OK, I think that just about wraps things up for today. Thanks for joining us. Until next time.
A-League: Goalscorer Ben Halloran: “It’s a pretty dramatic ending, that’s all I can say. You know it’s like after 120 minutes. It’s a great effort from the boys tonight. It’s a culture we’ve built over the past few seasons. They boys never shirk their effort and I think you saw that tonight.”
Craig Goodwin: “It’s a big effort from the team. Finally we took one of our chances. It took 120 minutes.”
Eugene Galekovic: “Definitely not [deserved to lose like that]. Both teams had chances and it deserved to go to penalties. Credit to Adelaide, the way they pressed and the way they played. It’s a tough season and to go out like that is tough.”
A-League: Adelaide 1-0 Melbourne City (aet)
120+4 min: All over! Adelaide United are through to a semi-final against Perth next week, thanks to Ben Halloran’s late, late show in extra-time.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 1-0 Melbourne City – 120+2 min: Curtis Good unleashes an effort on goal, but it’s comedically bad and ends up bouncing out for a throw on the far side.
A-League: Adelaide 1-0 Melbourne City – 120+1 min: Kitto goes off and is replaced by Elsey. Does it matter? Perhaps not. City have barely any time to find an equaliser. There are three minutes of added time to be played.
A-League: Adelaide 1-0 Melbourne City – 119 min: GOAL! There it is! Halloran is the man who finally breaks the deadlock! With just one minute left out of 120, the Adelaide striker finishes well with a sidefooted effort having been played in by Diawara! It all stemmed from a piece of poor control from De Laet, who appeared to tweak his hamstring pulling the ball down.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 116 min: Goodwin sends over a free-kick towards City’s back post, but Jacobsen, on the stretch, can’t quite get his foot to it.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 113 min: Adelaide finally get to make their changes: Blackwood and Boland off, Lia and Stamatelopoulos on.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 111 min: Halloran almost settles it, thanks to a near-blunder for the ages by Galekovic! The Adelaide striker’s shot is low; Galekovic can’t hold it and lets it through his legs, only to be saved by his post! He spins around and scoops the ball up gratefully!
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 109 min: A chance! A good one! And a brilliant save from Izzo to deny Harrison, who let fly with a fizzer from his left foot having cut inside from the right!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 107 min: City seem happy to play the ball between the centre-backs for the time being as United prepare to bring on the liveblogger’s nightmare – Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 106 min: Ah, City are making another change as a new rule states that teams can make a fourth change in extra-time in finals football. On comes Dario Vidosic with Maclaren coming off. Second half is under way!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 105+3 min: There goes the whistle, and just 15 minutes remain for a breakthrough to be made. As both defences tire, you’d think chances would open up, but forwards are just as shattered and so far have been unable to capitalise.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 105+2 min: City make their final change: Delbridge replaced by Jamieson.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 105+1 min: So many loose touches on display as limbs tire badly now. Wales nearly gets on the end of Harrison’s deep cross, but perhaps unsurprisingly the emphasis is on “nearly”.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 104 min: Delbridge plays a long ball forward (possibly a shot?) which isn’t anywhere close to the goal, or another player. Confused looks all around. How is this one not going to a shootout?
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 102 min: No, I spoke too soon. Brattan’s heading off, to be replaced by Griffiths. He’s booed off, which says something about his performance tonight – he’s been one of City’s better players.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 99 min: Brattan is still on, by the way, having apparently recovered from that knock.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 97 min: A misplaced pass from Boland prompts some frustrated sounds from the home crowd, and you do begin to wonder if penalties are inevitable.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 95 min: McGree becomes the latest player into Ams’ little black book.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 93 min: Bad news for City here: Brattan’s latest exertions have left him unable to continue. Or at least, it looked that way for a moment, but he’s come back onto the pitch now and will carry on, for now. Rostyn Griffiths appeared to be getting ready to come on in his place. Looks like they’ll give him a minute or two to see if he can run off whatever knock he’s carrying.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 92 min: Brattan released Wales with a beautiful ball, and the sub has a chance to run at the Adelaide defence. He jink inside and out before letting off a shot, but it’s weak and easy for Izzo to claim.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 91 min: And off we go once again. City have made a change: Berenguer replaced by Lachie Wales.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 90+4 min: No, nothing doing. And that will be that. Kurt Ams calls an end to regulation time and we’ll have two periods of extra-time. The possibility of penalties also looms.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 90+3 min: OK, here’s a last chance of the game – to City as Diawara mistimes his challenge on Delbridge. A free-kick and a chance to lump the ball into the Adelaide box...
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 90+1 min: Baccus somewhat needlessly gives away a corner, from which Diawara gets his head to the ball, but there’s too many City shirts in the way, and the ball is cleared to safety.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 90 min: Three minutes of added time to be played at the end of the 90. Three minutes for either side to find a dramatic late winner.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 88 min: De Laet plays in McGree who fires over a dangerous cross from the byline... hearts are in Adelaide mouths, but the Reds manage to clear it.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 82 min: Isaias gets the free-kick up and over the wall, but it flies just wide of the angle of post and bar!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 85 min: Isaias delights the crowd with a Maradona turn, before he’s hauled down by Baccus. Free-kick, 25 yards out. Danger here.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 82 min: Ooh! Maclaren nearly breaks the deadlock as he controls a cross, spins and shoots in one movement. His effort is deflected though, allowing Izzo the time to react and pluck the ball out of the air!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 80 min: Brattan now has his name taken by Kurt Ams, for an agricultural tackle on the breaking Goodwin. Ten minutes left and unless someone can produce something special, we’re heading for extra-time.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 78 min: Kitto slips in between De Laet and McGree and is tripped. Another free-kick to the hosts, to be taken by Isaias.... but it doesn’t clear the first man.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 76 min: Here comes Adelaide’s No 9, Baba Diawara, on for Mileusnic. What can the Senegalese striker add to this match?
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 74 min: Looks like Diawara is coming on for Adelaide. And while he gets ready, Curtis Good sees a free header from a corner go wide. A great chance wasted.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 72 min: Oof! McGree bursts into life with a stinging effort from 30 yards that Izzo does well to get to and palm behind for a corner! Despite the general impotence of this game so far, that just goes to show it can turn in an instant.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 71 min: Maclaren (yes, he’s still on the pitch), swivels and shoots, but he’s offside. And then Shayon Harrison shanks a cross from the right, which sails over the bar and out for a goal kick.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 68 min: Berenguer again fires on goal, but this time he pulls it well wide of the upright. Meanwhile the cameras pan onto Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic, who must be delighted by what he’s seeing tonight.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 67 min: Back up the other end and Boland sends in a dangerous cross which Good manages to get his head to, crucially so.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 66 min: Now a baby can be heard crying in the stands. Know how the little one feels. Meanwhile, Berenguer stabs an effort wide of the post in a rare sortie by City to the other end of the pitch.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 65 min: Kitto lets fly from the edge of the box, but it’s got no sort of good direction on it and bounces well wide of Galekovic’s post.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 64 min: Isaias sprays a beautiful ball out to Goodwin, who lets it slip under his foot. Shame, that was promising.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 62 min: What sounds like an air raid siren goes off in the stands as Galekovic takes a goal kick. Needless to say it doesn’t put him off. Meanwhile, Warren Joyce is shouting himself hoarse on the touchline, every word picked up in HD by the Fox Sports microphones.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 60 min: Marco Kurz is booked by Kurt Ams. Not sure exactly what for, maybe for an argument over a throw a minute previously?
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 58 min: This game is in need of a goal. The question is: where’s it coming from?
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 56 min: Baccus is living dangerously – he’s on a yellow already but isn’t shying away from clattering into Adelaide players. He gets away with this one, but he needs to be careful.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 54 min: The ball finds its way to Harrison at the back post, but he can’t control and is caught offside (not for the first time tonight) moments later.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 53 min: Goodwin now goes down, and takes the free-kick quickly. But Baccus is in the way and the ball hits him on the bum. Cue boos from the stands.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 52 min: Brattan goes down again – he’s been in the wars a bit this evening – after taking a blow to the ribs. He’s up soon enough though and will be fine to carry on.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 50 min: Boland whips in a cross from the Adelaide left as the hosts apply a degree of pressure on Melbourne City early this second half.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 49 min: Baccus is called for a foul but Adelaide can’t make good of the resulting free-kick and the ball is cleared. The whistle soon goes though as there’s a man down – it’s Brattan, who took the full force of that Isaias free-kick in the head.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 47 min: A real chance for Goodwin goes begging! Mileusnic is the architect, Goodwin settles himself before firing on goal but Delbridge saves City’s bacon with a brilliant block!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 46 min: McGree, another forward-thinking City player who had a quiet opening period, kicks off the second half with a snap shot at goal that Izzo has to be sharp to deal with.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – HT: The word on Brattan, who appeared to tweak something during the first half, is that he’s fine. Second half coming right up!
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – HT: Maclaren, who has been very quiet by his standards so far tonight, is straight onto the treatment table in the dressing rooms. His knee is looked at before he gets up and hobbles off. Concerning for City...
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – HT: Here’s Craig Goodwin on his way off the pitch: “They’re making a lot of fouls and disrupting our momentum. We have to take one of our chances. They’ve given us too many chances for us not to have scored.”
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 45+1 mins: It’s scrambled clear and that will be that for the first half. The whistle blows and the teams head into the sheds for a slice of orange and some instructions from their respective coaches.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 45 mins: Goodwin delivers a corner now for Adelaide, and Galekovic, somewhat unconvincingly, punches behind for another one.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 43 mins: Schenkeveld nearly gets himself into a spot of bother after dithering on the ball at the back. Halloran is harrying, but in the end he’s called up for a foul and Schenkeveld gets out of jail.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 41 mins: Isais finds the now overlapping Kitto, but the marauding defender’s progress is checked by the back-tracking Harrison! A nice symmetry to what happens moments earlier.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 40 mins: Harrison looks to beguile Kitto with a number of stepovers, but he’s no Ronaldo and he can’t get past his marker this time.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 38 mins: A lovely ball from the resulting free-kick finds Halloran at the back post and he guides the ball back across the face of goal with a well-weighted, first-time cross, but United can’t capitalise and the ball is skewed wide of the post.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 37 mins: Galekovic hoons off his line to clear a dangerous ball through before Baccus then goes into the book for a wild challenge on Halloran.
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 36 mins: Halloran and Brattan “come together” while waiting for a throw to be taken, the latter falls to the turf, but it’s really nothing.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 34 mins: Chance for City now! It’s a goalmouth scramble – Berenguer and Maclaren are in there but neither can prise the ball from in between the Adelaide legs and get a clean strike off on goal.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 32 mins: Mileusnic get the ball in a promising position on the United right, but he loses it and the attack breaks down as quickly as it started.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 30 mins: Blood and thunder for a moment, as players fly into tackles and loose balls are fiercely contested. A deep ball into the Adelaide box from Berenguer is too long for Harrison at the back stick.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 28 mins: Berenguer takes it, an in-swinger that Izzo flies at, Superman-style, and punches clear. “Izzo, Izzo, Izzo” the Red Army behind his goal chant, imaginatively.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 27 mins: Oh, that’s nice work from Berenguer, who wriggles his way past two red shirts before Isais trips him to end his charge towards goal. The Spaniard picks up a booking for his trouble, and City have a free-kick in a dangerous area.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 25 mins: Brattan lets fly again, this time from a more sensible distance, and Izzo does well to deal with the bouncing ball. Much more positive signs here for City.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 23 mins: Nothing comes of that one, but here comes Harrison again, jinking this way and that, before seeing a shot on goal blocked. The offside flag is up on the far side anyway. Some encouragement for City nevertheless.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 22 mins: A short corner, that’s what. It’s eventually put into the box and Izzo is forced into punching behind for another corner.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 21 mins: Corner to City, thanks to some nifty footwork from Shayon Harrison down by the corner flag on the far side. What can the visitors conjure up here?
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 20mins: Berenguer is bundled over after making some progress down City’s left. But there’s no whistle and again Adelaide come away with the ball.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 18 mins: City manage to string a few passes together, but it doesn’t get them much further up the pitch and Adelaide regain possession soon enough.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 16 mins: A decent start to this game – Adelaide are well up for it and City I suppose can be pleased they’re not behind yet.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 14 mins: Ooh! Off the bar! United so close to taking the lead! Goodwin slips Halloran through and the striker wellies it first time, from outside the box, but the ball thunders against the woodwork and back out. Galekovic breathes a sigh of relief.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 10 mins: Brattan picks up the ball in the centre circle and looks up... he sees Izzo slightly off his line and fancies his luck. But his strike is well off-target and elicits cat calls from the home crowd.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 9 mins: Here come Adelaide again, with Goodwin down the left hand side, but his cutback for Halloran is well intercepted by Halloran.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 6 mins: United have been on top the past few minutes, but a series of set pieces delivered into Galekovic’s box have been unable to fluster the veteran keeper.
AFL: Adelaide 7. 9 (51) v Fremantle 5.4 (34)
All over across town at Adelaide Oval. And, hang on to your hats, it was hardly a goal-fest. The Crows win a tight encounter by 17 points in the end, after Eddie Betts did this:
Who else, but Eddie Betts?! #AFLCrowsFreo pic.twitter.com/kIb7xh3QE5
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Adelaide began the round in ninth spot but the gritty triumph lifts them to sixth, one rung below the Dockers. Crows midfielder Matt Crouch (39 disposals), his brother Brad (31 possessions) and linkman Tom Lynch (29 touches, eight marks) were influential in Adelaide’s fourth win of the season. Emerging ruckman Reilly O’Brien (44 hit-outs), Rory Sloane (33 touches) and defenders Rory Laird (32 disposals) and Brodie Smith were also prominent. (With thanks to AAP)
Updated
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 2 mins: Andy Harper’s on about the quality of the surface, and he’s not wrong. It really is a beautiful deck at Coopers. Baccus wins a throw for City, nothing much else to talk about early on.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City – 1 min: And we’re off! Sounds like a decent atmosphere at Coopers in decent conditions. Let’s do this.
A-League: Adelaide 0-0 Melbourne City. Here come the teams, Adelaide in all red and City in their traditional (well...) sky (sorry, City) blue shirts, white shorts.
Updated
Super Netball: Vixens 61-45 Giants
All over in Melbourne and it’s the Vixens, led by Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip, who triumph and continue their unbeaten start to the season. Thwaites, shooting at 86% with 30/35 and Philip (31/38 at 82%) prove too strong for the Giants, for whom Caitlin Bassett top scores on the night with 35 from 39 attempts.
“That was important after our slow start last week,” coach Simone McKinnis said about the Vixens’ opening-quarter charge. “It was obviously a focus that we wanted to get off to a good start, particularly against the Giants.”
Updated
A-League: Marco Kurz, asked about the possibility of penalties tonight and whether his heart can stand the drama: “I watch, of course. It’s always positive. I still believe in the boys in the penalty shootout.”
Super Netball: C-Bass is 33/36 (that’s 90%) so far tonight, but seemingly there’s nothing she can do to stop the Vixens winning this one. The hosts are leading 56-42 late in the fourth quarter.
A-League: Right, as Jonathan mentioned earlier, the lineups: the hosts see no reason to change anything – they’re the form team in the league, having won four and drawn one in their final five A-League outings – and will send out the same side that beat Brisbane on Anzac Day.
City, on the other hand... having rested a wealth of experienced players last time out, Warren Joyce rings the changes tonight. Eugene Galekovic comes back in between the sticks, Ritchie De Laet, Curtis Good and Harrison Delbridge are named at the back, while Florin Bereguer and Jamie Maclaren return up front.
Hello, and good evening all. And thanks Jonathan, a really excellent shift there. We’re about 15 minutes away from kick-off at Coopers/Hindmarsh – and that’s where our focus will lie for the remainder of the evening.
It’s the game that will decide who gets the right to be beaten by Perth Glory in next week’s semi-final, isn’t it? Adelaide, fourth-placed finishers during the regular season, meet City, fifth, with a trip out West the prize for tonight’s winners.
It promises to be a tight affair, with little to choose between the two, although City have the edge of head-to-heads this season, winning once, with the two other games ending in draws.
Adelaide boss Marco Kurz will be keen to sign off in style – he’s already been told he can move on at the end of the current campaign, and this will be his final appearance in charge of the Reds at home.
Warren Joyce, conversely, hasn’t been told to move on, despite plenty of speculation earlier in the season to suggest his time was up. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, should City falter tonight.
Anyway, plenty to look forward to. Do get in touch on email or Twitter @mike_hytner.
Right, that’s about all you need from me for the time being. I’m going to hand you over to Mike Hytner for in-depth coverage of the second A-League elimination final between Adelaide United and Melbourne City. Thanks for your company, see you here agin soon.
Super Netball: The Vixens keep on keeping on, winning their third quarter of the match to extend their lead over the Giants to 14 points. That 57/43% possession split remains the key stat because Diamonds star Caitlin Bassett is doing the business for the visitors.
3/4 TIME ⏱️@CBassNetball leads all shooters with 27 goals, but her GIANTS trail the Vixens by 14-goals going into the last quarter.@MelbourneVixens 45 v @GIANTS_Netball 31#SSNVixensGiants #KimGreen200 pic.twitter.com/enFGeXVk7H
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 5, 2019
AFL: 3QT - Adelaide 5.9 (39) v 3.2 (20) Fremantle. Something resembling a normal quarter for the Crows with four goals after mustering just one to half-time. The Crouch brothers already have 57 touches between them.
How vital will that be?
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Himmelberg finds some space kicks a crucial goal.#AFLCrowsFreo pic.twitter.com/2FCTzJMoBz
AFL: It’s a goalfest at Adelaide Oval! Kidding. It takes five minutes of the second half for Hugh Greenwood to kick the first goal of the third quarter, just the fourth of the match so far. This is on course for historic low-scoring territory.
A-League: Before you tuck into the second elimination final, savour one of the final entries of the season from the master, David Squires.
Super Netball: The Vixens have tightened their grip on their round two contest with the Giants, securing 57% possession to extend their lead to nine points at half-time.
1/2 TIME ⏱️
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 5, 2019
A massive second quarter from the Melbourne Vixens sees them go into the half time break with a handy 9-goal lead.@MelbourneVixens 30 v @GIANTS_Netball 21#SSNVixensGiants #KimGreen200 pic.twitter.com/muRzZg1LBq
Rugby: The Israel Folau saga rumbles on with reports filtering through that his Rugby Australia disciplinary hearing is heading into a third day.
A-League: Adelaide have named an unchanged side for their elimination final at home to Melbourne City. You can follow all the action in Mike Hytner’s dedicated liveblog shortly. Kick-off is 7pm at Hindmarsh Stadium.
We're unchanged for our Elimination Final against Melbourne City tonight!
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) May 5, 2019
BIG GAME C'MON! #AUFC #FeelTheFinals pic.twitter.com/NUtbDEs7xb
NRL: Eels 32-18 Dragons
From 14-0 down after half-an-hour the Eels have ripped the Dragons apart to storm to a thrilling victory. That was a scintillating game of rugby league packed full of highlights. The win lifts Parramatta up to fifth on the ladder and keeps St George Illawarra a game behind in seventh.
Eels loving their new home #NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/QZ61ojyrin
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Geelong 13.8 (86) v 7.12 (54) Essendon
Geelong may well be the greatest team of all yet again this season after their sixth win from seven games cemented their status on top of the ladder. It was a scrappy hard fought victory at the MCG without a number of senior players but they always had too much energy and polish to see off a disappointing Essendon. The Cats have a very winnable-looking run of games coming up and must already be starting to firm as major players in September.
A-League: Ah, Warren Joyce, don’t go changing. Despite Melbourne City turning in their most exhilarating display of the season last week featuring a side packed with youngsters, all the old stagers are back for the elimination final against Adelaide.
Our team is in for tonight's Elimination Final! #together #ADLvMCY pic.twitter.com/wtiLhsrscm
— Melbourne City FC 🏙️ (@MelbourneCity) May 5, 2019
Updated
AFL: HT - Adelaide 1.6 (12) v 2.2 (14) Fremantle. Not one for the end of season DVD.
HT: @freodockers 2.2 (14) leads @GeelongCats 1.6 (12).#AFLCrowsFreo pic.twitter.com/0HU8ydnkER
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Good news for Liam Jones following his sickening head knock earlier today.
Jonesy has undergone scans and has been cleared of any head or neck injuries.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) May 5, 2019
He will be discharged from hospital shortly. 💙#BoundByBlue pic.twitter.com/AbhE1vBq7S
Super Netball: The Giants raced out of the blocks but the Vixens matched them, growing into the quarter the longer it progressed, eventually dominating possession and grabbing a six goal lead at the first interval.
QTR TIME | Vixens 16 v @GIANTS_Netball 10.
— Melbourne Vixens (@MelbourneVixens) May 5, 2019
Another close start here at Melbourne Arena! What about that steal from Emily Mannix!? 💪 Kate Moloney providing some strong drives to the ring. Great team quarter – keep it up Vixens!! 🦊#GoVixens
NRL: That two point lead quickly exploded to eight courtesy of some Blake Ferguson magic. The Origin star won the contested mark on the line before crossing under the posts, celebrating with a backwards corkscrew somersault. Amazing entertainment this afternoon and Parramatta continue their extraordinary recovery from 14-0 down.
⭐️
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
Blake Ferguson take a bow 👏#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/qqa1KWRj2Y
NRL: The Dragons have slotted over a penalty to trim the Eels’ lead to just two points with 20 minutes remaining. A grandstand finish in prospect.
AFL: Those Essendon boos Brendan mentioned earlier have grown in volume as the match has worn on but Gary Ablett could not care less, stroking through a 50m set shot to nip in the bud some Bombers momentum. The Cats ahead by 37 with 16 minutes remaining.
Super Netball: The final Super Netball contest of the day has just begun with the Giants racing out of the blocks away to the Vixens.
NRL: The Eels are on fire! Three tries in 12 minutes either side of half-time have erased a 14 point deficit and turned it into a four point lead. Thrilling rugby league on display at Bankwest Stadium today.
Sivo-ya later 👋#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/ZhZRdtbc8m
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: 3QT - Geelong 10.7 (67) v 5.6 (36) Essendon. The Bombers are still in touch at the MCG but only just with Geelong failing to convert their ascendancy onto the scoreboard. It’s all about the Cats’ intensity around the ground and superb defence today and as every week passes this young group looks a stronger premiership chance.
Geelong's lead grows!#AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/RPt4AW9uEN
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
NRL: Back underway at Bankwest Stadium and the Eels have made the perfect start to the second half, reducing the deficit to just two points courtesy of some individual brilliance from Clinton Gutherson.
Go, Gutho, go 🔥#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/T1jgAKPQL4
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: QT - Adelaide 1.3 (9) v 2.2 (14) Fremantle. Not a lot to report from Adelaide Oval at quarter-time.
The Dockers' squeeze is working... and Darcy Tucker put it home.#AFLCrowsFreo pic.twitter.com/BD2Aw2gPlk
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Geelong have threatened to blow Essendon away in this third quarter and a canny snap from Gary Ablett has just extended the lead to 30 points. With the Cats defence in such strong form again it’s going to be an uphill slog from here for the Bombers.
The lift doors were closing, but Gazza still found a way through! #AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/QTNbYVSWPF
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Updated
Super Netball: NSW Swifts 61-43 Adelaide Thunderbirds
A comprehensive performance from the Swifts who dominated from the off, crushing the Thunderbirds by 18 goals. Sam Wallace finished with 31 goals at 100%.
FULL TIME 🤗@NSWSwifts 61@AdelaideTBirds 43
— NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) May 5, 2019
Full points. Yeah the girls!#SSNSwiftsThunderbirds
NRL: HT - Eels 6-14 Dragons. The Eels responded to that scintillating burst by the Dragons with a try of their own but they trail at the break.
Go yourself 💪#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/14udjFnHYW
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: The final fixture of the day is underway with Fremantle kicking the opening goal of the game away to Adelaide.
A beautiful through-ball from David Mundy and the Dockers are away! #AFLCrowsFreo pic.twitter.com/tx86WRfolQ
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Updated
NRL: The opening 20 minutes might have been cagey but this game has exploded into life courtesy of some sumptuous rugby league from St George Illawarra. Ben Hunt was the first to cross before a superb team move resulted in a try for Matthew Dufty.
😮😮
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
WHAT A TRY! #NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/ZtFlF2ceCp
Stunning kick to Ben Hunt 👌#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/z0GYrFST2j
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Essendon supporter Brendan Brown has emailed in from the MCG as a preemptive strike against what may prove to be more controversy over the booing of Gary Ablett.
“Greetings from the MCG,” he writes. “Essendon supporters would never boo a champion without good reason. Please note Gary Ablett was not booed until he was reported.”
I confess I haven’t picked up any booing through the TV, but Ablett certainly caught the eye with a flailing arm to the chops of Dylan Shiel.
Super Netball: The Swifts remain in command of their round two clash against the Thunderbirds, taking a 15 goal lead into the final quarter. The home side have only missed two shots all game with Sam Wallace still shooting at 100% accuracy.
3/4T @NSWSwifts 48@AdelaideTBirds 33
— NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) May 5, 2019
Third bonus point for Swifts #SSNSwiftsThunderbirds
AFL: HT - Geelong 7.3 (45) v 4.5 (29) Essendon. Geelong remain on course to top the AFL ladder for another round but they’re having things far from their own way at the MCG. Without injured skipper Joel Selwood and the experienced Zac Tuohy, who was a late out, the Cats are struggling to control the middle of the ground. This problem is exacerbated by a succession of injuries to the heavily strapped Patrick Dangerfield who is effectively playing as a key forward.
Dahlhaus can stroll into goal!#AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/OezHsqri6O
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
NRL: Still scoreless between the Eels and the Dragons midway through the first half. Proper arm-wrestle of a contest.
King Gutho with the try saving tackle 👑#NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/rvg35abrtR
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
NRL: The pristine Bankwest Stadium looks resplendent as the final NRL contest of the day between the Eels and the Dragons gets underway.
We are back at the beautiful @BankwestStadium for #NRLEelsDragons pic.twitter.com/FFO3gvhBN3
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
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AFL: Geelong continue to hold a slender advantage over Essendon midway through the second quarter but their lead should be greater than it is because Dangerfield has absolutely butchered a guaranteed goal. He unselfishly handballed from just outside the goalsquare following a mark but missed his target and had to watch the ball bobble through for one, not six points. As is customary in such situations Essendon went down the other end to snap a goal of their own.
A certain goal goes begging...#AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/mgR8GuxHKX
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Super Netball: The Swifts are cruising at half-time against the Thunderbirds. Sam Wallace and Helen Housby are 35/37 for the home side while the visitors are struggling for fluency.
HALF TIME ⏱️
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 5, 2019
The @NSWSwifts have capitalised on an unsettled @AdelaideTBirds performance to take a strong lead into the main break.@NSWSwifts 35 v @AdelaideTBirds 21#SSNSwiftsThunderbirds pic.twitter.com/uO535AFayV
NRL: Warriors 18-36 Knights
The Warriors fought hard to remain in touch but the Knights had too much scoring power in the end. Kalyn Ponga left Mt Smart with 20 points as he helped his side to back-to-back victories and send Newcastle up towards the business end of the NRL ladder.
Back-to-back wins for the @NRLKnights 🤟#NRLWarriorsKnights#NRL pic.twitter.com/5pTVRXVFKx
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Carlton 8.14 (62) v 18.12 (120) North Melbourne
Carlton’s latest humiliation is finally over with the Blues soundly thumped in their battle of the cellar dwellers against North Melbourne. The Kangaroos had four multiple goalkickers with Brown and Zurhaar sharing nine between them.
It doesn’t get any better for Brendon Bolton with Liam Jones being loaded onto an ambulance on a stretcher on his way to hospital for tests on a head injury following a sickening collision.
AFL: QT - Geelong 4.0 (24) v 3.3 (21) Essendon. The Cats have their noses in front at the MCG by virtue of their efficiency in front of goal after Essendon fought back hard in the first quarter. As well as Dangerfield’s injury Geelong also have to worry about Gary Ablett being reported for striking Dylan Shiel.
It’s not all plain sailing for the Bombers though with Tom Bellchambers hobbling meaning Joe Daniher may be forced into ruck duties.
Jake Stringer from at least 65 metres! 👀#AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/6jJ49Wqpeg
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
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NRL: 70mins: Warriors 18-28 Knights. A fourth Knights try has probably sealed the points over the Warriors. Newcastle will move up to tenth on the NRL ladder, just a game outside the finals, while the Warriors find themselves in a bit of a pickle much nearer the foot of the table.
A big leap from Edrick Lee puts Hymel Hunt over the white line 😎#NRLWarriorsKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/TffzvVMS7U
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Panic over, Dangerfield’s back out for Geelong.
Super Netball: We’re underway in our second Super Netball contest of the day with the Swifts holding an early 14-11 lead over the Thunderbirds. Plenty of attention in this one on Adelaide’s Maria Folau with husband Israel engaged in the second day of his Rugby Australia disciplinary hearing.
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AFL: Geelong have kicked the opening three goals of the match against Essendon but midway through the first quarter Patrick Dangerfield has just limped down the race after his right ankle buckled awkwardly as he was twisted in a tackle.
Cricket: A brief cricket interlude to report that the international returns of David Warner and Steve Smith are expected this week as Australia fine tune their World Cup preparations against New Zealand in Brisbane.
NRL: 60mins: Warriors 18-24 Knights. Ok, I spoke too soon. Some lamentable Warriors defending allows the Knights to hit back almost immediately.
Sione Mata'utia gets his first for the year 👏#NRLWarriorsKnights pic.twitter.com/RyCLr0Xqaq
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
NRL: 55mins: Warriors 18-18 Knights. The Warriors are back on level terms with their third try of the afternoon, converted by Harris-Tavita, just, off the post. A nail-biter brewing in New Zealand.
A second one for big Maumalo which ties the game 18-18 👊#NRLWarriorsKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/s7Syvg7bhu
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
AFL: Geelong v Essendon. The marquee AFL fixture of the day is underway and Geelong are already on the scoreboard, Cam Guthrie kicking truly on the run barely 30 seconds after the opening bounce.
Cam Guthrie gives the Cats a perfect start!#AFLCatsDons pic.twitter.com/jt8bL8o473
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
Updated
AFL: 3QT: Carlton 3.10 (28) v North Melbourne 15.7 (97). The final siren is still a quarter away in the first AFL contest of the day but the result has not been in doubt since the early stages of Carlton’s clash with North Melbourne. In a battle between two of the weaker sides in this year’s competition the Kangaroos are on course for the morale boosting four points with Ben Brown and Cameron Zurhaar kicking four goals apiece. To make matters worse for the Blues key defender Liam Jones was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury.
Expect the ferocious Melbourne media blowtorch to be applied to Brendon Bolton this week.
Jy Simpkin breaks a tackle and kicks a ripper!#AFLBluesNorth pic.twitter.com/nTOhipknyj
— AFL (@AFL) May 5, 2019
NRL: 50mins: Warriors 12-18 Knights. We’re half an hour from the final siren over at Mt Smart Stadium where a couple of the NRL’s early season strugglers are scrapping hard for a result to kickstart their campaigns. It’s two tries apiece but the Knights lead courtesy of a hat-trick of Ponga penalties.
Bit of luck falls the warriors way and Kenny Maumalo goes over 🔥#NRLWarriorsKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/GOHlSAZWr9
— NRL (@NRL) May 5, 2019
Super Netball: West Coast Fever 55-80 Sunshine Coast Lightning
The first result of the day to report has just arrived in Super Netball where Sunshine Coast Lightning once again prevailed in a repeat of last year’s grand final against West Coast Fever.
It was a more resounding success this time around and evened the Lightning’s ledger after losing their season opener to Collingwood. The Fever slip to 0-2 and face a tricky assignment against the Swifts next week where they’ll hope to improve on a dismal 27 turnovers.
FULL TIME | Lightning WIN by 25
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) May 5, 2019
Fever 55 | ⚡️Lightning 80
How good was that to watch!!! 🙌🙌🙌 #TogetherWeStrike pic.twitter.com/VOyzBSYvIN
Rugby: Israel Folau continues to dominate the Australian sporting agenda and his future came closer to being revealed yesterday as the first day of his code of conduct hearing took place in Sydney. The Daily Telegraph has reported Rugby Australia offered Folau $1m to walk away from the game but the controversial star rejected the settlement.
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Tennis: Late last night Ash Barty stepped up her French Open preparations with a comfortable win over Fed Cup teammate Daria Gavrilova at the prestigious Madrid Open. Women’s tennis is wide open at the moment and in current form Barty will head to Roland Garros Australia’s best singles grand slam hope in many a year.
Preamble
Happy Cinqo de Mayo everybody and welcome to another jam-packed afternoon of Sportwatch. Super Netball, AFL and NRL are the competitions that are going to dominate our agenda for the majority of the next few hours before the second A-League elimination final takes centre stage.
After we catch up on some of the action from overnight and earlier today we’ll be diving into round two of the Super Netball season with the Swifts taking on the Thunderbirds from 3pm and the Vixens hosting the Giants from 5pm.
AFL ladder leaders Geelong will put their one game advantage on the line against Essendon from 3.20pm with Adelaide hosting Fremantle from 4.40pm.
In the NRL we’ve got the Eels and the Dragons from 4.05pm with both sides pushing to cement their status as early finals contenders.
I’ll be keeping my eye out for anything else of interest throughout the day and if you spot anything you think deserves a wider audience you can contact me via email at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com or on Twitter @JPHowcroft.
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