Half way through the calendar year, it’s time to decide what have been the best sporting achievements by Australians thus far. In no particular order my list is as follows.
1. Australia qualified for the football World Cup
The Socceroos qualified for their 3rd World Cup, and their second in a row, with 2 qualifiers remaining.
2. Sam Stosur made the French Open semi-finals
About time an Australian tennis player did something!
3. Queensland won their 4th Origin Series in a row
An amazing rugby league side, easily outclassing NSW who were plagued by injuries and poor selections.
4. Mark Webber’s strong start to the F1 season
Webber finally gets a decent vehicle and has had several podiums already. Looks unlikely to catch Jenson Button but you never know.
5. Melbourne Victory emerged as an A-League Superpower
Pre-season winners, League Winners and then Champions for the second time. A solid team with no apparent weaknesses, they demolished all their rivals. Who’s going to stop them them this season?
Agree wholeheartedly? Think I’m crazy? Share your opinions…
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June 29th 2009 @ 2:40pm
Benjamin Conkey said | June 29th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
I’d include Casey Stoner in the list. Up in the top three of MotoGP..battling it out with Rossi and Lorenzo.
Last few weeks he’s been ill..suffering from severe dehydration..but he’s still made the podium.
Art Saphire, nice losers list..but I think Andrew Symonds needs to be in there as well, even if he didn’t really lose financially -earning the big bucks in IPL.
June 29th 2009 @ 2:45pm
Tom said | June 29th 2009 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
Pip, come on, you should know better than to misrepresent someone like that. I never said they underachieved, I said it shouldn’t be in the top five achievements.
And Art, I didn’t expect anything of them in particular. I just think winning the A-league title isn’t as significant as, say, Phil Hughes being the leading run scorer in his maiden test series. League and cup doubles are likely to happen every couple of years in the A-league but its very rare that an Aussie batsman goes on his first tour overseas and tops the runs tally.
June 29th 2009 @ 2:52pm
Pippinu said | June 29th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Tom
fair enough.
As MVDave says in between our posts – 3 titles in the one year is a fair ol’ haul.
And, well, yes, I’m biased too! (which reminds me, I too have had my membership renewals sitting here in front of me for the best part of a month – I’m going to do something about it this arvo!!)
June 29th 2009 @ 2:53pm
Tom said | June 29th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Actually before a code war starts (and I don’t really care for cricket, by the way) can I also suggest Mark Schwarzer keeping ten clean sheets for Fulham in the Premier League in the 08-09 season, playing every minute of the season and conceding only 34 goals could also be in there ahead of the Victory.
June 29th 2009 @ 2:57pm
Pippinu said | June 29th 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Tom
that’s a good call on the Schwatter – it has been an unbelievable season for him.
Of course, very hard to compare in terms of significance (an individual playing at the highest level versus a team doing very well in the domestic comp).
June 29th 2009 @ 4:07pm
vinay verma said | June 29th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
OK, MV DAVE,the Socceroos have done Australia extremely proud. I grant you that it is a great australian performance. I would however like to see them play a more attacking brand because what they have shown so far will not get them out of the group stage.
June 29th 2009 @ 4:40pm
Art Sapphire said | June 29th 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
Tom – as you can see i kept my list strictly team based.
I was complelety biased with some of my selections, but they were my sporting highlights of the year so far.
I find it hard to get passionate supporting indidviduals that is why they did not make the list.
June 29th 2009 @ 4:55pm
retired rucker said | June 29th 2009 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
I am eternally hopefull the Wallabies can be added to the top 5 if they win the Bledisloe back, if they bring home the lot TN’s and Bledisloe I’ll rank them 2nd behind the Soceroos. Well thats my BHAD.
June 29th 2009 @ 5:06pm
AndyS said | June 29th 2009 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
I’d said the women winning the first Sevens World Cup
June 29th 2009 @ 5:37pm
Matt said | June 29th 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
Bit of a dud year I think. The world cup qualification has aroused little interest and as for the Victory…..yawn. Another boring year for other sports it seems as well.