The Roar
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The Roar

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Joined January 2013

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Formerly The Master Mind, I cover mostly AFL and tennis, as well as some NRL and other sports.

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2020 AFL preliminary finals preview

The Port Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats are left in this year’s race for the AFL premiership, with Victorian fans currently in lockdown hoping that their state will be represented in next week’s grand final.

AFL
5
Oct
2020 AFL preliminary finals preview
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To be honest, I’m not a real rugby union follower.

A look back at an unprecedented sporting year impacted by COVID-19

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AFL
 
3w

also –

* fourth straight year that the only match between Brisbane and West Coast is at the Gabba (including as part of the original 2020 fixture).
* fifth straight year that the only match between Richmond and Sydney is in Melbourne.
* fourth straight year that the only match between Brisbane and Sydney is in Queensland, though last season’s match was a Swans home game in Cairns.

Too many fixture repeats that should be ironed out come the 2022 season.

The moments and matches you must not miss in the 2021 AFL season

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AFL
 
Dec

LATE NEWS: Xavier Coates will miss the Origin decider due to injury.

2020 State of Origin Game 3 preview

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League
 
Nov

“the Sunshine Coast Storm”

Would love to see Melbourne Storm play at least one home game at their adopted home next year, this is of course pending the re-opening of the border between Victoria and Queensland, which may be possible before Christmas.

Storm’s 2020 title must be their toughest one yet, considering the circumstances that were thrown their way, including being forced out of Victoria in mid-June after the second wave of coronavirus took grip on the state.

The A to Z of season 2020

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League
 
Oct

“the Bulldog fans are much more ruckus than the Panthers fans.”

I agree, Bulldogs fans have more passion because they have been a successful club over the course of history, though they haven’t won a premiership since 2004. It was also at ANZ Stadium where the club regularly play their home games, but despite being the minor premiers in 2012, it was their lack of finals experience (prior to 2012, they hadn’t played a finals series since 2009, and not a Grand Final since 2004) that failed them on Grand Final night.

But while I will stick to my prediction of the Panthers, it’s anyone’s to win here.

2020 NRL grand final: The ultimate preview

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League
 
Oct

Sorry, I meant Nathan Cleary. Easy to get the names mixed up!

2020 NRL grand final: The ultimate preview

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League
 
Oct

Knew this from the beginning that the Panthers could build on from its round one win over the Roosters, even after COVID-19 caused the season to be suspended.

It’s wins like these that can make or break a season, and in the case of the mountain men, it was the first brick laid in a season of success they are enjoying.

Also worth noting, the only team they failed to beat all year were Newcastle, against whom the Panthers had a 14-all (?) draw in round three. Though they did have a loss to the Eels in round five, the mountain men got them back in round 18.

First win set up Penrith's record year

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League
 
Oct

CORRECTIONS: “ It all begins on Thursday night…”

That and all references to Thursday night should be Friday night.

2020 NRL finals series: Week 1 preview

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League
 
Sep

Nah, I never intended to use that as the article heading.

From powerhouse club to wooden spooners: The Brisbane Broncos' demise is complete

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League
 
Sep

“Wayne Bennett is always in the conversion with this topic, winning the minor premiership in 2009 and then the premiership in 2011”

Think you meant 2010, the year the Dragons won their first premiership as a merged entity.

Anyway, on topic, and it’s hard to argue the fact that Trent Robinson is indeed the best coach of the modern era. Got the best out of Anthony Minichiello in his twilight years, and produced the most impressive rookie season out of any NRL coach since Ricky Stuart led the Chooks to the title in 2002.

I’d say out of Robinson and Stuart, the former’s feat was particularly impressive because not many thought of the Roosters as premiership contenders in 2013, especially after they’d missed the finals in the preceding two seasons, whereas Stuart took charge of a world-class team (think Minichiello, Fittler, Fitzgibbon, Ricketson, Wing and Hodges) that underachieved in 2001, despite them making the finals where they were knocked out in the first week of the finals by the eventual premiers, Newcastle. Not to mention that the Roosters had also made the Grand Final under the late Graham Murray in 2000, only to be on the wrong end of a gut-wrenching defeat to Bennett’s Broncos.

But you also have to give Bellamy the credit for the way he turned the Storm around after the devastation that was the salary cap scandal in 2010. Many said it would take years for the club to recover, but he got them back to the top of the ladder and then the title in 2012, and have been up there among the contenders since.

Trent Robinson: The best coach of the modern era

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League
 
Sep

As a Queensland derby should be. I’d expect that it would still be well-attended despite both teams’ positions on the ladder and COVID-19 restrictions surrounding attendances at sporting events.

Final chance for Broncos to avoid wooden spoon in Queensland derby mockbuster

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League
 
Sep

…that’s if the Broncos win by a large margin AND the Bulldogs lose by a large margin, which is just about impossible.

But if both the Broncos and Bulldogs win, then the former will finish last on percentage.

Final chance for Broncos to avoid wooden spoon in Queensland derby mockbuster

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League
 
Sep

😂

I actually live in Sydney but of the two major footy codes (AFL and NRL) I tend to lean more towards the former.

What Round 1 of the 2021 AFL season should look like, plus other fixture proposals

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AFL
 
Sep

That’s what I’m thinking too, if the regression continues next year as I fear it may, then the board will have no choice but to move Leon Cameron on.

Next season will be his eighth at the helm and I dare say anything less than (say) a top-six finish will see him finished at the WestConnex Centre by this time next year.

From grand finalists to flag favourites to also-rans: the sad story behind the Giant downfall in 2020

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AFL
 
Sep

This year would’ve been Port’s turn, but the Crows were successful in lobbying the AFL for a round one home game so that they would toast Rory Sloane’s 200th game at the Oval.

But because next year is an odd year, it’d be the Crows’ turn (again) to play at Adelaide Oval in round one. Also worth noting, Port had three straight round-one home games between 2008-10, so why can’t Adelaide?

What Round 1 of the 2021 AFL season should look like, plus other fixture proposals

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AFL
 
Sep

I’d like to think that we’ll be back to a standard 23-round season next year, assuming the COVID-19 situation is under control in Australia by then.

Alternatively, the AFL could unveil two alternate fixtures – the standard 23-round one, and a rolling 18-round one (similar to this year’s) in the event that state border closures prove a challenge to the season being completed.

What Round 1 of the 2021 AFL season should look like, plus other fixture proposals

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AFL
 
Sep

CORRECTION: “… could yet finish in 17th place should North Melbourne upset West Coast on Thursday night.”

Should be “should North Melbourne be beaten by West Coast”.

2020 AFL season: Round 18 preview

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AFL
 
Sep

Honestly I can’t see the Panthers dropping the points to the Bulldogs next week because the last thing they want is to cop a psychological blow ahead of October.

In that, a loss to such a lowly-placed team could affect their mindset in the finals series.

2020 NRL season: Round 19 preview

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League
 
Sep

On the women’s side, I know there may have been plenty, but the one that stands out is the 2017 French Open, whereby each of the quarter-finalists in the draw had never previously won a Major.

Serena Williams wins her 100th as Alex de Minaur breaks new ground

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Tennis
 
Sep

…after 1990 for that matter, as Vasek Pospisil (born that year) was knocked out by Alex de Minaur this morning.

The last man under 30 to win a Major was Andy Murray (29) at Wimbledon in 2016.

It has been well documented that Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have dominated the Slams for so long and so I think it’s finally refreshing to see someone else win it for a change.

But could this be merely a pause in their dominance, or is this the changing of the guard that has rather come belatedly?

Controversy promises renewal at Flushing Meadows in the Round of 16

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Tennis
 
Sep

At this stage I have said “finalist”, doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll lose. Rather, I expect her to reach the final because despite having not won at Flushing Meadows since 2014, she has played her very best tennis in New York.

She has not failed to reach the semi-finals here since 2007, despite missing the 2010 and 2017 tournaments due to injury and pregnancy, respectively.

2020 US Open mega preview

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Tennis
 
Aug

Commentator’s curse. Bombers have just come from six goals down to beat the Hawks by 16. I actually tipped the Bombers to win, too.

Your AFL team's run home: Part 2

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AFL
 
Aug

CORRECTION:

Predicted finish: first (15 wins, 3 losses, 60 premiership points)

Should be first (14 wins, 3 losses, 56 premiership points).

Your AFL team's run home: Part 1

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AFL
 
Aug

Three, actually. Or if you meant south-East Queensland, you’d be correct with four as Cairns is in the far north.

Your AFL team's run home: Part 1

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AFL
 
Aug

As much as I hate to say this, I think that given the circumstances with COVID-19 and Melbourne being locked down, the Dreamtime in Darwin will be a one-off. However, should it prove successful, then what I think could happen is that the game be played in Darwin every three years.

So for example:
2021 will be a Richmond home game at the MCG
2022 will be an Essendon home game at the MCG
2023 will be a Richmond home game in Darwin
2024 will be an Essendon home game at the MCG
2025 will be a Richmond home game at the MCG
2026 will be an Essendon home game in Darwin
…and so on.

However, I believe there is a contract tying the Dreamtime game to the MCG, but let’s see what happens.

A Dreamtime with a difference as Darwin becomes the AFL's epicentre

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AFL
 
Aug
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