Summary
So catch your breath if you can - it really is the business end of the winter codes, and what a night of drama we’ve had tonight, across multiple sports.
What a night at the SCG - and one 2136 days in the making for Alex Johnson. An inspiring comeback for the Sydney Swans defender, and didn’t his side put on a treat of a game for their fans. It was also Harry Cunningham’s 100th match for the club - and remarkably the first he’d played alongside Johnson since his very first game.
Tom McCartin’s late goal; Buddy Franklin’s six goals (and three struck posts!) - so many moments of high drama tonight, and credit to Collingwood who played their part in an AFL classic.
Then of course there was the drama of Showdown 45. Another super-tight finish, and one with a fair slice of controversy, of which going off Ken Hinkley’s comments, we perhaps haven’t heard the last. It had Eddie Betts magic, Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard star turns; all of which just topped off a truly incredible round of AFL matches.
In the Super Rugby, the Crusaders notched their ninth championship in emphatic fashion, and in the Super Netball not even a Jhaniele Fowler masterclass could prevent the Giants from securing the minor premiership and a home semi-final.
Throw in a fascinating conclusion to the first Test between England and India in the cricket, and you, dear reader, have enjoyed a full plate of Saturday Sportswatch.
That’s all from me, Richard Parkin. Keep your eyes peeled for tomorrow’s massive Lightning-Vixen clash in the netball, and plenty of other untold sporting machinations. But for now, goodnight!
But now to a less controversial, but no less bizarre match winner - I wasn’t quite sure how to describe it, but here’s the vision of that McCartin goal at the death for the Swans.
WHAT A MATCH-WINNER!
— AFL (@AFL) August 4, 2018
Tom McCartin you beauty!#AFLSwansPies pic.twitter.com/x99j00qoF6
I could still do with a few more replays, to be honest. The side-on on this would be a cracker. A classic “soccer” off the ground, but what tremendous awareness, especially in the context of the match.
And a bit of stink emerging out of that earlier Showdown 45 thriller - with Port coach Ken Hinkley not mincing his words in his thoughts on that late, late controversial goal. Here’s Australian Associated Press’ report:
The AFL should be embarrassed by a “monumental mistake” that gifted Adelaide a controversial three-point win, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says.
Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins admits umpires erred by awarding him a match-winning goal in a nerve-jangling 13.18 (96) to 14.9 (93) win against Port on Saturday.
Jenkins’ snap shot was given a goal after a video review, giving the Crows the lead with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the Adelaide Oval thriller.
“My grandma raised me not to tell fibs. I think it hit the post,” Jenkins told Fox Sports.
Port boss Hinkley said the incorrect decision was a “massive failure by the AFL”.
“The AFL, in a billion-dollar industry, can wreck seasons for football clubs that work too hard,” Hinkley said.
“If I was the AFL, I would be embarrassed and disappointed.
“ ... To lose that one, that way - I don’t want to be seen as a sore loser but in an industry that is about getting it right, we didn’t get it right.”
Youchies. Watch this space.
How’s this round of AFL.
Richmond by 3 over Geelong.
Hawthorn by 4 over Essendon.
North Melbourne by 3 over Brisbane.
Adelaide by 3 over Port Adelaide, in the Showdown.
And now - Sydney by 2 over Collingwood.
As we speak, it’s Sydney back in the eight; and Geelong - remarkably - outside finals contention, for now.
And to think Gary Ablett missed a set shot at the close last night.
Are you all keeping up with this??!
Hectic.
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Full-time: Sydney 11.7 (73) defeat Collingwood 10.11 (71)
Talk about Super Saturday! That’s almost the pick of the day - and that’s saying something after the games we’ve seen today.
Isaac Heaney with a huge mark at the death, just before the siren sounds. And that’s it! How important could that be, for a club whose season appeared to be petering out over recent weeks.
Back. In. The. Eight!
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We’ve got late, late drama here! There’s been another goal - and it’s a man who appeared to be lying prone on the floor. How’s he managed that?!
He’s been quiet tonight - but it’s Tom McCartin! He’s kicked that - somehow; and it’s the Swans back in front by two!
A fourth lead change for the game, and we’ve got less than two minutes to play.
They’re back in the eight on the liveladder. The Swans look to play it safe. Around the perimeter.
One last possession though and it could all be the Pies. What can they muster?!
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Deary me. They’re coming home like a steam train, the Pies. Seven unanswered scoring shots - and it’s Travis Varcoe who fires his fourth goal of the night!
They lead by five; there’s five to play. What twists does this remarkable game have in store?
It’s a towering mark, it’s Buddy! He’s 40m+ out - will this be his seventh of the evening?
He lines up - he takes his time; would you believe it - he’s hit the post! For the third time tonight! He could have had 10! But he’s got 6.4.
And we’ve got another four-point game!
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Hello, hello - it’s Will Hoskin-Elliot, and he’s banged two in six minutes!
Would you believe it - we’re back to two points!
Terrific work from Cox in the build up to that one, and now Hoskin-Elliot has found Chris Mayne for another set shot.. and he’s hit the post!
Can you believe that - at this stage of the game: we’ve got eight minutes to play, and they trail by one, Collingwood!
Okay - all eyes back to the SCG where we’ve got about fifteen left to play, and it’s the Swans by 9 points.
Buddy Franklin starting the quarter how he ended the third, banging a sixth major with just 17 seconds on the clock to push the lead out to 18.
From there it’s been Collingwood with five unanswered scoring shots - but thankfully for home fans, they’ve only kicked 1.4.
Stephenson the latest to hook wide - and we’ve got an eight-point game!
And a scare at the death in the NRL for the Roosters, just a few hundred metres down the road from this Swans-Pies game - but not even JT could turn this one around for the Cowboys.
Sydney City running out 26-20 winners against North Queensland, with Latrell Mitchell bagging 14 points with a try, three conversions and two penalties.
And they leapfrog the Storm and keep the heat on the Rabbitohs with four rounds to play.
And it’s all over at Edgbaston. A remarkable win for England - Ben Stokes the man of the moment.
And speaking of one-sided third quarters - look away now, Saints fans.
Hold my beer, Magpies - St Kilda have just let the Dogs put eight unanswered goals on them there. And to think they led by 23; they now trail by 45.
Marcus Bontempelli running riot - four goals for the Bulldog’s star; and all of them coming in that quarter!
There goes the “every game must finish with a margin of under one goal” motif Round 20 of the AFL was trying on. Good old Saints.
The battle for 14th place has really exploded to life in Melbourne.
Three-quarter-time: Sydney 9.6 (60) leads Collingwood 7.6 (48)
Cripes. If you missed that entire quarter, you’re in good company - apparently the Magpies did too.
Three behinds the only progress since half-time for the visitors, while the Swans have kicked five unanswered. Lance “what injured heel” Franklin the chief tormenter, with the full-forward bagging 5.3 thus-far.
I’m hearing Collingwood defender Jack Madgen is on debut. And they’ve put him on Franklin? Trololol.
What can the Pies make of this one? Feels like fingers in the dam stuff, this. Surely they can’t arrest this Bloods-tide?
Full-time: Giants 69-66 Fever
Phwaor. What Netty.
With ever quarter and bonus point crucial, as the Giants and Fever battled to secure top place at the end of the regular season, it’s been a tale of three quarters of one, and one quarter of the other.
The Giants raced out to a 4-1 lead with little more than two minutes played, enjoying another solid run late in the quarter to open a 21-16 margin. Three unanswered goals helped push it to a 10-goal margin at the half, with that growing to 14 at three-quarter time.
But from there it was all Jhaniele Fowler. The Jamaican leading a 22-11 final quarter rampage, to close to just three; with even a late miss preventing it coming back to a margin of just two.
She’s finished with a sensational 63 of her team’s 66 points. She’ll take some stopping in the finals, Fowler.
It’s the Giants who finish top however. And they’ll face the Fever once again in major semi-final, unless the Lightning can pull off a four-quarter win tomorrow against the Vixens.
The Melbourne side in turn will need a three-quarter win to take the Lightning’s place in the four. What a game that one stands to be.
Wowee. Meanwhile in that Saints-Dogs clash, it’s been a real topsy-turvy affair.
Having raced to an early lead with six consecutive scoring shots and 26 points unanswered, the Saints have taken the hand off the throttle, to lead by just four at half-time.
The Bulldogs with six second quarter majors after 0.5 to open the first - and all from different goalscorers.
And for those flicking between Guardian sport liveblogs, big news from the England-India Test match, where the prized scalp of Virat Kohli has just fallen - Ben Stokes with the breakthrough to leave India 8-142. Is that the ball game?
Follow that one here:
Half-time: Sydney 4.4 (28) trail Collingwood 7.3 (45)
Well, we’ve had far too many nailbiters in the AFL this weekend, so thankfully this one’s blown out to a sensible 17-point lead for the visitors.
Travis Varcoe (3.0) and Lance Franklin (3.1) the sharpshooters for their respective sides, with Collingwood’s Jack Crisp and Tom Langdon leading disposals with 17 a piece.
Alex Johnson with five marks and two tackles in that first half back on the paddock. Which is more than he’s made in the past almost six years - let’s face it.
2136 days away from the game, if you missed the earlier memo.
Nearly six years, 70 months, or over 3 million minutes (for those penning their own “Rent” style lyrics at home to this one).
What an absolute bloody legend. I would have folded after the first knee op, I reckon.
(Starting from the incredibly generous assumption that I was anywhere near being a professional athlete in the first place).
Updated
Right, it’s a long overdue dinner break for your humble scribe. We’ll try and pick up Swans-Magpies from half-time if there’s anything especially tasty happening there.
And hopefully some Netball action too, where the Giants appear to be scuppering the Fever’s chances at finishing top in the regular season.
We’ve had full-time in the NRL game across town in Parramatta - with the Eels enjoying just their fifth win of the season, running out 28-12 winners over the Jarryd Hayne (remember him?) -less Titans.
Oh that’s right. He’s back at the Eels this (injury-ravaged) season - and he’s even scored a try against his old club to boot. Even Corey Norman’s fancied it tonight, as Parramatta run in five tries to three. Poor old Michael Gordon with 0/3 with the boot, while Mitchell Moses gave it 4/5.
We’re underway at the Sydney Football Stadium (avoid Moore Park tonight, motorists) as well now, where it’s the Roosters hosting Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys. 12-8 with around 30 gone in that one.
And, in case like Time, you can’t be satiated - we’ve even got cricket starting over in the northern hemisphere, this Saturday Sportwatch.
Don’t miss a ball of that one where it’s Anderson v Kohli once again:
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But! Time waits for no man, and marches insatiably on - ever clamouring for more sport to devour in its greedy, bloodied maw.
We’re underway in the AFL, both at the SCG where Sydney host Collingwood, and at Docklands where it’s St Kilda welcoming the Western Bulldogs.
Not a pretty start for Western Bulldogs fans - they trail 4.2 (26) to 0.5 (5) with quarter-time approaching - but it’s a nearer thing in NSW where the Swans trail 3.2 (20) to the Magpies’ 4.1 (25).
And a very special evening for Alex Johnson. If you’ve missed this one, it’s the story of the man who’s had 47 knee-reconstructions, but survived to play again. He’s started at half-back for the Swans and has so far provided a decent account of himself.
2136 days between drinks between his 45th game of footy and his 46th.
That’s mental. It’s like waking up after a long, long stint in a coma to do the thing you love once again, as if nothing has changed.
(Oh, except that Donald Trump is now president).
And so ends Super Rugby for 2018. Although it looked a little ropey early on when they suffered back-to-back losses against the Hurricanes and South Island rivals the Highlanders, in truth it was unlikely to ever really imagine any other name ending up etched on the silverware than the Crusaders.
11 teams came to the recently re-branded Wyatt Crockett Stadium in Christchurch in 2018. 11 teams lost to the Crusaders there.
Of all sides, only the Waratahs threatened to beat them on home soil, in that remarkable Round 13 encounter where the Tahs raced to a 0-29 lead; only to ultimately lose it 31-29. Ahh, halcyon days of Australian rugby.
Fair play to them, the New Zealanders. Fair winners, and a fair celebration too.
Full-time: Crusaders 37-18 Lions
Back at the Super Rugby final, and while they’ve threatened, the Lions, it’s got a sneakingly familiar feeling this one, as we approach the final minutes.
Scott Robertson has left the box and made his way to halfway. Loosening the spine and doing some stretches in anticipation of another epic celebration.
Mo’unga again the X-factor, but in truth few in Red and Black have been poor. Some ill-discipline saw Ryan Crotty sent for ten minutes on the sideline, and when Malcolm Marx crashed over, it looked like the South Africans might just hint at a barnstorming finish.
30-18 the closest they got though, as big Scott Barrett crashed over. Back to back for the Crusaders, and it’s championship number 9, as they run out four tries to two winners.
Updated
Full-time: Adelaide 13.18 (96) defeat Port Adelaide 14.9 (93)
Rory Atkins lines one up at the death - he hooks wide, but it’s immaterial. “The Pride of South Australia”, if you believe their celebration song that is, have done the business!
What an end to that one - and it’s another pulsating finish in the AFL round that continues to give. Four games - none finishing by more than a goal apart! Adelaide have won Showdown 45!
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Here we go - here we go! Betts again prominent, but its landed at the feet of Josh Jenkins - he’s hit one; the crowd think it’s a goal, but we’re going upstairs!
Has it licked the post? Is it a six or a one? We watch multiple angles - even the TV can’t entirely tell. It stays a major! And they’re back in front.
The Adelaide Crows - they lead by two! Two minutes to play!
A nervous and disjointed four minutes following Wingard’s fourth - and a harrowing miss for Ollie Wines. They were on top, but that’s taken a bit of the sting out of this purple patch for the Power.
And quick as a flash we’re up the other end - and to quote the most over-used phrase in the context of the mercurial Eddie Betts - “he’s fashioned something from nothing” - and finally, FINALLY, we’ve got a major from Betts!
We’re back to a four-point game, the Power with their noses just in front. Five minutes to play!
Sixteen to play in the final quarter - and we’ve got a two point game!
Port shift it, they get bodies round the pill, and there’s a terrific kick onto the chest. Take a guess - who do you reckon’s on the end of this: it’s Robbie Gray! Pressure set shot - and absolutely no mistake - a forth of the game to the 30-year-old!
The Power enjoying a mini-revival here - the Crows defenders swarm the contest - they’ve got plenty of bodies but to no avail. It’s spilled to Wingard - no, no - surely not! Oh yes!
Anything you can do, I can match, says the Chad - and it’s a quickfire fourth for him as well! Port Adelaide lead by ten! Ten to play.
Ach. Tex.
He had a huge chance in the first half, and snagged it. He’s lining up another here, how crucial could this prove for his side? And the big skipper’s dragged one again! Another rushed behind just twenty seconds later, and they’ve crawled back to four points behind, have the Crows.
Eddie Betts is prowling. He’s lurking with intent - but even he can’t fashion the decisive shot. They’re taking body blows here, the Power, but have they still managed to protect their chin?
Matt Crouch lines one up - the wind is swirling, he’s a fair way out.. but he’s landed it! They’ve finally bagged one, the Crows! And they’re back in front for the first time since the opening quarter.
Ay, ay, ay!
I mentioned the big players, and with this one poised on a knife edge, we’ve seen the difference of experience shining through.
Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard - they’ve both fired third majors to race the Power out to a thirteen-point lead.
Meanwhile, at the other end, the youngster Gallucci has a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears, and he’s shanked one, from about 10m out!
Some defensive indiscretions from Port, and we’ve got a 50 for the Crows. Tom Doedee has done better - and he reduces the margin to one goal.
Half-time: Crusaders 20-6 Lions
And it’s very much unfolding as expected on a cool night in Christchurch, as the hugely experienced Crusaders march their visitors around the park.
Richie Mo’unga with some huge plays - one particular kick measured inch-perfect across about 50m, and it was his quick thinking that led to David Havili’s second try for the home side.
Will take something very, VERY, special from here for the Lions to jag it - but let’s face it. I think we all know how this one will play from here.
Updated
Three-quarter-time: Adelaide 9.14 (68) trail Port Adelaide 10.9 (69)
And like that, we’re eyeing another close one!
They continue to lead disposals, inside 50s and contested possessions do the Crows; and are they finally starting to build scoreboard pressure to match?
Six behinds that quarter, but three of those rushed - will the law of averages see them home, or will Port’s big-game players fire in the last thirty? Robbie Gray with a key mark late on, and they might have gone in by a greater margin had the siren not cut their last attacking play short.
In keeping with this remarkable round of matches though, this one could go right down to the wire.
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Well, we’re bubbling here, but it’s not quite exploding. Half the crowd getting pretty excited then as Eddie Betts popped up in a decent position but even the wily maestro couldn’t find the right kick for the trick, and its another behind.
Five behinds for the quarter for the Crows, which means they still trail due to Travis Boak’s second of the game. To my knowledge there’s no concept of ‘assists’ in AFL, but if there was young Kane Farrell would have one of those to add to his three majors. A terrific kick over the top, and the skipper almost butchered it with a wee fumble close to the line.
And here we go, here we go! Is this the charge?
Tom Lynch with an absolute belter - and would you believe it - we’re all locked up again! 68 plays 68, with about five minutes left in quarter three. Game on - it’s Showdown 45!
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Ooh, and back to the AFL, and after four consecutive rushed behinds (the Power have given away six of those so far tonight) we’ve finally got a major in the third quarter; Jordan Gallucci has slotted one for the Crows, and all of a sudden we’re back at a two-point game!
We’ve seen a four-point final margin, a three-point final margin today; can we go one better in Showdown 45?
107 has been the magic number today in the AFL, but at 59-61 perhaps our two sides at the Adelaide Oval might finish just short of the Hawks and the Roos’ mark.
Meanwhile, more images of an emotional Sharni Layton keep dropping on Getty.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
We’ve had first points in the Super Rugby final - and it’s the Lions!
Don’t get too excited though, South African union fans, an early penalty was shortly leveled off, before Seta Tamanivalu crossed for the home side as they stretched the visitors edge to edge, before landing one in the corner. 10-3 to the Crusaders with just over 20 minutes played.
We’re also underway in our second NRL match of the day, where it’s a battle of the cellar-dwellars (ish) as the Eels narrowly lead against the Titans. 12-8 with just shy of 30 played.
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Half-time: Adelaide 7.8 (50) trail Port Adelaide 9.5 (59)
A bit of a swing here, as the Port pull out to a 9-pt lead at the big break.
The Crows with more disposals, more inside 50s and shading the contested possessions, but they’re just not making it count as the Power seem the more dangerous at this stage.
Robbie Gray - as he does so often on the big occasion - deciding early on in the quarter that he’s up for it. Two majors inside five minutes for Port to hit the lead for the first time. Partner in crime Chad Wingard also grabbing a double, either side of goals for the Crows to Rory Sloane and Hugh Greenwood.
At less than two goals the margin it’s obviously not over this one, but the momentum is very much with the side fourth on the ladder.
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And changing codes once again - we’re underway in Christchurch where the Crusaders are playing host to the Lions in the Super Rugby final. Will we see back-to-back championships, and experience the majesty of a breakdancing Scott “Razor” Robertson once again?
If you haven’t seen the Canterbury side’s coach in action celebrating silverware do yourself a favour and click on this.
As they say across the ditch, how many dudes you know roll like this?
Not many. If any.
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And in the Super Netball it’s a disappointing end to an absolute legend of the game, as Sharni Layton’s Collingwood Magpies have gone down heavy 32-point losers to a finals-chasing Firebirds.
I don’t think I’m ready to say goodbye!
If you missed it, here’s Erin Dellahunty’s lovely yarn from a few weeks back.
And a few Diamonds leaving the game this round, with Erin Bell and Shae Brown also hanging up the spurs. A real changing of the guard.
Thanks for the memories. 😥#WeLoveNetball pic.twitter.com/fyNqvX1Agd
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 4, 2018
All the best, legends.
And, let’s continue round the grounds:
An interesting one in the NRL, where the Warriors have keep the dream alive with a narrow win over the Dragons, running out 18-12 winners.
In classic Warriors’ fashion they scored all those points in the first half to run out to a 18-0 lead; only to put their long-suffering fans through another testing one as they failed to add a single point in the second.
St George couldn’t run them down however, and that’s surely (surely?) secured the Auckland outfit’s spot in the finals, no? They missed out in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 (can you see where I’m going with this) but maybe, just maybe this is the campaign to turn it around for the Kiwis?
Quarter-time: Adelaide 5.3 (33) ties Port Adelaide 5.3 (33)
Well, some sharp footy in that first thirty - the Crows racing out of the blocks only for youngster Kane Farrell to put on a show; three goals from three chances - what is it; teenagers day in the AFL?
Just his second, third and fourth ever goals as a professional. They never hit the lead, the Power, but they counter-punched anything the Crows could throw at them. Darcy Byrne-Jones and Lachlan Murphy the other goalscorers for their respective sides.
Footy, eh? Anyone can be the difference - a teenager fires the winner in front of nearly 70,000 at the Gee in his sixth match. Love it.
Before we resolve the first quarter let’s race round the grounds and give you an update from anything you might have missed earlier in the day.
Staying with AFL, and we’ve started the day with two absolute nailbiters - Hawthorn have put a fair dent in Essendon’s finals hopes, shading a thriller at the ‘G by four points, 16.11 (107) to 16.7 (103).
Travis Colyer bombing one home with just 10 seconds to play, but it was a goal from James Worpel - in just his sixth ever game - shortly before that which effectively ended the contest; one that the Bombers led by 19 from the opening whistle, with three unanswered goals to start. It’s a tough run-in home now for the Bombers to make the eight.
And up in Queensland, North Melbourne have kept their faint finals hopes alive with another thriller at the Gabba - three points the difference this time in a near carbon copy as they downed Brisbane 16.11 (107) to 16.8 (104) victory.
The goals were shared around for the Roos with skipper Jack Ziebell leading the way with three. They’ll now await the results from elsewhere keenly, with Pies v Swans later tonight perhaps one fixture of particular interest.
AFL - Showdown 45!
So, we’ve had first bounce, and it’s a bright start for the Crows - they’ve taken just ten minutes to get flying; Josh Jenkins needing just 90 seconds to draw first blood, with skipper Taylor “Tex” Walker and Rory Sloane firing majors to race out to a 19-1 lead.
From there we’ve swung like a pendulum do, bobby’s on bicycles two by two, with Travis Boak and Kane Farrell returning fire for the Power.
Just a six point game therefore at the 1/8 mark in this one!
Preamble
Evening all! Whatever code of sportsball floats your particular boat we have something in store for you tonight.
Super Rugby season 23 comes to a conclusion with New Zealand and South Africa’s top sides locking horns. Lions will be looking to go one better than their last two finals appearances, but in truth it will take something very special to stop the Crusaders juggernaut, as they eye a 9th title.
The regulation season of Super Netball concludes, with finals spots on the line. 5 does not easily go into 4, and for one of the Lightning, Firebirds or Vixens the campaign could shortly be over. No.3 plays No.5 on the ladder for a finals berth, while the top two sides duke it out to secure the privilege of a home semi-final.
The NRL sees six sides in action as early season pace-setters the Warriors battle for finals footy against the Dragons, while the Roosters look to consolidate a top four spot.
And we start and finish with the AFL - can the Swans arrest a horror late-season slump that’s seen them lose four of their last five? Or will the Pies win a 9th in 11?
Before all that there’s the tiny matter of Showdown 45 - the game that divides a state from Cameron’s Corner to Oodnadatta, from Ceduna to Mount Gambier. The Crows season in retrospect has never really taken wing after their loss in the Round 8 nailbiter; but can they throw some gravel in the Power’s fine machinery?
Find out the answers to all of this, here, at your home of Saturday sport on the Guardian.
