Summary
A big, big win for Richmond and a big, big win for Greater Western Sydney highlighted a, um, big day of AFL and a big day of sport. But there was so much more than that. The Boomers are now 4-0 at the Basketball World Cup and in sniffing distance of their first quarter-final appearance in 37 years. The Wallabies tuned up for the Rugby World Cup with a routine win over Samoa. The Dragons sent Gareth Widdop on his way a winner in the NRL. Oh, and those crazy cricketers are still at it at Old Trafford.
You’ve been splendid but you’ve worn me out. Thanks for your company. Now off to our Ashes liveblog you go!
AFL: Brisbane Lions 8-17 (65) lost to Richmond 18.4 (112)
Six goals to Dustin Martin, the second-most accurate return for a team in a VFL/AFL final and 15 goals to four in the final three quarters amounts to an utterly comprehensive win for Richmond. It’s hard to believe, but the Lions had more scoring shots than their conquerors. It was all Richmond after quarter time and Brisbane must now lick their wounds before facing Greater Western Sydney next week. The Tigers, conversely, have a week off and look primed to make it two flags in three years.
Martin got away with this 🙈#AFLLionsTigers pic.twitter.com/S3ozjHjPgF
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) September 7, 2019
Updated
NRL: Titans 16-24 Dragons
A bottom-of-the-table clash but a satisfying win for the Dragons all the same. The visitors scored four tries to end a wretched year on a positive note and send out skipper Gareth Widdop with a smile on his face. The end of the season is now here for the Titans and it couldn’t come soon enough.
1000 points! In his last game in the NRL, Gareth Widdop becomes the first Englishmen to crack the four-figure mark #NRLTitansDragons #redv pic.twitter.com/4SeCkVEoyY
— The Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) September 7, 2019
Rugby union: Australia 34-15 Samoa
In the words of Richard Parkin, “It’s a scoreline that flatters the Wallabies in fairness, as they fight back to level the second half 12-12 after an impressive first half”.
Relive this Rugby World Cup warm-up courtesy of other such musings from said blogger.
AFL: 3QT: Brisbane Lions 6-14 (50) vs Richmond 14.4 (88) – a swashbuckling third quarter from Dustin Martin and Richmond has all but put this game to bed. Dusty has banked five goals and is looking almost unplayable at times. The Lions have done themselves no favours with poor kicking, but all the same they’ve fallen off the cliff in terms of energy, structure and penetration. They simply do not look to have the answers to Richmond’s pressure and ball movement.
Tigers hold a 38-point lead into the final change!
— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) September 7, 2019
"It's looking like it's straight to the prelim."
🐯🐯🐯#AFLLionsTigers pic.twitter.com/Nx4nyBoQdN
Looks like Brett Deledio’s career is done after the injury he suffered in the Giants’ win over the Bulldogs. That move from Richmond to Greater Western Sydney didn’t really work out for him, no? Still, congrats on a good career.
Brett Deledio in tears after the game
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 7, 2019
He injured his calf in the second quarter
What a career 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/a84PVMg4Wn
AFL: Q3: 6 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 5-11 (41) vs Richmond 12.4 (76) – Hugh McCluggage finally breaks the drought, kicking Brisbane’s first goal since the first quarter. In between times, Richmond booted nine straight in a burst that turned this match on its head. Dustin Martin is at his unstoppable best and has kicked four majors to this point. The swagger of Brisbane’s early salvo is now nowhere to be seen, the match now a grind which suits the visitors nicely.
And we have a wicket at Old Trafford. Starc castles Bairstow to make England six down. It’s half-time in the footy, so why not pop over to our Ashes blog and see what Geoff Lemon is up to.
Rugby union: HT: Australia 22-3 Samoa – don’t take my word for it. Richard Parkin is your man watching the Wallabies.
AFL: HT: Brisbane Lions 4-10 (34) vs Richmond 7.3 (45) – a big shift in that quarter, partly due to Brisbane’s profligacy but also owing to Richmond’s fighting spirit. This was a four-goal turnaround and now the pressure is on the hosts to respond to the Tigers’ heat. Both Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch look threatening in the forward-50, while Dylan Grimes is doing a good job peeling off Charlie Cameron. The Twittersphere is melting down over the umpiring. An absorbing second half awaits.
What a screamer from Shai Bolton! 🙌#AFLLionsTigers #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/DqRG7PFAJx
— AFL (@AFL) September 7, 2019
Updated
NRL: HT: Titans 6-6 Dragons - it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other on the Gold Coast in a match that, frankly, is of no interest to anyone who doesn’t support either club. Actually, Titans and Dragons fans, hands up if you could care less about this one.
That said, this is definitely worth a second look:
Holy Moly! What a try 🕺#NRLTitansDragons pic.twitter.com/sDqGgsk4uc
— NRL (@NRL) September 7, 2019
AFL: Q2: 4 mins remaining: Brisbane Lions 4-8 (32) vs Richmond 5.3 (33) – the Lions haven’t taken their chances in the second term but the Tigers have. A great response from Richmond. Hard to see this one not going to the wire.
Rioli hit the pack with real pace!#AFLLionsTigers #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/fgDg3W5yf8
— AFL (@AFL) September 7, 2019
Basketball World Cup: Australia 82-76 Dominican Republic
It wasn’t particularly pretty, apparently, but the Boomers are now 4-0 in the tournament and, if Lithuania lose to France later on in Nanjing, will be granted early confirmation of their first Fiba Basketball World Cup quarter-final in 37 years. Regardless, Australia can guarantee their place in the final eight with a win on Monday against France. That’s some achievement and hopefully won’t get lost among all else that’s demanding our attention.
Wire reports have described the Dominicans as “swarming”, which, unless they are bees, is completely lost on me. The brilliance of Patty Mills, however, is not.
#AUSDOM
— Marco A. Munno (@MarcoAMunno) September 7, 2019
Patty Mills + Australia 🇦🇺 = 🔥🔥🔥#FIBAWC#MondialiTipopic.twitter.com/FQrKnQ2LG9
Updated
AFL: QT: Brisbane Lions 4-6 (30) vs Richmond 3.0 (18) – seriously entertaining stuff at the Gabba. Richmond burst out of the blocks with two early goals but it was mostly the Lions after that. I would call their style of play irrepressible. It’s so fast, fluid and aggressive. X-factors and inside-50 entries all over the place. The Tigers haven’t been bad and are only two goals off the pace, but 10 scoring shots to three tells the story of the first quarter.
Neale puts the Lions in front! #AFLLionsTigers #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/SlzVHcqEtU
— AFL (@AFL) September 7, 2019
NRL: Bulldogs 30-14 Broncos
Oops. That wasn’t in the script. Brisbane really needed to win this one to lock in a finals spot. But this result means the Broncos can still miss out if the Tigers and Cronulla play a 90-minute draw on Sunday, a result that would see both Sydney sides qualify. You wouldn’t read about it.
Big dawgs came to eat 🐕#NRLBulldogsBroncos pic.twitter.com/hkMTH8SJK1
— NRL (@NRL) September 7, 2019
Never one to say no to a multiple choice question, DrRudi has sent his pigeon packing with a postcard marked urgent:
DrRudi said: Thankyou Scott. Answers on a postcard. e) All of the above.
I say: Afraid not, DrRudi, the answer is c). I have an ageing staffy called Ted who never was particularly fussy but in his advancing years is so desperate on the tooth that he thinks nothing of eating a laptop if he even suspects it has been touched by organic matter.
The term ‘Smorgasbord of Sport’ is one bandied around a little too liberally in my humble opinion. I remember, some time ago, berating an aunt for welcoming me to a family dinner with such an alluring utterance as she ushered me into the dining room. Turns out she actually said ‘Smorgasbord of Pork’, leaving me feeling a tad embarrassed and her a tad confused.
Anyway, I digress. The point I’m trying to make is there is plenty going on if you’re hankering for a fill-up of sport. As well as this questionable offering, we also have these morsels to satisfy your hunger:
AFL: Greater Western Sydney 16.17 (113) beat Western Bulldogs 8.7 (55)
Well, that was rather comprehensive. Not entirely sure what to take out of that, though. Yes, the Bulldogs had been in good form. But what will a home win over them count for when the Giants hit the road to face a better opponent?
Preamble
Evening, sports fans. Apologies for the late start to today’s Sportwatch, but the good folk at Guardian Towers were unable to commence the world’s favourite liveblog in its customary afternoon time slot because:
a) Nobody was available;
b) Nobody was interested;
c) My dog ate it;
d) We are almost in a recession and this is the cutback we had to have.
Answers on a postcard. First to guess correctly wins a Saturday night reading my drivel. Actually, that’s a fate to which I sentence each of you. C’mon, it’ll be fun. Not only will you be keeping me company but you’ll also be gifting me a fuzzy feeling of reassurance that I’m not the only one spending Saturday night in front of a screen or two.
Anyway, here’s what’s happened: All Blacks thumped Tonga, the Pumas had some fun in the sun with a 74-0 win over Randwick, the Warriors beat the Raiders 24-20, the Bulldogs are engaged in a torrid NRL tussle with the Broncos, and the Giants did a job on Western Bulldogs to advance to the second week of the AFL finals.
And here’s what’s happening: Brisbane Lions and Richmond will face off for an AFL preliminary final berth (this blog), the Wallabies will rub shoulders with Samoa (different blog), the fourth Ashes Test enters its fourth day (different blog), plus the Boomers play Dominican Republic and the Titans go toe-to-toe with the Dragons in the NRL (this blog).
Any thoughts? Pop a few words in the comments section below, and/or get in touch on email or tweet @scott_heinrich
