Speedy Pies win 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53) over Demons Coaches agree to disagree over Brayshaw collision The Collingwood players ran out for their qualifying final the way they always do – gambolling about and whooping it up. But the frolics didn’t last long. It was a brutal opening. It saw spotfires, hyperextended knees, errant elbows, concussion tests and a bloodcurdling collision between Brayden Maynard and Angus Brayshaw. “It’s a footy act,” Maynard later said. “He jumped off the ground and knocked a guy out,” Melbourne coach, Simon Goodwin, countered. “It didn’t look like it had much malice,” his opposite number, Craig McRae, offered. Like all things tribunals and finals, we throw our hands in the air, hope the player’s...
The opening round of the 2023 season brought surprise wins, more goals and encouraging signs for some teamsSome round one results came as no surprise. Reigning premiers Melbourne ran over the top of Collingwood to open the season while powerhouses North Melbourne were characteristically methodical against St Kilda down in Hobart. However, some unexpected outcomes have raised hopes that the competition is finally beginning to settle in the post-expansion era. Continue reading...
The social connection that comes from AFL fandom can help demonstrate the value of sport beyond participationCome the third Sunday of winter, Carlton had won a mere four games. Having missed finals the previous year by a single kick deep in the shade of time-on, the Blues were additional proof of history repeating itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.The previous Sunday, Carlton were the footballing equivalent of chewing black rubber in a listless six-goal loss against arch rivals Essendon. The only time the Blues struck sparks that dark night was as they scraped against pre-season expectations. Continue reading...
In just a short world tour career, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider’s back to back Vuelta a España stage wins shows he’s ready to make his markIn the history of Australian cycling, only a few dozen cyclists have won a grand tour stage. It is a mark of distinction, beating the best in the world at one of the three races that stand out on the annual calendar: the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Fewer still have won stages at multiple grand tours, or at the same grand tour across multiple years. Those honours belong to some of the greats of the sport in Australia: the likes of Phil Anderson, Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans, Richie Porte...
Second year of all 18 teams could see levelling of the playing field and end dominance of Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane Last year brought two AFLW seasons thanks to the league’s shift from summer to late August and it has made the wait for Friday night’s 2023 season opener feel that much longer. While there was no main draft this off-season given the intake between the last two seasons, there’s still been plenty of change. A tumultuous trade period gave way to a mature-age supplementary draft in April before the players settled in for pre-season at the end of May. It means there are a lot of unknowns.St Kilda were perhaps the most proactive over the off-season, picking up the...