2010 has been highlighted by some fantastic sporting moments. Let’s have a look at the ten biggest moments from the year.
Webber’s F1 season
Mark Webber’s season seemed destined to lead to his first world championship win… right up until the closing stages when it fell to pieces. Webber’s relationship with Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel made for an interesting sub-plot.
Socceroos World Cup
It started terribly and never recovered. The Socceroos had a tough group, but the flogging at the hands of Germany was unexpected. An honourable lost would have been acceptable.
Hussey’s comeback
Michael Hussey met the St Peter of Test cricket and had a foot inside the golden gates until he turned it all around with a superb Ashes series. He has emerged again as the reliable middle order batsman we all knew he was.
Hird returns
James Hird denied he would coach time and time again, and now he is back at Windy Hill to lead the Bombers’ revival. Time will judge the decision, but already it appears the player group’s respect for the coaching staff has improved under one of the club’s greatest players.
Geelong’s drain
Geelong’s failure to make the grand final was the catalyst for a major change at Skilled Stadium. President Frank Costa was already leaving and then Gary Ablett left for “golder” pastures. Mark Thompson then announced he was leaving – and then ended up with Hird at Windy Hill. As Geelong appeared to be heading for turmoil, Chris Scott joined brother Brad as an AFL coach.
Saints scandals
St Kilda Saints made the grand final, but it has been the off-field scandals that has taken the gloss off their superb 2010. First was Andrew Lovett and his sacking before he even played a match for his new club. An initial scandal involving a 17-year-old girl appeared to have been handled and sorted, but in recent days it has re-emerged. It threatens to tear St Kilda apart with trust among the group sure to be tested in the coming days and weeks in the lead up to 2011.
World Cup bid
Australia had a crack at hosting one of two tournaments, pulled out of one and were then overlooked for the 2022 event. The cost was $43 million, with nothing to show for that money and effort. The effect on the game in this country will be interesting to watch over the next three to five years.
Pakistan fixing
A couple of big no-balls turned into the cricket scandal of the year. Now Pakistan can’t play home Test matches and three of their best players are out while the authorities investigate the scandal. Saddest moment of the year is young fast bowler Mohammad Amir’s involvement. The kid has so much potential and was a shining light on their Australian tour.
Melbourne Storm
One of the most star studded and dominant sides in recent times, and now that it’s all tainted. The Storm received a harsh penalty, but the crime justified the penalty. Can the Storm recover in 2011 or will the Melbourne franchise struggle with the arrival of Union-rival the Rebels?
Grand Final replay
AFL deciders in recent years have been tight affairs, and this was the tightest of them all and raised questions over the drawn grand final rule. Collingwood recovered the better after the Saints threw everything at them in the first installment, and then wasted their chances in the replay. Collingwood were the side of the season, but can they back it up in 2011?
p.Tah
Guest
In addition to the ones most others have suggested I'll nominate the Wallabies win against the ABs in overtime to break a 10 match losing streak and build some much needed self belief heading into the Rugby Wolrd Cup... whilst sowing a bit of doubt in the the Kiwi's minds. From left field I'd pick Samoa's victory in the IRB 7s World series. They have a population of 180,000 and were missing their top line players who are in Europe... yet beat the power houses of World Rugby. Incredible. http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2041206.html#the+greatest+sporting+achievement+2010
EvertonAndAustralia
Roar Pro
Top 10 Australian sporting stories in my Opinion (no bias) 10. St Kilda scandal (Going on at the moment). 9. Mark Webber nearly winning in the F1. 8. Dragons NRL Premiers (no longer chokers). 7. Pakistan Cricket Team match-fixing scandal. 6. Collingwood winning the AFL Grand Final rematch. 5. Brett Holman's thing of beauty at the FIFA World Cup against Serbia. 4. Harry's "handball" at the FIFA World Cup against Ghana. 3. Drawn AFL Grand Final. 2. Australia losing 2022 World Cup bid to Qatar. 1. Melbourne Storm scandal.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
I think it's incorrect to say the Socceroos never recovered (in SA). In fact, they recovered very well, to match their group win-loss record in 2006 in what was a much easier group. We won't ever again have another Asian country in a group with us.
Stormybill
Guest
How in hell could the dragons get anywhere near this list? They won a comp where the best team in it where banned!
Mark Young
Guest
Nice article Stevie, I enjoyed reading it. It certainly was another big year of sport. Internationally, the World Cup with the blaring Vuvuzelas, Paul the Octopus, and Scintilating Spanish Soccer was pretty big During September, the amount of coverage that was dished out the disaster that the Commonwealth Games was sure to be was very intense. It did die down a little when the games weren't as bad as they had feared (or hoped) but that was a huge story. I would also offer the victory of Lowndes and Skaife at Bathurst, what Craig did on that day, the length of his driving stint and the quality, showed the quality of the man, and as for Skaife, the guy was winning Bathurst when most of us were in short pants and he is still getting it done. Finally, the victory of the Dragons in the NRL, it was an incredibly tense and no doubt uncomfortable year for the fans who had to deal with the burden of both their favouritism and constant reminders of past finals failure (rather unfairly). Looking back, they were the absolute class of the field last year and only rarely got extended or pushed.
True Tah
Guest
From an Australian perspective, I would say the Melbourne Storm for the sheer amount of coverage.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
I think the introduction of the independent commission is pretty big news in rugby league circles. In fact Id have to say that on a national level, the defections of hunt and folau would rank higher than the drains at geelong and the return of hird. GWS on its own is a larger story than either the geelong or hird stuff. Id rate the Storm as the biggest story for sheer coverage over the year, although the World cup bid would come close. In no particular order Melbourne Storm World Cup bid Drawn AFL Grand Final League Independent Commission Israel Folau's recruitment to GWS GWS Giants announcements Socceroos world cup Abletts recruitment to Gold Coast Husseys Ashes form Saints scandals no doubt others ive forgotten, but internal club squabblings and coming and goings shouldnt rate anywhere.
Redb
Roar Guru
Oh the irony :)
db swannie
Guest
Four of the top 10 according to you are AFL .(others i agree with) Get out of the insular AFL bubble & realise those stories might be big down south ,but up north not too many care .