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Even though we were expecting little heading into their final match of the season against old foes England, the Wallabies served up another offering that exemplified all that is wrong with our team.
In the movie Predator, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character roams the jungle opposed to an enemy hell bent on his destruction.
​In the world of tennis, the serve and volleyers were once kings of the game. They showed an instinct and freedom for the game that was a beauty to behold.
On the biggest stage of all, Richmond broke a 37-year-old VFL/AFL drought to win the premiership, defeating a disappointing Adelaide by 48 points.
The Wallabies forwards have been consistently inconsistent for a long time now. A miserable showing against the All Blacks in Bledisloe 1 was quickly followed up by a much-improved performance in New Zealand.
​The Wallabies put in a gutsy performance on Saturday and I was genuinely proud of the effort they displayed. Most pleasing though was the tenacity and vigour shown by the forward pack.
It was a brilliant weekend of Premier League action, with great goals, red cards, late drama, and shambolic defending.
The English Premier League was back again which meant lazy weekends spent missing football were over.
​As a big believer in equalisation I will admit that I welcomed the introduction of UEFA Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations with open arms.
​There is no quick solution to rugby’s umpiring problems, but one simple change that could make things a lot better is having a second on-field referee.
​’All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.’ Substitute teams for animals and one feels that this has been the mantra of the AFL for many years.
On a humid Sunday afternoon, Roger Federer strolled to the easiest of victories over Marin Cilic, in the process sealing his eighth Wimbledon title and 19th Grand Slam win overall.
It was a gripping and brutal series and ultimately neither side could be separated.
In the pouring rain under the bright lights of the cake tin the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions played out a gripping encounter that will long be remembered for its intensity and physicality, if not necessarily its beauty.
After seeing the All Blacks sweep all before them over the last few years, I was eagerly anticipating the series against the British and Irish Lions.
It took 58 minutes of the north London derby – and being 2-0 down – for Arsenal supporters to launch into, “We’re going to Wembley” chants.
It was billed as the greatest collection of managers to have ever been assembled in Premier League history. Household names like Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew and Mark Hughes were joined by the foreign legion.
This season’s Sydney FC team will long be celebrated as one of the most successful sides in A-League history. But spare a thought for Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City.
A sleepy Saturday just as quickly morphed into super Sunday as the Barclays Premier League roared back into life.
Melbourne borne and bred, I recently arrived in London for a brief sojourn. Living in Arsenal heartland, keeping my support of Spurs under wraps has been tricky.
Some interesting points. Without a local team why would Canberra residents care about the a-league. As a victory fan it is my connection to the team that connects me to the league. No amount of FTA tv will change that at – at least for the foreseeable future. Not sure how the economics of FTA air works but a bit of chicken-egg perhaps; without the big viewer numbers BOLD won’t invest in its promotion and nor will any major FTA network but many would argue that you need FTA to generate the interest
Canberra minus cable television equals an invisible A-League
Great read Scott. Summary pieces always tough and u covered it well. Was really great to c NBL rising again. Remember the great days of mid 1990s with RLA packed out and feel like they are getting there again with hisense arena and melb United.
2018 in review: Basketball
The roar have to make money to keep it free. The article had nothing to with foxtel other than it sponsoring the piece. Editors, writers have to get paid and this is one way forward because punters who whinge about this aren’t going to pay a subscription to access content on this site
The top 10 greatest Aussie players in US Sport history
Great read Conor. If not mistaken – you have written some great pieces for the 1048 website. This is good stuff and goes with Nicholas Bishops work brilliantly.
Look forward to the next few pieces coming through
Targeting the All Blacks, Part 2: The shoot-drift gap
I’d disagree with that. I think at full strength most of their lineup is sorted:
Hartley, mako vinopola, Sinckler, itoje, launchnjry, lawes, billy v at 8. No 7 unknown but underhill seems to have made it his own. In the backs it’s going to be: young, Farrell, May, ?12, Slade at 13, daly and Nowell/Watson. They won 18 straight, 2 six nations and players then struggled off the back of a lions tour and a punishing club season. I think they will go well at WC
Combinations and chemistry take time. Why haven't we been patient?
Covington up and down as a 3 point shooter but a good wing defender. Saric plays well at no 3 or 4. Jb is one if not the best 2 way player in the nba (alongside Leonard maybe). Win for Phili – butler probably covers the offensive output if Saric and Covington and offers defensive excellence and versatility
Where does the Jimmy Butler trade leave Philadelphia?
after the absolute intensity of the preceding game at twickenham this was a bit of a let down. same old really – not taking points when they are there, malfunctioning lineout – needs work, again not sure why people think TPN is the panacea to our lineout problems – he has never been a great thrower. Scrummaging was good. Aimless kicking. If you want to take a look at tactical kicking at its finest – watch the england v nz match. ok to kick but intelligently and with purpose i.e. to the corners to gain terriotry, build pressure, high midfield balls with strong chasers (we dont do either well). basically we cant sack chieka and co because RA cant afford it and we will need to ride it out until end of WC. it pains me to say it but the worst thing that could happen is for us make it to the RWC final again and we have another 4 years of this…
Seven talking points from Wallabies v Wales
Haha. Sorry I meant to say Aron
October dreaming: The best time to be a Carlton supporter
Great read Anon, it’s been a good October for us. We will b better next year but still struggle. 6 wins and bring more competitive would be a good outcome. I’ve been a supporter since 2002 and seen mostly pain but just gotta stick fat
October dreaming: The best time to be a Carlton supporter
How about positive stuff – I only got to watch the Melbourne derby from London but 40000 showed up and it was a great game. Star power, good skill and active fans back to their best
Six talking points from A-League Round 1
Great wkend of epl. Loved the hammers beating manure- and playing good football to do so.
It appears everyone can see United’s ship sinking except Jose Mourinho: EPL Matchday 7 wrap
great read as always. agree they need a ruckman. I would say a couple of small forwards. Defence and midfield look strong (albeit slightly 1 paced) and you have a dominant key forward in Tomahawk. Delahus + another small forward (e,g, narkle) might be enough to push towards a flag. They made 2 prelims in the last 3 years – they arent far in the overall context of things. Need to also figure out gamestyle – key ingredients at this stage are manic pressure, forward line turnover and pressure acts and getting numbers to the contest for down the line kicks (and of course key skills by hands and foot but i think the top 8 have that covered). Achieve that and they could win another flag
In five years the Cats could be Carlton - so go hard now
great read and preview. thanks for the posts. cant disagree with any of it. Bit worried about my cowboys – lost des bryant and TE whitten from the receiving core and not sure we have replaced it. Season rests on offensive line once again dominating and huge seasons from prescott and elliott
2018-19 NFC East preview
im a bit late to the party here (was avoiding the roar trying to watch a reaply of bledisloe cup). COmmenting to ensure stuart keeps writing these wrap pieces which are on a par with some of the other big sports agencies ala ESPNFC etc.
Liverpool different beast this year – keita sorts out the problematic DMF position, VVD really finding his feet and with Gomez back – have flexibility to play 3 centre backs in a 5-3-2 or 2 CB in a 4-2-3-1.
The Gunners' start looks worse than it is: English Premier League Matchday 2 wrap
good read. reactionary perhaps but stats dont lie and indias overseas batting performances have been woeful. Had 3 good chances to win games in SA and 1st test in UK and batting failed. Im not sure about Pandhya – he isnt making runs and isnt used much in bowling. But coming to australia where it will be hot we need a 5th bowling option and cant see anyone else providing that.
The key is preparation – they decided to play ODI/T20. They should have played more practice matches to get used to conditions. Other than that I am not sure what else they could have done becuase not many teams would have survived in very bowler friendly conditions and a good and somewhat reinvigorated pace attack.
As for consistent pitches – bowler friendly pitches is the way to go. Provide exciting cricket and more often good finishes. Add more roads with no bounce, seam or swing will surely kill test cricket
India need to overhaul their Test side before heading to Australia
some good ones there. I would love to see bolt out there. Heart ruling my head here and even if he isnt quite up to scratch it would bring fans (perhaps the ones people on this forum wont be keen on having come anyway), provide great likely international coverage. Yep – perhaps may create issues in the squad not to mention the wider integrity of the a-league if he gets a game and is woefully substandard but who cares
Also, MV allowing free standing in the north terrace – will the NTC return, avoid flares and bring their energy to MV home games? time will tell but good to have them back (if they choose to return)
A few things you will not see in the A-League this season
cant speak for others but I am interested in the EPL and enjoyed the read. I know it was a tester but a bit more breadth next time (i hope there is a next time) covering more teams/depth would be great.
I am not sure following A-league and EPL are mutually exclusive – I follow both keenly. Also why can t we have articles on EPL. if u dont like it, dont read it.
As for what matters the football – city look the goods, mendy seems a brilliant addition after a year out with injury. but may take some time for teams to gel e.g. west ham and for others to get going after the WC. might be 1 horse race but lets see, Liverpool on paper seem the most likely to challenge. Never count a Jose coached team out either
The Roar's English Premier League review: Matchday 1
Nice read. I think r real threat for the flag. The apply strong pressure, have good defensive systems, are clean by hand and foot and can work their way through a zone with short kicks. Throws in finals experience and mcg not being a factor and hawks need to be in the premiership conversation
Are Hawthorn pretenders or premiership contenders?
Why would saints pick a key position forward when they have Bruce, McCartin and membrey? Admittedly not all have reached potential but saints need midfield class
Six hot takes from AFL Round 21
great read. agree with almost everything. I actually like the long goal square with no kick to yourself idea. A lot of congestion arises from the full 18 man press off the kick in. Bring the kick in point from higher and you open up the field. Harder to effectively zone effectively in the wider part of ground. A turnover also less liekly to result in repeat inside 50 as you might be near centre wing
disagree with your thoughts on free agency. Free agency results (i havent gone through all free agent player movements since inception) anecdotally that players go from bottom clubs to top clubs. e.g Probably tom lynch, james frawley to melbourne, brian lake to hawks. u lose potentially a player (possibly in their prime) for nothing – providing compensation gives some level of equalisation. I think the afl has got equalisation mostly right – we have a more even league than better and having more teams in contention for finals is better fans, means less menaingless games in the end of seasion. Of course free agency compensation is just a small piece in the equalisation puzzle.
The protected zone has been better policed of late. Right now everything is about slowing the play down – manning mark, little things to stop ball getting to players hand etc. this includes players running near player wioth ball to slow down play on – has to be clamped down. Like most things – afl went way to excessive but have now got it right. A bit like deliberate OOB – crazily policed early but now reached a good level
The AFL has problems, but not where they think
again not sure why rashid copping flak. He was overlooked for test cricket who opted to play moeen ali. He gave up first class cricket and got recalled (not his fault) and agreed to play – who in their right mind would say no to playing test cricket?
I did go back to stats from espn cric info and bess has an 76 wickets@ average 26 and economy (3.1) over 22 matches than rashid (160+ matches) 490 wickets @35 with economy of 3.6. given younger and playing first class cricket i would have picked bess
Why Australia must not mirror England's Rashid selection
its a trial and common sense will prevail ( i hope). Concussion is real issue. This has a flow on effect downwards at all levels – many parents may seriously re-consider enrolling their child in a sport where there is a future and real chance of brain injury. Run the trial, do the stats and see what comes out. If concussion numbers are no diffrent (of course we assume currently they are reported correctly) then scrap it.
As for ‘diving’ – ducking head to win penalty, i think refs will catch on. Using aussie rules as an example where players started using a heads first apporach to milk free kicks, if you duck and lead with head then it is play on. I would also like to see concussion stats on pick and drive etc – i think anecdotally less concussions arise from this than a rampaging players and a tackling player getting caught in the wrong position, shoulder charge (now banned) or a swinging arm
New tackle laws have World Rugby courting disaster
im a bit torn on this whole rules debate. The afl has intervened many times over the years to incredible effect – out on the full, centre square, limiting numbers wtihin centre square, interchange, rushed behind rule etc. AFL tactics also changes in cycles – there was the sydney that brought the flood to come degree, contested stoppage based brand but then countered by the great geelong sides 2007-2011, hawks played great skilful footy with an effective press/.defensive system and now we have WB/richmond winning with pressure, contested footy, quality by hand, small forward lines.
The game waxes and wanes but I think the AFL generally has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the game – i dont want to be cynical and think this all TV driven and happy to give the AFL some leash to make some tweaks – larger goal square I think is a brilliant idea
Panic! at the AFL
Great read Matt. love the feature piece! Need more of them across the different sports.
As for SOO, I imagine there will be more balance now – should be a fascinating few years to come but as a NSW fan wouldnt mind some domination for all the hurt since 2006
Origin's great shift: How New South Wales ended Queensland's dynasty to start an empire of their own
great piece and a fantastic way to bow out. going to miss your analysis articles. All the best with the cadetship
An illustrated review of Australia's 3-2 win over Syria, and my last column