1. AFL - Swans. Great game and finish. Braedon Campbell played his best since he ran out for Westbrook at Cherrybrook 10 years ago. A greater level of intensity was evident in the fourth quarter. They need a little more confidence and dare I say it...arrogance early. Some of the defensive efforts were terrible early on. Blokes running into each other...like a fear factor in the culture. A home preliminary final now v the winner of Port Adelaide and Hawthorn. GWS must be shattered now. They really were the better team and will find it hard to come back.
It is one of the first close wins they have had this year.
Incredible how the Swans actually warmly acknowledge the fans and head to the seats at the end of the game. They are a team easy to like and very popular. A lesson to a few other teams out there from all codes. They know what it means for the fans and their leadership insist they know why they play the game.
Incredible how some players on $500K a year dish up very ordinary displays. This is unacceptable to fans and clubs.
Geelong smashed Port and Brisbane absolutely obliterated Carlton. The GF winners look to be Geelong on the weekend's performances. Brisbane play GWS. GWS still have some life left.
2. The Wests Tigers. In the end they were just awful in the Spoon Bowl. Giving up 60 points is horrible. A full house and a need to win, yet totally unable to do it. Incredible. Three successive wooden spoons. The Jets, Newcastle, Gold Coast Seagulls, the Eels (6) and Sydney University have also achieved three spoons in a row since 1908. They should have to front up at the Dally M Awards and at the GF Pre Game to collect it. Wage deductions too.
I can't see them doing much better in 2025. Their recruitment of Luai is excellent, but who else? A lot of players to offload.
A really bad season for Souths too who came second last on for and against. Parramatta were third last in the end, surprising many, including themselves. The Dragons and Broncos fell in a heap at the end. So bad.
The Panthers look dusted in 2024 unless they sharpen up their line speed. The loss of Cleary is huge for them, but they made plenty of mistakes too. The Bulldogs were abysmal. A massive turnaround from recent successes. Manly not much better, but the Sharks looked impressive.
The semi final match ups:
- Melbourne v Cronulla
- Penrith v Roosters
- Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
- Cowboys v Knights
3. Scotland v Australia T20s. Hard to believe we are playing over there, but interesting foggy conditions. Not many would have played in such conditions. It will be interesting how we go against England. Head and Inglis have starred with the bat. Green too.
4. EPL. Ange Postocoglou is under pressure suddenly. That team looks like it has no cohesion or flow. At the same time Man City are totally dominant. A lay week this week for Internationals... how bad was the Socceroo loss to that powerhouse, Bahrain?
5. The America's Cup. Strange name still, but no Australian crew contesting it all in Barcelona. NZ doing well, but sailing on AC75s is hardly Denis Connoresque - more like Ben Lexcen on steroids. I must say, a return to the traditional hulls and spinnakers is more appealing. The technology however is extraordinary.
6. US Open Tennis. Jessica Pegula is a successful woman. She is also incredibly talented, playing Aryna Sabalenka who crushed her spirits and game in a tight result. Jannick Sinner is in the final tomorrow against Taylor Fritz (the first US man in the final for many years), but his accidental positive drug test earlier this year is casting a cloud over his work. The world wide excuses for drugs infringements are pretty inventive.
Alex de Minaur seems unable to crack it higher than a quarter final. It was a little bit of a capitulation to be honest.
Great win though in the US Open Finals doubles...Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell. We have had rich doubles success in the men's for a while now. John Peers and Matt Ebden only won the Olympics a fortnight ago as well.
7. England v Sri Lanka Test Cricket. England just continue to dominate, although Root's run of tons has been ended. The Sri Lankan bowling is pretty ordinary. Mark Wood is injured again with an elbow injury. Jofra Archer is another one on the recovery. Fast bowlers with elbow injuries are a real risk long term. Tommy John surgery is the only answer.
Intriguing to see Olly Pope as the England captain while Stokes is out. He was struggling to make the team a year ago. He hit a nice ton on the weekend.
8. Wallabies. It is sad how awful they have become. Leading and turning up their heels to let in 60 points meant this was the worst result ever for a Wallaby team. Not a great tag.
One point of possible improvement? Pick 20 players (not 40) and keep and develop combinations. Changing the team every Test was an Eddie Jones tactic. We know where that led. The new coach Schmidt is under immense pressure now. Hopefully the All Blacks don't wipe us off the park and we can bounce back...even a little.
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