Summary
Cripes. How bout that footer. That’s all from me (we’ll all just ignore what’s happening in Fremantle, because let’s face it, that timezone’s a killer and they’ve basically won it already).
A massive night of footy, whatever flavour it is that you prefer.
A remarkable result in the AFL kicked us off as St Kilda and GWS played out the first draw of the season, before West Coast just snuck home against a hard-working Carlton outfit, and Geelong proved too strong for Port Adelaide.
In the NRL, the Rabbitohs bludgeoned the Raiders into submission before the Knights put on the game of the night with the Tigers, grabbing the result in the last minute, having trailed for most of the second half. Cowboys also arrested their horror run of five straight losses as they ran over an out-of-shape Titans.
And in the Super Rugby it was business very much as usual with NZ sides the Crusaders too strong for the Sunwolves (albeit scratchy in patches) and the Chiefs grabbing a bonus point as they punished the Reds in Queensland. The Bulls now take on the Rebels, but let’s face it, ain’t nobody staying up til Pretoria o’clock.
I hope you enjoyed our coverage - thanks very much for your correspondence. We’ll be back tomorrow with A-League finals action - so top up you pre-paid phones and push the boat out on your data plans. G’night!
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Full-time: Port Adelaide 7.8 (50) loses to Geelong 12.12 (84)
The first goal was always going to be crucial in this final quarter, and with Geelong grabbing another six-pointer inside two minutes, it left a mildly frustrated home crowd staring at a 17-point turnaround to win.
Instead Port could muster just three behinds, as Horlin-Smith and then Tim Kelly made the result certain for the Cats.
Daniel Menzel rubbing salt in the wounds after the hooter as Geelong ran out too strongly. Ten different goalscorers for the Cats as they leapfrog both the Swans and Crows into sixth as the already tight race for the flag continues full-paced.
Three-quarter-time: Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) trail Geelong 8.10 (58)
Well, they’ve huffed and they’ve puffed have Port Adelaide but every time they nudge closer the Cats find an extra something. Up by 12 in the first quarter, then nine, now 11.
After Parsons’ brace it was Karl Amon with a major to draw Port back to just three points, but three unanswered scoring efforts - two behinds and a goal - were another for Geelong to restore their narrow buffer.
Still, massive quarter to come - a goal or two on the role and Port still could fancy themselves to go second on the ladder.
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Full-time: Reds 12-36 Chiefs
Yeah, nah. Maybe fold another Australian franchise in the hope the last remaining three can compete?
A better half from the Reds in fairness, but this one was never in doubt. Four teams in the top six already for NZ, despite the convoluted conference system. Could be another lean year for Australian rugby fans.
And, as expected this is starting to bubble very nicely over in Adelaide as Port Adelaide and Geelong trade blows like heavyweights in the AFL.
At one stage early in the second quarter it was the Cats by 19; but it’s a tighter affair now, with about 20 minutes gone in the third.
A crowd of 43,000+ in in Adelaide tonight; but will they go home happy?
It took less than 90 seconds to see some scoring action in the third quarter as Ollie Wines booted one through for Power, before Sam Gray also got in on the action to edge Port ahead, 40-38, for the first time since before the opening goal.
Back to back goals from James Parsons though have arrested the momentum with Cats edging back to nine in front.
Five to go in the third quarter. Plenty of twists left in this one, I’m sure of it.
Full-time: North Queensland 26-14 Gold Coast
Nyet. No dice. Too strong from the Cowboys, who controlled and dictated that game like a side that’s made the finals seven years running. Would you believe it therefore just their second win of the season, seven rounds in after FIVE straight losses. Madness.
Jason Taumololo and Coen Hess kept the first half momentum going with tries after the break, and up until the 70th minute or so Nth Queensland were very much in the driver’s seat.
Titans saving some face late, but only one side in this one really.
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Titans fans, do you believe in miracles?
What was looking like a pretty comfortable walk home for the Cowboys has just got a bit mischievous as Gold Coast has run in two tries in three minutes. Four minutes to play and still chasing two converted four-pointers? Surely not.
Half-time: Port Adelaide 4.4 (28) trail Geelong 5.7 (37)
And a tough quarter, as you’d expect between these two, with Port marginally shading the second stanza.
Neade with a second goal for the Power before Lindsay Thomas and Robbie Gray made it three for the quarter for the home side.
A little bit of niggle in this one, with almost nothing to choose from between the two in terms of clearances, inside 50s, contested possessions and tackles. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, this:
Geelong doesn't get enough credit for the way it has introduced young - and quality - talent into its senior side since the start of 2017.
— Marc McGowan (@McGowan_Media) April 21, 2018
Tonight's team: Parfitt, Cunico, Henry, Kelly, Ratugolea, Fogarty, Stewart, Parsons.#AFLPowerCats
Man’s got a point, nicht wahr?
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Half-time: Reds 0-24 Chiefs
Yikes. There’s been plenty said and written about the parlous state of Australian rugby union (and that’s all pre-#Folaugate).
But if you’re a Queenslander right now I’d contemplate hopping on a bus to Townsville tonight, because ain’t nobody winning inside Suncorp Stadium let’s face it.
Alternatively, maybe a nice book?
Meanwhile some tough breaking news for Knights fans, with reports filtering through that Mitchell Pearce may have torn his pectoral muscle (an injury also once suffered by Sylvester Stallone, fun fact).
A glum Newcastle coach Nathan Brown telling journalists post-game it could either be “twelve weeks or the season”.
“It’s certainly a pectoral problem,” said Brown, “which is going to be some long-term issue. Whether it’s 12 weeks or the season, whatever it is we probably won’t know until tomorrow.”
“Anyone that loses their halfback and one of their best players, it’s not great.”
A bitter blow after an excellent team performance tonight.
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Half-time: North Queensland 16-2 Gold Coast
Shades of the infamous Rugby League World Cup Fiji-New Zealand quarter-final in this one early on, as both sides struggled to get on top - 6-2 the score, all from the boot, 32 minutes in, with neither side finding a way to breach each other’s tryline.
From there the floodgates opened as Ben Hampton and then Kyle Feldt ran in tries, the latter just before the hooter sounded as a real kick in the teeth for the Titans.
Surely they won’t be able to stop JT and friends in the second half?
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Quarter-time: Port Adelaide 1.2 (8) trails Geelong 3.2 (20)
They’re two sides not known for magnanimity in defence, so no surprises as this one starts in tense fashion. So much so with fifteen minute gone we still hadn’t seen a goal; Port shading it 2-1 courtesy a brace of behinds.
Two rapid fire goals in two minutes had the Cats purring to life, George Horlin-Smith and Patrick Dangerfield dominating the possession count late in the quarter, before Jake Neade got a nerve steadier for the hosts.
Sam Menegola getting the response for the Cats, as they look to jump to sixth on the ladder.
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So, five games down, five to go. As my typing fingers bleed all over the keyboard I throw my hands to the skies, Russell Crowe circa 2000 Gladiator era style, and exclaim: are you not entertained?
Some absolutely belting matches thus far, and at least two decent crackers still lurking on the horizon. We’ll take you shortly to more AFL action as Port Adelaide and Geelong lock horns; and of course the all-Queensland derby in the NRL, where it’s currently 0-0 after five as Cowboys host the Titans.
Full-time: Crusaders 33-11 Sunwolves
You might not have imagined it, but with 55 minutes played this one was still very much in the balance. Trailing 14-5 consecutive penalties put the unfancied Japanese side within cooee of an upset; 14-11 and home fans in Christchurch might have begun to shift uneasily.
But once again, it was that man Crotty who hurt the Sunwolves, as the hosts ran in two tries in five minutes with Fijian winger Manasa Mataele getting in on the action. Comfortable in the end, but plenty of work still to do for the Crusaders to stamp their authority on the New Zealand conference with the Hurricanes enjoying a bye.
Full-time: Wests Tigers 20-22 Newcastle Knights
Boilover! What a night in Tamworth!
With just two minutes to go, the Knights were desperate for something. It’s the key plays when you need your big player makers but Mitchell Pearce had been forced off with minutes to play with a concussion scare.
Enter ersatz-half Jamie Buhrer with a last-minute, last-tackle play. They screamed left, they wanted it through the hands, but the co-captain called it differently. A kick to the corner and who was there to pluck it out of the air, Shaun Kenny-Dowall! A try in the last seconds and what a capstone to a belting night for the Knights! They’re into the eight!
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Full-time: Carlton 10.9 (69) loses to West Coast 10.19 (79)
Ooh, close but no cigar - The Carlton Football Club Story.
Terrific heart in this last quarter with Levi Casboult and Harry McKay both helping themselves to two goals each, but it’s a nervy win for the Eagles. Gee, they made that hard with some inaccurate kicking, but at the end of the day they manage what GWS couldn’t, and grab the win to go top.
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And meanwhile, it’s getting tasty in Tamworth as well in the NRL!
Kenny Sio with an all-important try to stop the rot 58 minutes in for Newcastle. Wests showing a few nerves as they opted to go to the boot for an extra two points insurance following a penalty against the Knights.
A huge moment as Benji Marshall, himself recovering from an early head-knock (for which he was subsequently cleared) managed miraculously to get his body under a marauding Lachlan Fitzgibbon, to hold the second-rower up in goal.
It felt like a game-turning moment, but just minutes later it was that man Sio crossing again for his third to close it to 20-18 with a kick to come. The otherwise impressive Ponga with another miss though - just 1/5 from the Knights kicker - to make for a cliffhanger ending.
Five to play here!
A bit of life left in Carlton, they’re showing some ticker in this last thirty in the AFL. Two goals and two behinds with only a rushed behind against them and suddenly, with 12 to play, it’s the Blues just 15 behind! Surely not.
Half-time: Crusaders 14-5 Sunwolves
And an apology to our Cantabrians (and/or miscellaneous Super Rugby lovers) following this coverage, where I’ve given you scant detail thus far from across the dutch.
It’s a fixture that often feels like a ‘live bye’ - the points are guaranteed but you still have to go through the motions - but it’s been a decent showing from the Japanese outfit, who are not out of this one (yet).
Ryan Crotty crossed inside three minutes off a relatively straightforward kick from Mike Delany, and when backrower Matt Todd crashed easily over off a lineout maul in just the ninth minute it was beginning to look nasty for the visitors.
But a quick rejoiner from Kiwi-born Michael Little gave the Sunwolves something to hold on to five minutes later - remarkably the last scoring action of the half.
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Welly, well. We’ve got a turnaround up in Tamworth as well. After a 0-10 first half, it’s been all Tigers, Tigers burning bright, as Wests have put on 18 unanswered points, inside just ten minutes of the restart!
Some terrific work up the guts by Luke Brooks early after the break and it was Michael Chee-Kam who crossed, the conversion from dead in front making it 6-10. After his excellent first half, a howler for ol’ SKD allowing former Knight Kevin Naiqama a gift and the chance to level the ledger.
And less than two minutes after that it was Corey Thompson joining the party - Esan Marsters 3/3 with the boot, with the beleaguered Knights coach Nathan Brown experiencing that awful sinking feeling once more.
Three-quarter-time: Carlton 6.6 (42) trail West Coast 9.16 (70)
Deary, deary. Not for the first time since the year 2000 (the last time Carlton finished in the top three) Blues fans have been taunted with a visit from that most fickle of mistresses, false hope.
Seven minutes into the half (or about 30 seconds after that last update) it was Carlton who’d just pulled into the lead, 42-41.
Nine unanswered shooting chances for the Eagles later, this has the making of a real blowout.
It was four consecutive behinds for the West Coast as errant shooting continued to let the Blues off, before LeCras, Masten, Gaff and then LeCras again finally found the right slippers. Eight horror minutes for the diehards inside the MCG. Might be time to slink out early for a service station pie if you’re a Carlton fan methinks.
Half-time: Wests Tigers 0-10 Newcastle Knights
It’s been a remarkable first forty up in Tamworth where the team that’s technically the away side, but geographically the home side, the Knights, has put in a near flawless shift.
Veterans Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Mitchell Pearce leading the way, in a tight but gripping encounter of few errors; neither side able to fashion any points with a quarter gone.
A terrific cutout pass from Kalyn Ponga put Ken Sio in shortly after, before Pearce did it all himself about five before the break.
They reckon it’s been fifteen years since the Knights kept the Tigers scoreless in an opening half. Stat.
So far, so good for the Knights, who have really come into their own since taking Europe by storm.
"The Newcastle Knights doing very well in the European league this year." - @KarlStefanovic 😂😂 #9Today pic.twitter.com/uMQcn2bJ1I
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 15, 2018
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Golly gosh, it’s not happening again in the AFL is it?
We’re ten minutes into the second half, and it’s all the Blues on the board at this stage. They’re 0-4 remember and Eagles are second on the ladder, but with two majors within three minutes of the restart Carlton have raced out of the blocks to lock it up at 41-41. Zac Fisher and Sam Kerridge getting their first of the game.
A long way to run yet in this one, but it’s bubbling nicely.
And in the opening race of the Supercars at Phillip Island it’s been a fifth career win for Scott McLaughlin who has finished ahead of Jamie Whincup and Rick Kelly.
A decent day for Kiwi racers on the 250km event, with Shane Van Gisbergen finishing fourth.
Top ten:
1. Scott McLaughlin (Ford) 1hr30mins50.5677sec
2. Jamie Whincup (Holden) 1:30:51.4637
3. Rick Kelly (Nissan) 1:30:52.9714
4. Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden) 1:30:59.6513
5. Craig Lowndes (Holden) 1:31:02.8506
6. Chaz Mostert (Ford) 1:31:04.1244
7. David Reynolds (Holden) 1:31:08.9006
8. Anton de Pasquale (Holden) 1:31:09.4218
9. Will Davison (Ford) 1:31:22.1069
10. Scott Pye (Holden) 1:31:22.9112
And a quick wrap up of some sports non oval-ball related.
It’s been a rocky start to the Fed Cup tennis down in Wollongong where Australia faces Netherlands in the World Cup Group I playoffs.
A shock loss for Sam Stosur in the first singles rubber, as she lost 5-7, 6-7 to Lesley Kerkhove. Ash Barty has however leveled the score at 1-1 with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 in the reverse singles over Quirine Lemoine.
Three rubbers to come tomorrow, so get along to that if you’re in the Illawarra.
Half-time: Carlton 4.5 (29) trail West Coast 5.11 (41)
The Eagles with an homage to the Giants from earlier; creating plenty of scoring opportunities and yet failing to convert, finishing less than half of them.
Carlton are 0-4 and lurking at the foot of the table (as they have so often in recent seasons) but they might feel they’re in with a chance here.
That double to McKay was very handy. A test of character in the second half perhaps for the Baby Blues?
Well looky, looky. Carlton with two unanswered goals from youngster Harry McKay in as many minutes and with 12 minutes to play in the first half they’ve snuck their noses back in front at the MCG, have the Blues - it’s 29-27.
No sooner than I’ve said that, some very special skills from William Rioli, and the Eagles are back in front! He had cousin Cyril (and family) in support a week or so back to witness his first ever AFL goal, but that’s a terrific piece of skill, and undoubtedly his best yet.
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Kick-off! Wests Tigers v Newcastle Knights
We’re off to country New South Wales, Scully Park, in Tamworth to be specific and it looks a packed house - the first NRL visit to the home of the Golden Guitar and there’s a decent buzz ahead of this one.
League cogniscenti will no doubt know this as the home of West Tamworth Lions, a side for whom Dragons great Nathan Blacklock once made an appearance about a decade back. History, eh?
Tigers playing in a reasonably tidy retro-ish jersey; Knights in what can only be described as a “GWS-esque” horrorshow.
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Quarter time: Carlton 2.1 (13) trail West Coast 3.5 (23)
It’s been a strong finish to the quarter from the visitors, with the Eagles fashioning eight scoring chances inside 50. Up until one minute to play however the Blues were never worse than three points down, but a late major to Luke Shuey has pushed the second placed 3-1 side out to ten points.
Some decent graft from Carlton, but small moments of poor execution has allowed their opponents to shade it at this stage.
Full-time: Rabbitohs 42-22 Raiders
Well, they’ve run and they’ve run and they’ve run tonight, the Bunnies, and they’ve simply been too good; two high shots by Burgess brothers aside, with both Sam and Tom being placed on report the only blot, but some massive metres.
Greg Inglis leading the way with 186m run, Burgess, Sam, not far behind with 179m. He’s just come back from a two-week suspension and faces judiciary hot water once again, but that shouldn’t detract from a fine team performance. They go 4-3, the Rabbits, but more importantly it’s four wins in five and a bit of momentum for the 2014 Premiers.
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And we’re underway back at the MCG for our second AFL match of the evening, where it’s Carlton taking on West Coast.
We’re about fifteen into the first quarter, and it’s a decent slugfest so far. Both sides trading early goals, Ed Curnow getting the ball rolling for the Blues before Scott Lycett responded for the home team. Two goals a piece and it’s looking pretty evenly poised at this stage.
Well, unlike St Kilda-GWS I’m pretty confident in calling this one - we’ve about ten to play here and it’s Rabbits leading 42-16.
Jason Clark grabbing his first try of the season to bring up a 30 point lead, before some razzle dazzle from the Raiders puts Croker over in the corner! Where’s that been hiding for 70 minutes?
A brief moment of cognitive dissonance for your humble scribe here; does anyone else feel like Croker has been playing for the Raiders for about three decades?
Probably morphed all of Jason’s games into Jarrod’s. Some career that, starting in 1991 given the kid was only born in 1990..
Shout out to the good people of Crookwell, NSW by the way. Salt of the earth folk. No hoppy pilsners there.
We’re back with NRL action now, where the Rabbitohs have skipped (arfarf) to a 36-12 lead with Kennar and Jennings crossing again to delight a packed house up in Gosford.
We’re twenty to play here and a real flashpoint, and who else but big Sam Burgess at the centre of it.
About fifteen players have run in there, and something more than handbags - there’s some real heat in this fracas.
Replays show a nasty flashpoint, Burgess catching Aidan Sezer flush on the noggin with nothing but shoulder!
Surely a send-off? No, the whistlemen say a penalty and on report are enough. He’s got lucky, the big Yorkshireman. Credit to Sezer, who’s up without ‘making a Slater’ of it and moving freely.
Well how bout that for a start to our Super Saturday (TM) coverage!
Did the table-topping Giants get overconfident? Did they take the foot off the neck in that final quarter? Or was it pure heart from the Saints to drag some weary bodies back into that one?
Jack Steven was everywhere for the home side, who ended up dominating both inside 50s (67-47) and tackles (79-63). They might feel it ‘one that got away’ in the end, but surely a confidence builder as the Saints look to work their way up the table.
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Full-time: St Kilda 10.13 (73) draw GWS 9.19 73)!
Jade Gresham now with the chance for the home side, are they going to snatch it, at the death?!
He strikes it, it drifts - it’s a behind. We’re 73-73 here. 96 seconds to play!
Giants in attack on the 50. Ball up. We’re inside 40 seconds to play. Saints look to hit on transition, Billings looks for Steven but the handpass is high, and out of play!
Steven looks into the box, he picks out Carlisle, he’s on a lead, he rises high, can he snaffle it? NO! Huge fist from behind and that’s one heck of a spoil from his GWS opposite number.
Sighs around the ground from they win-weary Saints supporters, but they can take some solice from that - we’ve got our first draw of 2018!
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Saints within six! Five to play.
Wowee. I for one thought this young St Kilda side was running out of legs, but they’ve really found something in the back of the chester draws.
The terrifically named Maverick Weller bagging one with fifteen to play to cut the deficit to 12, and with eight and half to go, up pops Ben Long!
Toby Greene with a chance to settle the nerves for the table toppers, but he’s drifted that to the left for a behind. Seven the diff!
St Kilda working hard in midfield, and that’s a terrific mark from Paddy McCartin. He’s inside 50, four minutes to play, and there are 20,000+ willing this one over! He hits it, it looks nice, it looks sweet - ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a one point game with two minutes to play!
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We worried the Saints might not have the steam in the kettle to bring this one back, and it certainly seems that way halfway through the final.
GWS with an important first major of the quarter as Jonathon Patton grabbed his first of the game. Jack Billings shot straight back for the Saints before Brett Deledio notched his second to take the Giants out to an 18 point lead.
Still, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Big last fifteen if St Kilda are to gain any reward for their excellent first half.
Half-time: Rabbitohs 24-12 Raiders
He’s not known for his sunny touchline disposition, our Ricky, but at least his chargers managed to stem the bleeding towards the end of the half.
It threatened to turn into a bit of a clinic, that first half from South Sydney - the Jennings try in particular involving all three tryscorers as they overloaded Canberra’s right-hand defence and if that wasn’t enough, throw in a big GI intercept and it was almost goodnight nurse.
Goanna time! 😁#GoRabbitohs #NRLSouthsRaiders pic.twitter.com/EsGBAliotT
— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🐰 (@SSFCRABBITOHS) April 21, 2018
Nick Cotric with a try to keep the Green Machine in with a sniff, but in the shadow of half-time oranges Elliot Whitehead snuck over to keep the Raiders in it. What will the second half bring?
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Three-quarter-time: St Kilda 6.12 (48) trail GWS 7.15 (57)
Well, they’re not dead, buried, cremated like Work Choices, but the Saints certainly took a wee battering there.
Three goals to one from the Giants and they’ve turned around a five-point half-time deficit into a nine point lead.
Nevertheless, on the scoreboard they’re still within cooee. Some tired looking bodies out there already but, so they’ll need a big final quarter. Let’s wait and see.
Meanwhile, back to the AFL and whatever Leon Cameron’s put in the Giants’ half-time mash it’s done the trick.
Look away Saints fans, we’ve had a 21-1 point turnaround, and we’re only fifteen minutes into the third quarter!
Goals to Deledio, Greene and Shiel and we’re out to 7.12 (54) to 5.9 (39).
Who can they look to to lift the Saints? Some of the Giants big-game players making the difference so far, does a young St Kilda outfit have enough genuine A-graders to get back into this?
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Looks like the Bunnies are happy to have big Sam Burgess back in action this week - he had a big hand in the first with a key offload in the build up to Johnston’s opener - and now the ‘home’ side are in again.
Cody Walker the man to get the pill across the chalk - his fifth of the season - and this time Adam Reynolds adds the extras. 10-0 in as many minutes, Ricky won’t like this; especially if they keep it up for 80.
And would you believe, as quickly as I can type this, the Rabbits have crossed again - Robert Jennings joins the party and we’re 14-0 in 14.
A confident mood for Saints fans going into this one, I can see - the best thing about loving sport is supporting a losing team, no?
They're bad; but I go.
— Ian 🔴⚪️⚫️ (@Dr_Saintsman) April 20, 2018
They're hopeless; but I go.
They get smashed; but I go.
They're playing the AFL's plastic, supercharged, unfairly advantaged love children...
and yes; I'm going 🙏😇🔴⚪️⚫️#AFLSaintsGiants #HalosOn
Chapeau to this man - nothing better than being there when it comes together. Hopefully his beloved can do the business and make it a much happier tram ride home.
Kick-off! Rabbitohs v Raiders
With A-League finals action giving Gosford a miss this year it’s the unlikely destination of the Central Coast for NRL action and visitors the Raiders as they look to build on their morale-booster over Parramatta last week against the Bunnies.
We’re about five minutes in however, and it’s the hosts that have hopped (hoho) to an early lead. Fullback Alex Johnson crossing for the Rabbitohs but the conversion attempt has been unsuccessful. First blood to the cardinal and myrtle.
Half-time: St Kilda 5.8. (38) leads GWS Giants 4.9 (33)
We join our first of four AFL games for the afternoon/evening, and it’s a game in keeping with what we’ve seen over the opening month of the season: top of the table currently trails a team running 1-3.
It’s been a cracking first half, with the Saints showing some of the best stuff we’ve seen from them this campaign. Both teams showing plenty of application in a contest where there’s never been more than ten points in it.
Some question marks over the GWS frontline though - they’ve kicked 4.9 in a stadium that’s not exactly beset by wind. Jeremy Cameron is currently sitting around third in the Coleman but it’s a mixed showing so far from the big man with 2.2 to start.
What will this second half bring? Any Saints fans out there feeling cocky? Can they hang on for the boilover or will the metronomic Giants grind them down?
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Preamble
Hello all, and welcome to a decent sized afternoon of sport where Australia’s customary 47 codes of footy give us ample choice for tragedy, comedy, pathos and bathos.
It was a low bar set last night with the first of the A-League preliminary finals, with Melbourne City’s 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar failing to reach dizzying heights. A brave effort by Roar none-the-less against their well-resourced southern neighbours. There’s no more soccer/football tonight with roundball dilettantes forced to wait until Sunday’s Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United clash.
No hand wringing and gnashing of teeth now though, as we’ll have ten games across three footy flavours for your delectation: Crusaders v Sunwolves up first in the Super Rugby, then to Reds v Chiefs, and finally Bulls v Rebels.
To the NRL, it’s Rabbitohs v Raiders, then a resurgent Tigers take on the Knights, before an all-Queensland affairs as Cowboys host Titans.
And in the AFL, the topsy-turvy start to 2018 may well continue with St Kilda v GWS Giants, Carlton v West Coast, Port Adelaide v Geelong and Fremantle v Bulldogs.
I’m not sure what a ten-way trifecta is called, but any brave souls care to fire through their picks for all ten? Find me at the email above, send me your best guesses, and failing anything we can all have a giggle come evening’s end.
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