The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

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Joined January 2013

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Formerly The Master Mind, I cover AFL, AFL Women's, NRL, the Supercars and tennis.

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2021 AFL season: Round 18 preview

We are now on the home run to September, and after an upset-ravaged Round 17 in which only one home side took the chocolates. Most matches this round will prove crucial in shaping the top eight with five rounds to play after this weekend.

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2021 AFL season: Round 18 preview
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Wimbledon 2021: The final word

After the cancellation of last year’s Wimbledon Championships, the tournament made a successful comeback this year, with Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty both leaving the All England Club after creating history with their respective victories.

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Wimbledon 2021: The final word
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2021 NRL season: Round 17 preview

With the third State of Origin match just around the corner, it means another round of split matches, and for the teams playing this weekend, weakened teams as New South Wales goes for a series clean-sweep at McDonald Jones Stadium next Wednesday night.

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2021 NRL season: Round 17 preview
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Your AFL team's run home: Part 2

It’s that time of year again when, with just seven rounds remaining until the finals get underway, the focus turns to whether your team can force their way into the top eight, or whether North Melbourne can avoid the wooden spoon.

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Your AFL team's run home: Part 2
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sorry, what I meant was that the Cats became the first team to score at least 50 points or more in each quarter.

Revisiting the Geelong Cats vs Melbourne massacre at Kardinia Park a decade on

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seems like only yesterday that match occurred. I remember watching the Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles match on TV (which, by the way, was a close affair compared to what happened at Kardinia Park) and keeping tabs on what was happening down the highway and thought, oh dear, what’s going on in Geelong? My first thought was that Dean Bailey would be gone by the end of the weekend and that’s exactly what happened.

Revisiting the Geelong Cats vs Melbourne massacre at Kardinia Park a decade on

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How wrong was he!

But one must wonder what was in the mindset of the Melbourne players going into the match. Facing the Cats in Geelong was obviously going to be a massive challenge; the question remains: did they just throw in the towel before the match even started or were the Cats just too good that day?

Revisiting the Geelong Cats vs Melbourne massacre at Kardinia Park a decade on

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In that match, Essendon fell just short of 200 points.

Revisiting the Geelong Cats vs Melbourne massacre at Kardinia Park a decade on

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just a heads up – Tevita Pangai Jr won’t play this weekend.

Storm and Panthers to clash in finals entree at potential grand final venue

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Thanks – I only knew about this this morning; I normally write my previews on Monday or Tuesday nights.

2021 NRL season Round 19 preview: Are you in or out (of the eight)?

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UPDATE: The Sydney Derby looks set to be moved to the Gabba, due to the COVID-19 situation in Victoria.

2021 AFL season: Round 18 preview

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I thought I listed him… must’ve escaped through the editing process. But thanks for the heads up.

2021 State of Origin: Game 3 preview

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JUST TO CLARIFY: Origin is tomorrow night (14/7), not tonight.

2021 State of Origin: Game 3 preview

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As we speak, McGowan has threatened a permanent hard border with NSW so an NRL Grand Final in the west would be impossible.

Remember, his benchmark for opening his borders to other states is a minimum 14 days without any locally acquired cases (down from the benchmark of 28 that was set before the WA election in March). But he could beef it back up to 28 days (which means, in his words, “crushing and killing” the virus).

Why Brisbane should host this year's NRL grand final

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“…if the first rugby league grand final not played in Sydney, is played in Melbourne.”

As noted in the article above, Brisbane hosted the 1997 Super League Grand Final between the Broncos and Sharks. That year, Sydney hosted the breakaway ARL decider between the Sea Eagles and Knights, which became famous for Darren Albert’s winning try at the death.

But strictly speaking, yes there has not yet been an NRL Grand Final played outside of Sydney since the ARL and Super League formed to create the NRL in 1998.

Why Brisbane should host this year's NRL grand final

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UPDATE: The Souths vs Cowboys match has been moved to Newcastle, while Chad Townsend won’t face his old club due to injury.

2021 NRL season: Round 17 preview

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That win against Richmond, in my opinion, was the first seed planted in the dynasty that would ultimately see them won a hat-trick of flags by 2015, to go with the flag they won in 2008.

Had Mitchell not laid that tackle at the death against Richmond, the Hawks would probably not have achieved that dominance between 2013-15.

The stage is perfectly set for Shaun Burgoyne's 400th game

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Jun

Apparently Jeff Kennett wanted to sack Alastair Clarkson had the Hawks lost to the then-winless Tigers back in round eight, 2010. To my knowledge this came to light about six or so years after that match.

The tipping point was the 43-point loss to Essendon they suffered at the MCG in round six.

The stage is perfectly set for Shaun Burgoyne's 400th game

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Jun

CORRECTION: Clara Tauson’s nationality is Denmark, not Sweden.

Wimbledon 2021: Andy Murray makes a triumphant return as favourites crash out

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Jun

I know I’ve made a huge call on her going all the way but Wimbledon has always brought out the best in her, and while she may be past her best form-wise, she is not to be underestimated.

Wimbledon 2021: Draw breakdown, analysis and predictions

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Jun

In the case of Tsitsipas losing the French Open final I’d put it down to mentality, given he revealed that his grandmother passed away shortly before the match began. He did well to lead by two sets to love, but Djokovic’s mental toughness and never-give-up attitude ultimately won out.

I dare say this year’s Wimbledon title is Djokovic’s to lose, given he has tennis immortality at his mercy (a 20th Major title at stake). I would not be surprised if it ends up being another Djokovic vs Federer final, and what a big one it would be.

Wimbledon 2021 preview

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Jun

UPDATE: The Victorian Government have announced that the Cats-Bulldogs game at Kardinia Park can go ahead with a maximum attendance of 7,000.

2021 AFL season: Round 14 preview

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Jun

True, but more specifically, had he won the French Open he would’ve won a record-breaking 21st Major title. It was all set up for him, in the same manner that Roger Federer won his then-record-breaking 15th Major title at Wimbledon (his most successful Major) in 2009.

2021 French Open: The final word

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Jun

“the first man in history to win a golden slam.”

Actually, Rafa achieved the golden slam by winning the US Open in 2010. But if you did mean “golden calendar slam”, then you’d be right as no man has ever done this in history. On the women’s side of things, only Steffi Graf (1988) has achieved it.

Another achievement that exists in tennis is the “Super Slam”, which entails winning the four Majors, Olympic Gold in singles and the ATP Finals. Only Andre Agassi has achieved this.

2021 French Open: Men's final preview

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Jun

Think you’ll find that was in 2019 not 2020. Last year’s Wimbledon tournament was cancelled at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

2021 French Open: Men's final preview

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Jun

My bad. Also it’s actually spelt ‘Barbora’ which I didn’t pick up in the first place.

2021 French Open: Women's final preview

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Jun

TOURNAMENT UPDATE

* Federer has withdrawn from the tournament, meaning ninth seed Matteo Berrettini receives a free pass into the quarter-finals
* Both Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka were knocked out overnight, losing to Elena Rybakina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova respectively.
* Paula Badosa has advanced to her first career Major quarter-final after outlasting 20th seed Marketa Vondrousova in three sets.
* Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will indeed clash in the quarter-finals, while Alexander Zverev defeated Kei Nishikori in straight sets to also advance to the quarters.

2021 French Open: The story so far

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Jun

Yeah that’s true but this is history he is chasing at Roland Garros – not just a 14th French Open title but also the outright lead on the men’s Grand Slam titles leaderboard.

He also only needs to win the ATP Finals to claim the “Super Slam” – ie winning all four Majors, the Olympic Gold Medal and the ATP Finals. Only Andre Agassi has achieved this.

Barty battles through injury as Nadal eases into bid for tennis immortality at French Open

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Jun

CORRECTION: “from *2-3 in the final set”

Should be *2-2 in the final set.

Barty battles through injury as Nadal eases into bid for tennis immortality at French Open

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