Before we sign off tonight, a look at the updated finals equation. Assuming West Coast beat Brisbane, the double chance games will look like:
Richmond vs Hawthorn
West Coast vs Collingwood
And the elimination finals will be:
Melbourne vs Geelong (if Melbourne beat GWS tomorrow)
Sydney vs GWS
GWS vs Melbourne (if GWS win)
Sydney vs Geelong
We’ll know what 5th to 8th will be doing by this time tomorrow night, and in two weeks it’s finals time.
Thanks for joining us today, and to Geoff for his Herculean typing earlier in the day. It’s still 0-0 in Wolves v Manchester City if you want to switch over to that game from here.
Updated
Full time: Sydney 10.14.74, Hawthorn 12.11.83
The Hawks’ mini rebuild is complete and they’re back in the top four, while Sydney’s woes on their home ground continue. Hawthorn has come back from no quite the dead, but close to at half time when they were desperately trying to attack but with no success.
They began to break through in the third quarter, withstood a steadying period by the Swans and came back to win. It books them the double chance and a massive master vs apprentice first up final against Richmond.
Tom Papley has Sydney’s last chance. He takes advantage of Ben Ronke being given an eternity to get rid of the ball to unload a wild snap inside 50. It misses, McEvoy marks the kick-in and Hawthorn are home.
A minute and a half left here, and the Swans mess up a good opportunity going forward. It ends in a point and the gap is 10, it looks like they’re going to an Elimination Final.
And full time in Melbourne, Adelaide has won 165-61. A terrible way for Carlton to end an awful season. Josh Jenkins kicked seven for the winners.
They’ve got the sealer anyway! Jarryd Roughead finds Luke Bruest running back to the square. He marks, makes no mistake from point blank range and the Hawks lead 83-72 with 2.41 to play.
Hawks narrowly denied the winner as a quick snap is called touched. Umpire Ray Chamberlain suggests that he has to call a review because he called touched off the boot. I’d be interested to know where that’s written down.
Something, no matter how minor, for Carlton fans to hold on to.
Patrick Cripps needed 23 contested possessions to break the record for most in a season, and he's done it. Currently at 386 with about 5 minutes left #AFLBluesCrows
— Sarah Black (@_sjblack) August 25, 2018
Josh Kennedy narrowly misses a set shot left, and the margin is four in favour of Hawthorn with just over six minutes to play.
Adelaide have tonned up - Josh Jenkins has six and the score is 159-55. Carlton fans may wish to trample the dirt on the grave tomorrow morning to make sure this season really is dead.
Hawks lead! Ricky Henderson 9-irons one from 50 metres that just drops beyond the defenders on the goal line. The score is 76-71 Hawthorn with eight minutes to play.
Morrison nearly makes it back to back goals. His running shot goes wide, and with just over nine to play the margin is a point. Hawthorn’s dominated the inside 50s recently, but the momentum in this game has swung so many times who knows how long that will last.
And there it is! Hawthorn’s Harry Morrison finishes off a period of smothering forward pressure, pulling his opponent off the ball, gathering and kicking the goal. The margin is two points.
The margin is back to eight as a Gunston snap around the corner goes through for a Hawthorn point. Now the Hawks are the ones who look likely to keep the ball at their end.
Adelaide is one goal from raising the bat, in front of the Blues 146-52 halfway through the final term.
Kieran Jack misses too. Hawthorn is wobbling but Sydney can’t land another big blow.
Florent adds another point for the Swans. They’ve got the game back on their terms now, but still only lead by eight with 13 to play.
Another chance for the Swans, and Callum Sinclair steers through a set shot from 40 metres out directly in front. There were questions about whether the free for holding was valid but Sinclair made the best of his opportunity. Swans lead 69-62.
The deadlock is broken by Kieran Jack, his snap misses and the Swans are up by a point.
With scores level, we have to start considering the implications of a draw. It would put Hawthorn into the four temporarily, opening the door for GWS to tip them out tomorrow. There’s still 16 minutes to play at the SCG.
At Etihad, Adelaide lead Carlton 134 to 51 and it looks like both teams are content to play out the remainder of their disappointing seasons and head for the bar.
Holy moly. Scores are level. Straight out of the middle a low ball falls into the arms of Jarryd Roughead and he bangs it through. The score is 62-62.
The Hawks hit back! From an obscure angle on the boundary Puopolo rolls the ball through and the gap is back to a goal.
Meanwhile, Wolves vs Manchester City has just kicked off and a reminder that we’ve got a live blog going for that game too. oin our
Tom McCartin draws first blood for the Swans in the last quarter. A kick falls short but straight into his hands for the first goal of the last term, and Sydney get back out to a 12 point lead.
Full time: Sydney Roosters 8, Brisbane Broncos 22
No tries in the second half as the Broncos ease away to victory. The only score of the second 40 minutes was a penalty goal to Jamayne Isaako in the 55th minute.
Three quarter time: Sydney 8.8.56, Hawthorn 7.8.50
The grandstand finish in the race for fourth (at a minimum) is on. Hawthorn miss a shot on the run in the dying seconds and the margin is one straight kick.
In the game with nothing on the line but pride (and even then...) the Crows are 128-50 ahead at three quarter time.
With two minutes left in the third quarter, Ricky Henderson marks on the boundary line and is able to improve the angle to Jack Gunston via a kick that barely travelled the required distance. Gunston steps back and converts - the margin is back to seven.
My appreciation to the AFL’s on-duty Twitterist for the set up and ice cool finish to this tweet.
Kade Simpson!
— AFL (@AFL) August 25, 2018
The wily veteran drifts forward and kicks a goal.
The Blues trail by 79 points.#AFLBluesCrows
Another chance for the Swans, and Harry Cunningham kicks it to send the margin back out to 13.
In Melbourne, the shootout is on but it’s mostly one way as the Crows are up 122-43.
Hawthorn’s Conor Nash marks strongly inside 50 to answer for the Hawks, but his unconventional set shot style sees him veer out to the right and kick a point. Swans lead 50-43.
In the NRL, Brisbane still lead 22-8 with 10 to play.
Finally some relief for the Swans as Tom Papley snaps a settler after a forward stoppage. The margin is back out over a goal and Sydney’s top four finish is looking slightly more secure.
The cricket is over, as Zondo’s 117 run innings ends in a run out. Australia A win by 32 runs.
Sydney finally get an opportunity. They should have had a free kick at the top of the square for a holding the ball on Ben Stratton. He got away with it, but the Swans could have goalled shortly after from Florent. He missed, then Heeney kicked out on the full and the lead is 44-42.
It’s all gone brown at the SCG. Paul Puopolo goals and the margin is down to one. Now Hawthorn are the ones with what looks like a potent forward line (well, as potent as you can get in a 43-42 game) while the Swans can’t make any decent opportunities.
After a period where neither team could break through for a goal at the SCG, Hawthorn’s revival continues through Jack Gunston. He rolls one through from just inside 50 and the margin is back to seven.
Elsewhere, South Africa are down to their last wicket, Adelaide have shot to 103 points against Carlton’s 37 and the Broncos still lead 22-8.
Quick F1 update - Vettel fastest in practice in Belgium.
🏁 END OF FP3 🏁
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 25, 2018
TOP TEN
VET
RAI
HAM
BOT
VER
RIC
LEC
PER
HUL
OCO#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/SPXlKqjMBq
Right on cue from pressing publish on the last update, the Broncos score a penalty goal and they’re up 22-8. At Etihad Stadium, Adelaide are now the even 10 goals in front of the Blues 96-36.
In our main game, Sydney are weathering the storm against Hawthorn and hold a 13 point lead with as many minutes to play in the third term.
Still 20-8 Broncos in the NRL, with both sides being denied a try by the bunker.
In the cricket, Khaya Zondo’s imminent century won’t be enough for South Africa as they’ve left their run far too late against Australia.
It’s all Hawthorn early in the third quarter, and Ryan Schoenmakers converts a set shot to cut the margin to 13.
The second half is on at the SCG, and it was almost ‘adjust your ladder predictors’ when Shaun Burgoyne set up Jarryd Roughead for a set shot. He put it out on the full and Sydney retain their 19 point advantage.
We’re also on again in Carlton vs Adelaide. The Crows have already added another goal in their attempt to boost scoring to a point where we don’t have to change all the rules next year.
South Africa lose another wicket, they’re 8/250 as Joel Paris grabs his first victim of the day.
Premier League fans, we’ll have rolling updates of the Wolves vs Manchester City game when it kicks off.
The required run rate for South Africa A in the Quadrangular (!) Series is now north of 11 per over. They need 77 runs from the last 40 balls.
Likely AFL finals scenarios (assuming Sydney and West Coast win):
The top four group:
Richmond vs Sydney
West Coast vs Collingwood
The elimination finals:
If Melbourne beat GWS tomorrow, it’s Melbourne vs Geelong and GWS travelling to Melbourne to play Hawthorn.
If the Giants beat the Dees they’ll play again in Sydney and Hawthorn will face Geelong.
As a no longer long-suffering Melbourne fan, I’ve just discovered that by winning tomorrow we’d probably have to go to Sydney and Perth to make the Grand Final. Bring it on!
Half time: Sydney 6.7.43, Hawthorn 3.6.24
Advantage to the home side in the battle for a spot in the top four. Hawthorn has had chances, but are unable to find a reliable avenue to goal. None of the Swans forwards are looking particularly potent, but they’ve got half a dozen players who might bob up for a goal.
In our game Adelaide lead Carlton 84-35.
With two minutes left, Harry Cunningham wins a free for the Swans but misses from 50 metres out. Sydney lead 43-24.
In the cricket, South Africa A are digging in. They’re 7/232 in the 41st over. They’ll need almost 10 runs an over from here to reel in Australia A’s total of 322. The key man is Khaya Zondo, currently 79 off 81 balls.
Half time: Roosters 8 - 20 Broncos
Sydney scored first, but after Corey Oates hit back in the 15th minute it’s been all Brisbane since then.
Hawthorn finally get the goal - call it an eight point play. Paul Puopolo is pushed in the back (though it must be said very lightly) as he takes a flying shot on goal and is given another opportunity. He converts from the pocket and reduces the gap to three straight kicks.
Updated
In Melbourne, the Crows look to be heading towards a monster score against Carlton. They’re up to 15.5.83 with several minutes left in the second quarter, a 60 point lead.
It’s pouring for the Hawks now, as they deliver the rarely seen two point play. The McEvoy behind is met with an Isaac Heeney screamer, but the ball soon comes back inside Hawthorn’s 50 for Worpel. He hits the post too. 42-18 Swans.
Finally a score for Hawthorn in the second quarter, but it’s only a minor. McEvoy floated forward to mark but stuck his set shot into the post and his side are still down by 25 points.
Advantage Broncos nearing half time in the NRL. A penalty goal and try to Nikorima have them out 20-8.
The Hawks haven’t scored so far this quarter, and with eight minutes Josh Kennedy wins a clearance and boots a long goal to extend the margin to 26.
Hawthorn’s prize for a comeback is a double chance. That would probably come with a trip to Perth, but at this stage I don’t think they’d turn it back. Now their fate depends on the result of the Melbourne vs GWS game, a Dees win has them playing the Giants and a GWS victory sets up a tantalising elimination final against Geelong.
Hawthorn are struggling for scores, and look toothless when going inside 50. On the other side of the ledger, the Swans look dangerous even without Franklin. All the signs are pointing in Sydney’s favour so far. It’s 35-16.
It’s 12-8 Broncos as Jamayne Isaako scores.
And three in a row for the Swans! They’re up by 19 points now as Ollie Florent sinks a set shot.
Hayward gets another go from a tight angle, as he tries to jump over a Hawthorn player with his back turned in a marking contest and the Hawk is penalised for blocking him. We are to assume Hawthorn have been so good for the last 10 years because they have eyes in the back of their heads.
He does the right thing and misses the lot from the free kick, but not long after the ball is back inside 50 and a clanger by the Hawks lets Kieren Jack in for a goal. Swans 29-16.
This is an end-to-end game, and Will Hayward misses from an angle under pressure to extend Sydney’s lead to seven.
Score check from all venues:
Sydney 22, Hawthorn 16
Adelaide 52, Carlton 11
Sydney 8, Brisbane 8
South Africa A 7/189 in their chase for 322.
Live ladder alert! They held off until a minute into the second quarter. Short story - whoever wins gets a double chance, whoever doesn’t err... doesn’t.
(Unless West Coast do something weird against Brisbane tomorrow).
Isaac Heeney draws a free after an attempted spoil lands on the top of his head. He changes his mind from a kick around the corner to a standard drop punt and kicks it without a care in the world. Swans lead 21-16.
It’s 8-8 in the NRL, the Roosters convert a penalty goal to level scores again.
Quarter time: Sydney 2.3.15, Hawthorn 2.4.16
It’s been an entertaining start to the game at the SCG. The Swans are just covering the loss of two of their best players, and both sides have missed easy opportunities for goal. The Hawks are in front by the barest of margins, but there’s plenty of action left in this one.
At Etihad, it’s a 34-10 lead to the Crows at quarter time.
The Roosters’ lead didn’t last long, Brisbane are in through Corey Oates and land the conversion to take an 8-6 lead.
Elsewhere, South Africa A are doing their bit for harried live bloggers by shedding wickets all over the place. We should be able to wrap that one up soon, they’re 7/168 after 31 overs.
The ball doesn’t get past the wing before it’s back in Sydney’s attack. A miskicked pass into the forward 50 finds late inclusion Jordan Dawson, but he flubs his lines as Lance Franklin’s understudy and misses. Hawks by a point.
A narrow miss for the Swans, as Callum Sinclair launches a long bomb to the line which is touched through with a desperate lunge from his opposing ruckman Ben McEvoy. 16-14 Hawthorn with 90 seconds to play in the opening term.
All change at two venues, with Ricky Henderson converting from a Luke Bruest pass to give the Hawks a 16-13 lead. And at Allianz, Blake Ferguson has scored for the Roosters to give them the lead against Brisbane.
No such luck in Melbourne, as the Crows extend their lead to 33-8.
Updated
Hawthorn finally get their first goal with six minutes left to play in the first quarter. Sydney turn it over from a kick-in as Aliir drops a simple mark, gifting James Worpel a goal from right in front. 13-10 Swans.
Another chance goes begging for the Hawks, as Shaun Burgoyne takes a strong mark inside 50 but narrowly misses. Replays are now suggesting Sydney’s last goal was touched, but it’s too late to debate that now.
Around the ground, Carlton has goalled to cut the margin back to 14, and South Africa A has lost another wicket to be 6/156 chasing 322.
The Broncos are in front courtesy of a penalty goal.
At the SCG the low scores shouldn’t be confused with a boring game. Either side has had their chances, and Tom Papley extends Sydney’s leap with a snap around the corner. They’re up 13-2.
The Roosters and Broncos are underway. No score after three minutes at Allianz Stadium. Meanwhile at Etihad Stadium, the Crows are now 21-0 in front of Carlton and the handful of Blues fans who opted to show up must have that familiar sinking feeling.
In our main game it’s 7-2 Sydney with just under 10 minutes to play in the first quarter.
Australia A look to be running away to an easy win in the cricket. The South Africans have just lost two quick wickets to be 5/143 after 26.5 overs. A run out was followed by a Mitchell Swepson LBW and they’ve left themselves with a mountain of work to do.
The Swans are on the board. Isaac Heeney is held (arguably) by David Mirra in a marking contest inside 50, and kicks around the corner for a goal. The home side are up 6-1, and to their credit the broadcaster hasn’t been tempted to put a live ladder up yet.
Full time in the Bledisloe Cup, and it’s New Zealand’s trophy for the 16th consecutive season. Australian rugby continues to nervously adjust its collar.
At the SCG, it’s still 1-0 Hawthorn after about six minutes. Each side has had chances since but failed to score.
In Melbourne, Adelaide are already 13-0 to the good against the Blues.
First score for Hawthorn. Jarman Impey is infringed against in a marking contest, but pulls his kick left for the opening point of the contest.
Not much good news for Australia at the Bledisloe Cup. New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett has scored four tries and the All Blacks are up 40-12.
Full time: Gold Coast 8 - 10 Melbourne
The Storm came from behind to beat the Titans 10-8. Gold Coast were up 8-0 at half time, but tries to Curtis Scott and Cameron Munster helped Melbourne over the line.
In the cricket, South Africa A is currently 3/126 after 21.1 overs, chasing Australia A’s 322.
Updated
The big news from the SCG is that both Lance Franklin and Luke Parker are both out of the Sydney side. Which is great news for Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, who tempted fate during the week by claiming Franklin never performed well against his old side. First bounce in less than five minutes.
Approaching full time on the Gold Coast, the Storm still lead 10-8 with two minutes to play.
First bounce in the two AFL games tonight is 7.25pm AEST. It’s not only the main event to decide a top four spot between Sydney and Hawthorn, but the last rites on Carlton’s miserable season against Adelaide.
In the NRL the Roosters vs Broncos game kicks off at 7.35pm.
On the Gold Coast, the Titans are still trailing Melbourne by 8-10 with 10 minutes to play. Cameron Munster was the last man over the line in the 58th minute.
Full time: Fremantle 9.13.67, Collingwood 11.10.76
The Pies survive what would have been one of the most significant final round chokes in living memory. They’ll finish in the four, and we’ll find out who they’ll play after the Sydney/Hawthorn and Brisbane/West Coast games.
The Swans and Hawks is our main game tonight, and the first bounce is rapidly approaching.
And the Pies will win! Josh Thomas takes advantage of a disastrous kick out of Fremantle’s defence to kick the goal that kills the Dockers’ brave insurgency. A last chance for Freo with 30 seconds left ends in holding the ball and Collingwood will finish in the top four.
Fifteen minutes to go in the rugby league, three minutes in the Aussie Rules. It’s 66-70 in favour of Collingwood as they try not to blow their top four spot.
That’s it for me, I’ll leave it to Adam Woolcock to take those games home, then settle in for the Sydney-Hawthorn clash among others tonight. All the best your way.
Updated
Equaliser for the Storm! Cameron Munster brushes off the tackle and crashes over to level things up at 8-8 against the Titans, then Cameron Smith hits his conversion to take the lead. It’s 8-10 to Melbourne.
Mihocek! He got things going for Collingwood earlier, and he’s finishing things late. He kicks his second, then a moment later his third, running hard to get in the right position for a handball receive. Collingwood hit the front. It’s 65 to 69 now.
Still 8-4 to the Gold Coast Titans after an hour against the Storm.
Travis Head truly has the golden touch today. Cloete, the other opener, raising his fifty from 49 balls, then is bowled the very next ball. It’s 2-98 for South Africa A.
Finally, a wicket for Australia A. And of course it’s Travis Head. The captain won the toss, made a century, and now floats up a full toss and has Erwee flick it straight to Labuschagne at midwicket. South Africa A find themselves 1-90 in the 14th over, chasing 323.
But it’s Ballantyne again! The little feller kicks his fourth, as Fremantle counter-attacked and found him in a paddock. He was sprinting back towards goal with no one inside forward 50, ran onto a pass in the middle of a hundred-yard dash, and kicks the goal. It’s 64-56 to the Dockers with 13 minutes remaining, a margin of 8 points.
Brad Hill goes forward for Fremantle looking for Ballantyne, who sprints back toward the goal line but can only fingertip the ball rather than mark it as it bounces through between the goal post and point post. Fremantle 58-56 in the last quarter with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Updated
Cam McCarthy kicks a point to put the Dockers ahead 57-56...
The Melbourne Storm are off the mark! Curtis Scott lands for the try while the Titans were a man short in the defensive line with a couple busy wrestling with Cam Smith. If that was deliberate from Smith, he’s a genius. He creates the chance for the try, but he misses the conversion from the sideline. It’s 8-4 to the Titans.
Three quarter time: Fremantle 8.8.56 - Collingwood 8.8.56
What do you know. Taylor Adams gets the Pies back close, then Stephenson and Mayne each miss a chance to take the lead. They do, between them, level the scores. A quarter to go and it’s anyone’s game. The result wouldn’t mean anything for Freo’s ladder spot at 13th, but it could have a huge impact for Collingwood, currently 3rd.
South Africa A off to a flyer against Australia A. Joel Paris is taking some treatment. Gihahn Cloete and Sarel Erwee are the Safrican openers, they’ve clattered 54 by the start of the eighth over.
Hayden Ballantyne kicks his third for Fremantle! Receives the handball on the forward flank, flicks on the afterburners, has a bounce despite two pursuing Pies, and slots the running goal from the pocket. Celebrates like he means it. Inspirational play, and they’re 56-47 up.
Half time: Gold Coast Titans 8-0 Melbourne Storm
A better first half for one of the Gold Coast teams today at least. They take the early lead and don’t let Melbourne back in the game.
Here’s the full report on the Black Ferns’ win from earlier.
Some serious forward pressure by Fremantle to lock the ball in their attacking half of the field, and they’re back in front. Collingwood got into the lead thanks to an early Mihocek goal, but then he drops a mark after getting in the way of a teammate on the defensive 50, and Lachie Neale grabs the crumb and slots a long running goal. It’s 49-47 in favour of the Westerners... but they’ve muffed the kick-in and delivered the ball straight to their former teammate Chris Maybe. Perhaps old memories that hadn’t quite faded. But he sprays his kick so badly he doesn’t even get a point.
Nearly a try for the Titans! Brimson makes a break, sprints forty metres, dives... but is held up by Josh Addo-Carr and can’t ground the ball.
It’s been a real arm wrestle at GIO Stadium. The Titans have been pushing the Storm for 35 minutes, but are only 8-0 up. The converted try from earlier, plus a penalty goal. But a couple of late penalties for Melbourne get them downfield, with three sets in a row. Five minutes to go in the half, but this is when the Storm tends to score, hitting back after being under pressure. But Kasiano knocks on to relieve the risk as Melbourne presses.
Half time: Fremantle 6.6.42 - 6.3.39 Collingwood
Collingwood worked their way back into the game in the second quarter, and we go into half time with things more or less locked up. Freo might rue some wasted chances. Brad Hill has 18 touches for them, while Sidebottom has 16 for Collingwood.
Updated
Hayden Ballantyne gets Freo underway with a goal to start the second quarter, but misses another as the Dockers miss three in a row. Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury kicks a steadier for the Pies, then Jaidyn Stephenson adds another. The Freo lead is cut to three points, it’s 42-39 in the West.
Alexander Brimson gets the Gold Coast Titans underway against the Melbourne Storm with a try after four minutes. Ash Taylor converts. The Titans are up 6-0.
Australia A made 5-322 in 50 overs against South Africa A
Matt Renshaw isn’t just a blocking opener, after all. Here he took the game on in the middle order. And Agar iced the innings perfectly with a couple of sixes in his very brief innings.
Usman Khawaja run out (Sarel Erwee) 10 (21)
D Arcy Short lbw b von Berg 49 (56)
Travis Head* b Hendricks 110 (117)
Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Magala 65 (67)
Matthew Renshaw not out 42 (29)
Alex Carey c Frylinck b Magala 8 (7)
Ashton Agar not out 17 (4)
Quarter time: Fremantle 5.2.32 - 3.2.20 Collingwood
Interesting. The Magpies against the Dockers, with Freo having been dire this year, but Fremantle have jumped out to an early lead. If Collingwood stuffs this up, they could find themselves dumped out of the top four by a Sydney win later tonight. They’ll need to take a few deep breaths and recompose before they decompose.
Updated
Travis Head b Hendricks 110 (117 balls)
At the end of the 47th over, Head is out with a hundred to his name, for Australia A against South Africa A. The Australian score is 4-285.
Our Bledisloe Cup live blog is up
Join Oliver Trenchard to keep up with the details there.
Full time: Black Ferns 45-17 Wallaroos
A huge win in the end for New Zealand, and a win in the series as well. Jacinda Ardern, the NZ Prime Minister is on hand for the presentation. The Ferns were just too strong early, they based the Wallaroos around, rattled them, scored heavily in that first half, and then when the Wallaroos did get moving in open play, they found handling errors and a loss of composure brought them undone. Applause at Eden Park for the Black Ferns as they accept the trophy, and it looks like a good attendance here today.
That’s the women’s contest, the Bledisloe Cup between the men’s teams will be starting in about 30 minutes.
Updated
The Super Netball grand final is tomorrow, here’s Erin Delahunty’s preview.
Full time: Canberra 24-12 South Sydney
The four tries for the Raiders, plus three conversions and a penalty for Sam Williams, and Canberra completes a big second-half comeback to get over Souths, who dominated early but couldn’t sustain it.
Updated
Travis Head is on 97 for Australia A... Labuschagne was out for 65 from 67. Matthew Renshaw is out there at the moment on 20 not out.
Two tries in the rugby, one for the Wallaroos after yet another for the Black Ferns. Winiata in lots of space for the Ferns, then the sub Ngaha wrestles over for the Aussies. It’s 45-17 with five minutes to play.
It’s been busy everywhere in the meantime. The Canberra Raiders have nailed three tries in quarter of an hour. Oldfield, Iosia Soliola and Nick Cotric from the 53rd minute of the match. The Bunnies haven’t scored since Reynolds’ lone penalty in the 26th minute. It’s 20-12 to Canberra.
Updated
Full time: Richmond 15.8.98 - 14.11.95 Western Bulldogs
The Tigers hold on! Tom Lynch marks deep in the pocket with 45 seconds left. He runs around from the set shot, snaps from 40 out... and hits the post! Three posters for the Dogs in the last quarter, and Richmond holds on from the kick-in to win by three points. What a finish.
Brad Lynch had a shot to win the game for the Bulldogs.#AFLTigersDogs pic.twitter.com/GO8uZnVZdC
— AFL (@AFL) August 25, 2018
Updated
Make that four points. Hunter pushes the kick across the face of goal. It’s 98-94 in favour of the Tigers, three minutes left.
Free kick for the Bulldogs! Lachie Hunter gets taken high, 25 metres out from goal and not quite right in front. They trail by five points...
Updated
Finally, a goal! Billy Gowers gets a free kick for a push, and sends the ball home. Five points the difference. The Bulldogs beat the apparently invincible Essendon team in 2000 in a thriller, can they beat the invincible MCG Tigers in 2018 by a point? It’s 98-93.
Updated
Jeez, another miss for the Bulldogs. Roughead hits the post with five minutes remaining, and what could have been a 6-point margin is 11 points. 98-87.
Dangerfield 4 goals and 36 possessions for Geelong, by the way. Tim Kelly three goals, Mitch Duncan 29 stats and 8 tackles, Tom Stewart 13 marks. Michael Barlow 35 stats for the Suns.
Updated
Full time: Geelong 22.10.142 - 5.10.40 Gold Coast
Consecutive 100-point wins for the Cats to finish their regular season. They had a ball today. They’re level with Melbourne on 52 points on the ladder, but now have a better percentage. So fate is in the Demons’ hands - they can beat GWS tomorrow and finish sixth, or lose and stay eighth. High stakes, home finals, and all the rest. Geelong might prefer Melbourne to finish sixth to avoid a finals assignment interstate.
FT: @GeelongCats 22.10 (142) defeat @GoldCoastSUNS 5.10 (40).#AFLCatsSuns pic.twitter.com/Ytq7hEWqBO
— AFL (@AFL) August 25, 2018
Updated
The Wallaroos are spared when Love loses control of the ball while spinning over for an attempted try, but not when Wickliffe scores a spectacular diving effort in the right corner. She’s mid-air, being shoved into touch, but manages to stretch out and ground the ball as her body flies wide. Tough kick for Cocksedge from the sideline but can’t get the distance. Still, it’s 38-10.
The Bulldogs have had their chances in this last quarter, but Bontompelli misses a set shot from 10 metres out on an angle, then Gowers misses one from 40 out. The margin is 12 points to Richmond with 10 minutes to play. It’s 92-80.
Yellow card for Emily Robinson for the Wallaroos. The penalty count is 10-4 so far, and the referee has finally had enough as Robinson puts her hand on the ball while making a tackle. A few changes now being made, Carter off and Parker on. The Black Ferns win it from the scrum, Fitzpatrick receives the fast wide pass, and Cocksedge runs around the back of the ball carrier to find space unmarked after having played the initial ball from the ruck. The defenders were all concentrating on the brilliant Fitzpatrick, so Cocksedge lands the try unopposed. Lines up her own conversion and pops it over. This is becoming a thrashing, at 33-10.
Jack Riewoldt kicks his fourth goal of the afternoon to give Richmond the first score of the final quarter. It’s 86-72 after a classic Riewoldt steam-train lead and leaping mark against a couple of opponents.
This time they score! Fitzpatrick from about 15 out, somehow finds a gap and ploughs over with strength. And again from wide, Cocksedge makes no mistake. It’s 26-10 now to the Black Ferns.
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An exercise in contrasts. The Black Ferns were all about muscle driving the ball over the line in rolling mauls in the first half. They open the second half with two scything runs, first Wickliffe and then Saili. Cobie-Jane Morgan is down on the ground after heavy contact to stop Saili, with Morgan just having to wear the hit a few metres short of her defensive try line, and a bit of friendly fire too from her teammate Mhicca Carter. It’s still 19-10. The Black Ferns nearly get over after a line-out, because Carter also landed a high shot on Saili, but some more desperate defence bundles the runner into touch. Still 19-10.
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Richmond 12.8.80 - 11.6.72 Western Bulldogs
The Doggies were hanging in there for so long, with Ed Richards keeping them within a couple of points. But Richmond blew that lead back out to 14 points with a minute to play in the quarter, as Riewoldt kicks his third after a mark in front. That’s his 600th for the Tigers. The Dogs running out of legs, perhaps? They’ve battled hard all day. But Billy Gowers gives them a bit of spark with 25 seconds left! He marks in the left forward pocket and kicks the drop punt truly from 30 out.
Ed Richards 🔥#AFLTigersDogs pic.twitter.com/Iojq6hDkux
— AFL (@AFL) August 25, 2018
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A story of luck and the lack of it, on its way to the A-League.
Half time: Canberra Raiders 4-12 South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Bunnies haven’t done much on the scoreboard since their early two tries - Reynolds has added a penalty goal, but that’s it. Oldfield gets the Raiders away with a try on the half-hour mark.
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Half time: Black Ferns 19-10 Wallaroos
For the Black Ferns, Itunu is sitting upright on the cart being taken off, so at least we know her injury isn’t a really dangerous one. NZ win the scrum in their defensive 22 and kick upfield, where the Wallaroos can reset and try to string some phases together. Pomare tries a chip kick through the defence, puts NZ under pressure, and wins a line-out 15 metres out. There are several tackles on the five, then the Ferns are pinged for off-side. Treherne kicks it out, there’s another line-out five metres out, a rolling maul, Patu spins out of it and gets to ground, brings the ball down and wrestles it past the line, but the TMO has a long look at whether she’s lost control of the ball, and whether she’s moved her body after going to ground. After a long discussion, the referee says she went to ground of her own volition rather than being tackled, so the try is awarded! Treherne takes the kick this time but misses from out wide. Still, something for the Australians to take into the break.
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Three-quarter time: Geelong 17.8.110 - 4.8.32 Gold Coast
Dangerfield kicks a ripper on the break, running into the pocket, being tackled, yet somehow managing to snap around his body and through the middle on a tight angle. What a player. He has his second: you can read into Geelong’s dominance by the list of players with two goals. Dangerfield, Ablett, Murdoch, Menzel, Hawkins, Kelly, Menegola. No one has more than two, but they’re winning by 78 points. Danger has 29 possessions, Selwood 23, and Jarrod Harbrow 23 for Gold Coast.
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Grace Hamilton almost steams through for the Wallaroos, but she’s legged about 10 metres short of the line! Last-ditch defence for the Black Ferns. Now Itunu is down on the ground with a neck problem after a scrum.
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A nice partnership building as Australia A takes on South Africa A in a 50-over match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It’s part of a quadrangular tournament with two Indian reserve teams. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have added 66 at a run a ball, with Head on 64. It’s 2-167 after D’Arcy Short made 49 earlier. 30th over at the moment.
Geelong cracks the ton at Kardinia Park, the score is 104-24 as Tim Kelly roves a turnover and kicks a poacher’s goal at full sprint after dodging traffic. What a first-year discovery this player has been. On the live ladder, Geelong’s percentage has taken them above Melbourne to 7th spot, though Melbourne has a chance against the Giants tomorrow.
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The Wallaroos string together a dozen phases, work their way out of their own defensive area up the middle, then draw an off-side penalty from the Black Ferns. The Wallaroos kick for a line-out, then turn it over with an errant throw penalised.
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Another try for the Black Ferns! They are monstering the Wallaroos with brute strength in the maul today. Three tries, three pick-and-drives from close to the line with their stronger players handed the ball. This time it’s Eloise Blackwell with the try, sharing the scores around, and Cocksedge nails the kick from wide on the left. The Wallaroos have no answer to this strength, nor as play restarts on the halfway line and the Australian scrum is smashed by New Zealand. It’s 19-5 and could get ugly. Can the green and gold regroup?
In the NRL match, it’s 0-10 in favour of South Sydney at GIO Stadium. Walker and Inglis have the tries for South Sydney, and Reynolds has missed one kick.
Over in the Caribbean Premier League, David Warner’s team the St Lucia Stars have got a win over Guyana. Warner chipped in with 23 off 16 balls in a chase of 141, though Kieron Pollard iced the innings with a brutal 41 off 18.
Try for Australia! The Wallaroos are over the line thanks to Trilleen Pomare. With a spectacular spin and surge, she gets past about four defenders and pirouettes over the paint. Lovely stuff! Emily Robinson misses the conversion though, so it’s 12-5 in the rugby Test between Australian and New Zealand.
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Half time: Richmond 7.7.49 - 8.3.51 Western Bulldogs
The Tigers have surged back in the last few minutes. Riewoldt set up a goal for Caddy by flipping an incoming ball back inside 50 instead of marking on the lead, which narrowed the margin to three points. Then Riewoldt marked about 30 out to shoot for the lead, but missed. It’s a two-point game at the break.
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Try! Another pick-and-go for the Black Ferns, and now each of their props has scored across the line. This time it’s Love with the five-pointer, and Cocksedge makes no mistake with the straightforward conversion right in front. It’s 12-0 to NZ.
Samantha Treherne with a pacey break up the middle for Australia, but eventually the pass wide goes astray, and a chance to immediately reply goes begging. It’s 5-0 still.
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First try to the Black Ferns! Four minutes in. It’s Savage with the big run to get close to the line, then Ituni wrestled her way through a mass of bodies, and finally dragged the ball just past the line while tucked in the crook of her arm. Cocksedge hits the upright with the conversion and the ball bounces the wrong way. It’s 5-0 to NZ.
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In the meantime, the Tigers are sensationally trailing the Dogs by 10 points at the MCG, with eight minutes to go in the second quarter. It’s 40 plays 50 in the AFL at Richmond’s fortress.
Half time: Geelong 12.8.80 - 3.2.20 Gold Coast
The Cats are absolutely towelling up the Red and Gold Witches Hats at Kardinia Park. Ablett, Murdoch, Menegola, and Menzel all have two goals. It’s a day for the Ems. Mablett? Dangerfield has 19 disposals and Hawkins has six marks to half time. The Cats could get up to seventh on the ladder with a percentage-booster here. Have to sustain the dominance in the second half.
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You’ll be pleased to know that Almighty God has been implored to pay special attention to New Zealand once more via the medium of the national anthem. One could probably say, looking at their political situation versus Australia’s, that the Land of the Long White Cloud is indeed blessed.
The haka is starting up. Better than any anthem. The Australians are lined up staunchly to watch.
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Preamble
G’day cobbers. Strewth. I’m back in the Sportwatch driver’s seat for the first time in a few months, I’ve been busy writing a book about cricket. Now we’ve got to remember the rules for three football codes at the same time. Bear with me! We’ll have the women’s rugby union between Australia and New Zealand starting in a few minutes. The Raiders take on the Rabbitohs in rugby league, while the Aussie Rules camp has Richmond against the Bulldogs, and Geelong against the Gold Coast.
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