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Stirling Coates started out as an AFL crowd contributor, and now is in charge of The Roar's esports section.
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Penrith’s horror 2019 season has gone from bad to worse, with star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak today requesting an immediate release from his contract following his shock omission ahead of Thursdays’ clash with Parramatta.
All 16 NRL clubs have revealed their lineups for Round 11, with a number of big surprises grabbing headlines.
The deadline for Israel Folau to appeal his contract termination for a code of conduct breach with Rugby Australia’s panel has elapsed, with the former Waratah and Wallaby declining to appeal his sanction.
With a new tournament structure for professional Hearthstone kicking off tonight (AEST), regular weekly competition between the world’s best players will soon be the norm.
The AFL season continues to pick up steam, with a host of intriguing matches set to make Round 9 another headache on the tipping front.
Western Bulldogs key forward and 2013 No.1 draft pick Tom Boyd has announced a shock retirement from the AFL, with two years still to run on the infamous seven-year deal he signed in 2015.
The 2019 Hearthstone World Championship only finished up recently, but a new era of esports for the popular card game is already upon us.
Sydney Swans co-captain Dane Rampe has been fined a total of $11,000 – $6000 of which is suspended – for two controversial incidents in his side’s dramatic five-point win over Essendon on Friday night.
We’re officially two months into the 2019 season. The tipping is getting a little bit easier, but still not as easy as many of us would like.
Rugby Australia has tonight finally concluded its lengthy code of conduct hearing over Israel Folau, finding the Waratahs and Wallabies fullback guilty of breaching the players’ code of conduct.
This weekend saw one of the most dominant empires in Australian sports – yes, all sports – toppled.
While Round 7 might not have as many blockbusters as a week ago, it makes up for it with sheer tipping difficulty across the weekend.
After almost 120 matches of professional Hearthstone, the field of 16 has been whittled down to the world champion – Norway’s Hunterace (Casper Notto).
There’s just one day left to go at the Hearthstone World Championship in Taiwan, with today’s schedule packing in the full suite of quarter-finals, semis and the ultimate decider.
With 16 of the world’s very best Hearthstone players in Taiwan for the World Championship, I took the opportunity to wrangle some of them together and explore just how esports professionals prepare for major tournaments.
The initial group stage at the Hearthstone World Championship is now behind us, with every match from here on out being do or die.
The first day of action at the Hearthstone World Championship is in the books, with the initial and winner’s matches from Groups A and B done and dusted.
“I think Worlds is going to determine a lot of what people are talking about.”
Anzac Day means an unusually early start to Round 6 – and what great news that is.
The most coveted event on the Hearthstone esports calendar is upon us, with the HCT World Championship set to take place in a week’s time in Taiwan.
As someone who used to umpire, the word ‘cheat’ is especially frowned upon in terms of umpire abuse as it questions their integrity. Clubs and players are well aware that term in particular will attract a sanction.
Lloyd wishes Blues had Mumford's aggro
If I’m on Sydney’s board, I’m taking notes right now…
Tom Boyd announces immediate retirement from AFL at 23
I can’t live with myself if I ignore a hunch that turns out to be correct. I’d much rather go with my gut and get it wrong than just play it safe all the time.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 9
Just the reporting the news mate. I’ve gone on record on several comment threads throughout the site claiming the umpires got it right in not calling the free kick.
Rampe issued two fines for Friday night incidents
The very fact that the person who suggested AFLX wasn’t laughed out of the room is an indictment in itself. The fact that it got discussed, analysed, reviewed, implemented and then persisted with is already off the cliff.
The AFL’s administration has failed and it must be changed
His intent does matter because, unlike the majority of the laws, the rulebook implicitly specifies intentionally shaking the goal post is illegal.
LISTEN: Did the umpires get it right with Rampe?
Therein lies the problem though. The Dogs’ form last week was indeed irresistible, but they’ve exhibited utterly diabolical form elsewhere.
Remember in 2017 when St Kilda obliterated Richmond by 67 points after leading 92-10 at half-time, only to lose to Essendon by 61 points the next week and their next three matches overall?
The Dogs look very much in the same boat for me. They’ve also only won in Ballarat once (over Gold Coast by just nine points last year) against two losses. Hardly an imposing home ground advantage.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 8
Definitely agree with your last line. The guy won two Brownlow medals, three years apart, playing two different positions! Insane!
Even if we don’t see completely eye to eye, thanks for engaging in a very civil and measured discussion with me on what is a potentially volatile topic.
Boo-merang: Why booing will always return
The argument about other indigenous players not getting booed gets tossed around a lot, but it’s pretty poor.
Nobody is saying Goodes was booed purely for being an Indigenous Australian, the argument has been he was being booed for speaking up on Indigenous issues (Collingwood game) or celebrating his Indigenous heritage in a manner the crowd didn’t like (Carlton game onwards).
You have to admit that, if that was the undeniable reason for Goodes being booed (which I’m aware you disagree with), the booing would be racist regardless of how many Indigenous players actually copped it.
In the end, it comes down to when and why you think the booing started. I’ve watched a lot of Swans games in my time and I am quite certain – apart from a game against Essendon in either 2011 or 2012 – systematic and widespread booing didn’t take off until after the Australian of the Year speech between 2013 and 2014 and the war dance in 2015’s Indigenous Round. As such, I find it hard to argue against the point that a lot of the booing had racial undertones.
If you’re adamant the booing began beforehand and in response to sliding reports, that’s fair enough and I respect your line of thinking, but I think a lot of things just don’t add up if that version of events is correct. Why has no other serially reported player been booed to the extent Goodes was? Why is Leigh Matthews – one of the most suspended players of his era – celebrated as one of the greats? Why did it take three years after Goodes’ last report for sliding for the booing to really take off?
Boo-merang: Why booing will always return
Plenty of players play for free kicks or ‘constantly whinge’ for free kicks and aren’t booed to the extent Goodes was. His last report for sliding in studs up was in Round 3, 2012, almost three full years before the booing became systematic, while the only crowd antagonisation I can recall was pointing a fan who made a racist remark to security in 2013 and performing an indigenous war dance in 2015 – both of which occurred in Indigenous Round.
People can say all they like that the booing was because ‘he was a jerk’, but the increases in booing undeniably coincided with the latter two incidents. If one’s definition of a being a jerk (and I don’t mean to imply that this is your definition) is influenced by those incidents, that definition, as well as a decision to boo based on that definition, is racially motivated.
As far as not being able to react to Goodes based on his character, I think we as a society have a responsibility to exclude ourselves from certain behaviours if it has clearly been hijacked by others for unsavoury reasons. You said it yourself that you were sure racist jerks were booing him and so I’d argue, in that circumstance, joining in on the booing – no matter your attentions – doesn’t make you racist, but is still somewhat irresponsible.
Boo-merang: Why booing will always return
That’s some serious revisionist history you’ve got going on there anon…
Boo-merang: Why booing will always return
The old ‘other countries treat your minority much worse so you should just accept how things are here’ argument. Would you accept it if someone told Folau to be thankful he’s in Australia because of how Christians are treated in some Middle Eastern countries? Of course not.
No one person is bigger than the game
Fair comments. I think you need to look at it from the other side of the coin in that Rafaam allows hyper-aggressive Zoolock decks to stay in the game a lot longer than they otherwise would be able to.
In a sense, the complete randomness showcases the necessary skill of a Hearthstone pro to adapt and think critically across each turn, rather than just who brought the superior decks to the tournament.
HCT's grand final was the best and the worst of Hearthstone in a single game
We need to have a word over that GOAT-busters quip.
It was the week of the underdog in the Overwatch League
He’s not excluding Folau from playing rugby. Folau is more than welcome to pick up a ball at any park in the country.
He’s excluding him from being offered a lucrative contract by his specific private organisation to be paid handsomely by playing the sport in front of paying spectators. Massive difference.
If bigotry and intolerance of the beliefs of minority cultures is upsetting to you, I trust you took exception to Israel’s anti-gay comments as well?
Where will Israel Folau play next?
Stop being such a snowflake. Daniel is simply stating his opinions. This used to be a free country.
Rugby union would be a more inclusive, kinder place without Israel Folau and his backwards views
Thanks for picking that one up Macca. The piece has been amended.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 4
Kicking teams out for long premiership droughts seems very, very rich coming from a Bulldogs supporter…
Eight talking points from AFL Round 3
They’ve won four of their last five against Adelaide at Docklands. Could be on to something?
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 4
Hey! I’m still very much ‘on’ the Lions, I just recognise it’s rare for a team to win four games in a row.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 4
As has been made clear several times whenever Folau makes these kinds of comments, free speech refers to freedom from government persecution – nothing more.
One’s right to free speech does not excuse them from; criticism by others over that speech, or, having action taken against them by private entities whom they are contracted to.
It's time for Israel to go
I’m hoping Michael Gibbons has a blinder – he’s a great story.
Carlton Blues vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Thursday night forecast
I was going a bit further back to when they squandered Pick 7 for Mark Whiley and Kristian Jaksch when I made that call, but those are some reasonable counterpoints you make.
Carlton Blues vs Richmond Tigers: AFL Thursday night forecast
I have to give credit to a Crowd writer (whose name escapes me) for unearthing this stat; since 2014, the runner-up from the previous season has failed to win a single final every year bar one.
Not good news if you’re a superstitious Pies fan.
2019 AFL season preview: Collingwood Magpies
No, calling an umpire that would likely result in a suspension too.
Lloyd wishes Blues had Mumford's aggro