“And so this is Christmas. And what have we done? Another year over,” sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their famous song. As the year draws to a close, what has the Australian sporting scene done in 2010?
How will this year be remembered?
Here’s my top 10 sports stories of the year:
1. Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid
No issue polarised the Australian sporting community like the bid to host the 2022 World Cup. A look through The Roar’s archives for 2010 showed the servers went into meltdown whenever a World Cup bid article was submitted.
The bid was fodder for a code war like we’ve never seen before. While other code’s expansions may have looked to build one code’s market share, this event would have denied other codes access to their grounds and potentially the right to exist for two months. And there was scandal in the final result, with suggestion of Qatar engaging in dodgy dealings.
Why did the bid go through with when Blind Freddie could see it had no hope of success? And would it have been better for the round-ball football code had the bid never gone ahead?
2. Melbourne Storm salary cap breach
We’d seen the Storm take part in the last four NRL grand finals, taking the ultimate prize twice. With an impressive lineup of names such as Slater, Inglis, Cronk and Smith, they were an imposing side.
As it turned out, too imposing. NRL investigations uncovered systematic cheating of the salary cap over several years. NRL action was quick and decisive. The Storm was stripped of their 2007 and 2009 titles, three minor premierships, and all premiership points for 2010.
Heads rolled in the club’s administration, and now the club are forced to offload players to become legal again. The Storm’s credibility is in tatters, and there’s work to be done to rebuild the club’s reputation.
Who knew what was going on? Could the players have known a rort was on? How did the NRL not uncover this earlier?
3. The drawn AFL grand final
It didn’t look likely when Collingwood led by four goals at half-time, but a strong comeback by St Kilda saw scores deadlocked at full time in the AFL grand final. Everyone knew the rules; that the game would be replayed next week.
Is it a fair rule? Is it a good tradition? There’d be a lot of supporters severely out of pocket if a non-Victorian side ever played a drawn grand final and their fans had to shell out for another set of return airfares and accommodation the next week.
It’s an unlikely event. The nature of Aussie Rules, with the scoreboard constantly ticking over, makes a draw much less likely than in lower-scoring codes; so it’s a rule that is rarely invoked.
But after a review, the AFL decided not to change the rule.
4. The fall of one-day and the rise of Twenty20
For the last 30 years, one-day internationals have been cricket’s cash cow while domestic cricket has rarely drawn more than two men and a dog.
But in 2010 the T20 Big Bash has captured the public’s imagination, the short domestic game pulling bigger crowds than sparsely-attended ODI series against West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It’s a similar story in India, where the IPL attracts the fans who are staying away from international games.
Is this a flash in the pan, or a structural change in cricket support? Is one-day cricket dying and T20 taking over? Is there a power shift to “clubs” rather than country?
5. The Delhi Commonwealth Games
The media were scathing of India’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games. Fears abounded that athletes would be living in squalor, competing in construction sites before getting blown up.
But it all turned out okay in the end, with India putting on a credible Games. Poor media coverage and security fears kept the fans away, but such fears were unrealised as athletes competed safely in world-class facilities. Was the western media too harsh on the Indian organisers?
6. End of the premiership droughts
Collingwood hadn’t won a title since 1990. St George-Illawarra had never won as a merged entity, and St George hadn’t won since 1979. But the October long weekend saw both premiership droughts brought to an end.
The days of “Colliwobbles” and “Dragon chokers” ended emphatically. Both clubs polarise opinion, having huge numbers of passionate supporters. But there was no disputing that both clubs were clearly the best team in their competition all season and were worthy winners.
7. Football leagues expanding
The AFL’s new clubs continued to take shape. Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants now have their identities and are signing up sponsors and members in preparation for their debuts in 2011 and 2012. Rugby’s Super 14 becomes the Super 15 when the Melbourne Rebels enter the competition. The NRL looks set to return to Perth in 2013 and possibly bring the Bears out of hibernation in the Central Coast.
All have lofty ambitions, but the A-League experience shows the reality can fall short of expectation; with Gold Coast capping their crowds at 5000, North Queensland struggling to remain solvent, and Sydney Rovers never kicking a ball in anger before their demise. Will other codes learn from the A-League’s mistakes?
8. Cricket corruption and gambling
Cricket, like many other sports, has plenty of gambling promotion in its media coverage and the opportunities for a flutter at the game. But can gambling corrupt the sport?
Questions were asked when Pakistan let Australia off the hook on that fateful final day of the SCG Test, with suspicions a fix was on. Questions which gained in intensity when Pakistani bowlers were caught out in England doing spot-fixes on deliberate no-balls.
9. Wallabies continue to struggle
Robbie Deans’ record with the Crusaders in the Super 14 was second to none, but his record since taking over the Wallabies has been less impressive. A win on the road against South Africa was impressive, but it was a rare highlight. A loss to England, and a clean sweep by New Zealand in the Tri-Nations, kept the Wallabies in the doldrums.
The Wallabies finally broke their 10-game losing streak against New Zealand in a post-season exhibition game in Hong Kong, but losses away to England and Ireland showed they still have plenty of work to do with the World Cup less than a year away.
10. Socceroos crash out of 2010 World Cup
There were doubts that Pim Verbeek’s Socceroos lineup of 2010 would be as good as Guus Hiddink’s 2006 side; and it didn’t take long for those fears to be realised. The Socceroos were out of their depth against Germany, going down 4-0 in a dismal display. To make matters worse, Tim Cahill was red-carded.
2006 was a one-off, but it created unrealistic expectations; and the game against Germany was a harsh reality check. Although the Socceroos bounced back to draw with Ghana and defeat Serbia, the damage was done and the Socceroos failed to progress past the group stage. And with an ageing team, and the next generation of players not looking as good, even qualifying for the next World Cup is no sure thing.
So what will 2011 bring? We’ll have to wait and see. But it will be fascinating to see how the new sporting year unfolds.
Ken
Guest
St George not having history to compete with the other teams is a baffling claim. They are as old as any club in the comp having been created in 1908, although they didn't get into the top grade until a little over a decade later. They've won more grand finals than any other club, the 11 premierships in a row is a record unlikely to be beaten, half of the immortals come from the club
Dingo
Guest
That is without a doubt the most autobiographical comment ever posted.
db swannie
Guest
Mundine hitting the canvas...agreed..a great moment in OZ's sporting history & couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Top ten AFL moments of the season: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=106523 10. Issy switching codes 9. Presti opts to pull out of the GF team last minute 8. Twins to coach rival clubs for the first time in history 7. Performances of Barlow and J-Pod, coming in as mature rookies 6. Fev 5. Birth of the Suns 4. Cuz 3. roo does a hammy 2. 3rd drawn grand final in VFL/AFL history 1. Yablett finally confirms he's going to the Suns
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
To say that Australia crashed out of the 2010 WC is just wrong. France crashed out of the 2010 WC; Italy crashed out of the 2010 WC; Serbia crashed out of the 2010 WC. Australia exceeded all expectations and performed heroically when down to 10 men in 2 matches. And, what a shame Ghana didn't beat Germany - Australia would have qualified from the Group stages and Germany would have been knocked out! Fact is Germany beat us 4-0, and they had 1 extra man for 34 minutes. I could say if Australia were more clinical up front, Garcia would have scored in the opening 5 minutes against Germany. If Australia were more clinical up front, Wilkshire would have scored against Ghana. If Ghana & Serbia were more clinical up front they would have scored more against Australia. Let's stick to the facts and all football fans realise that Australia performed no better and no worse against Germany than England and Argentina.
The Special One
Guest
Craig moore thought the game would end up 8 nil. !!
mds1970
Roar Guru
AFL's my number 1 code, but I've been in Sydney for 20 years now. I turned 40 last month, and I've now lived in Sydney for longer than I ever lived in Victoria. St George were very impressive in this year's Grand Final. I was at that game, and it was an emphatic performance by a well-drilled team. Wayne Bennett's done a great job with the Dragons. But surely the biggest rugby league story of the year, the one that got everyone talking, was the Storm's salary cap rorts and the stripping of their premierships and their 2010 points.
mds1970
Roar Guru
I could have expanded on all of my top 10, and made it a top 20 - which would have included that amazing netball final, Sydney FC's penalty shootout win in the A-League grand final, Geoff Heugill's comeback etc. But the article was already quite long, I just couldn't add any more length to it. 2006 was such an amazing experience that 2010 was always going to be an anti-climax in comparison; and the hope of qualifying for the round of 16 was over after the first game. The Socceroos played OK in the last two games, but it was too little too late.
dasilva
Guest
I agree The problem with the match against Germany was that the score was flattering for Australia where Germany should have won by a greater margin than 4 nil if there were more clinical up front. Considering that Serbia also defeated Germany and Ghana were quite competitive against Germany (ghana had their chance to draw or win the match) it seems like Germany still didn't find their feet at the beginning of the tournament and only reach their peak at the knock out stage against England and Argentina. We were very ordinary against Germany.
Black Diamonds
Guest
Most famous in Australia? But it doesn't have the history of a South Sydney or (East) Sydney Roosters does it? That being a relative newcomer to the NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL/NRL - St. George joining around the same time the clubs of Hawthorn, Footscray and North Melbourne joined the VFL/AFL - and look at the struggles these clubs have endured for generations to "catch-up." Only Hawthorn of that trio could really be said to have caught up - and being easily the most successful VFL/AFL club of the last 50 years certainly helps! 10 Flags in 50 years is a pretty darn good strike rate. Certainly better than my club - 1/138 years!
Black Diamonds
Guest
Serbia. Were considered a chance to win the World Cup? By whom? Only fools and charlatans could have held that belief. And the result against Germany was poor - because of the way we played. We changed our game plan for that game, why? A total disaster. And why would you worry about what Germany did to England or Argentina? I didn't see the Argentina game, but against England - England should have been on level pegging at half-time - the match should by rights have been 2-2. It would have clearly been a different result if that goal had stood as it should. Germany would not have won 4-1.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
I would think most would have understood that by now (about all forms of social media). That aside, it remains the case that mds' summary of the socceroos' performance in SA 2010 is quite sound, especially in the context of an article covering a whole year and touching on a variety of sports.
Nick the second
Guest
Now that was good!
Steve War
Guest
And... Anthony Mundine hits the canvas. Samantha Stosur had a great year - I predict a grand slam title in the near future.
kovana
Roar Pro
"but losses away to England and Ireland showed they still have plenty of work to do with the World Cup less than a year away." On point number 9. The wallabies did not lose to Ireland this year.. It was a close game, but they didnt lose. However the Wallabies lost 2/3 matches against England.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I guess, the "open media" offered by the Internet comes with the scourge that everyone, who has access to a keyboard, is able to publish an opinion on any subject ... regardless of how poorly he/she actually understands the underlying subject matter being analysed.
punter
Guest
Definately written by an Melbourne person. The mighty Dragons win on GF day, their first in 31 years was truly the story of the NRL season. This achieved by the most famous Rugby League club in Australia.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Yeh, but you've written a whole article with that comment. MDS summarised the Socceroos' 2010 campaign, did so succinctly, and re-reading it, I honestly can't see that he has said anything that's out of whack with what happened. He says the socceroos "bounced back", but the damage was already done (which is true). He refers to our aging squad - who can argue with that descriptor? And whether we like it or not, be that experts or novices, plenty of comparisions were made between Pim and Guus and the respective WC campaigns. Even though the two group performances were almost identical (over the two WCs), with one group being clearly easier than the other, there's no doubting that occasional soccer fans would draw unfavourable comparisons. It happens.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
As a football fan, I found this to be an incredibly poor analysis of the Australian National Football Team's performance at WC2010. In forming an opinion on Australia's performance at WC2010, a real football fan would have analysed: a) Australia's opponents 2010 FIFA WC b) Australia's results c) other teams' results against Australia's opponents a) Australia's opponents Those, who actually follow football beyond the EPL, would have realised that Australia's Group was amongst the toughest in the tournament. 1. Germany * 3 times World Champions; 3 times European Champions * Current runners up to Spain at 2008 Euro; and ... * have NEVER failed to qualify from the Group Stage at a FIFA WC * were considered one of the favourites to win WC2010 2. Ghana * 4 times Champions of Africa & 4 times runners up - along with Egypt, Ghana has the equal most appearances in the African nations cup final * Champions of Africa 2008; runners up in 2010 * were considered to be the most likely African nation to win FIFA WC 2010 3. Serbia * qualified for WC2010 ahead of 2006 World Cup runners up France * were considered a major chance to win the 2010 FIFA WC Summary: * Australia's group in 2010 was much more difficult than WC2006. Ghana is a much stronger football nation than Japan; and Serbia in 2010 was considered stronger than Croatia in 2006. * Most football pundits outside Australia did not think Australia would get even 1 point from this Group. b) Australia's results * Australia lost 1 match at FIFA 2010. * And the loss was to a Germany team that was strongly tipped to win the World Cup. * Australia had only one bad result in 2010 - the 4-0 loss to Germany. Yes, we were technically and tactically demolished. c) Other teams' results against Germany Real football fans would look to other results to gain perspective when assessing Australia's performance against Germany and real football fans would discover: * Argentina - a team containing the cream of the world's football talent - had one bad result at WC2010: a 4-0 loss to Germany * England - a team containing some of the highest paid and most famous players in the world - had one bad result at WC2010: a 4-1 loss to Germany Final Analysis of WC2010 Our lads did a fantastic job at WC2010 - in the only global sporting tournament in which an Australian sports team competes.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Geoff Huegill's comeback was an incredible story. 140kg is pretty big. At 100kg I feel way overweight.