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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Scott Heinrich

Sportwatch: Brisbane pip Geelong, Black Ferns thump Wallaroos, Magpies beat Swifts - as it happened

Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions celebrate victory after pipping Geelong by a point at The Gabba. Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Summary

Well, that was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of sport. The Black Ferns cemented their status as completely awesome, Collingwood enjoyed a powerful and poignant win over the Swifts in Super Netball, the Knights had a day out against the Cowboys in the NRL ... but best on ground goes to the Brisbane Lions.

They showed the heart of a, um, Lion in coming from behind to overcome Geelong in a nailbiting top-of-the-table AFL clash at the Gabba, and advertise their wares as legitimate title contenders.

I’ve had an absolute blast and you’ve all been splendid. But all good things must come to an end. And who am I to hog centre stage when Richard Parkin is doing his level best to bring you all things Bledisloe Cup?

Updated

AFL: HT: Adelaide 2.6 (18) vs Collingwood 5.5 (35) - with a top-four berth still at stake, Collingwood produce an impressive first half against an impotent-looking Crows side. It took a late Darcy Fogarty goal to reduce the deficit to 17 points, but the Magpies are winning most battles and will head to the long break on good terms with themselves.

Super Netball: Magpies 64-56 Swifts

The Magpies lead from start to finish, knocking over the ladder leaders in a win that sees them break into the top four. Collingwood shot an an imperious 94%, with Shimona Nelson netting 52 times from 54 attempts. And for those of you who like this sort of thing, both teams scored identically in each half - the Magpies registering 32 and 32, the Swifts 28 and 28. Small things and small minds, eh?

NRL: Knights 42-6 Cowboys

Seems the Cowboys missed the half-time memo about an NRL game happening this afternoon in which they are supposed to be partaking. In modern sporting vernacular, they just didn’t turn up. The Knights players were queuing up to cross that line, with tries to Kalyn Ponga (2), Mitchell Pearce (2), Mitchell Barnett, Sione Mata’utia and Mason Lino making for a day in the sun for Newcastle. For good measure, Lino had a perfect kicking day with seven conversions out of seven attempts.

AFL: Brisbane 10.15 (75) beat Geelong 10.14 (74)

Remarkable. Utterly remarkable. Three goals down after Patrick Dangerfield’s rousing six-pointer, the Lions showed immense heart, and buckets of quality, to steal a one-point win - their ninth in a row. It’s their first win over Geelong since 2013 and they now sit atop the AFL ladder for the first time since Mitch Robinson’s skin was sans ink.

Blockbusters, whatever they are, don’t always live up to the billing but this one certainly did. Charlie Cameron was amazing with five goals and must now be rated the best small forward in the game. The Lions even had their highlight moment courtesy of Lincoln McCarthy’s hanger and goal. Can Brisbane win the flag? They sure can.

Updated

AFL: Q4, 1 min remaining: Brisbane 10.15 (75) vs Geelong 10.13 (73) - what nail? What coffin? Charlie Cameron and Lincoln McCarthy convert to give the Lions the lead and set up a grandstand finish.

Women’s Rugby, 2nd Test: Black Ferns 37-8 Wallaroos

Not quite the massacre of the first Test but a Black Ferns win all the same, their 19th straight over the Wallaroos. Still, this was an improved performance from Australia. Have a read of Jill Scanlon’s match report:

Updated

Super Netball: 3QT: Magpies 48-42 Swifts - another impressive quarter from the Magpies sees their lead pushed out to six goals.

AFL: Q4, 9 mins remaining: Brisbane 7.13 (55) vs Geelong 10.13 (73) - ouch. That has got to hurt. The Lions are battling away manfully but the Cats are going inside-50 at will ... and Patrick Dangerfield has just hammered one nail in the coffin with a 70m bomb that pushes Geelong’s lead to three straight kicks.

AFL: Carlton 11.12 (78) beat St Kilda 10.8 (68)

Carlton finish all over the top of St Kilda to register another victory - their sixth under the now rubber-stamped senior coach David Teague - and do the right thing by Dale Thomas in his last game at the MCG. After the game, Blues skipper Patrick Cripps described his revitalised club as the sleeping giant of the AFL. They’ve done well since parting ways with Brendon Bolton, but can they emerge from this honeymoon period to challenge for the finals in 2020? I have my doubts.

Updated

AFL: 3QT: Brisbane 6.12 (48) vs Geelong 8.9 (57) - these young Lions just won’t go away. Undermanned - Allen Christensen is done for the day, while Mitch Robinson and Darcy Gardiner have taken knocks - but unbowed, the Lions are still in it. Charlie Cameron was again fantastic in the third quarter and is the top goal kicker with three.

Super Netball: HT: Magpies 32-28 Swifts - the Magpies preserve their four-goal quarter-time buffer to take the same lead into the long break.

The Magpies players are wearing black armbands in honour of coach Rob Wright’s mum, who died yesterday. Thoughts and best wishes to the Wright family.

Women’s Rugby, 2nd Test: HT: Black Ferns 17-8 Wallaroos - a positive end to the half sees Lori Cramer kick truly after a questionable refereeing decision penalises the Black Ferns for a ruck infringement. Cramer’s goal cuts the deficit to nine points, giving the visitors hope and a degree of confidence heading into the second half.

NRL: HT: Knights 18-0 Cowboys - the half ends as it began at McDonald Jones Stadium with the Knights Mc-feasting on a lacklustre Cowboys unit. Mitchell Pearce’s try after seven minutes was the succulent meat patty, burger-bunned by two cracking Kalyn Ponga tries. How far the Knights ... or can North Queensland make a game of this?

Updated

AFL: 3QT: Carlton 7.10 (52) vs St Kilda 8.8 (56) - a see-sawing quarter and if not for inaccuracy in front of the big sticks, and a controversial umpiring decision, the Blues would be in front.

Super Netball: QT: Magpies 17-13 Swifts - a bright start from Collingwood sees them take a lead into the first break. More of the same will be needed if the Magpies are to topple the ladder leaders and maintain their push for the finals.

Women’s Rugby, 2nd Test: 31 mins: Black Ferns 17-5 Wallaroos - Australia looked to be in the game early on the back of a Mahalia Murphy try, but this Test now looks like heading the same way of the previous 18 between these teams - with all roads leading to a New Zealand victory.

Antonius_Block 1h ago 01

...1 v 2 battle it out in what could be a season-defining contest.

I though the same when Port travelled to Kardinia Pk to break Geelong’s 15 wk winning streak in the penultimate rd of 2007. The season defining game proved to the GF, for quite a few seasons as it turned out for Port Adelaide.

Good point, Antonius Block. I remember that game well. Dom Cassisi kicked the winning goal, unless I’m mistaken. Yes, the season didn’t end well for Port in 2007.

AFL: HT: Brisbane 4.8 (32) vs Geelong 7.7 (49) - a very entertaining half of footy at the Gabba. The two teams traded blows in equal measures for the most part but Geelong showed their gears, and their class, to kick away late in the quarter.

Gryan Miers is proving a potent scoring threat and Mark Blicavs is proving influential in the middle of the ground. Zac Bailey missed a set shot at the death in what would have been a welcome goal for the Lions, but they are far from out of this game. They will, however, need to address Geelong’s midfield dominance.

NRL: 11 mins: Knights 12-0 Cowboys - seems the Cowboys missed the memo about an NRL game happening this afternoon in which they are supposed to be partaking.

Tries to Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce inside the opening eight minutes has seen the home side shoot out to a double-digit lead.

AFL: Q2, 6 mins remaining: Brisbane 3.6 (24) vs Geelong 4.5 (29) - the Spinal Tap heat-o-meter has been cranked up to 11 at the Gabba in what is an intense, high-pressure and physical encounter.

All Australian-in waiting Charlie Cameron is proving quite a handful for Geelong’s defenders but a close-range finish from Gryan Miers has restored the Cats’ narrow buffer.

AFL: HT: Carlton 5.5 (35) vs St Kilda 7.4 (46) - the Saints take a two-kick lead into the long break. I’d love to regale you with detail after detail of this pulsating 13 v 16 epic, but my two eyes have been preoccupied with affairs at the Gabba.

But by most accounts fans at the MCG are being treated to an entertaining game and that Carlton are unlucky not to be closer.

No doubt this pearler from Ben Long late in the half didn’t help their cause.

DrRudi 27m ago 01

@scott_heinrich

A long time since we’ve seen you in these parts? Good calling today.

Apropos the video above (which I must report as animal abuse) can a Crow beat a Magpie? I for one am hoping you lose any semblance of impartiality as you bring us that match later.

Hello DrRudi, me old mucker. You are correct. It has been a while since I’ve dirtied these screens, though I intend to be a regular annoyance from here on. Where have I been? In the words of Dusty Bun, I’ve been busy trying to save the world from Russians and monsters. What can I say, it’s a neverending story.

As for the game at Adelaide Oval, I have ceased expecting much from the Crows but if they can’t beat an out-of-form, depleted Collingwood at home, well, they don’t deserve to play finals. And even if they do, they’ll be making up the numbers.

Updated

AFL: QT: Brisbane 1.3 (9) vs Geelong 2.2 (12) - an engrossing first quarter ends with misses at both ends of the ground courtesy of Eric Hipwood and Gary Ablett. Brisbane’s intercept marking has been noteworthy (10 for the term) and it’s clear this game will be fought on tight, physical grounds.

It’s brutal out there. Just ask Lachie Neale.

Heard a lot about Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer but know very little about the trailblazing indigenous Aussie Rules footballer, who died this week aged 84?

Well I’m glad you’ve popped in for a visit because I have just the yarn for you.

AFL: QT: Carlton 2.4 (16) vs St Kilda 3.3 (21) - a fairly even first quarter at the MCG where very few favours were asked or given.

But if you want to take something out of the first stanza, have a peep at this screamer from spring-heeled Blue Mitch McGovern.

AFL: Q1, 12 mins remaining: Brisbane 1.1 (7) vs Geelong 2.0 (12) - play has commenced under glorious spring-like sunshine at the Gabba. The Cats started well with majors to Mitch Duncan and Jed Bews but the Lions have steadied with a goal to Hugh McCluggage. I think it’s game on.

And if any evidence was needed that the glory days have returned to the Gabba, here it is.

Updated

It’s been some time since the Gabba hosted the match of the round. Over a decade and a half, to be precise. But these Lions have been impressive this season, prompting followers of this great sport to hark back to the days when Jonathan Brown, Simon Black, Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis and co bestrode the AFL like giants.

Almost as impressive as this magnificent read penned by Jonathan Horn.

Preamble

Happy Saturday, sports fans! Along with ‘What is the meaning of life?’, ‘What is the sound of one hand clapping?’ and ‘What on earth is Donald Trump’s hairdresser thinking?’, the following can be added to the list of all-time great existential questions:

‘Who would win in a fight between a lion and a cat?’

Well, we’re going to find out this afternoon courtesy of a ripping AFL fixture between Brisbane and Geelong. The team in charge of scheduling at AFL house might have guessed last night’s inconsequential fizzer between Sydney and Melbourne would hold blockbuster status, but instead it’s the Gabba today that will set tongues wagging as 1 v 2 battle it out in what could be a season-defining contest.

That’s this afternoon’s main course but if you think the menu ends there, you’re sorely mistaken. I live to give. And you’re in for an all-you-can-eat buffet of sport.

Carlton and St Kilda are also playing, albeit in a less meaningful AFL encounter than the one mentioned above, in the NRL Newcastle are hosting North Queensland, over at Eden Park the Wallaroos will try to snap an 18-Test women’s rugby drought against the all-conquering Black Ferns, and in Super Netball Collingwood take on the ladder-leading NSW Swifts.

Don’t even start me on tonight’s Bledisloe Cup ripsnorter or the continuation of the 2nd Ashes Test - both of which you can follow in real time thanks to The Guardian - because if you do, I won’t stop. Seriously, I won’t.

If you want to try me, or should you wish to discuss anything sporty or philosophical, comments are open below the line and you can reach me directly via email or Twitter - @scott_heinrich.

But back to one of life’s great conundrums. I don’t know who would win in a fight between a lion and a cat on an AFL field, but this moggy sure has this tiger covered.

Updated

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