Summary
So a fair mix of upsets on another full day of Saturday Sportwatch. The pick of the results from the AFL was no doubt Fremantle’s stunning 34-point win over table-toppers Geelong. Stunning stuff from the Dockers, with the Power also winning big, and the Giants edging a classic Sydney derby.
In the NRL, the Sharks have leapt back into the eight at the expense of the Panthers, who were surprise losers to a resolute Bulldogs side, playing for their veteran Aidan Tolman in his 200th game.
The pick of the action came from the Super Netball however - where the NSW Swifts gave up a healthy lead late on to allow the reigning champs, Sunshine Coast Lightning to clinch a thrilling top-of-the-table battle. World Cup hero, coach Noeline Taurua, with a final-quarter tactical tweak to help her side home on a night on which the Vixens also won big to cement a runaway top three in this season’s competition.
We’ve still got Ashes action, so keep an eye across that. From us on Sportwatch - that’s all folks. Thanks again for your company and comments!
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AFL: Adelaide 14.8 (92) defeat St Kilda 10.10 (70)
A much-needed win for the Crows - who keep their necks there or abouts in the eight. Good goal returns for Betts (3) and Walker (4) - they need their big names to fire, Adelaide, but all said and done it wasn’t too much of a spectacle over in South Australia.
Laird and Crouch getting through an absolute power of work, while Tim Membrey was the pick of the Saints kicking 3.1 with eight marks.
They’ll need to lift, Adelaide, if they’re to shake up the bigger teams come season’s end. Still, it’s a W. They roll on.
Cycling: Lucy Kennedy wins inaugural Clásica de San Sebastián women’s race!
Great news for fans of Australian cycling - coming off a super team effort at the Tour de France Mitchelton-Scott can claim another feather in its cap, and what an effort from Australian rider Lucy Kennedy.
#Klasikoa 🚴🏻♀️ @lucyjkenn over comes an untimely puncture, continues to fight back and claims a phenomenal solo victory! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) August 3, 2019
What a great display of determination from the Australian rider. Congratulations Lucy! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/2hFfDnNHIe
If you don’t know the name, Kieran Pender wrote a lovely profile on this gutsy rider a while back. Looks like the prep for Tokyo 2020 is tracking nicely:
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AFL: Listening to the post-match post-mortem on the Dees’s season on ABC radio, I have to say it, it wasn’t pretty listening.
Just to add insult to injury for Demon’s fans (if there are still any - there didn’t appear to be many inside the MCG tonight) - how long does anyone think it will be before somebody comes knocking for Gawn? Now that he’s (largely) put injuries behind him, could the jewel in the Melbourne crown get a guernsey somewhere else? Discuss.
AFL: Melbourne 9.6 (60) lose to Richmond 13.15 (93)
It wasn’t a thumping in the end, but they simply couldn’t go with them once the rain set in over the MCG, the Demons. Richmond make it six on the spin. It wasn’t a classic from the Tigers, but they were more than good enough to get it done.
Bachar Houli growing in influence after a quiet-ish first quarter to finish with 32 touches - Edwards, Prestia and Martin also breaking the 30+ mark. Lynch the best of the kickers with 3.0, while for the Dees it was the Max Gawn show, with Bayley Fritsch also shining with 3.2.
Shoutout to ground umpire Shane McInerney who posts 500 games - a terrific landmark, and the players give him a guard of honour off the field. Lovely touch.
AFL - 3/4 time: Adelaide 10.7 (67) lead St Kilda 7.7 (49)
They’re getting it done, incrementally, the Crows. Another see-sawing quarter, Adelaide again striking early, only for the Saints to bring it back. Two late goals to Crouch and Betts making the margin flatter the home side - but it’s an elastic band that hasn’t quite snapped yet.
Matt Crouch running the show with 29 touches, five marks and two goals - Tom Lynch also lively with 19 disposals, eight marks and 1.1 on the scoreboard. Can the Saints pull a big final quarter?
NRL: Cronulla 39-24 South Sydney
It’s a high-scorer at Shark Park (or PointsBet Stadium, because we all love the prevalence of gambling inside sports these days). They huffed and puffed tonight, the Rabbits - every time they looked utterly down they rustled something, but it was nowhere near enough. Wade Graham imperious with a hand in at least three of the Sharks’ tries on a night that Adam Reynolds and various Burgesses just didn’t come to the party.
With the Panthers losing, does this see Cronulla leap into the eight? Big movers from 11th, but yes - this could be the spark of a late run for finals football after a horror run of narrow losses (and a visit from the Storm) for the Sharks. Season on.
Wicket! Wicket! And speaking of dreams - how’s this for a sentence to light up your evening, Australia:
“Australia have taken three wickets in 11 balls.”
Moeen and Bairstow back in the pavilion - the former shouldering arms to a well-deceived Lyons delivery for a quacker. Ouch!
AFL - 3/4 time: Melbourne 7.4 (46) trail Richmond 11.9 (75)
Well, dreams are free. For just a moment it looked like the Dees could follow Freo’s lead and pull off a remarkable upset - but I’m prepared to bury this one now. Richmond lifting after rain spattered the MCG, tearing away five goals to one in the third.
That’s more like the team that’s won five on the spin - Dusty no longer looking rusty with a game-leading 29 touches, and five marks. When they’re on, they’re on, the Tiges - surely theirs from here.
Wicket! There was plenty of speculation over whether a Burns could do a job for Australia, but there’s now no doubt that one has for England - a terrific innings but it comes to an end, courtesy Lyons. Let’s be into the tail now, please bowlers:
NRL - 60’ gone: Sharks 26-12 Rabbitohs
They’ve only added two extra since the break, but they’ve been a grade above, Cronulla. Even some Burgess boof can’t lift the Rabbitohs, they’re just not at the races tonight. And now Damien Cook - one of their few decent performers is down with a suspected elbow injury. It’s not looking good.
Wade Graham causing havoc for Cronulla in his return to the side, this could get ugly for Bunny supporters in the dying stages.
Super Netball: Lightning 50-48 Swifts
My oh my. What a remarkable final quarter! It was a top-of-the-table clash and it delivered in spades. Not for the first time in the past month it’s a Noeline Taurua-inspired miracle! Swifts with all the momentum in those middle two quarters, but they’ve found a way, the Lightning. How important could this win prove, come season’s end?
Again, here’s Megan Maurice, who’s provided some fascinating insights for Sportswatch tonight:
A two goal win for the Lightning up on the Sunshine Coast in a thriller. A huge last quarter from the home team - coach Noeline Taurua brought on her Ugandan star Peace Proscovia at GS and it opened up their attack end. Karla Pretorius was everywhere in the last quarter, pulling turnovers from everywhere, with the attackers converting them much more easily. Sophie Garbin had the opportunity to level the match with 30 seconds remaining and her team’s centre pass to come, but the shot rolled out and Lightning brought it down the other end for Steph Wood to score a long bomb from a penalty after the bell.
Wowee. They’ll be smarting after that one, the Swifts. What a game.
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AFL - half-time: Adelaide 6.4 (40) lead St Kilda 5.5 (35)
It’s the same margin at the major break with both sides kicking 2.3 - again it was the Crows making the early running before the Saints pinned them back. Adelaide absolutely monstering the disposals (214-163) and marks (80-46) stats but seemingly not quite doing enough with it.
Laird and Crouch getting the handball game moving for the Crows, with skipper Tex grabbing a pair of goals for his side. Still very much in the balance though.
Wicket! And a breakthrough at Edgebaston - it’s the danger man Ben Stokes who is out to Cummins having just notched his 50. Can Australia rip into the tail and stem the first-innings bleeding? Remember, we’ve got Adam Collins on the case there:
AFL - half-time: Melbourne 6.2 (38) trail Richmond 6.5 (41)
Plenty to like about this Dees performance (something we’ve not had to write too much this season) with the Tigers looking a little flat. Nevertheless they edge a few points further in front, despite goals to Brayshaw and Fritsch pulling the Demons back into the contest.
Clayton Oliver leading the touches with 19 for Melbourne, Prestia and Short having lively quarters for the Tigers with 16 and 15 touches respectively.
Super Netball - 3/4 time: Lightning 35-39 Swifts
A fascinating turn around in the top-of-the-table clash, where the Swifts have pulled ahead, winning that quarter by four. Wallace shooting like a near-perfect swiss clock, posting 32/33. Again, here’s Megan Maurice:
The Swifts take the third quarter as well - their defence is really troubling the Lightning at the moment. Rore has slotted in like she has played with them all her life and appears to have no trouble adjusting to the Australian one-on-one defensive style. Garbin looks to be tiring for the Swifts and I’m not sure she can keep up the intensity at GA for another quarter. Lightning will look to their home crowd to get them over the line, but they may also need to look to their bench for another WA option as Scherian is being shut down.
NRL - half-time: Sharks 24-12 Rabbitohs
This one is swinging like a pendulum do, no sooner had I predicted a Wayne Bennett rocket (see earlier), the Rabbits took it upon themselves to nearly lock it up through Gagai (a name which can only be read with the pronunciation of Rabs Warren firmly in mind) and Murray.
But to the delight of the PM (I’ll spare you the vision) ScoMo’s Sharkies bounced back again - fine work this to send them into the sheds with a healthy two-try margin.
Wow 👏#NRLSharksSouths #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/Aqm5CEr4rF
— NRL (@NRL) August 3, 2019
AFL - quarter-time: Adelaide 4.1 (25) leads St Kilda 3.2 (20)
It’s in the balance nicely over in Adelaide, where the Crows lead their visitors by just under a goal. It’s nominally 8th hosting 14th but they’ve been in scratchy form, the Crows, which makes this one interesting.
Betts with two, Lynch and Crouch the other scorers for Adelaide - Membrey, Long and Hind the kickers for the Saints.
NRL - 25’ gone: Sharks 14-0 Rabbitohs
Hello. What’s happening here, is it a “Johnson on” day? It’s 11th hosting 3rd, but it’s been all Cronulla so far, who lead through tries to Mulitalo and Dugan. Big fifteen minutes here - if they don’t get on the board Wayne Bennett might be chewing wasps at half-time. Expect the Bunnies to feel his sting.
Super Netball - half-time: Lightning 25-25 Swifts
Hey-o! Big second quarter turnaround for the Swifts, who but for a late Lightning equaliser might have gone in ahead at the major break. They take the bonus point for winning the quarter though, and handsomely at 15-12. Again, here’s Megan Maurice:
This game features three of the gold-medal winning Silver Ferns - Katrina Rore makes her Super Netball debut for the Swifts, while Laura Langman leads the Lightning along with coach Noeline Taurua. The Swifts have been plagued with injuries but just have a never-say-die attitude. Bringing Rore on this quarter made a big difference for the Swifts, she has been instrumental in bringing the ball out of defence and her height is troubling Lightning WA Laura Scherian, who stands at only 167cm to Rore’s 187cm. A thrilling second half to come!
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AFL - quarter-time: Melbourne 3.1 (19) trail Richmond 3.2 (20)
It was the Tigers out of the blocks with the first of the day, but three straight had the Dees looking unlikely leaders. Majors to Chol and Graham has seen it come back for Richmond, who have even had the luxury of Dusty missing one.
No individual standouts thus far, Gawn doing well for the Demons, Vlastuin, Martin and Houli looking lively in the Tigers’ midfield.
Super Netball - quarter-time: Lightning 13-10 Swifts
With one of our two resident Guardian netball experts in the house, I’ve drafted Megan Maurice back onto Sportwatch for some well-informed insights (Adam Smith, division of labour/comparative advantage and all that). Here’s her appraisal of that first stanza:
Lightning in control for most of the first quarter. Swifts closed the gap late in the quarter and looked like sneaking off the bonus point, but a big intercept from Karla Pretorius saved the day for Lightning. The Swifts’ shooting circle is looking a little static and I’m expecting to see Nat Haythornthwaite swing from WA into GA before too long.
Koenen shooting 11/12 with Steph Wood a little more wayward (4/7) for the Lightning early into the second, while Garbin’s hardly had a look in for the Swifts, with Sam Wallace ploughing a lone furrow at GS. Let’s see how this one unfolds.
Around the grounds: So plenty more in store tonight. We’re just underway in the later AFL fixtures - Dees v Tigers and Crows v Saints are your last of the evening. In the NRL it’s Sharks about to host the Rabbitohs, while in the Super Netball, as mentioned, it’s a top-of-the-table clash between the Swifts and the Lightning.
If you’re in the mood for flagellation (and/or cricket), the sun is out in Birmingham and our eyes at the ground Adam Collins is up and on-board for day three of the first Test in the Ashes.
Why not settle in to watch England amass five-hundred, no? Don’t miss a ball of that one, here:
NRL: Canterbury-Bankstown 16-8 Penrith
It’s not the halcyon days of 2014 (when the day-long carhorns around Belmore still haunt me) but for a club that’s been in the doldrums lately, this is a great result.
Aidan Tolman goes out a winner in his 200th appearance - they call him “Garbo” at the Dogs, because “he’s always cleaning up everyone else’s rubbish”. A quiet, underrated achiever, and he and many more in blue and white have stood tall tonight.
Tries to Smith, Meaney and Cogger - it wasn’t safe until late after a tight first half. The Panthers with almost sixty percent possession, but the Dogs dug in well. Nearly 400 tackles - they’re shattered, but relieved post-match.
Super Netball - first centre pass!
And we’re underway on the Gold Coast, and there’s no post-World Cup let up for either side, who have named some decent rosters.
Wallace, Klau and co lead the Swifts, Wood, Pretorius and the indomitable Laura Langman lead the Lightning.
A few early misses for the Lightning, but they’re edging ahead 6-4 five minutes into the opening quarter.
AFL: Fremantle 14.11 (95) defeat Geelong 9.7 (61)
Crisis, what crisis! They’ve pulled off one of the wins of the season, the Dockers and nobody is breathing easier than the beleaguered Ross Lyons.
What an impressive team performance - they hunted as a pack, they did it across all four quarters, especially the last three, and the veterans, Nat Fyfe, David Mundy kicking two a piece - everyone stood up.
One of the shock results of the season, and entirely well deserved. The Cats have walked unwittingly into a purple patch - they may not know what’s just hit them!
Kia ora! Hi all, and thanks Megan for another sterling shift. We’ve plenty ahead still, so I will crack on. We’re just about underway in the Super Netball where it’s the table-topping NSW Swifts (I know!) locking horns with the reigning champs, the Lightning.
But before that let’s head West for AFL action, where just quietly - there’s a bit of a boilover happening. More on that shortly.
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Well that’s it from me friends, I’m going to leave you in Richard Parkin’s capable hands to finish off this huge night of sport. Thanks for your company, enjoy the football, netball and cricket!
Great remark from ID9357571 in the comments on Shayna Jack - I wonder if this would have been so huge if not for the Australians’ stand against Sun Yang? I suspect not.
Whilst I’m here amongst the adults - a 20 year old young women who has dedicated her life to a sport that demands otherworldly commitment from a vulnerable age has made a mistake, purposefully or not. The attention this mistake has drawn is disproportionate and damaging. I’m standing alongside her as a sports lover. She’s a member of our collective sporting family and our love is unconditional.
NBA: Still on basketball - who can forget those heady days on Linsanity back in 2012? Unless you’re an avid NBA fan you probably haven’t kept up with Jeremy Lin’s career after that - it was a tough start to live up to. But Hunter Felt has delved into his career and how he went from those incredible heights, to currently struggling as a free agent.
Basketball: Ben Simmons may not be playing the Fiba World Cup or the upcoming series, but he’s apparently looking pretty impressive at Boomers training. Fingers crossed for the team that he is available for next year’s Olympics.
From AAP:
Simmons steals spotlight at Boomers camp
While he’s not playing in the Fiba World Cup, Ben Simmons still stole the show at the Boomers’ first training session in Melbourne on Saturday. The NBA superstar last month pulled out of the World Cup and upcoming exhibition games against the USA but said he planned to still train with the Australian squad with an eye on next year’s Olympics.
Simmons was welcomed by his teammates at their training session, later joining the likes of Andrew Bogut to watch AFL sides Essendon and Port Adelaide square off. The Philadelphia 76ers guard said he pulled out of the World Cup warm-up games so the team could properly prepare their game-style for the tournament.
Fellow NBA ace Patty Mills said the players respected and supported Simmons’ decision.
“We’ve all respected his decision but him being still committed to being part of the group and our preparations is huge,” Mills said. “We’ll continue to grow relationships with him and vice-versa - we’re one big family and we want to go and create history.”
The San Antonio Spurs veteran was happy to have Simmons on deck, whatever his role, and opposing him at training could only be a good thing for the team.
“He’s obviously committed to being a valued part of our preparations for the World Cup ... he’s part of our group, he will be for a long time,” Mills said. “The best thing about it with Ben is, he’s going to make us better at practice. The games are one thing but for him to go at us in practice is the best preparation for (the World Cup).”
NRL: Half-time at Parramatta and it’s the Panthers with their noses in front, leading the Bulldogs by two, thanks to a Nathan Cleary penalty goal. It hasn’t been the greatest of halves for Penrith, who are desperately clinging to their spot in the eight and will need to look more convincing in the second half to keep a hold on it. The recommendations for the Bulldogs? Try to remember which team you’re on lads...
Wrong team! #NRLBulldogsPanthers #NRL pic.twitter.com/n9xASsgQ3s
— NRL (@NRL) August 3, 2019
Football: A very interesting profile of Brighton’s manager Graham Potter. So many coaches these days are so caught up in their sport and live and breathe it every second. It’s quite refreshing to read about someone with these unusual outside interests and how he brings those into his work.
Cricket: Our day three Ashes live blog will kick off at 8pm, so read up on what went down overnight in the meantime. The Rory Burns century looked pretty unconvincing, but he got there. As our writer Vic Marks puts it “It was not an elegant innings but who cares? Elegance is unlikely to be a prime consideration for Burns – he may not consider it all – but his system worked wonderfully well.”
Boxing: A stunning photo series from during the week featuring former professional football player and amateur boxer Miguel Angel Ramirez’s small gym under a vehicular bridge in Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico. He’s aiming to keep children away from drugs, teach them a sport and prevent them enlisting in the ranks of organised crime.
AFL: Half-time over in Perth and it’s shaping up to be another tight match. A couple of late goals from Fremantle saw them take the lead at the main break, up by three points over Geelong, who were in control for much of the half. Tom Hawkins has been on fire for Geelong scoring three of their five first half goals.
Lovely finish from Bailey Banfield!#AFLFreoCats pic.twitter.com/Nyse8O0FiF
— AFL (@AFL) August 3, 2019
Super Netball: While we wait for tonight’s top of the table clash between the NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning, have a read of this great summary of last round and the effect of the rush back into Netball World Cup from the wonderful Erin Delahunty. Something to keep an eye on as the rest of the season unfolds.
Swimming: It’s not often we hear a lot about swimming outside of the Olympics, but Swimming Australia won’t be loving the extra media attention this week. We’ll watch with interest to see how Shayna Jack goes about clearing her name, but it’s very tough to fight your way out of a positive drug test, even if her intentions were good.
Football: After a brilliant Women’s World Cup this year, it’s clear that more resources need to go into the game to help grow and support the amazing women playing. Samantha Lewis took a look for us this week at why Fifa’s plan to expand the number of teams in the World Cup might not be the perfect solution they think it is.
Super Netball: Vixens 64-52 Fever
A much improved second half for the Fever wasn’t enough to come away with a desperately needed win. This loss ends their finals chances - a huge drop from the team that contested the grand final last year, especially after the loss of only one player in the off-season. The Vixens aren’t quite at their best and they let the Fever into the game, struggling to adjust to Courtney Bruce’s drive and contest when she moved out to GD. However they will play finals and will be looking at how they can continue to improve across the last few rounds to ensure they hit peak form by then. A good sign for them today with star shooter Mwai Kumwenda making her much anticipated return after an ACL injury.
Textbook from the Vixens. 🔥
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 3, 2019
Watch: @Channel9#SSNVixensFever #9WWOS #9Netball pic.twitter.com/WTBIZoG0KY
AFL: GWS beat Sydney 12.11 (83) to 12.9 (81)
What a thriller out at Sydney Olympic Park! Despite the difference between two teams on the ladder it was an epic battle out there and the Giants held their nerve to come away with the two point win. Toby Greene was everywhere for the home team, with 34 disposals and eight marks.
Jacob Hopper was delighted with the win and clearly loves the close battles.
“Last week was a thriller and this week was another tough one,” he said. “It was chaos there at the end - the structures go out the window and you just go for the pill. I love it.”
SIREN!!!
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) August 3, 2019
How's the heart rate, GIANTS fans? 😅#NeverSurrender #SydneyDerbyXVIII pic.twitter.com/3knNd7bpt5
NRL: Manly 30-6 Newcastle
Well, that was not the second half the Knights would have been hoping for. That was less 2001 Knights and more 2015-17 Knights and no one asked for that. Manly swung the possession heavily in their own favour in the second half and while the Knights kept their completion rate high, they couldn’t get enough ball or get close enough to the line to score. Reuben Garrick picked up with the boot for the Eagles after a slow start and scored two tries as well, just to hammer the advantage home.
Daly Cherry-Evans was very pleased with the way his team came out after the break.
“8-6 at half-time, it could have gone either way,” he said. “I thought we controlled possession really well in the second half and the points flowed off the back of that.”
That's a double for Reuben!
— Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) August 3, 2019
Follow all the action at our live match centre here: https://t.co/tsaPZyi0bE#ManlyForever #NRLManlyKnights pic.twitter.com/pacGxooMMr
AFL: A great read during the week about the new documentary covering mental health issues in footy. I know hatred for Collingwood runs pretty deep with a lot of fans, but this sounds like a pretty fascinating look at life behind the scenes for an AFL player.
Reader CoreyTrevor gives us a great match report from the over 35s division 8 competition - the results we’ve all been waiting for!
Hurlstone Park over 35s division 8 drew 3-3 with Five Dock this afternoon after leading 3-0 early in second half. In doing so, we’ve avoided the wooden spoon. Two goals from yours truly wasn’t enough to hold off the fast finishing Dockers.
Long live park footy.
Corey, I can only hope for your sake you’re referring to the kind of footy some of us call soccer and not Aussie Rules, or that would have been a long game indeed with a 3-3 scoreline.
While we’re on the suburban sport train I did manage a thrilling 34-33 win with my Summer Hill Lakers A4 team earlier this afternoon. Please let us know your weekend warrior successes in the comments - whether they’re wins or losses, they’re all successes if you managed to drag yourself off the couch!
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AFL: Port Adelaide defeated Essendon 19.12 (126) to 9.13 (67)
It just wasn’t Essendon’s day today - Port Adelaide looked stronger and more efficient all over the park. Not to be outdone by the GWS Zacs, Essendon’s Zach Merrett had a strong game for his team with 30 disposals and 17 kicks, but it wasn’t enough to get them over a determined Port outfit. Possibly they need more Zacs in the team?
Robbie Gray caused some controversy in our comments section today, but he was happy with his performance and that of his team.
“We’ve had a pretty up and down year and the last few weeks have been disappointing, so we needed to bounce back,” he said. Our best footy stacks up there with the best, but we need to bring that form every week.”
Some brilliant body work from Robbie Gray!#AFLDonsPower pic.twitter.com/W38FvPznFj
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) August 3, 2019
Formula One: I admire the restraint of Carlos Sainz to just feel ‘incredibly annoyed’ at finishing seventh every time. I would personally feel a lot more strongly about it than that, but possibly that’s why I’m not a professional sportsperson. Well, that and the complete lack of talent. Anyway, this was a very interesting read about his aspirations and how is planning on achieving them.
Cricket: Have you been staying awake for the men’s Ashes this week? Bizarre situation last night when the ball hit the stumps yet Joe Root couldn’t be given out because the bails stayed on. It seems to be happening more and more lately and Geoff Lemon thinks the law needs a rethink. Have a read and see if you agree.
Super Netball: Half-time in Melbourne and the Vixens are looking clinical as they build a lead over the Fever, currently ahead 38-26 at half-time. The Fever aren’t able to make as much use as they’d like of shooting machine Jhaniele Fowler, as their feeding to her is not hitting the mark - the story of their season so far! The Vixens meanwhile are showing no signs of fatigue following the Netball World Cup, despite having all but two of their players travel to the UK for the tournament.
In taking to the court in WD for the @WestCoastFever, @StcyJyneFrancis reaches her 50th national league match.#SSNVixensFever pic.twitter.com/fz5ViSVKLX
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) August 3, 2019
NRL: A tight game out at Brookvale, with Manly leading the Knights 8-6 at half-time. The Knights have superior possession at this stage of the game, as well as a higher completion rate, but the Eagles were just able to get across the line when it counted. Big second half coming up.
Half-time at Lottoland ⏰
— NRL (@NRL) August 3, 2019
The @SeaEagles lead 8-6. #NRLManlyKnights pic.twitter.com/4lyLtDpZG5
Cricket: Megan Schutt has given us this great summary of their Ashes campaign - the Australian team surprised even themselves with their dominance! It’s interesting to hear about the way the team goes on after a successful series - we often think about bouncing back after a loss, but to pick up and go again after a win can be just as challenging, if not more - especially when it’s something so hyped up for so long.
Drugs in sport: Fascinating article from Ben Hill today on the doping saga surrounding Shayna Jack and how she would be feeling. The waters around the supplements that are legal and those that aren’t can be a bit murky and it’s easier than we might expect to end up taking the wrong thing due to an honest mistake.
AFL: At half-time in Sydney, the Giants have the lead over the Swans, though not as big as they would have been hoping for. They lead by 13 points at the main break. The Zacs are doing the damage for the Giants so far - Zac Williams with 22 disposals and 16 kicks, while Zac Hopper has two goals for the men in orange.
Zac Williams is on this afternoon.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) August 3, 2019
He had 13 disposals in the second quarter to take him to 22 for the game! #NeverSurrender #SydneyDerbyXVIII pic.twitter.com/bBHBDtpz1h
AFL: First up in the AFL, we’ve just passed half time at Marvel Stadium and it’s the Power leading the Bombers by 17. Possibly a little bit of an unexpected scoreline for the Bombers at this stage of the game, but it’s a long game and they’ll be hoping a strong home crowd can push them through to the end.
Preamble
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to a busy Saturday of sport. I’m going to start you off today, but coming up later we’ve got the always incredible Richard Parkin to guide you through the evening.
We’ve got the Sydney derby underway in the AFL, a top of the table clash this evening in the Super Netball and some intriguing battles in the NRL. So, no time to waste, let’s get into it!
