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Stuart Thomas is a sports writer, freelance journalist and copywriter who made the jump from Roar Guru to Expert in 2017. A former trainee professional golfer, his sporting passions are broad with particular interests in football, AFL and rugby league. His love of sport is only matched by his passion for gardening and self-sustainability. Follow him on Twitter @stuartthomas72, connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn and see his work at https://www.stuartthomas.com.au
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Australia’s John Millman faces Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in Round 2 Australian Open action. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty takes on Yafan Wang in second round action at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 12:15pm (AEDT).
The Brisbane Roar host Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium with a chance to grab their second win of the season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
Taro Daniel and Thanasi Kokkinakis meet in first round action at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:30pm (AEDT).
Johanna Konta of Great Britain and Alja Tomljanovic of Australia meet in first round Australian Open action from Melbourne Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11am (AEDT).
As Mark Rudan does cartwheels down the streets of Wellington and Perth Glory fans salivate at the idea of a championship returning to the west, others appear to be crumbling.
Get ready for something of a bizarre week of A-League football, with matches from Rounds 12, 14 and 15 running from Tuesday the 15th through to Sunday the 20th of January.
Australia’s Sydney International champion Alex De Minaur takes on Portugal’s Pedro Sousa in the first round of his Australian Open campaign for 2019. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3pm (AEDT).
Two young Australians meet in the first round of the 2019 Australian Open, as Astra Sharma takes on Priscilla Hon on Day 1 at Melbourne Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11am (AEDT).
After another intriguing round of A-League football, a number of familiar faces and a few debutantes make an appearance in the A-League team of the week.
Match result: Australian Alex de Minaur emerged from a marathon day of tennis to claim his first ATP title, beating Andreas Seppi 7-5 7-6 (7-5) in the Sydney International final.
Match result: Australian Ashleigh Barty fell narrowly short of taking home the 2019 Sydney International title, losing to Petra Kvitova in a final-set tiebreaker.
Match result: Melbourne City have defeated the Brisbane Roar at AAM park to open Round 13 of the A-League.
The new wave of Australian men’s tennis is on show at the Sydney International when Alex de Minaur faces Jordan Thompson. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm (AEDT).
Round 13 of the A-League plays out more traditionally over the regular Friday, Saturday and Sunday time slots. This time of year is always chaotic, with midweek rounds placing extra travel demands on teams and making tipping even more of a lottery at times.
Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios meet on the second day of action at the Kooyong classic. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1pm (AEDT).
The Western Sydney Wanderers and the Wellington Phoenix face off at ANZ Stadium in Round 12 A-League action. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
As a certain neurotic man with the surname of Costanza once said, “George is getting upset!”
Tipping glory comes to those who wait – and waited I have. Five from five for me in Round 11.
As the football rolls from one A-League round to another at this time of year, it can be a little tricky to decipher one week from the next.
Pretty sure the immense response to this piece shows the general consensus around the flaws in the team. Personally, I feel Mitchell Marsh has been a poor choice for his entire career. Statistically, there is no validation for his selection. His brother is frail and ageing, despite some highlights in years past, he does not warrant selection either.
In the series just past, we entered the matches with three players openly fingered as possessing seriously questionable techniques. Handscomb, Head and Finch were duly exposed and Labuschagne is an all rounder at best.
Now a twenty year-old is thrown into the mix with limited matches and few runs to his name. Joe Burns comes back in, with Renshaw, and both seemed destined to enjoy the ten tests in ten years style selection policy that destroyed the first half of Matt Hayden’s career.
The entire process is all over the place and if I feel passionately that Australian cricket lost its way a number of years back with a bully boy attitude that Virat Kohli has now successfully challenged, I am more than entitled to that view. Did I enjoy it? Yes I did. Not because I hate Australia, or cricket, or our players. Just because I like to people succeed and get what they deserve. At the moment, Australian cricket is getting exactly what it deserves.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka
Bingo! There it is. So ill-informed and convenient. What in the world could my comments about Australian cricket have to do with football? So typical Soccer fans defend their position and refuse to be told which team to support? Good on them.
Don’t know you mate, respect your view, but placing in people in boxes might not be the best solution to the massive issues facing Australian cricket.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka
Yes indeed the issue does lie with the selectors. They chose the team and no ill-will placed on the Australian players. I threw money on the Indians, knowing that the Australian team doesn’t stand for what it once did. I find that sort of team difficult to support. I think I have that right. In fact, I know I do. The ‘go back to football’ remark says a lot more about you than me I think. There is really no need for such personal insults.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka
Incorrect Ray87, I will support whomever I choose to support. I loved watching Kohli stand up to the aussies; a broken team and further enunciate a flawed culture that had been brewing for decades. You may not like that or disagree, that’s fine, but don’t tell me what kind of a supporter I am or should be.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka
Surely this is satire? I’ll be cheering Sri Lanka home, as I did India. Hard to support a team that is selected fundamentally incorrectly.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka
I am not a Troisi fan either. I don’t get the appeal. Outside the top thirty A-League players for me. The Mitchell Marsh of Australian football.
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I have a relative whose grandmother used to smoke half a cigarette a day. No more, no less. Light up, smoke, save the rest for the next night. Repeat the process. When I was playing golf for a living, I was doing two packs a day. It is why a sing like John Farnham!
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I think they will do some big things in the next ten years. Unlike some of the other Asian nations, they have the physical presence. At times against the Thai’s they were just too strong; there is often a weakness in some of the Asian nations where body shape is generally slightly smaller than many opposition teams.
I watch a lot of the Indian League and was impressed with their performance the other night. heck, I just love watching be successful. Poor Thai coach though!
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I’m looking at this story now. What is going on? What a stunning development!
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I agree Chris, I’m not sure exactly what I was getting at either. Normally I have an end point in mind but this was more of a Monday morning emotional response that weaved through different ideas. Sorry.
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I knew there would be the usual frantic thrust and the ensuing heartbreak. It just looked like we would not score. Let’s hope for 3 or 4 on Friday night and things might look a whole lot rosier.
Importantly, my City tip at the start of the season is looking okay to this point. Especially considering the fact that I had assumed the best striker in the league would be playing for them!
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
I watched him closely when he went down. He was in a lot of pain. As were we all!
Sometimes watching the Socceroos is like licking an ashtray
Ams is the worst of the lot and I felt that he botched quite a lot in that game. The Vargas thing all comes back to his abuse more than anything. He should know better than that. All players should know that no matter how bad they think a decision may be, the VAR will check it. He abused the ref before even giving the booth a chance to ensure there was no error made.
As for the conspiracy theory……I’m not so sure. Perhaps more a case of the one referee in the league who scares the heck out of me whenever he takes to the pitch.
The A-League team of the week: Round 11
Reason was that they were completely outplayed in the first half. Personally, I felt they were way down on recent weeks.
The A-League team of the week: Round 11
He was great. I’m on a real anti-Kosmina thing at the moment. He gets a lot wrong and talks in cliches.
The A-League team of the week: Round 11
Well what a night that was!
With a team happy to sit and soak like Jordan were, the answer lies in the sheer weight of balls into the area. They will crack eventually and the Socceroos were within centimetres of making that happen.
Far too many times I saw players on the flanks ignore a chance to centre and cut back and recycle. When a team stacks the box it, of course, makes avenues less existent. In some ways it brings more chance and momentary opportunity into the contest.
Therefore, as the Socceroos did in the final 5 minutes, throw it in every chance you get and throw it in quickly before the defence is well set.
It might not be beautiful or particularly scientific yet neither was Jordan’s approach. Instead of attempting to defeat their wall with just skill and dexterity, a greater sense of desperation and pressure was needed in the area.
Sure it’s primal but that is exactly the trait Jordan used to win the game.
Sad night. #socceroofightback
Arnie's second coming is off to the worst possible start
Nice Paul,
Syria showed us all what they had in the play-off, Thailand pose such a fleet-footed and agile threat and Qatar might surprise a few with the quality of their performances. Jordan will play some nice football as well.
The best thing about the Cup is the difficulty in getting an accurate form line across the nations.
Just hours away now. Can’t wait.
Iran vs South Korea final for me, depending on the quarters draw. South Korea to win with you know who scoring.
2019 AFC Asian Cup preview: The dark horses
Certainly changed his team’s approach immensely. Fixing that Perth defence was a challenge though. Typical Poppa! Good on him. Nice to see people having success.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 11
Nice…..please not another broken post! Let’s see how many people actually choose that option. That would be scary.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 11
Similar to mine. I think the Victory may demolish WSW. To me they look lost, disheartened and disinterested. Real problems.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 11
Based on starting positions….I’d say Poppa and Rudan have done the most in terms of improving their teams thus far. Not sure if that is what the ‘coach of the season’ qualification should be. Some might argue that the champions have the coach of the season…..every year.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 11
I love Fenton! A really underestimated player. Georgevski was good and I like his style but the Kiwi turned me on against the Victory. Baccus is a little weak for me, talented, but needs a little more force and power. All good players though and all played well on the weekend. I must admit, the team of the week causes more writing stress than anything I have ever done. NIce piece today by the way, I like the thinking. A little different from the the usual Kruse, Juric, Leckie mantra we have seen for too long.
The A-League team of the week: Round 10
See BA sports below.
Three changes confirmed in new-look Australian squad to play Sri Lanka