1. Olympics. So many excellent athletes and what a result from Australia? 50+ medals makes us the world powerhouse for the number of medals v the number of athletes/ population we have. Per capita it is quite incredible. Especially when we can beat the host nation in different events too. Host nations invest heavily in their athletes and often shine brightly.
By the way we were pipped by the Japanese today and missed out on an overall podium finish (a familiar tale in recent days!).
Kaylee McKeown is a deserved flag bearer choice. Matt Wearn has done well too with two gold medals back to back, so a great tribute to both.
The Australian women water polo team - 'The Stingers' (great name), really excelled. However, our basketballers always seem to struggle on that stage. The Opals snagged a late bronze which is a great effort...the men? Like so many events...a disappointment.
Jess Hull in the 1500m was a superb highlight this weekend. Coming into the event, she was in awesome form (fastest 2000m time ever by a woman!), but to win a silver medal in an Olympics 1500m is some sort of effort. What about the Kenyan winner... Faith Kipyegon. Unbeaten since 2021 in the 1500m and now three gold in three successive Olympics - like Usain Bolt. No doubt our exposure to the US college system and their training and focus is making a huge impact.
The Men's 100m? Trash talking Olympians are in the lowest category. They should be banned. It is the one time you like to see friendship on the podium. Hull exemplified that Olympic spirit.
2. AFL. How close are some of the games these days? The effort after the siren by Mac Andrew (Gold Coast) v Essendon was exceptional for a one point win. West Coast won by five against North Melbourne. The Swans beat Collingwood by a handful... The Swans lack a bit of height in key positions and rigour in defence. Lots of small quick runners now when speed was an issue...now it is height.
An awful loss by the Western Bulldogs v Adelaide. After such a great run...misery when success mattered most.
3. Ricky Stuart. Ricky has unloaded as he usually does after a loss. Refs are confusing players, now apparently resulting in 40 point losses. They are terrible. The refs should front press conferences and tell us how ill disciplined some teams and their coaching styles are as well.
4. NRL. The Bulldogs have really improved. Interesting seeing the same defensive structures as Penrith. This Ciraldo can coach! He is very composed and sensible. NO excuses either. The Parramatta capitulation was something else. They simply cannot defend their own line... Panthers or no Panthers. An abysmal season where their whole roster looks like being upended, including Mitchell Moses. Save us from another media saga there please!
5. Rugby. Springboks demolish the Wallabies. We are still a mile behind, despite beating Georgia (eventually) and the lowly current Wales team. Argentina beating the All Blacks 38-30 was a shock however. They are really improving as a nation and would topple Australia for fun. A good weekend for no breakdancing by the coach.
6. Breakdancing. I would back the All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson to win something, even the argument over whether it should be an Olympic sport. I remember seeing the press conference before they left, thinking they were very different breakdancing moves to those seen on the New York subway. The performances there are a bit strange, but rock climbing as an Olympic sport is too.
The inclusion of a number of Olympic sports gets the head shaking. BMX racing and Taekwondo raised eyebrows. Clever and all, but hard to get excited about. Do we really need golf and tennis there? Ten pin bowling has missed out for years. Darts could be ready to make a claim?
Perhaps it's time to bring back 'Tug of War', which was an Olympic event many years ago. Plenty of the viewers could relate to the rope burn from an old athletics carnival or two on dud surfaces with incorrect footwear and some massive kid coming into his or her own as the anchor (after folding in the mandatory 100m race!).
Totem Tennis should be considered as well. Also 'British Bulldog' and 'Run Across'... Then look closely at french cricket, elastics, marbles, hand ball, matchbox footy, footy card flicks and "forcings back" with the footy.
Nice to read of the 'League Olympics' destined to make a comeback soon on Grand Final Day.
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