Today's summary
And that, as they say when they’re being very obvious, is that. We started the day with the Hawks, scrambling a draw with Greater Western Sydney after trailing by 13 points with a few minutes to go. Unlikely, fun, silly really. That drawing goal was one of the dodgiest, most unlikely, accidental scores ever. But there it stood. Two draws in two weeks for GWS, after last week’s with Geelong, something no club has done since Carlton in 1921.
That was as close as things would get over the day in the AFL. Essendon prevailed comfortably over Collingwood, Sydney smashed the Gold Coast, St Kilda smashed Richmond, Geelong smashed the Lions.
Rugby union gave us our other draw, with the other Lions sharing the match and the series with the All Blacks. Impressive from them. While in rugby league, the Panthers and Sea Eagles had a pretty tight game, while the Eels sealed an upset win over the Storm.
The Storm are still a game clear at the top though, and Manly a game clear in fourth. The Eels get themselves to seventh, the Panthers are a game off eighth.
In the AFL, the Swans are up to 7th, though West Coast or Melbourne could push them down. Richmond remain fourth, St Kilda fifth, on percentage - the Saints didn’t quite win by enough to flip that deficit. But it’s down to 1.3%. Also Port could jump both sides with a win tomorrow. Geelong is a game and a half clear in third, trailing the top two by two points. But they’ve got Hawthorn next week. Brisbane remain last.
We’ll be back tomorrow, on another afternoon when too much sport will be barely enough. I’ll leave you with this image, because I can’t not. Bye now.
Updated
Brisbane (11.12.78) beaten by Geelong (25.13.163)
Geelong reached the biggest score of the season with that last goal, and would have enjoyed the hit-out. A bit like Gold Coast with Sydney, the Lions hung in there for the first quarter but couldn’t keep up once the foot went down.
Hawkins kicked 4, while Parsons, Blicavs, and Danger all kicked 3. Mitch Duncan also had 38 stats, and would have had 3 Brownlow votes had his teammate not stolen the limelight. Lachie Henderson had 27 rebounding out of defence.
For the Lions, Zorko nailed 4 goals and 36 touches, Bastinac 3 goals.
The closing image of the night is Tom Lonergan being chaired off after his 200th game, along with Duncan for his 150th.
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Goals for Dangerfield! Yes, plural. He jags two in the last two minutes, to end the night with three to his name. Runs forward to mark from Buzza’s pass, then runs back to mark in the square from Mackie’s. Kicks them both. The goals, not the teammates.
38 disposals, 23 of them contested, 9 marks and kicked 3.2.
Handy.
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St Kilda (21.12.128) beat Richmond (10.11.71)
Back at the MCG, the two Riewoldt cousins are being interviewed post-game. They both speak well about the size of the crowd that came down, the people they’re trying to help, and what it means to them.
“Hopefully we’ll smash that barrier we were aiming for tonight,” says Nick Riewoldt of the fundraising effort, “and judging by the size of the crowd I reckon we’ll go pretty close.”
It was fierce and pure football from St Kilda tonight. They were on right from minute one, and Richmond clearly were not. It was symbolically perfect that Nick kicked the first goal of the night. while Jack kicked the last goal. Nick also kicked St Kilda’s last score, a behind.
Tim Membrey kicked 5 goals for the night, Nick R got 3, and there was a host of 2 and 1 contributors. Jack Steven had 33 stats, Seb Ross 32 and Leigh Montagna 31.
For Richmond, there really was nothing to write home about.
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The best thing to happen in the Brisbane game is that their forward Eric Hipwood just played 10 minutes with one boot on. It was half coming off near a contest, so he kicked it off and ran away to go after the ball. Play went over the far side of the ground, so he stayed with it. Chasing on one sock. Took them an age to get him back to the bench and get reunited with his wardrobe. He seemed comfortable enough out there. Benefits of Brisbane weather.
The second best thing was that Daniel Motlop almost scored a goal by accident. Got a handball into his boot in the goal square, and it was on track to ricochet through. He followed up to make sure of it with a toe-poke. 78 plays 151.
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The Richmond comeback isn’t quite on. Three goals in a row to start the last quarter, with Dustin Martin starting it off as he so often does. Butler and Lloyd follow. But the remaining 71 points of the deficit prove too daunting for Richmond in the final 15 minutes, and the Saints bag a couple of goals back. It’s 135 to 58.
El-e-va-tion! Whoo. Wylie Buzza, the cartoon character, does a bit of levitating. Gets a huge leap at the ball. He was trying to use Daniel Rich as a stepladder, but Rich slipped over at the crucial moment. Lucky not to get kneed in the head. So Buzza was left hanging, literally, but did still get some serious hangtime. Got hands to the ball mid-air but couldn’t hold on. Doesn’t matter, becaues Parfitt is waiting down as the ball spills free, and snaps the goal. It’s 76 to 137.
I don’t want to make it sound like he’s the only player out there, but Dangerfield is the only player out there. In this last quarter especially. Takes a mark inside 50 but misses. Nearly marks another huge tumbling high ball. Then reels in a casual one-hander in the centre square and hits up Selwood, who finds Parfitt. Who misses. Then Dangerfield again, almost snapping one from the pocket but running out of space. The 35 jersey is literally everywhere. But no one can hit a shot at goal. Tired legs out there.
Dangerfield still looking to spark action even in the last quarter of a won game. Charges out of the centre square with advantage from a ruck free kick, but Hawkins doesn’t shoot from the pocket and tries to pass. Messes it up. As does Motlop after Dangerfield wins it back and sends it back forward, Motlop trying to cleverly pass sideways but the move was too clever. The Lions end up with a couple of shots at the other end and miss them. Lonergan is still doing excellent work, worrying forwards out of the ball. Zorko keeps bobbing up for the Lions, he kicked a couple of long bomb goals in the first quarter and has had 32 touches to this stage.
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Three-quarter time is 55 points to Geelong over Brisbane, and 89 points to St Kilda over Richmond. I suppose we’ve had our close game for the day. And so many for the season. Perhaps we were due a couple of blowouts.
AFL: Riewoldt. Nick, that is. As he does. As he has done, so many times before. Back with the flight, taking no care for his safety. Taking the mark. Kicking the goal.
Melbourne Storm (6) beaten by Parramatta Eels (22)
NRL: A late try to Clinton Gutherson, and the Parramatta Eels score an upset over the top-placed Storm. Hell of a performance at AAMI Stadium. Between the Storm and Maddie, there are two purple games going on tonight. The Saints are certainly the happier team in the colour.
He just looks dangerous every time he gets the ball!@ClintGutherson.#NRLStormEels#NRL pic.twitter.com/IchY5OIHtu
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
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Turning into a handy percentage booster for Saint Kilda. They need one, they’re still hovering under 100 at this stage of the season. And they still want this so much. The commitment: they’re hunting in the midfield, the number of holding-the-ball frees won has been exceptional. There are five Tigers in the forward pocket yet somehow two Saints outhustle them until a handball finds Bruce in the clear to slot Saint Kilda’s 18th goal of the night.
Another miss for Richmond, as Tyson Stengle lines up after a fairly soft free kick for over the shoulder. It was easy shot. Richmond tonight, just dire. Three goals, nine behinds. The Saints? Seventeen goals, eight behinds. The score is 27 plays 110.
An interesting discussion going on in the comments about violence in the game, related to the suspensions handed out to Tom Bugg, Bachar Houli and Ali Fahour for knocking out opponents.
The key point being this idea: “they all received support from other adult men, with standing in the community, who should know better. Whilst of course they were not condoning the behaviour they were saying these are usually good blokes. That is exactly how we as a society have come to rationalise male violence - an aberrant, out of character act that we should simply forgive: move on.”
Worth getting involved. I think that overall this is true - sportsmen in all kinds of violent situations have excuses made for them. I actually think in these cases there was more condemnation than usual, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if some of that criticism came about more intensely than usual given two of three were Muslim men in what is still a majority-white sport. It’s complicated. But I reckon if a classic AFL golden boy had pulled Houli’s move, maybe more people would have defended it as accidental.
On the whole, I’d say there was less defending this week than there may have been for other players at other times. And probably Bugg’s treatment was influenced by the mood at the time. But I’d also guess that Bugg has a better chance of having people forget about his punch in five or ten years’ time than perhaps Houli has. This is all guesswork and supposition, a live blog probably isn’t the venue for figuring this stuff out.
But overall, yes. We make excuses for the violence committed on the field, and then we celebrate the perpetrators afterwards. At the same time, we also watch and love a sport that has a level of violence at its heart, whether that is Aussie Rules or either rugby code or a hundred other pastimes. Managing this balance correctly requires vigilance and an integrity that most of us struggle to maintain.
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AFL: Stop the clocks. Let the hour be marked forever. Build a monument. Richmond have kicked a goal. Josh Caddy makes up for his earlier miss with a hit. They’re inspired, a minute later Shaun Grigg gets on the board as well. It’s a mere 80-point deficit now. I can’t believe we’re going to see the greatest comeback of all time.
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NRL: The Storm finally got on the board just before the half, via this break. It’s still 6-16, any chance of a comeback?
Vunivalu breaks down the right.
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
Delivers for Hughes.
👏 @storm.#NRLStormEels#NRL pic.twitter.com/kDILYvS1bj
They’re trading goals. Hugh McCluggage, who sounds like a fake name you’d use while prank calling Moe’s Tavern, gets one against the run of play, running onto a loose ball. Down the other end, Zac Smith is too big and too strong, and muscles his way through for a reply. Dangerfield is supposed to be resting deep in the forward line, but keeps having a lot of work to do. He gets a heavy knock to the head while on hands and knees fighting for the ball. Collected by the hip of the arriving Brisbane player. Murdoch gets the spill, but had to snap almost over his own head under pressure, and hit the post. But it doesn’t last long, the reprieve. Parsons adds his third, Hawkins his third. It’s 42 plays 96 as the half-time siren goes.
If you think the floodgates are open here, it’s 92-10 in the St Kilda game.
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It’s a Rhys-off. It’s a Rhys-off!
Rhys Mathieson hits a long-range running goal for the Lions, but Rhys Stanley replies from a set shot for the Cats. They go forward again in waves, the returning captain Selwood finding the talisman Dangerfield with a long ball, but the mark is ruled touched. Dangerfield shovels it out while being tackled by three players, and the loose ball comes to Murdoch. Goal. It’s suddenly 36 plays 77.
Well worth mentioning, when discussing the Cats, this man. Nearly died a decade ago when he lost a kidney after being smashed in a marking contest, very early in his career. It certainly seemed like that career would be over. So to come back from there, and reach 200 games, is testament to courage. Tom Lonergan.
Our hero. Our inspiration. Our 200 gamer. #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/8urpxswoKk
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) July 8, 2017
St Kilda inside 50 again, Gresham centring the ball, but the Tigers draw a free kick for tunnelling the legs, and get out. Go forward. Almost get inside their own 50, miracle of miracles, but then it comes undone again. Back down to the wing, Cotchin shrugs a tackle but Gilbert comes out of nowhere and blindsides him with the second. Holding the ball, from which point it’s pumped into the pocket, knocked over the back, Gresham hits the pack at pace and grabs the crumb to sprint his little legs into an open goal.
The other game is opening up too, the Cats up 30-58 at the Gabba. I’ll switch over and give you some detail from there shortly.
Saints are leading the inside-50 count by 30 to 10. And they’re having one of those nights, everything is coming off. Jack Steven is under huge pressure in a contest inside 50, and he somehow still takes a mark one-handed. Then when his shot fades across the face, Bruce marks it in the pocket. He misses his shot, which is the first thing that’s gone wrong.
I thought the umpire was just really friendly, but he was saying “high”. Richmond get out of defence for a brief moment thanks to the free kick in the back pocket.
AFL: Thanks for the Membrey. The Tigers are getting utterly smashed, and Tim Membrey adds the most recent bit to the pile. A set shot from 50 that sails through, moments after Jack Riewoldt missed one for Richmond from 40. Everybody’s lining up for goals for the Saints. Nick Riewoldt has one, because of course he does. Billings has one. Billy Longer has one. Koby has one. It’s 10 goals to 1, 65 points to 10. And we’re only halfway through the second quarter.
NRL: Melbourne Storm are getting smashed at AAMI Park. Three tries, two converted, and it’s suddenly 0-16 to the Eels without even half an hour gone.
Updated
Cats up by 9 points over the Lions as they near quarter time. Motlop goes on a burning run out of defence but runs into trouble, his kick misses the target and the ball is locked up in midfield. The last minute ticks away. It’s 23-32 at the Gabba in favour of the visitors.
With a minute left in the term, the Tiges show patience to work a string of passes by foot through the midfield, then back and forth across the face until an opportunity opens up. Josh Caddy marks in the forward pocket, but has a horror and kicks it into the point post on the full. Three set shots in this quarter, two missed and one out on the full.
AFL: The Saints out there with a deep purple instead of their traditional red, purple being the colour of the charity they’re supporting. Some good work on the arc gives a clear delivery to Gresham near the goalsquare, and he makes no mistake from the set shot. The Saints have swarmed the Tigers early, it’s 33 points to 9.
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Very good areas.
Read and Warburton to both try and throw a kettle over a pub? https://t.co/pSsQfP2Qgs
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) July 8, 2017
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Right then. What’s next? St Kilda up 3 goals to 0, Geelong up 3 goals to 2, and Parra up 0-4 over the Storm. Let’s do it.
“There goes my expectation that other top teams would be sweating on the GWS/Geelong result in the final round - not to mention the two teams involved,” writes Winnie in the comments. “At least Geelong doesn’t have to sweat on percentage now. Then again, given this year, them drawing with Brisbane tonight is not so ridiculous a concept.” More draws, please. Never enough draws.
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True observation. They were exceptional in that regard a number of times.
Daly Cherry-Evans says the team can be proud of its goal line defensive effort. It is a positive to take out of the game. pic.twitter.com/ksXEgDoxh9
— Manly Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) July 8, 2017
The Lions tie with the All Blacks, and the series finishes 1-1. What an underdog triumph for the best players from four different countries to tie with a team from an island with about 40 people. There’ll be a million bits of analysis and reaction on this site in 3... 2... 1...
WHAT A BLOODY DENOUEMENT!!!!!!
— Richard Parkin (@rrjparkin) July 8, 2017
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Rugby: If you’re into that sort of thing, scores are level with three minutes remaining. Y’know. No biggie.
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Moving.
You'll never walk alone, Maddie. @MaddiesVision #FightLikeMaddie pic.twitter.com/6gXJ6b2Ir5
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) July 8, 2017
AFL: the focus tonight for the evening round will be St Kilda versus Richmond. This is because it’s the game in honour of Madeleine Riewoldt, sister of Nick from St Kilda and cousin of Jack from Richmond. She died of bone marrow cancer, so this game raises money for Maddie’s Vision, the charity raising money to fight that disease.
Tonight is for Maddie | #FightLikeMaddie | #AFLSaintsTigers pic.twitter.com/4Ml4P6f3rp
— Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) July 8, 2017
Penrith Panthers (16) beat Manly Sea Eagles (8)
NRL: Lots of late attacking from the Eagles, they did their best to bring pressure to bear, but the Panthers were able to absorb it. A late series of runs involving Turbo and Cherry-Evans is impressive, but it’s too late. Uate and Walker can’t get it to the line, and the final whistle goes.
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Rugby: scores were level for a little while in the Lions game, but the All Blacks win a penalty from a scrum right in front of their goal, and kick out to 15-12.
Sydney (17.16.118) beat Gold Coast (7.9.51)
A very deflated and deflating match in the end. Gold Coast charged in the first quarter, nailed the last two goals of it and hit the front. Then didn’t kick another until deep in the final term. Didn’t even score for about an hour. Their defence was non-existent, they had no intensity around the ball, and Sydney marked inside 50 at will. A very ordinary contest, but an important one. The Swans flap up to 6th on the ladder, though any of Melbourne, West Coast or St Kilda could go back past them with a game in hand.
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NRL: Lucky for the Panthers that Cleary has his kicking boots on! Another penalty, another score. Eight points the difference now. Finally a bit of breathing space. 12 minutes to go. The score is 16-8.
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Cricket: the plot thickens. And thickens. And thickens. It’s like poutine gravy.
England won't turn up for Ashes if no MOU signed in time. Great get @GeorgeDobell1 https://t.co/V44kJZKT6s
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) July 7, 2017
AFL: Finally, the Cold Goats get a goal. Callum Ah Chee the rainmaker, the droughtbreaker, the firestarter. Just kidding, it’s all over. The air is out of this match completely. So much so that Wright adds another for GC. It’s 117-51.
NRL: Try disallowed for the Panthers! And no one is happy about that overturn from the review official. Ruling is that there was a knock-on. Didn’t seem to be true, it looked more like the tackler had knocked the ball. And the on-field call was a try. But somehow there has supposedly been enough evidence to overturn it. Doesn’t appear right. That would have changed the Manly script hugely. But now they’re still in it. It remains 14-8.
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I assume he’s talking about Gandalf here?
Refreshing change watching a sport and listening to a Sir Ian who's actually informative #Lions2017
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) July 8, 2017
NRL: Oh, these could be important points. A penalty to the Panthers, and Nathan Cleary takes the margin out to 6 points with an accurate kick.
Over at Eden Park, it’s still 12-9, with the Lions pushing. That could be a cracker of a finish.
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Has Sydney really scored 17 times since Gold Coast last scored?! #AFLSwansSuns
— Ryan Buckland (@RyanBuckland7) July 8, 2017
Make that 19. Oh my... #AFLSwansSuns https://t.co/8PdIKrtPHa
— Ryan Buckland (@RyanBuckland7) July 8, 2017
Finally, in the last quarter, the Suns score. A point. One for Matt Rosa’s scrapbook.
This has nothing to do with anything, unless being amazing is a sport.
LET THAT SINK IN. pic.twitter.com/lFAgRBfjzm
— John Band (@johnb78) July 3, 2017
NRL: Well, they’re a second half side, Manly. Tend to run over the top of teams. And here they come, a backhander from Trbojevic letting Lane in. The conversion goes begging again though. Those points becoming important, with the gap 12-8 to the home Panthers.
The Lane train and Turbo combine for a @SeaEagles cracker!#NRLPanthersManly#NRL pic.twitter.com/Q2JyosO1la
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
Rugby: It’s 12-6 to the All Blacks as they start the second half against the Lions. The Brits with the ball after an early penalty is called. Trying for a long-range goal. Slots it. Now it’s 12-9. A few AB mistakes keeping the Russell Crowe Loins in this game. Lawrence with the detail.
Another knock on from the All Blacks. They've got hands like Phil Tufnell today #LionsNZ2017
— John Davidson (@johnnyddavidson) July 8, 2017
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Joel Selwood is back from concussion for Geelong.
So good to have the skip back! #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/6Dwc59oLo4
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) July 8, 2017
AFL: It’s become a procession in the Swans-Suns game. Gary Rohan kicks his fifth. Towers adds another one. Some rubbish defending from another long kick into 50, clears a pack, then an errant defensive handball, and Zak Jones kicks another. Gold Coast still haven’t kicked a goal since just before quarter time, and there’s a minute until three-quarter time. Sydney in that period have kicked 10.
The clock ticks down to the final interval. Siren sounds. It’s 94 plays 36 and Rodney Eade is grimacing and groaning in the coach’s box.
Does anyone else think that the ad with the women going through a car wash is the worst ad of all time? It’s like a discarded scene from a terrible 1982 comedy. “I said squeal, ladies!”
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NRL: Try! Finally, the Panthers find a way through the Manly wall. A high kick, two players charging back, and Zelezniak reels it in. Only just - the video ref takes a long look, working out whether the ball has come loose before it’s grounded. But the on-field call was for a try, and the video is just borderline enough for the call to stay.
They knock the conversion over and it’s 12-4.
The @PenrithPanthers snatch a Try late in the first half!#NRLPanthersManly#NRL pic.twitter.com/216Vq1YD8P
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
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AFL: Update your list, Imogen. A third goal to Lance Franklin to start the third quarter. Simple chest mark on the lead, simple conversion.
Rusty’s area of expertise.
That bloke on the Tele had "Loins" written on his head ...#AllBlacksvBIL
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 8, 2017
— mark gamble (@markgamble2) July 8, 2017
Panthers start a fresh set 20 metres from the try line. Great defence from Manly, stopping several forays within a couple of metres from the line.
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NRL: Forward pass from Shaun Lane trying to find Walker on the sixth tackle. Couldn’t land the miracle handover. 30 out, possession lost.
Cricket: If you want the latest in the Australian pay saga, this is all that matters.
Shane Watson rocking the "dreamy new calc teacher on One Tree Hill, with a tortured past" look pic.twitter.com/FjZCt07hua
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) July 2, 2017
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AFL: Sydney 10.5.65 to Gold Coast 5.6.36 at half time. The Suns didn’t kick a goal in the second quarter. Sydney didn’t either after Gary Rohan’s fourth, but by that stage they already had six for the term.
Rugby: first try in the All Blacks game. The Lions did brilliantly with some one-on-one defence a moment ago to stop a score from a breakaway that looked all but inevitable. But can’t stop a straightforward charge from closer to home, over in the corner. Converted. 7-0.
Spine-tingling stuff from the #AllBlacks as they perform the Haka with incredible passion.
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) July 8, 2017
The final test is LIVE on SS1 & @DStv Now. pic.twitter.com/wuttbN7P9V
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Trent Merritt overplays his hand, and a Penrith pass is intercepted. But Manly give away a penalty by deciding to keep bashing the ball-carrier well after a tackle is done.
NRL: At last we’re underway in the other side of the football world. It’s a spicy one at Pepper Stadium. Panthers love pepper. Ask David Attenborough. So it’s Penrith up against the Manly Sea Eagles. Manly could go third with a win, Penrith need one to stay in touch with the eight. And it’s the Panthers who start best early, Tamou wrestling his way over under the posts with his back to the tryline.
Tamou is in!
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
What a start for the @PenrithPanthers.#NRLPanthersManly#NRL pic.twitter.com/8jdB0xBM7w
But afterwards Manly applies the pressure with multiple sets, and eventually Dylan Walker hits the last-ditch defensive line at pace and goes through it like water through a colander. They miss the conversion though, and trail 6-4.
Isn't @Dwalkz3 having a year!
— NRL (@NRL) July 8, 2017
Sharp pass selection from DCE as well.#NRLPanthersManly#NRL pic.twitter.com/4wGqa0UikU
Across the office come the distinctive sounds of the New Zealand national anthem. It’s a good ‘un. If you want the full details of the All Blacks game against the British and Irish Lions, get on over to join Lawrence on his dedicated blog.
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Too easy again - on Franklin’s chest as he leads. Misses the shot though. Dean Towers doesn’t, receiving the handball from a midfield breakaway and slotting it. Then it’s Gary again! Not Ablett. Rohan will rise. His fourth goal as he finds it easy to find just a yard of space, take a tumbling mark on his chest from another forward entry, and convert the attempt. It’s 63-34, and Gold Coast are certainly not Goal Coast. Haven’t kicked one in this term.
And another for Hewett and the Swans. Naismith was tackled in the goalsquare, and then... I think he threw that out? He held the ball up and just dropped it. Surely that’s not correct disposal? Unless he somehow got a bit of shoe on it as it fell. Anyway. He was lying on the ground, got the ball out, and Hewett is passing by to toe it over the line.
Then comes Gary Rohan again, sprinting back toward goal, then double back up the ground to mark an incoming ball. Kicks his third. It’s suddenly way too easy for Sydney, they’re finding targets every time they come inside 50. Their score is outside 50, because it’s 51. Gold Coast 34.
Budgie Franklin is currently off the field with a sore wing. Had the doctors examining his wrist, and appeared to be in some discomfort.
Sydney coming hard to start the second term. George Hewett gets their first after some good zigzag leading in an almost empty forward 50. Turnover in midfield, the quick kick comes back in and he’s good enough to have made space. The Suns repel several more forays in the next minute or two, but not the one that tall Sam Reid stretches up and marks in front of goal. Suddenly it’s 39-34 in favour of the Swandogs.
Updated
Coasters hit the front! Seconds before quarter time, as Lynch gets two in a couple of minutes. He has three for the term. That last one, not really doing anything too wild, waiting outside a pack that was squabbling over the ball outside 50, and received a handball through heavy congestion from Jesse Longeran. It was a fair kick though, spinning around to face goal, near the boundary line about 40 metres around from home. Kicked off a step and sailed it through. The Suns are up 27-32.
This has nothing to do with sport in Australia, but it’s pretty good, eh? That’s my criteria for including anything in anything: pretty good, eh?
Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka the first pair to partner in 200+ stands in consecutive ODIs https://t.co/T00DiEIulI #SLvZIM pic.twitter.com/j1C0C0Ijc3
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 8, 2017
Lance Franklin with his second. Update that table once again. It’s 27-20 in Sydney’s favour.
Language warning: Kagiso Rabada, block your tender ears. A salty but perhaps not unreasonable take from a Collingwood supporter about her team. There has been a lot of cult-like “playing for Bucks” nonsense this year. It can’t possibly be a motivator every week, and it has dragged on for a long time.
For a bunch of blokes who are playing for the coach they sure do look like they couldn't give a fuck half the time when they're out there.
— Melissa⭐️ (@melly300313) July 8, 2017
The Riders of Gary Rohan. Galloping to the fore. First he gallops himself down the forward flank, receives the ball, surges into the pocket with a burst of speed away from his pursuers and pumps the low drop punt through. A minute later he marks in the goal square tumbling back with the flight, and kicks the simple shot. Sydney up by six, but then Andrew Swallow at the other end pounces on a loose ball, and it’s 3.2.20 apiece at the SCG.
But Jack Martin and Tom Lynch add the next two for the Suns. Important for Gold Coast that two of their biggest names are involved early. Gary Ablett Jr. isn’t playing today, incidentally, a slight niggle forcing him to defer Game 301.
Swans get away with the first of the game against Gold Coast, via Lance Franklin. Moving well. Ascending into rare air.
.@sydneyswans with perfect 7-0 record against the Suns. Have now kicked the first goal in all 8 games. (Buddy 3 times) #AFLSwansSuns
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) July 8, 2017
828 #buddygoalwatch pic.twitter.com/dsS1gd5LSK
— Imogen Dunlevie (@ImogenDunlevie) July 8, 2017
Lance Franklin made the Suns pay early. #AFLSwansSuns pic.twitter.com/VKIYouNKBm
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2017
Updated
Collingwood (12.8.80) beaten by Essendon (18.9.117)
Roco is free to be as one-eyed as he wants about his Bombers now, having departed The Age a few days ago. Hope he’s loving life.
Can't make up my mind about Dons this year Best really good but still prone to lapses Reduce those & chance of finals at least #aflpiesdons
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 8, 2017
Macca is first to get one away in the comments section. “Weird, if the Swans miss the finals then both Premiers from last year will not play finals and when is the last time a team played in a drawn game 2 weeks in a row?” Grand finalists, I assume you mean, but yes, point taken. That would be most unusual. The stats are out there telling us this is the most even season for a long, long time. As for two draws in a row, I’m sure the stattos will be all over searching precedents for that.
To be fair GWS did say before the season they were looking forward to a good draw.
Essendon is up by 37 points at the MCG, in a result that will at least slightly soothe the savage burn of supporting the red and black. Fantasia has kicked five goals and nine thousand enchanted broomsticks. Joe Daniher has three. That pair could be making their club’s faithful happy for a long time to come.
Hawthorn (14.13.97) draws with GWS (15.7.97)
An absolutely bonkers ending to that game. The Giants are second on the ladder - two draws are a win, as the old saying doesn’t go. Adelaide remain top. Sydney’s a game out of the eight but could go back in with a win today. Gold Coast would be a win outside the eight if they won. Essendon will be a win outside the eight given they’re well up on Collingwood in the last quarter.
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And somehow, the Hawks nearly win. 10 seconds left when the centre bounce takes place. They rush it forward, just trying to get a behind so they can get ahead. The Hawks are able to punch it through via Henderson, trying to rush a point in their own forward line, but after a score review the umpires rule that the punch came after the siren sounded. A matter of split seconds for the Hawks, who nearly steal a win, and the Giants indeed draw twice in a fortnight. What an amazing, bizarre, incredibly even season this continues to be in Aussie Roooooolz.
Yes they can! Will Langford in more traffic than Punt Road after the grand final! 40 out, scrubs a snap. It bounces on its point, clears Heath Shaw on the line with a huge bounce, and goes through! “Curtly Ambrose couldn’t get one to rise like that,” says Dermott Brereton.
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A couple of chances for the Hawks, but the Giants defence is keeping calm. The forward entries keep coming. A minute left. A goal the difference. Could GWS have two draws in two weeks?
... but misses. A relatively simple shot from straight in front. The clock has 3:30 remaining. A goal the gap.
A chance for Hawthorn - twice they surge forward thanks to a couple of good marks from Roughead and Schoenmakers coming out of defensive 50, but the first time a tackle takes down Isaac Smith in the centre square, and the second Henderson pumps the running shot out on the full from 50. Finally, after all of that, Sicily taps to Schoenmakers again on the flank, he finds Breust up forward, and on the J-curve set shot of Steve Johnson he adds a goal. That makes back the one the Giants just kicked, it’s 7 points the difference.
And Breust marks again on the burst out of the centre bounce...
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AFL: In terms of what’s happening already, the Hot Pink Hawks are within a kick of the Red Hot Giants down at Not Very Warm At All Stadium in Launceston. It’s 84 plays 89 in favour of the sherberts... make that five point margin into six as Kelly hits the post running into an open goal.
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Hello world, and as HG Nelson irresistibly had it, welcome to another afternoon where too much sport is barely enough. Geoff Lemon with you for another Sportwatch episode, cataloguing all things athletic in the broad brown land of the stolen pavlova. Looking forward to your company for the Swans and the Suns, the Panthers and the Seagles, a little dalliance with the All Blacks and the Lions of the Isles, back via AFL for some big cats and some small ones (Lions and Tigers and Cats, oh what?) plus the Saints for good measure, and in league the drenching Storm versus the slippery Eels. If there’s anything else I should be keeping an eye on and a television channel open to, please do let me know, either by formal correspondence using geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or using the idiot machine on Twooterville using @GeoffLemonSport. Let’s get going, as some may say, with no further hairdo. I certainly haven’t brushed mine.
Geoff will be with you shortly. In the meantime, check out the latest on Jeff Horn’s likely rematch against Manny Pacquiao.
