Final thoughts
That’s all folks. The Suns have finally gone down at the end of a long day of sport. And frankly, I need a lie down after that one. There were some big performances today - from the Giants in the Super Netball, the Raiders in the NRL, and the Bulldogs in the AFL, but it was that last game that really got the blood pumping. The Bombers can now dream of a top-four finish, while the Gold Coast will rue another missed opportunity to snap their horror run. And spare a thought for Dale Morris, the 250-game Bulldog who looks like he may have seriously injured his knee. Thanks for joining me today, I’ll catch you next time.
Updated
AFL: Full-time - Gold Coast Suns 15.6 (96) lose to Essendon Bombers 16.10 (106)
A cracking finish to end the night. The Bombers finally see off the Suns, but they left it about as late as humanly possible. A late couple of goals makes the final score look a little more comfortable than it was, the Suns even nudged ahead at one stage. Brave stuff from Gold Coast who played an equal role in making this a thriller - not that it’s much of a consolation considering their position on the ladder.
AAP - Bombers sneak past Suns in AFL thriller
Goals in the dying seconds by Cale Hooker and Jake Stringer secured Essendon a narrow 10-point AFL win over Gold Coast. The Bombers were two points behind with just over a minute to play at Metricon Stadium when Hooker slotted a set shot to put the visitors in front. From the resulting centre bounce, Jake Stringer came away with the football and booted it from inside the centre square, his shot bouncing through to seal the 16.10 (106) to 15.6 (96) win.
The goal was Stringer’s fourth in a best-on-ground display by the Essendon forward and secured the Bombers their fifth-straight win. Defeat, the Suns’ 14th in a row, was harsh on the hosts who thought they might have secured a massive upset when Chris Burgess scored with two and half minutes to play to put Gold Coast ahead.
Burgess had earlier been at the centre of a highly controversial goal umpiring decision in the third quarter. A set shot by David Zaharakis was tapped back into play by Burgess despite appearing to have crossed the goal line. Replays showed the ball was about a foot over the line when Burgess touched it but because the umpires had called play on, there was no score review and the goal was not given.
Updated
AFL: Who’s more nervous in this situation? The Suns - who are so close to snapping that mammoth losing streak, but otherwise have nothing to lose? Or the Bombers, who everyone expected to waltz this one but who must be confident after an excellent run. Just three points in it. Three minutes to go.
AFL: Gold Coast Suns 13.6 (84) Essendon Bombers 14.9 (93)
That’s the last time I write off the Suns. Every time I do they seem to score. Two goals in it. Excitement she wrote. And controversy too - if the poor umpire call on the Bombers’ goal-that-wasn’t proves crucial. Five minutes left.
AFL: Gold Coast Suns 11.6 (72) Essendon Bombers 13.8 (86)
Out of all today’s games, I wouldn’t have pegged this one as the most exciting before kick-off. Every time it looks like the Bombers have finally got a grip on it, the Suns hit back. It looks like they’re just starting to crack now. The Bombers extend their lead to 14 with 13 minutes to go. I think a few Gold Coast heads are starting to drop. After 13 straight defeats, I can’t imagine self-belief is that high.
Updated
AFL: The big talking point of the match so far - although if the Bombers win it might not be quite so headline worthy. Was the ball all the way over the line? Only joking, of course it was.
Umpire's call: Play on. Can't make this up 🙈 #AFLSunsDons pic.twitter.com/eSOklmIX9H
— Ricky Mangidis (@rickm18) July 28, 2019
AFL: 3QT - Gold Coast Suns 9.6 (60) Essendon Bombers 10.8 (68)
That’s got to hurt the Suns. A clutch of goals in a row at the end of the third and the Bombers have finally got their noses in front. If they keep this up, they could end up with even more body parts in front come the final siren.
AFL: Looks like I’ve put the mockers on the Suns... two quick goals from Essendon have put them within four points. In fact, you might say they’re storming back. No apologies for that shameless picture pun.
Gotta be warm under there!#AFLSunsDons pic.twitter.com/VAPi4IiTj6
— AFL (@AFL) July 28, 2019
AFL - Gold Coast Suns 9.6 (60) Essendon Bombers 6.8 (44)
The expected resurgence isn’t quite manifesting for the Bombers. They keep whittling down the margin but the Suns keep bouncing back. If the gap stays in double digits for the change, we could be in for a cracking final quarter.
Football: Little bit of fitness/illness news from Sydney’s trip to China for the clash with Paris St-Germain on Tuesday. They’d better not bring it back with them. I had a bout of something similar not long ago.
Sickness has hit Sydney FC before their pre-season football friendly against French glamour club Paris St Germain in China. The Sky Blues arrived in China on Saturday evening but several of them have caught a bug, including captain and centre half Alex Wilkinson, left back Michael Zullo, young defender Patrick Flottmann, midfielder Brandon O’Neill and a couple of staff members.
The Sky Blues’ match on Tuesday evening will be PSG’s last pre-season hit-out and they could finally field Brazilian superstar Neymar, who didn’t take part in their three previous warm-ups. (AAP)
NRL: Full-time - Penrith Panthers 18-30 Canberra Raiders
An excellent win for the Raiders against the Panthers, whose winning run of seven comes to a shuddering halt. It was a good contest but Canberra’s class shone through in the end. They’ve proved their worth as a top four team.
AAP - Resilient Raiders end Panthers’ streak
Penrith have been brought back to earth with a thud after having their seven-game NRL winning streak emphatically snapped 30-18 by Canberra. The Panthers were on track for what would’ve equalled a club-record eighth-straight victory when they shot out to a 4-0 lead in just the fourth minute.
But the Raiders wasted little time in taking the lead in the 15th minute, before kicking on with a dominant second half to claim their sixth win in seven games. It was a resilient performance from Ricky Stuart’s men, who had to contend with defending eight of the opening nine sets of the match.
The victory consolidates Canberra’s grip on fourth spot, while the defeat for Penrith leaves them precariously placed in seventh position. John Bateman continued his impressive maiden NRL season with another strong performance, scoring a try and running for a team-high 131 metres. Jack Wighton added a try assist, line-break assist and 111 metres.
Canberra were holding onto a six-point lead at halftime but blew the game open with three tries in 13 minutes - all down their right edge.
Updated
AFL: Full-time - Sydney Swans 12.8 (80) have lost to Geelong Cats 16.11 (107)
A comfortable finish for the Cats after a shaky start at the SCG. It looked like we might have a contest early doors but Geelong were just too good for the final three quarters and the Swans couldn’t keep up.
AAP - Cats’ Hawkins kicks five in 250th AFL game
Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins has marked his 250th AFL game with his first five-goal haul of the season for the ladder leaders who have beaten Sydney by 27 points at the SCG.
The Cats trailed by 14 points at quarter-time but controlled Sunday’s game thereafter to charge to a 16.11 (107) to 12.8 (80) victory. After struggling in recent weeks to post high scores, Geelong kicked more than 100 points for the first time since round 12.
The teams were level at half-time, but the Cats kicked away in the third quarter, booting four goals to one. Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea gave Geelong strong marking targets and Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan and Jordan Clark all contributed a couple of goals.
The Cats’ midfield were able to get on top after the first quarter, with Tim Kelly tallying a game-high 31 touches and Duncan and Joel Selwood also prominent. Sydney youngster Jordan Dawson continued his breakout season, kicking a career-best three goals and Isaac Heeney also booted three for the home team.
Updated
NRL: Penrith 18-26 Canberra
Grab your popcorn. We’re into the final few minutes in Penrith and it’s getting pretty tense out there. Both sides have played well, but the Raiders have been a smidge more clinical and creative. If they can hold on to beat a Panthers side that was flying before this game (and at the risk of jinxing it, it looks like they will), it will be a serious message of intent to their finals rivals.
AFL: HT - Gold Coast Suns 7.3 (45) Essendon Bombers 4.5 (29)
As expected, Essendon have come back into it - although the Suns still have a decent lead as we head into the main break. Sixteen in it but the in-form Bombers will still fancy their chances at overturning that deficit in the next two quarters. If not, a defeat now, and against this opposition, could prove a fatal blow to their finals momentum.
NRL: As ScoMo might say, how weird is this? Canberra taking control at Panthers Stadium with a couple of quick tries - including this one. As tries go, it’s an oddball. Literally.
No doubt one of the stranger tries you'll see this year. 😲
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) July 28, 2019
WATCH: @Channel9#MHFBeanie #9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/1br4uW3UcW
Updated
Netball: Full-time - Vixens 63-57 Thunderbirds
A spirited performance from the Thunderbirds in the final two quarters but it’s the Vixens who finish on top after building that early margin. Report to follow.
AAP - Vixens claim third straight win
The Melbourne Vixens have taken a major step towards a Super Netball semi-final berth by defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 63-57. With all their returning World Cup players in action, the Vixens took care of business at Melbourne Arena on Sunday to sit on 54 competition points, two behind the second-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The home side were forced to grind out the result after grabbing a four-goal first-quarter lead, both sides scoring 16 goals apiece in the third and fourth quarters. Kate Moloney and Liz Watson provided plenty of drive through midcourt for the Vixens, the pair combining for 52 goal assists while Caitlin Thwaites finished with 30 goals from 33 attempts in her battle with Adelaide’s defensive standout Shamera Sterling.
Vixens goaler Tegan Philip (33/40) became the most capped Vixens player as she surpassed Bianca Chatfield’s club record of 111 games.
Updated
NRL: Penrith 12-18 Canberra
A lovely team effort from the Raiders to grab another try early in the second half. Aidan Sezer the man finishing it off, picking up the kick through the line after one bounce. The conversion is good and the Panthers have their backs against the wall. Penrith haven’t played badly at all, but the Raiders have been better. The Panthers need to respond quickly... and do! A chip from Maloney and Leota is the man to finish it off under the posts. Thirty minutes to go.
👏👏👏#NRLPanthersRaiders #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/Ghb6JEKTlI
— NRL (@NRL) July 28, 2019
Updated
AFL: 3QT - Sydney Swans 7.6 (48) - Geelong Cats 10.10 (70)
A big quarter from the Cats as they dominate the midfield as well as the scoreboard. Just seven points from the Swans. It’s going to take a massive final quarter from the hosts to turn things around, especially if the Cats back this up in the final quarter.
Updated
AFL: 1Q - Gold Coast Suns 4.2 (26) - Essendon Bombers 1.3 (9)
Just when it looked like every game today was going to form ... up pop Gold Coast. There’s a lot of game still to come of course but the Suns go into the change with a healthy margin over the Dons after a surge midway through the first quarter. The Bombers fight to try and pull one back in the final minute but the Suns cling on for a 17-point lead. Game on.
AFL: Swans 6.6 (42) - Cats 8.8 (56)
The Cats are finally starting to turn the screw, building a healthy lead at the start of the third quarter. The Swans are clinging on, just, as Geelong show the form that has put them at the top of the ladder since round two. The next five or 10 minutes could decide the game if Geelong rack up a big margin. Warning signs for the Swans. The Bloods need to stop bleeding.
Updated
NRL: HT - Penrith 6-12 Canberra
The Raiders head into the sheds six points to the good, Cleary pulling two back with a kick at the siren. It’s been a good battle so far, and the Panthers know they’re still in the hunt - as they should after the run they’ve been on.
Bit of push and shove just before the end of the half. The ref waits for it to simmer down and, by the end of it all, there’s nothing doing. Just a few words for Maloney to act more leader-like and pipe down. Like that’ll happen.
Updated
Basketball: Ben Simmons says he understands Australian fans being mad at him for pulling out of the basketball World Cup warm-up games but he’s done it to help the Boomers.
Simmons today became the latest big name unavailable for next month’s matches in Australia, joining a swag of fellow NBA superstars who have withdrawn from the provisional US World Cup squad. It won’t impress fans who had flocked to purchase tickets, starting at more than $200, with more than 50,000 expected at each of the Boomers v US games on August 22 and 24 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
“People can be mad at me and I completely understand but my goal is to bring a (2020) Olympic medal to Australia,” said Simmons. “So if you guys are mad at me now then that’s fine but, hopefully, when I’m holding that medal up with my teammates, then you guys are smiling.”
Simmons withdrew from the exhibition games after discussions with Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis. They agreed it was best for the team’s preparation.
“Of course, I want to come home and play in front of Melbourne fans and Australian fans and bring basketball back here,” said Simmons. “It’s probably the toughest decision I’ve had in a long time, since breaking my foot and not playing that whole (2016-17 rookie) season. It was a mutual decision.” AAP
Updated
NRL: Penrith 4-12 Canberra
Time to jump over to Panthers Stadium where it’s proving a bit of an arm wrestle - both sides playing well, confidence high, and just two points between them. A professional foul puts Whare in the bin for 10. No arguments either - it was pretty blatant, if not entirely necessary. Good opportunity for the Raiders... and they take it almost immediately. Whitehead makes the most of the Panthers’ weakness to crash over. Croker kicks it to make it 12-4. The Raiders’ tails are up.
Elliott Whitehead crashing over!
— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) July 28, 2019
Match Centre: https://t.co/3KuL0zQrKN#WeAreRaiders #NRLPanthersRaiders pic.twitter.com/c5bNJJUxnH
Updated
AFL: HT - Sydney Swans 6.5 (41) - Geelong Cats 6.5 (41)
All square at half-time. Great first quarter from the Swans, but the Cats have bounced back in style. Loving this game so far. Every time it looks like the Cats are about to surge into the lead, the Swans respond to keep them in check. It’s tighter than a World Cup final super over.
Netball: HT - Vixens 31-25 Thunderbirds
The Vixens have given themselves some breathing space at the break after edging the first two quarters. That big win for the Giants earlier in the day must have given them some extra incentive to cement their place in the top four. The Thunderbirds are not out of it yet though.
Updated
AFL: Sydney Swans 4.4 (28) - Geelong Cats 3.3 (21)
After all those full-time whistles, I can finally switch to the SCG where the Cats have just got back into it at the start of the second quarter with two quick goals. The Swans went into the first break in a strong position but there’s a reason Geelong have been at the top of the ladder pretty much all season. The Swans respond with a goal of their own though. Early signs suggest we’re in for a good one.
NRL: Full-time - Bulldogs 12-20 Roosters
The Bulldogs finish on the attack and with the Roosters holding on, but it was always a big ask to grab another eight points late on against the premiers. A routine, if not entirely convincing, win by the Roosters. The Bulldogs showed plenty of bite in that second half - but when the dust settled, they’d lost. Again. Roosters up to third but the Raiders are up next and could jump back above them.
AAP - Cordner hurt in Roosters’ win over Dogs
The Sydney Roosters’ scratchy 20-12 win over Canterbury has come at a cost with Boyd Cordner, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jared Warea-Hargreaves all facing time on the NRL sidelines.
The premiers came into the match looking to reinforce their status as title favourites and, for a while in the opening half-hour, they threatened to blow the 15th-placed Bulldogs off ANZ Stadium. But in front of 10,586 fans, they failed to impress in the second half yet still did enough to record back-to-back wins.
Cordner limped from the field with a calf injury in the 56th minute before Taukeiaho went off 11 minutes later with the same problem. Cordner is expected to miss a couple of weeks, meaning the Roosters are set to be without both of their skippers with Jake Friend nursing a fractured forearm. Waerea-Hargreaves might be the latest victim of the game’s crackdown on late shots after being put on report for an off-the-ball hit on Jack Cogger.
“I know we’re in a good spot,” coach Trent Robinson said of his side’s premiership defence. “You don’t want to walk the same path. If you’re looking for the exact same feeling, then you’re crossing your fingers. You can’t repeat what you did last year or what you did five years ago. I know we’re in a hungry position. Do I want to see that first half again? Yes. Do I want to see a better second half? Yes.”
Updated
AFL: Full-time - Western Bulldogs 16.17 (113) beat Fremantle 9.12 (66)
It’s all over, Freo have finally been put out of their misery. They’ve battled gamely without ever really making a dent in that big Bulldogs lead. For their part, the Dogs were excellent almost throughout, dominating the midfield. This win puts them up to ninth, right on the heels of the Crows. They need to build on it though - with two tough games against the Lions and Bombers coming up. Fingers crossed for Dale Morris on his injury, but it didn’t look good.
AAP - Dale Morris injury sours Bulldogs AFL win
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is bracing himself for confirmation that the 47-point win over Fremantle at Marvel Stadium will be the last of Dale Morris’ AFL career. In his first senior game since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the pre-season, Morris limped from the ground in the third quarter of Sunday’s clash and took no further part in the 16.17 (113) to 9.12 (66) win in front of 21,181 fans.
The 36-year-old crumpled to the turf after his left leg buckled under him as he attempted to change direction chasing a ball on the ground. He immediately motioned for assistance and hobbled to the bench under his own steam after being helped to his feet.
Scans are expected to confirm the respected defender has ruptured the ligament again, which would end the 2016 premiership player’s 253-game career. “It’s a suspected ACL injury but we’ll just need to take some time to confirm it,” Beveridge said. “It would be great for (the scan) to come up otherwise, but we’ll communicate that when we know what the status is.”
Morris, who fought back last year from a partially ruptured ACL in his other knee, remained upbeat on the bench, encouraging teammates and offering direction despite the devastating setback.
“He’s amazing,” Beveridge said. “I patted him on the back at three-quarter time and he had this big smile on his face and it just shows the character and attitude of Dale Morris. We’re really fortunate to have had him in our ranks for so long.”
Updated
NRL: Bulldogs 6-20 Roosters
Well that Bulldogs revival was short-lived, if anything it seemed to spark the Roosters into action. A Morris try and Mitchell conversion has reinstated the 14-point lead. Taukeiaho has just been helped off the field, trying not to put any pressure on his leg. That does not look good. Trent Robinson seems rightly concerned. Just over 10 minutes to go.
NRL: The Warriors aren’t letting go of the controversy over that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ‘forward’ pass against the Eels last night.
AAP: Warriors chief executive Cameron George will seek answers from the NRL over their latest refereeing grievances and has called on fans to make their own unique protest. George wants supporters to come to Friday’s home game against Canberra dressed as referees following Saturday’s contentious 24-22 loss to Parramatta at BankWest Stadium.
The @NZWarriors are FUMING over this late 'forward pass' call on RTS.
— FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) July 27, 2019
Did the refs get it right, or wrong? VOTE NOW 👉📲 https://t.co/89tgM3OBx9 👍👎 #NRLEelsWarriors pic.twitter.com/Lxac9QP3U9
Coach Stephen Kearney vented his frustration at the officiating and George told Radio Sport it continued a trend of rough refereeing against the New Zealand-based team over the last month. In a pitch that could create confusion for players at Mt Smart Stadium, George also urged fans to bring whistles.
“Let’s give Canberra a bit of their own back in terms of what New Zealand’s all about,” George said. “Everyone can bring a whistle if they want and have a bit of fun with it.”
Kearney was fuming that Parramatta won the penalty count 9-2 and also had a number of key decisions go their way, including a questionable forward pass ruling against Warriors skipper Tuivasa-Sheck which denied a potentially match-winning try.
The New Zealand TAB has backed up George’s sentiment, saying it will refund $NZ44,000 worth of bets on the Warriors from the game, labelling it a “justice payout”.
Updated
NRL: Bulldogs 6-14 Roosters
Twenty-three minutes to go and the Bulldogs finally give their fans something to cheer about - Reimis Smith with a try in the corner. Meaney adds the extras. They’ve improved since the break while the Roosters still look like they’re happy to do just enough to win. It’s still shaping into a routine victory - but if the Bulldogs can grab another, it would really put a cat among the Roosters.
Updated
AFL: Western Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris has left today’s clash with Fremantle, sparking fears he has seriously re-injured his left knee.
Morris ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season but capped a remarkable comeback when he was named for his first AFL match of the season against the Dockers at Marvel Stadium.
However, the 36-year-old crumpled to the turf in the third quarter after his left leg buckled under him as he attempted to change direction chasing a ground ball. AAP
AFL: 3QT - Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) - Fremantle Dockers 7.9 (51)
If the Bulldogs could play like this every week, they would be right up there instead of dancing around the finals fringes. Then again, not all opponents are as passive as the Dockers have been today - their defence has really let them down. Still another quarter to go but this has been the Dogs’ game since the start of the second.
NRL: HT - Bulldogs 0-14 Roosters
The Roosters are looking very comfortable it has to be said - although they possibly should be further ahead. They’re certainly more comfortable than Dean Pay must be at the minute. No one seriously expected the Bulldogs to spring a surprise today but this will only add to the speculation surrounding his job - especially if it turns into a big score. One-way traffic. Roosters on cruise control - which is possibly why the lead isn’t bigger. If they were a little more focused, they could rack up a lot of points.
Updated
Netball: Full-time - Magpies 56-63 Giants
Seven points on the day for the Giants, who took their foot off the gas slightly for that final quarter. Fair play to the Magpies who kept battling though. Crucially, the result means the Giants leapfrog the Magpies on the ladder with the finals just in sight.
AAP: Giants crush Magpies
Giants Netball have moved into Super Netball’s top four after a comprehensive 63-56 victory over Collingwood Magpies.
The Magpies went into the clash at Melbourne Arena three points clear of the Giants in fourth spot but the visitors unleashed an 18-9 second-quarter blitz to set up the win. By grabbing three bonus points, the Giants improve to 38 competition points, with the Magpies (35) falling to fifth with four rounds to play in the regular season.
While both teams contained a number of players backing up from World Cup duties, it was the Giants’ returning stars who shone the brightest. Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett (35/38) and English Rose Jo Harten (23/27) fuelled the Giants’ attack while Jamie-Lee Price added 21 goal assists.
The Magpies grabbed an early advantage thanks to five unanswered goals but Harten ensured the Giants secured the first bonus point, drilling 10 of her 11 shots for a 16-14 lead after one quarter. But it all unravelled for the home side in the second term as the Giants punished a series of Magpies turnovers, extending their edge to 34-23 at half-time.
Updated
NRL: While we’re on rugby league, just thought I’d bring you the latest in the Mark Coyne debacle. Or rather, the latest in the post-Mark Coyne debacle.
AAP: Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie has flagged a fresh push for reform as the game seeks a replacement for Mark Coyne.
Former Queensland and St George great Coyne fell on his sword on Saturday night, resigning from the commission after his arrest for a drunken, expletive-ridden tirade at Singapore police almost two months ago. Coyne had met with Beattie and was told only a small majority of the 16 NRL clubs supported him staying.
Beattie said a replacement would likely be in place late in the year and was adamant the commission wouldn’t be rushed.Under current laws, anyone who holds an NRL club job must wait three years after leaving it before being allowed to join the commission. Beattie indicated his desire to scrap the rule and put it on the agenda when the ARLC meets next month.
He said it was not in the game’s interest to exclude experienced administrators just because they had recent involvement with clubs.
“It gives us an opportunity to have a look at the rules. One of the rules that I don’t agree with is the three-year disqualification rule,” Beattie said. “In other words if you are associated, like Darren Lockyer is with the Broncos, you can’t be considered as a commissioner. Or if you’ve association with the Rabbitohs like Nick Pappas, you can’t be considered as a commissioner. Or (Melbourne chairman Bart Campbell) or any of them. What we’re doing is excluding a whole lot of talented people who could sit on the commission. They’d have to leave the club they’re with.”
NRL: Bulldogs 0-14 Roosters
We’re just over 12 minutes away from half-time and it’s all going according to script. Manu crashes over the line to extend the Roosters’ lead, and Mitchell adds two more with the boot from the edge. They’re just starting to get away from Canterbury.
Updated
Netball: 3QT - Magpies 34-52 Giants
The Giants win the quarter and extend their lead (slightly). Some important league points being won here in the context of the season with both teams scrapping for a spot in the top four.
Cycling: I mentioned him briefly in the preamble, but this is my official “hats off” to Egan Bernal on the eve of his Tour de France victory. A strange end to a genuinely tight contest for once.
AFL: HT - Western Bulldogs 12.6 (78) - Fremantle 5.5 (35)
It’s looking pretty grim at the main break for the Dockers. The Bulldogs dominating the midfield, dominating all over to be fair. Poor old Fremantle, even wasting one last chance to give them a glimmer - skewing it wide and short. It’s all Bulldogs at the minute. The Dockers will need to come out firing if they want to get back into this.
Netball: HT - Magpies 23-34 Giants
Speaking of netball. It was pretty tight there for a while but the Giants have blown out to a healthy lead at the break. They’ve just come back out for the third quarter.
Netball: I’m sure there are more than a few netball fans out there who have been keeping an eye out for injuries and fatigue this weekend after the quick turnaround from the World Cup final. Some excellent points below from Sharni Layton. The mental health issue is particularly interesting, especially with regards to Diamonds players after that agonising one-point defeat in the final.
Swimming: It’s not exactly been a great 24 hours for Australia at the world championships, and the news about Shayna Jack’s positive test for a banned substance clearly had an emotional effect on Arairne Titmus yesterday - not great when you’re preparing to take on a revenge-driven Katie Ledecky. Regardless, it’s still been a brilliant few days for Titmus. Well played that woman. Bring on the Olympics.
AAP: Revenge was sweet for American great Katie Ledecky as she finally overcame illness to triumph over Ariarne Titmus at the world swimming titles in South Korea.
But being relegated to 800m freestyle bronze was not what upset the Australian teenager at Gwangju on Saturday. Titmus was clearly emotional as she left the pool, not stopping for reporters after news broke about her training partner Shayna Jack’s positive test for a banned substance.
The Dolphins had plenty to celebrate on the second last night of the world titles, also adding 4x100m mixed freestyle silver and 200m backstroke silver to their growing tally. However, the news about Jack clearly rocked Dolphins teammates particularly Titmus who trains with the 20-year-old under mentor Dean Boxall in Brisbane.
Titmus still had plenty to be proud about despite Ledecky finally avenging her shock 400m freestyle loss to the Australian at the start of the meet. Ledecky missed the 200m and 1500m after she succumbed to a stomach bug following her rare defeat at the hands of Titmus.
Before the race Ledecky had not been beaten over 400m, 800m or 1500m at a major meet since 2012.
Ledecky returned from her sick bed, only for Titmus to again help relegate the American to silver in Thursday’s 4x200m freestyle relay final with Australia claiming a stunning gold. But Ledecky finally got her revenge as she claimed her fourth straight 800m world title, finishing almost one and a half seconds ahead of Italy’s Simona Quadrella.
Ledecky became the fourth woman to win a specific individual event four times, joining Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, Italy’s Federica Pellegrini and Swede Sarah Sjostrom. Titmus claimed bronze in eight minutes, 15.70 seconds - an Oceania record.
Preamble
Afternoon everyone, it may be the end of the weekend but don’t be too downbeat because before we reach Monday morning, there’s still a mountain of sport to climb. Where’s Egan Bernal when you need him?
AFL and NRL action dominates the day, but there’s also a smattering of Super Netball thrown in as normal service resumes after the World Cup. In fact, the Giants and Magpies clash, which features a host of players recently returned from Liverpool, is coming up to half-time. I’ll bring you an update shortly. The Vixens take on the Thunderbirds this afternoon too.
In the AFL, the Bulldogs and Dockers are under way in a battle both teams need to win to keep their finals hopes alive. After that, the Swans host a Cats side eager to regain their imperious, ladder-leading form after some recent stumbles. Rounding out the AFL action is the Suns game against the Bombers, which in terms of form could not be more lopsided. I sense another long afternoon for Gold Coast fans.
Speaking of mismatches, in the NRL we’re about to start in the game between the Roosters and the Bulldogs. After that, we’re off to Panthers Stadium for Penrith’s game against the Raiders.
Of course there’s also women’s Ashes action, the Tour de France conclusion and more besides, but I’ll be logged off by then.
So there you go, enough sport to fill a stadium-sized hole in the middle of Sydney. Someone call Gladys Berejiklian.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts during the day by emailing me at richard.gadsby.casual@guardian.co.uk.
