaking of, a lovely email from Ian Swan regarding my earlier question on low-scoring AFL quarters:
Hi Richard,
In the second quarter last week Adelaide and Fremantle combined for three points that term. That’s the equal-lowest scoring quarter in the AFL era.
Other low scores (collected in the wash up of last week):
1996 R14 Q4 - 0.3 (3) Rich v WCE
1991 R01 Q2 - 0.3 (3) WCE v Melb
1988 R12 Q2 - 0.3 (3) StK v Coll
1968 R10 Q2 - 0.2 (2) StK v Carl
All the best.
Thanks for the note, Ian. There you go - what is it about second quarters? We had just eight points in this one tonight, but turns out that’s a veritable goal-fest compared with the above.
AFL - fourth quarter tussle: Now I’ve been a touch facile in my treatment of Suns-Dees, given the tortuously low-scoring nature of the first half - but I can happily report this one’s sprung to life.
We went into the sheds at three-quarter-time with just three points between these two - with the Gold Coast 5.6 (36) trailing Melbourne 5.9 (39) but with burst to life with a thumping FOUR goals already in the final term. Five points the gap now with ten to play - who’s going to win it for their side?
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A-League - GF date and time confirmed: Good news for those of you who love an Australian federal election AND an A-League grand final - these two titans will now no longer compete for your attention.
With Perth progressing (white-knuckle fashion) against Adelaide, they will now host their first ever A-League grand final: and it’ll be on Sunday 19th May, 4.30pm AWST.
This just announced by Football Federation Australia:
Hyundai A-League 2019 Grand Final date confirmed.#FeelTheFinals #ALeaguehttps://t.co/AMzoh6j9uv
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) May 11, 2019
Right, I’m off for dinner - tonight’s plat du jour is cauliflower and leek soup with toast, and a nice glass of Hawkes Bay pinot gris. Just talk among yourselves for a wee while.
NRL - half-time: New Zealand 6-18 St George-Illawarra
And like half of Auckland about now, I’m scratching my beard and wondering how the Warriors looked so flash during the opening round, and now are on track for their third loss against a bottom-eight side in just nine rounds. Probably because they were playing the Dogs, I guess.
Ben Hunt’s precision early kick leading to a 5th minute opener before youngster Jai Field pinned the ears back.
He's quick!
— NRL (@NRL) May 11, 2019
Jai Field scores in his first match for 2019!#NRLWarriorsDragons #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/785ewiI3yB
Agnatius Paasi bustling over to get the Warriors only points, but you know what? I’m going to call this one already. Go to bed, Auckland - here comes loss number seven.
AFL - half-time: Gold Coast 3.3 (21) trail Melbourne 3.5 (23)
Righto, you AFL boffins - what are the records for low-scoring quarters. I imagine somewhere, at some time, there must have been an 0.0 (0) v 0.0 (0), no? Well we’ve had a 1.2 (8) v 0.3 (3) coughed up by the Suns and Demons - which I can only imagine is the AFL equivalent of watching a terminally ill cat wander indoors and sick on your favourite rug.
If you know more than me (not hard) shoot us an email or tweet and inform your humble scribe as well as your fellow Sportwatchers.
A-League: The eagle-eyed among you will have noted there’s no A-League finals action tonight; that returns tomorrow with the second semi-final, a Big Blue between sworn rivals Sydney FC and the star-studded Melbourne Victory, and we’ll capture every kick of that here on Sunday Sportwatch.
But if you missed last night’s mayhem: Phwaor. Where have you been?
After an almost unprecedented week of football high drama - from Kompany’s thunderbolt winner in the EPL to Liverpool and Tottenham’s respect Champions League miracles against Barcelona and Ajax - in our very own domestic league Perth Glory and Adelaide United added their own little slice of quixotic caprice.
I honestly can’t remember a more remarkable A-League game - a late added-time equaliser, an extra-time goal and then response, and then one of the most shambolic penalty shootouts you’ll ever watch. All of this with a coach that’s already been sacked threatening to engineer one hell of an upset.
Madness.
Around the grounds: So a quick whizz around, with the early AFL, NRL and Super Netball fixtures done and dusted.
We’re just starting the second quarter in the third AFL clash on the Gold Coast, where the Dees are currently shading their hosts, the Suns, by 3.2 (20) to 2.1 (13). And up the road in NRL’s “Magic Round” it’s our second Suncorp showdown as the Warriors “host” the Dragons in Brisbane.
If you missed the conceit behind the whole Magic Round malarkey, here’s Matt Cleary’s explainer:
We’re not too far away from Super Rugby action as well, but with no Australian teams to sight (until the wee hours as the Waratahs take on the Lions in South Africa), wellll, show of hands - who’s really invested in Chiefs v Sharks? As I thought.
Super Netball: Adelaide 42-58 Melbourne
Well, look. There have been better weekends in the Folau household. Thunderbirds’ star recruit Maria Folau never really getting going as the Vixens defence and midcourt set up the platform for a comfortable win.
Diamonds star Caitlin Thwaites (29/31) shooting at 94% to spare the blushes of a ropey 74% shooting show from teammate Tegan Phillip (29/39).
Liz Watson, Kate Maloney and Renae Ingles bossing the middle third though to restrict supply to the Silver Ferns sharpshooter who netted just 18, for the Vixens to notch their third straight win of the campaign, and with the maximum four bonus points to boot.
NRL: Canterbury-Bankstown 10-22 Newcastle
Eek. It’s a tale of two Bulldogs, with the NRL-version enduring another tough day at the office. They huffed and puffed in the second half, the boys from Belmore, but having given up a 16-zip half-time lead it was always going to be a struggle for a side already low on confidence, and with Kalyn Ponga again in imperious mood.
It was the fullback’s kick for Hymel Hunt that opened the scoring, before Mitchell Pearce joined the party. They were looking comfortable until they threw the Dogs a lifeline, literally, with a Pearce pass-intercept launching a 95m dash to the line.
Too little, too late, though as Dean Pay’s men join the Panthers at the bottom of the table, 2-7, and Newcastle go three on the spin for the first time in two years.
AFL: Western Bulldogs 13.14 (92) beat Brisbane 11.10 (76)
And, it was no fluke against the Tigers last week - the Bulldogs have backed it up in Ballarat and jumped up into the top eight with a solid win against the fast-starting Lions.
Naughton, Richards and Lloyd grabbing multiples, while Dunkley, Hunter and Bontempelli swarmed the midfield. A nasty eye injury to Jarrod Berry the major concern for the home side, while for the visitors some wayward stuff from Eric Hipwood (2.5) undid some impressive kicking elsewhere, as Zorko and Robinson banged five and Neale snapped up another 30+ disposals outing.
AFL: Carlton 13.9 (87) lose to Collingwood 16.10 (106)
My, oh my. What a rollercoaster! Look at the 19-point margin and you’d get nowhere near the storyline of this one. Collingwood led at quarter-time, it was dead-level at the half, Carlton then got their noses ahead at the three-quarter mark, and were even out by 11 with eight minutes to play. But they’ve come home like a maelstrom, the Pies - five unanswered goals to race away at the death. Sheesh, they put their fans through the ringer, don’t they, the Blues?
What an absolutely cruel blow to the faithful, but a decent installment of a once proud rivalry, in front of nearly 70,000 at the Gee.
Collingwood go 6-2, Carlton slump to 1-7.
Updated
Hi all! I hope this finds you well, from wherever around the globe you’re following our coverage today.
As outlined below, it’s a uuuuge program of AFL on Saturday Sportwatch, and we’ve just had a few results trickle in from the early games. But first, here’s Gillon McLachlan discussing that incident from last night’s controversial Swans-Essendon clash:
Preamble
It’s a packed program on Sportwatch today, with AFL leading the charge with no fewer than FIVE matches from round eight. Early doors its Bulldogs v Lions and that hoary classic Blues v Magpies, before Suns v Demons and Saints v Eagles complete the appetisers ahead the big one: Showdown 46. Ooph, they’ll be bracing their girdles from Ceduna to Mount Gambier.
There are three games as well from the NRL, with Bulldogs, Warriors and Storm playing host to Knights, Dragons and Eels respectively, with again the final fixture being perhaps the pick of the bunch.
Elsewhere we’ve got live Super Netball, Super Rugby, and plenty of bits and bobs from around the globe including cycling, F1 motorsports and rugby sevens - all here, on Saturday Sportwatch!
