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Please note that as of 2/10/2022 I am no longer active on The Roar. I covered AFL, AFL Women's, NRL, the Supercars and tennis.
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A new chapter in the rivalry between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows will be opened when they face off in the first ever…
All you need to know for Sunday's big games.
Joel Selwood has completed his graduation from being a premiership rookie in 2007 to a premiership captain in 2022, leading his beloved Geelong Cats…
And then there were two. After 198 regular season matches, 1,188 Brownlow Medal votes, 4,781 regular season goals (and a further 194 goals in…
Only four teams remain in the race for this year’s NRL premiership, with the Eels, Panthers and Rabbitohs to carry the hopes of the…
Only four teams remain in the race for the NRLW premiership in the fifth season, with defending premiers the Sydney Roosters looking to make…
World sport has been rocked by the sudden news on Thursday that Roger Federer is to retire from tennis after next week's Laver Cup…
For over 17 years, the Dreamtime at the G has been a highlight on the AFL calendar. First held on a Saturday afternoon during…
Going into the final round of the fifth NRL Women's season, all teams are still in contention for a finals berth, including the last-placed…
Only four teams remain in the race for this year's AFL premiership, with the Geelong Cats and Collingwood to carry the hopes of the…
After week one of the finals, the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have had their premiership dreams dashed, while the Penrith Panthers and North…
Men's tennis has a brand new Grand Slam champion - and a brand new world number one. His name? 19-year-old Spanish teenage sensation Carlos…
After suffering through a form slump following her French Open victory in June, many questioned whether Iga Swiatek still had the hunger and desire…
And then there were two. The 2022 US Open will reach its climax when Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz square off for not just…
And then there were two. World number one Iga Swiatek will shoot for her second Major title this year when she comes up against…
With only two rounds remaining before the finals, the clash between the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights shapes as a potential grand final preview,…
Carlos Alcaraz's chances of claiming his maiden grand slam title and becoming the youngest men's world No. 1 in history remain alive after he…
Australian involvement in both the men's and women's singles draws are over, with Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanovic both bowing out of the US…
A new men's Grand Slam champion is guaranteed after Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic both bowed out of the US Open, leaving Casper Ruud…
For forty years between 1982 and 2011, the Sydney Swans were the only AFL club in town, which naturally meant that Sydneysiders would have…
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
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
In that match, Essendon fell just short of 200 points.
Revisiting the Geelong Cats vs Melbourne massacre at Kardinia Park a decade on
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
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)?
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
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
JUST TO CLARIFY: Origin is tomorrow night (14/7), not tonight.
2021 State of Origin: Game 3 preview
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
“…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
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
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
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
CORRECTION: Clara Tauson’s nationality is Denmark, not Sweden.
Wimbledon 2021: Andy Murray makes a triumphant return as favourites crash out
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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