Classic Australian sporting collapses

After Jamie Whincup’s disastrous finish to Sunday’s epic Bathurst 1000, running out of fuel on the last lap after his team ensured viewers that he would make it to the end, I thought it was time to recount some of the biggest collapses in Australian sport.

So get ready to cover your eyes sports fans, things are going to get ugly.

St George Illawarra Dragons versus Melbourne Storm – 1999 NRL grand final
The rugby league entry into this column was a tough decision. It could easily have been given to the 1989 grand final, but I went with this one, largely because I was actually alive for this match.

The Dragons were firm favourites heading into the game after defeating the Storm 34-10 in the opening round of the finals. These predictions were seemingly confirmed after the Dragons jumped out to a 14-point lead by halftime.

However, the match turned when Anthony Mundine dropped the ball over the try line in the 51st minute, and Melbourne eventually won after a controversial penalty try was awarded to the Storm when Craig Smith was taken high while catching a bomb in the in-goal area. Matt Geyer slotted the subsequent conversion from straight in front and the rest is history.

What’s worse for Dragons fans is what transpired over the next decade, the Storm qualified for four grand finals, winning two (which were subsequently removed), while the Dragons, boasting a star-studded squad, were perennial underachievers until Wayne Bennett arrived at the club in 2009.

Australia versus South Africa – second Test, 2012, Adelaide Oval
Australia entered the three-test series needing only a drawn series to win the title of World number one Test nation, and after a rain-affected first Test in Brisbane the Aussies travelled to Adelaide full of confidence.

After yet another Michael Clarke double century the home side held a lead of 162 runs after an innings apiece. When Australia had reduced South Africa to 4/77 at stumps on day four, the writing was on the wall. Australia’s rise to the number one ranking was imminent, the newspapers had already labeled the side World Champions, the preparations for Perth had already begun and the match would be over by lunchtime on day five.

Unfortunately for Australia, the South Africans had other ideas. Francois du Plessis scored a stunning hundred on debut and the visitor’s middle and lower order held on for dear life. It was a heartbreaking draw, which felt worse than a defeat. For the Aussies and their fans it was a result that they could not recover from in the third Test, with the South Africans taking the weakened Australian attack to town on a quick WACA deck.

Adam Scott – 2012 British Open
Scott entered the final round with a four-shot lead over Graeme McDowell and Brandt Snedeker, a five-shot lead over Tiger Woods and six-shot lead over eventual winner Ernie Els. He had played some superb golf over the opening three rounds, hitting just four bogies entering Sunday’s play.

He then proceeded to open the fourth round with a bogie, before hitting another one on the third and sixth holes. However, after a birdy on the 14th, Scott held a four-stroke lead with four holes to go. The officials were preparing the Claret Jug for Scott when the unthinkable happened. A bogie on the 15th.

But it was okay, he still held a three-shot lead. Another bogie on the 16th, still a two-shot lead. A third bogie in a row on the 17th, the lead was down to just one and the unthinkable seemingly possible. The whispers could be heard, is Scott about to emulate his hero Greg Norman?

Minutes later and Scott’s worst case scenario had been confirmed. A bogie on the 18th followed by an Ernie Els birdie and we weren’t even heading to a playoff, Els was the British Open Champion. Thankfully Scott managed to recover from this heartbreaking defeat and claim the 2013 Masters, but he has still managed to cause considerable pain for his fans after performing his fair share of last round collapses in the past two years.

Honorary Mention: Emirates Team New Zealand – 2013 America’s Cup
I know it’s not an Australian collapse, but I just could not leave this one off the list. Leading the 19-race series 8-1, the New Zealand team just needed one race victory to begin New Zealand’s second America’s Cup title reign.

However, as the Americans started to claim a few races, our Kiwi friends from across the ditch started to get very nervous. Unfortunately for Team New Zealand, the Americans roared back to claim a famous, or infamous depending on where you’re from, victory that broke the hearts of not just New Zealanders, but many purist sailing fans around the world.

What do you think is Australian sport’s most epic collapse? Have your say below.

Twitter: @fromthesheds