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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Scott Heinrich and Megan Maurice

Sportwatch: Hawks topple Eagles, Lightning crush Thunderbirds, Roosters too good for Dragons – as it happened

Paige Hadley and Jemma Mi Mi fight for the ball
The NSW Swifts came away with a one-goal win over the Queensland Firebirds, but it wasn’t enough to secure the minor premiership. Photograph: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Summary

A compelling evening of sport headlined by Hawthorn’s dismantling of West Coast in Perth. The match certainly didn’t go to script for the Eagles, who now need Brisbane to beat Richmond on Sunday in order to finish in the top four, but underlined Hawthorn’s rich vein of form and the brilliance of their coach, Alastair Clarkson.

Elsewhere, Giants sharp shooter Jeremy Cameron all but secured his first Coleman Medal with a nine-goal haul against the hapless Suns, in the NRL the Roosters blew the Dragons away in the first half en route to a 22-point win and the Lightning were far too good for the Thunderbirds in Super Netball.

Oh, and in basketball the Boomers beat Team USA for the very first time. Now that is something worth celebrating. And what better way to celebrate than to dive headlong into our live blog of the 3rd Test at Headingley, where England set off in pursuit of an unlikely Ashes-saving victory.

AFL: West Coast 9.13 (67) lost to Hawthorn 16.9 (105)

That didn’t go to plan for West Coast, now did it? The Hawks outworked, outsmarted and outplayed their hosts to keep their finals hopes alive and the Eagles’ top-four chances hanging by a thread. This 38-point drubbing relegates West Coast to fifth spot, and there they will stay if Richmond beat Brisbane tomorrow at the MCG. A grand way for Isaac Smith to celebrate his 200th game, no sort of way for West Coast to gear up for September.

Updated

20CharactersNoSpaces feels I am discounting England’s chances of winning the 3rd Test:

Here’s what I said: “England have been set 359 to win the 3rd Test and prevent Australia from retaining the Ashes. Good luck with that. Labuschagne’s 80 was a high point in Australia’s second dig - and 13 more than England’s entire team could muster yesterday.”

Here’s what 20CNS said: “This strikes me as being dangerously close to premature triumphalism, Scott. Yes, Making 360 in a 4th innings is unlikely. But we all know it’s been done before, and to Australia.

I’m not going to be feeling confident until we’ve got Stokes out.”

I see where you’re coming from, 20CNS, but I’m not feeling in the slightest bit triumphant (prematurely or otherwise). Yes, England have a shot but my sardonic ‘Good luck with that’ comment merely reflects how unlikely they are to achieve their goal. And though possible, it is extremely unlikely.

Updated

AFL: Q4: 12 mins remaining: West Coast 9.11 (65) vs Hawthorn 14.8 (92) - the Hawks are piling on the goals against an Eagles outfit that has run out of puff. Percentage is now becoming an issue with the margin blowing out, though quick goals to Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli to interrupt three straight in this term to Hawthorn releases the pressure somewhat.

AFL: Gold Coast 7.13 (55) lost to Greater Western Sydney 20.7 (127)

Jeremy Cameron heads into this dead-ish rubber six goals behind Ben Brown in the race for the Coleman Medal - but boots an amazing 9.5 to be crowned the AFL’s leading goal kicker for the first time in his career.

The Giants, as we knew, will host an elimination final while the Suns will endure another off-season of hand-wringing and introspection. Not that Michael Rischitelli will be part of that. Good job, Michael, good job.

Updated

AFL: 3QT: West Coast 7.11 (53) vs Hawthorn 11.6 (72) - a late James Sicily major really takes the wind out of West Coast, who for parts of the third quarter were the better team but in the end had nothing to show for it. As it stands, the Eagles’ grip on the top four is out of their hands and Hawthorn’s season isn’t over just yet.

AFL: Q3: 5 mins remaining: West Coast 7.9 (51) vs Hawthorn 10.6 (66) - the Eagles have had marginally the better of the third term but a mark and a goal inside-50 to Tim O’Brien has cemented Hawthorn’s lead.

Nice bit of biffo from Rioli here.

Updated

Cricket: England have been set 359 to win the 3rd Test and prevent Australia from retaining the Ashes. Good luck with that. Labuschagne’s 80 was a high point in Australia’s second dig - and 13 more than England’s entire team could muster yesterday.

AFL: 3QT: Gold Coast 5.12 (42) vs Greater Western Sydney 16.5 (101) - Jeremy Cameron boots his seventh goal to overtake Ben Brown and claim the outright lead in the Coleman Medal. Go Jezza. Oh, and the Giants are pasting the Suns. The tale of two expansion clubs, indeed.

NRL: Dragons 12-34 Roosters

Well, at least the Dragons won the second half. The Roosters, however, win the game and solidify their position in the top four. The damage was done in the first half with Cooper Cronk putting on a masterclass.

AFL: HT: West Coast 5.8 (38) vs Hawthorn 8.6 (54) - Ricky Henderson’s long-range major on the siren caps a five-goal-to-one quarter for the Hawks, who as it stands have nudged their way into the eight. Not sure about West Coast’s taste for the contest in that quarter. Yes, their place in September is secure but the double chance is still well and truly up for grabs. Henderson is firing for the Hawks while Andrew Gaff is leading the way for the Eagles. A sizeable second half awaits.

Super Netball: Lightning 58-37 Thunderbirds

A bit like Minority Report, the Thunderbirds started well but ended up quite unwatchable. Fifteen goals in the first quarter were followed by just 22 more for the rest of the match as the Lightning remind all and sundry why they are genuine title contenders. Cara Koenen netted 30 from 32 attempts for the home side, who sew up the minor premiership and a major semi-final against the Swifts.

Updated

Cricket: Pattinson has been removed for a rather handy 20, leaving Australia seven wickets down but over 330 runs to the good. But don’t take my word for it, not when Adam Collins is waxing his lyrical best.

AFL: QT: West Coast 4.3 (27) vs Hawthorn 3.3 (21) - the Hawks kick the first three goals of the game but, obviously given the score, the Eagles flex their muscly wings to boot four straight and take a six-point lead into quarter-time. They’ve got some gears, West Coast, and some serious potency up front when the opportunity presents.

AFL: HT: Gold Coast 3.10 (28) vs Greater Western Sydney 8.2 (50) - on the face of it, 13 scoring shots to 10 says the Suns have been the better team in the first half. Back in the real world, the Giants are (kind of) doing as they please and Jeremy Cameron has booted two goals in his quest to claim the Coleman Medal.

To the eagle-eyed amongst you, is it plagiarism if you copy yourself?

Super Netball: 3QT: Lightning 42-30 Thunderbirds - the Thunderbirds scored as many goals in the second and third terms combined as they did in the first. The Lightning have almost quadrupled their score since quarter-time. Enough said.

NRL: HT: Dragons 0-28 Roosters - It’s getting ugly at Kogarah. Five tries to the visitors and Cooper Cronk kicking like a man possessed doesn’t make great viewing for the ever-suffering Dragons faithful. And the people are speaking.

Cricket: Australia’s lead at Headingley is edging towards 300. All of a sudden this deck looks a reasonable one to bat on. Why are you wasting your time with me when Adam Collins is doing what he does so well?

(Go and check out his live blog, oh so momentarily, and then come back to me ... please)

Super Netball: HT: Lightning 24-22 Thunderbirds - the lowly Thunderbirds were, um, go early in this game but the Lightning resumed normal service in the second quarter to take a slender lead into half-time of this low-scoring game.

AFL: QT: Gold Coast 0.4 (4) vs Greater Western Sydney 5.0 (30) - on the face of it, four scoring shots to five is a competitive return for the Suns. Back in the real world, the Giants are doing as they please and Jeremy Cameron has booted two goals in his quest to claim the Coleman Medal.

Updated

NRL: 16 mins: Dragons 0-18 Roosters - not sure St George-Illawarra ever really promised much this season, but any hope Dragons fans ever had has surely now made way for lonely despair. Don’t worry, it will all be over soon.

I’d watch Patty Mills play basketball every day of the week and twice on Sunday. As you were.

Evening, sports fans. How’s your Saturday been treating you? You’ve been kept excellent company by Megan, so I’m guessing you’re in good spirits.

Am I alone in thinking that whatever we witness tonight – be it in the AFL, the NRL, cricket, Super Netball or tiddly winks – it will take some living up to the Boomers’ win over Team USA. OK, it was only an exhibition game, but when you consider droughts this arid, in a sport so completely dominated by one nation, thoughts wander back to a certain boat race back in 1983. If you’re unfortunate enough to have to work tomorrow, call your boss and tell said boss you’re not coming in. If said boss sacks you, tell said boss I think said boss is a bum.

Anyway, moving on, we have a pivotal game in the AFL on our evening agenda, with West Coast hosting Hawthorn in a tussle that could well have ramifications on the top four and top eight. Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney will also be kicking around a Sherrin, the Dragons and the Roosters will battle it out in the NRL, the Lightning host the Thunderbirds in Super Netball … and there is a game of cricket going on in England, or so I’m told.

But I don’t want to do this solo. Your input is required, so comments are open below the line and you can reach me directly via email or Twitter - @scott_heinrich

Okay, well that’s me out for tonight! I’ve very much enjoyed your company as we’ve worked our way though some absolute nailbiters and some total capitulations around Australia tonight. I’m now leaving you in the very capable hands of my esteemed colleague Scott Heinrich who will see you through the rest of tonight’s games.

Don’t forget we’ve got our cricket live blog kicking off very shortly, so make sure you’ve got two tabs going so you can keep up with all the action.

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye!

NRL: Wests Tigers 46-4 Newcastle

The Tigers recorded their biggest victory in four years to keep their finals hopes alive at Campbelltown tonight. It was a dominant performance from start to finish from the black and orange and they had so much energy around the team. Speaking after the game, Josh Reynolds was pleased with the result and his return after a break with injury.

“Life’s too short, you’ve just got to have fun,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to the last two games. Let’s hold on to that energy moving forward next week.”

AFL: Geelong 19.14 (128) beat Carlton 8.13 (61)

It wasn’t the end to the season the Blues would have hoped for, but at least it’s over now. Geelong, on the other hand, look to have played their way into a minor premiership, barring a huge smashing by either Richmond or West Coast this weekend, which doesn’t look likely. It’s been a hell of a season from the Geelong boys, it’ll be fascinating to see what they can bring to the finals.

Super Netball: Swifts 64-63 Firebirds

What a finish! Though the Swifts snuck away with the win, they will be bitterly disappointed they couldn’t get the last bonus point, with a tied final quarter. They will now have to wait to see how the Lightning fare against the Thunderbirds to see if they will get to host next week’s semi-final. Luckily that game is up next, so not too long for them to wait! An emotional finish for the Firebirds who are farewelling retiring players Caitlyn Nevins and Laura Clemesha. Gretel Tippett was outstanding in a losing team and took out the MVP award.

“We wanted to end on a good note, but today the Swifts were just too good,” she said after the game. “We want to carry momentum into next season, so we’re happy we finished with two good games.”

NRL: While the Dragons’ game against the Roosters tonight isn’t a huge for a team well out of finals contention, it does have something to make it meaningful. Wendell Sailor’s son Tristan is set to make his debut for the Red V. Sailor has been an extraordinary part of the club since joining them in 2007 and has remained part of the heart and soul following his retirement in 2009. Tristan will play at fullback tonight and hopefully bring some of the Sailor spirit to a Dragons team that desperately needs it.

Super Netball: Swifts 49-48 Firebirds

The Swifts have clawed back the lead and taken the bonus point, but what a fourth quarter we have coming up! The umpire who will be at the Firebirds’ shooting end this quarter has been handing out a lot more penalties, so the Swifts’ defenders will have to be very clean to come away with a win here.

AFL: Geelong 14.6 (90) v Carlton 6.13 (49) at three quarter-time

Carlton haven’t given up just yet - though they’re not “in it” in any sense of the word, they are determined to keep going until the very last whistle. Gary Ablett has stepped up with three goals to his name, while Dangerfield continues to rack up stats like they’re going out of style.

AFL: The second of the Adam Goodes documentaries, The Australian Dream, is out and by all reports it’s brilliant, sad and thought-provoking in equal measures. One of our commenters has some wonderful words about it, so I will turn it over to them because I don’t think I can say it better.

User avatar for ID9357571

Every Saturday as I listen to my weekly dose of Australian footy goodness from the ABC’s Coodabeen Champions - I am reminded of all that I love about the game: the community, the camaraderie, the humour, the history and the wonderful story telling. Today’s episode was followed by an interview by another national treasure, the piercingly insightful, Stan Grant. His story was about one of our greatest champions Adam Goodes.

He was of course promoting the new film The Australian Dream. In his usual wonderful erudite fashion managed to capture the harm, we all did, when we humiliated our Aboriginal brothers and sisters as we booed Adam out of the game Stan explains that the film is the story of us, our story of Australia. A failure to reconcile ourselves with our history, a failure to tell our story of our history. It is a story of Aboriginal Australians telling their story, with their voices, their truth, how they see their country - a voice talking back from black Australia.

I thought of these words today as the Swans took to the field and the great Buddy Franklin played his 300th game. There was even talk today the Adam who, to all our eternal shame, has turned away from the game, might come to watch as his beloved Swans celebrate another of their great Aboriginal players. I’m so made up they won. They are the only club that can hold their head up in this story. Have no doubt, this a permanent stain on our game.

There will be some who hope the story moves on quickly to concentrate on finals. Even that has a familiar sad ring to it. The same ones I suspect that Adam feels missed the opportunity to address their shame. Who knows, maybe one day these small and divisive characters, with their tricky words and powerful friends, will be immortalised in a serious Coodabeens Champions ditty, saved for the irredeemable, that speaks to the irrevocable harm they have done to our game and our story.

Concussion in sport: I had some thoughts this week on the way Australia makes heroes of the walking wounded who battle through games to victory. That imagery we’ve created is going to be a stumbling block in the way we deal with concussion, I feel. I’m interested to know your thoughts, so let me know in the comments.

NRL: Wests Tigers 30-0 Newcastle

What a start from the Tigers in Campbelltown tonight! An incredible first half sees the crowd rise for a standing ovation as they leave the field. Five tries to five different try-scorers in the first half have given the crowd plenty to cheer about. Matthew Eisenhuth has been a force to be reckoned with, making 114 metres so far this game, ably supported by Luke Garner who has made 99 metres and scored a try to boot.

Super Netball: Swifts 30-33 Firebirds at half-time

Well, what a second quarter from the Purple Birds as they are (sometimes not affectionately) known. Gretel Tippett had something to smile about that quarter, as her team stole the lead and the bonus point from the home team. An even shooting load split between Tippett and her GS Romelda Aiken is working well for the Queenslanders, as they force the Swifts’ defenders to work individually, not as a unit. Much like their Sydney buddies the Giants, the Swifts need every bonus point they can get their hands on if they want to get the minor premiership and a home semi-final next week. They will be very upset with themselves for letting that one go.

Cricket: Andy Bull had an interesting article during the week about the perception of fast bowlers hitting a new peak. Andy has found a way to make very precise scientific facts and measurements sound exciting - no easy feat I can tell you! Make sure you have a look before the cricket gets back underway in a couple of hours.

AFL: Geelong 12.5 (77) v Carlton 3.8 (26) at half-time

The Cats have built on their first-quarter performance, piling on another seven goals this quarter, while the Blues have managed to score double the amount of goals they did in the first - though I’m not sure they’ll be celebrating that achievement! Dangerfield remains the danger player, while Marc Murphy, with 19 disposals and three tackles, is putting out an admirable performance in a losing team.

Super Netball: Swifts 18-14 Firebirds at quarter-time

It’s fair to say that Gretel Tippett is not having a great time out there today. Whether she’s tired from carrying her under-performing team all season or she just wants to be done with it after a punishing netball schedule this year, she doesn’t have her happy pants on today. The Swifts have made some interesting tweaks to their defensive end with Maddy Turner in WD, Sarah Klau in GD and Katrina Rore in GK and it’s working well for them so far.

Football: Another great read during the week was Kieran Pender’s interview with former Matildas vice-captain and member of the Fifa Council, Moya Dodd. This quote from Dodd was particularly insightful:

“Women’s football went from being neglected without consequence to a gold star issue, in that you got a gold star for doing something for the women’s game,” says Dodd. “Now it needs to move towards a consistent and equal program of involvement and investment. The return on investment on a marginal dollar in women’s football is far higher than on a dollar in men’s football, where the progress has already been made.”

NRL: If you’re a rugby league fan, you’ll enjoy this fascinating new book by Joe Gorman about the history of the game in Queensland and how it shaped the culture and persona of the state. This excerpt is a great scene-setter and explains how the Broncos, one of the NRL’s most dominant teams, came to be.

Cricket: Only a few hours now until the bowling showdown between Australia and England continues. If you slept through all the excitement last night, never fear - we have you covered! Read all about the wicket fest here.

AFL: Geelong 5.4 (34) v Carlton 1.3 (9) at quarter-time

It’s not a happy game for the Blues so far, I suspect they are already at the pub after the game in their minds. It’s also not an ideal final round game for the Cats - despite the very welcome opportunity to take out the minor premiership - as you’d imagine they could do with a higher intensity game to help with their run at the premiership. Dangerfield has been strong at the goals so far with three goals just in the first quarter.

NRL: Sharks 42-16 Warriors

A big win for the Sharks will give them a lot of confidence going into the last two rounds of the regular season. Another big half from the ex-Dragon Joshes (Morris and Dugan) saw the Sharks build on their lead and the Warriors barely got a look in. Despite a superior completion rate, the Kiwis just didn’t see enough of the ball and Shaun Johnson will be feeling pretty happy with his decision to move across the ditch.

Super Netball: Giants 70-60 Fever

The Fever managed to claw back a bonus point for the last quarter, which Giants’ coach Julie Fitzgerald looked highly unimpressed about. She would have instructed her to team to go out there and get all eight points to secure their finals berth, but they will now have to wait on results from tomorrow afternoon’s game. It’s still a tough ask for the Magpies who will need a decent win and at least three of the four bonus points to topple the Giants, but they have been in strong form and will be giving it a pretty good shake.

Kim Green was solid for the Giants in her final home game before retirement, with 21 goal assists and 34 feeds, as well as two intercepts and two gains - pretty impressive defensive stats for a wing attack!

Basketball: Australia 98-94 USA

Well, that was an unexpected win from the Boomers - their first game was overshadowed by a seating fiasco, but this time they managed to be more newsworthy than a bunch of plastic lawn chairs, so well done to them! They’ll be feeling more confident about the World Cup after that - the first time they have defeated the USA in 55 years and 26 attempts.

AFL: North Melbourne 13.10 (88) beat Melbourne 12.11 (83)

It stayed close right up until the end, but in the end it was North who ran away with the win. Jared Polec and Shaun Higgins were the stars for the home side, with two goals each. It wasn’t the ending retiring Dees player Jordan Lewis would have liked, but he was happy with what he can take from his career.

“It was exciting, I think we played a good brand of footy for most of the game,” he said after the game. “North Melbourne are a quality side. It’s not ideal to end your career with a loss, but that’s the way it goes. I’m ready, it’s been a long career. I look at my three beautiful children and now I get to spend more time with them, so why wouldn’t you retire?”

Super Netball: Giants 54-42 Fever at three quarter-time

This is a pretty frustrating and scrappy game to watch. Fever are showing plenty of heart in defence and turning the ball over, but the attack end just can’t capitalise. Considering the shooting power of Jhaniele Fowler under the post, they will be asking some serious questions in the off-season. It was the defence end that was supposed to be their worry today with captain Courtney Bruce out, but they are struggling much more in attack. Fever had three opportunities to level the score but failed to do so and the Giants took another bonus point.

AFL: Sydney 17.7 (109) beat St Kilda 8.16 (64)

Well what a big day for #Buddy300 - the man himself was on fire with four goals and 10 marks, ably supported by the other Josh Kennedy with 30 disposals and nine tackles. According to Buddy’s official number one fan, Imogen Dunlevie, who is also the offical keeper of Buddy Goal Watch, he is now on 944 career goals, which is a truly a phenomenal effort - and he’s not done yet!

Speaking after the game, he was effusive in his praise ofthe Swans’ retiring players - Jarrad McVeigh and Kieran Jack.

“They’ve been a big part of the club, they really drive the bloods culture,” Franklin said. “It was a special day. I’ve had nearly nine weeks off, so I was definitely blowing. They challenged us, but we were able to stand up in the third quarter and come away with a really good win.”

AFL: Melbourne 11.4 (70) v North Melbourne 10.9 (69) at three quarter-time

It’s still a tight one down in Tassie, but Melbourne have been more accurate with the boot this quarter, kicking six goals to five. Rory Gilmore fan Max Gawn is still leading the way for the Dees, while Jared Polec with 20 disposals and two goals is doing his best to keep the Roos in the game.

Super Netball: Giants 38-28 Fever at half-time

Well after the Fever did their duty of keeping the fans guessing on the final make-up of the top four until the last game of the round, they promptly fell asleep and watched on as the Giants took a 10-goal lead. Perhaps they were inspired by the Swans and will be looking to make a third quarter resurgence, just to keep us guessing even more. To illustrate further the weirdness of the bonus points system, the Fever could win the next two quarters by one goal each to lose by eight and end up taking three points out of the game to the Giants’ five. The Magpies will certainly be hoping that’s the way the game goes anyway!

Rugby: Thoughts on the World Cup squad announced this week? Our rugby reporter Bret Harris thinks it’s a risky one - not for the World Cup per se, but for the future of Super Rugby.

“There is no doubt the Wallabies squad is stronger with O’Connor, White and Toomua in it and may have been even more so with Skelton as well, but is it really that much stronger? Strong enough to make a difference? We will see.

“There were few, if any, real surprises in what was a fairly solid-looking squad, the only notable omission Brumbies fullback Tom Banks, and gambling on the fitness of David Pocock.

“Cheika got almost all of the players he wanted from home and abroad. The Wallabies will now need to win the World Cup, or go close, to justify any potential damage to Super Rugby as a result of the relaxing of the eligibility rules.”

NRL: Sharks 24-10 Warriors at half-time

The theme of the Sharks’ first half at Shark Park today has clearly been “former Dragons who are also called Josh” as Josh Morris and Josh Dugan both scored key tries for the boys in the black, white and blue. Dugan has also made a phenomenal 139 metres in a dominant performance. With the Sharks hanging on to eighth place as if their lives depended on it, a win today will be key to their finals hopes.

AFL: Sydney 11.4 (70) v St Kilda 7.12 (54) at three quarter-time

The Swans remembered to play in the third quarter! Great news for their fans. It’s been a big game for the other Josh Kennedy, as I like to call him, possibly because I’m related to the West Coast Josh Kennedy, who could tell? Anyway, this one is quite good too and he has 23 disposals and six tackles so far. Let’s see if the Swans can bring this home.

Super Netball: Giants 17-17 Fever at quarter-time

A drawn first quarter means no one takes a bonus, point which means that whatever the result today, fourth place will be decided by the Magpies v Vixens game in Melbourne tomorrow. The Fever looked good through the middle of the quarter, but some messy attack let them down, despite the best efforts of Olivia Lewis at GK - having a dominant performance on Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett - a huge quarter from Lewis in her rookie season.

Cricket: The Australian women’s team has launched their new Indigenous uniforms that they will wear against England in February in Canberra. The story behind them is pretty interesting too, make sure you check it out.

AFL: North Melbourne 5.4 (34) v Melbourne 5.4 (34) at half-time

What is going on today? Another game all locked up at half-time? This one has been a little more even and also has the lovely symmetry of both teams with equal goals and behinds, which is a personal favourite draw situation of mine. Max Gawn has been on fire for the Dees, with 18 hitouts and 11 disposals to his name. He is also a personal favourite of mine due to his love of Gilmore Girls, so hopefully he is more of a Dean than a Jess as this game continues.

Super Netball: The Giants are about to take on the West Coast Fever, which may not seem like such an important game, as the Fever can’t make finals no matter the score today. However it is a very important game in deciding the final four. With the Giants sitting in fourth, just one bonus point ahead of the Collingwood Magpies, a win with all four bonus points would mean they secure the last spot in the finals. However, a win with three or less bonus points opens the door for the Magpies to swoop in (see what I did there) and knock the Giants down to fifth. Some tough questions are being asked of the bonus point system this year - the Giants have six wins, six losses and a draw to the Magpies’ six wins, five losses and two draws so there are many people questioning the way the system is working to determine ladder positions.

Also, while we’re on netball, Erin Delahunty had a great column during the week on the stark contrasts between the top and bottom teams in the competition - another issue for the newly established Commission to look at in the off-season.

AFL: Speaking of the Pride game, there’s a great article by Emma Race up today about the importance of queer women in the history of women’s footy. For someone like myself who has come to the game fairly recently, it’s a brilliant education, but there are plenty of gems in there for rusted on AFL fans as well. Do yourself a favour and give it a read.

AFL: Sydney 6.3 (39) v St Kilda 5.9 (39) at half-time

It’s a close one at the main break at the SCG for the AFL’s Pride game. A strong first quarter from the Swans gave way to a second quarter they’d like to forget, or perhaps did forget and didn’t show up for? It allowed St Kilda to close the gap and ensure there was nothing in it at half-time.

The happy news for the Swans is that Buddy’s making his mark in is 300th game, with six kicks, six disposals and a goal. No doubt he will continue to build on those stats in the second half and bring the Swans out of that second quarter slump. It’ll be the last game of 2019 for both teams, who will want to finish with a win in a pretty forgettable season.

Preamble

Welcome back to another big weekend in the sporting world - what a day of cricket we had overnight! It kind of feels like both teams might as well give up on batting now and select 11 bowlers each for the fourth Test. Our Ashes live blog will be back tonight to take you through what’s sure to be another very exciting day.

Here on Sportwatch we’ve got bucketloads of AFL, which I know will make our BTL buddies very happy, plus three games in the Super Netball, plenty of NRL and part two in the saga that is Boomers v USA - if you’re at that game, you might want to stay with us here so we can keep you updated on what’s happening!

So, a big night ahead of us, let’s get into it.

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