Let me be clear: while Sydney might be the traditional soul of Australian football, these days Melbourne is it’s home. On November 16th 2005 history was made at Sydney’s ANZ stadium when the Socceroos qualified for the 2006 World Cup.
Some time during the very slow period of play during the Test at Wellington, when Simon Katich and Michael Clarke seemed becalmed, I heard one of the good old boys at the Basin Reserve say to a weather-beaten mate: “They’re batting as if they’re Kiwi batsmen.”
Quade Cooper’s irresistible Super 14 form has him leading the contest for Australia’s chief playmaking role, according to former Wallabies inside back Rod Kafer.
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The AFL wants television networks to show matches live when the next broadcast rights deal is brokered for the 2012 season and beyond.
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South Sydney’s miserable start to the NRL season has continued with a heart-breaking golden point extra time 19-18 defeat at the hands of Gold Coast at ANZ Stadium.
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Michael Clarke will lead Australia when Ricky Ponting retires and will finish his career as a respected and successful skipper. The chaos of the past couple of weeks will not hinder this in any way. Rather, it genuinely begins Clarke’s path to the post of captain.
Permiership window might be a term thrown about far more liberally in other codes, but the concept is certainly worthy of consideration ahead of Saturday’s A-League grand final.
In the final moments of the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, the match, which had see-sawed for almost 100 minutes, was finally decided by an ice-cold Jonny Wilkinson field goal.
With a number of second-year players, including Nick Naitanui, retaining their eligibility, the race for this year’s Rising Star award is already looking like it will be the one of the most hotly-contested since the award began.
Another Dragons game on the box, so another date with my nemesis. If rugby league is all about rivalries, well, as they say, “it doesn’t get any bigger.”
The news that Sydney FC defender Simon Colosimo looks set to move to the K-League comes as no real surprise. The veteran defender harbours World Cup ambitions, but unless he finds himself a club for the next three months, he won’t be on the plane to South Africa.
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The Parramatta Two Blues has been in the news recently. There is concern this proud Western Sydney club may not compete in this year’s Sydney Shute Shield (Premier rugby) due to a lack of players.
Loading ...While the NBL has staggered and all but fallen in recent years, it seems much of Australia’s young basketball talent are instead heading to the US college system to further their careers.
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With the Australian Formula One Grand Prix a week away, its employees, including seven time world champion Michael Schumacher, have expressed concerns that the sport is becoming a mere procession.
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With both Asian Champions League places for the 2011 tournament sewn up for Australia’s participants, there has been much debate surrounding the worth of an A-League Grand Final with virtually ‘nothing’ at stake.
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It has been said that Australia’s premier first class cricket competition will be ditching its final to make way for a bigger Twenty20 competition.
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Melbourne joining the Super 15 next year should not be taken lightly by the ARU. If foreign players are going to join the side, the ARU must ensure that they mentor younger Melbourne-based rugby players and ensure a strong rugby culture develops.
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The Western Bulldogs will head into their 2010 campaign expected to be in contention for their first premiership in 56 years.
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A Malaysian billionaire is apparently in the mix to bid as a partner for the next round of the AFL TV rights for 2012-2016.
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The career of David Beckham, at the elite level at least, is seemingly over following his Achilles tendon injury last weekend. The global superstar could very well never see the top flight again.
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Bulldogs prop Ben Hannant has approached the club and requested an early release from his contract on the grounds that he is homesick and wants to return to QLD.
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The real Australian Football prize is the Premiership Plate. FFA has to rethink the HAL finals and bring them into a working relationship with the ACL.
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And yes, semi is intended both ways. While most will agree the Sharks season is a bust, there is no reason to write them off just yet.
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Fox Sports are claiming a world exclusive with Mark Viduka appearing on Fox Sports’ Hyundai Matchday Saturday. Despite the Matchday Saturday tag, this week the show airs on Friday night as a live Grand Final Preview Special.
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Jose Mourinho is a polarising figure – people either adore or loathe him. He’s charismatic yet controversial. But no-one can argue with his record.
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Well there has been plenty of debate over what chance a World Cup bid has if the NRL and AFL will be left out of pocket. Is this the case though?
Loading ...The Ultimate Fighting Championship was in town last month and managed to polarize Australia’s sports fans. I am on the negative side. But the mixed marshal arts competition can hardly be doubted as a sport.
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By now you’ve heard the earth-shaking news – Jonno has bitten the bullet and dropped Jonny Wilkinson for the French game Saturday. (The Times headline included the words ‘England turn to youth’ but probably should have read ‘England turn to stone.’)
