The game against Melbourne clashes with the Dolphins-Broncos derby on Friday night and should serve as an early-season barometer The ‘Battle of Brisbane’ on Friday night has the NRL buzzing, but on the south side of the river in the Queensland capital, the Lions have a fight on two fronts to consider in the AFL. Brisbane’s clash against Melbourne at the Gabba, scheduled at the same time as the meeting between the unbeaten Broncos and Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, serves as an early-season barometer.After a disappointing 54-point loss to the Power in Adelaide last week, the clash with Melbourne is an important challenge for a side considered a premiership contender. It is relatively rare in the AFL for teams that...
Questions abound after an opening round that was exhilarating at times, savage and gruesome at othersMy partner and I recently became parents for the first time and all three of us have been familiarising ourselves with the philosophies of Dr Suess. “Sometimes,” the good doctor writes, “the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Do we overcomplicate football? Do we read too much into round one in particular? Is it, as Malcolm Blight always insisted, the least important round of the season? Or it is a vital launching pad?It wasn’t even the weekend, and footy was already tying itself in knots with its complicated questions. Should we play extra time? (No). Is there any particular reason why the AFL...
Scrappy contest ends 8.10 (58) apiece at packed out MCG Tigers’ talisman looks back to his best after poor 2022 Ties in football are hollow affairs. They suck the air out of the stadium. They immediately have you scratching for perspective: who dodged the bullet? who pissed it away? whose two points were grounds for optimism? Invariably, they prompt a few days of very tedious content about extra time and golden points. The SEN open line (“how you doin’…that’s the way… hey I just wanted to talk about scrapping the draw…”) is ringing in my head as I type.Last night’s season opener was no different. It started with Dustin Martin lunching on a spilt mark in the opening seconds. It...
It depends whether John Longmire’s young team can buck a dispiriting historical trend dating back almost four decadesAs Sydney looks to create modern history in 2023, selective memory across the Swans’ collective is critical to their ability to contend for this season’s AFL premiership.Among the truisms in football is a trend Sydney must reverse after their humiliating 81-point loss to Geelong in last year’s grand final to claim their first flag since 2012. Continue reading...
A premiership first highlighted the league’s seventh campaign but there remain issues for head office to better deal with going forwardMelbourne win first flag: Premierships always bring heart-warming stories. After losing last season’s grand final earlier this year and sitting there or thereabouts since the league’s inception, the Dees finally reached the pinnacle on Sunday. Their drive and determination has been clearly visible in captain Daisy Pearce for a long time. At 34, with her playing legacy now secured, she may decide to focus on commentary and an upcoming coaching opportunity at Geelong. Continue reading...