The Wrap - Swan Songs

1. AFL. Sydney were immense against Brisbane. Freed of the burden of egos seemingly, a number of players have rallied and been unshackled. As predicted, it is the making of the team who now look at a week off (could be helpful for the injured Callum Mills) and a Preliminary Final at home. Their record at the SCG in 2026 of 11 wins from 12 games is incredible.

Papley, Curnow, Campbell, Gulden and McDonald were immense. Chris Fagan the Brisbane Lions coach said it best: never under estimate the human spirit! He was gracious and insightful. No wonder he has won so many competitions!

The resetting of the Swans without egos is made the difference.

The minor premiers, Fremantle were terrible... at home and lost soundly to the methodical Hawthorn team. Hawthorn could go deep this year, but Freo will have memories of Adelaide's losses last year as minor premiers and going out in straight sets. The rain didn't help, but it was there for both teams to enjoy!

Geelong belted Carlton, ending their dream run. A shame, but Geelong recruit every decent player and should have won more comps in recent seasons.

2. NRL. Ronaldo Mulitalo is a liability for the Sharks. Argumentative and ill disciplined and needs to be cut. Spencer Leniu is similar, but worse. So destructive, but so loose. The Sharks look cooked, especially with no local home ground final.

Interesting to see the Roosters and Cowboys lose by 50 on the weekend. That makes a few clubs in the 2026 semi finals who have given up 50 points in 2026. Roosters (1), Cowboys (2) and Dolphins (2). Can any of them win the comp? History says you cannot.

• The Fins looked great this week when they are full strength.
• 100 games for Jai Arrow and young Tyran Wishart, who is off to the Perth Bears. The win by Melbourne in the last seconds was outstanding!
• The Warriors have been sliding each week and sneaking through for victories. Good on them, but hardly compelling form for the semi finals. The Fins are a big chance.
• Parramatta could only lose, like they do... Up by 12 and a loss! Typical and end in 13th place. St George are filled with promise, but will need to savour the off season from a wooden spoon.
• Penrith were deserved minor premiers (fourth in seven years and sixth Grand Final in seven years looms. They have two minor premierships and two competition wins - and two competition wins when they were not minor premiers). They look on song. Yeo is incredible. What a comeback! Brian To'o demonstrated great pace and strength showing he is back to his best. When you look at Casey McLean they are potent! The Tigers and their womens' team were both thumped.
• The JJ Giltinan Shield, the Shute Shield and the Sheffield Shield are all of that old 'shield' era and all three have lost their gloss.

3. PGA Golf - Tour Players Championship. Scottie Scheffler is incredible. Wins easily in the end last week and takes $10M prizemoney to now become the highest ever winner of golf monies in history!

4. US Open Tennis. Alex di Minaur was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament on his ear. He has struggled to crack the quarter finals, but even the great Novak lost under pressure in the first round.

The mouthy Nick Kygrios has also been banned and exonerated all at once. Cocaine consumption that sadly no one was really surprised about. 

In Sinner's absence, Alcaraz looks a really strong chance to win the US Open. Zverev survives and Medvedev won't be far away. Early days still as the Round of 16 nears.

Alcaraz stands to hit eight Grand Slam wins with a victory. He will join Lendl, Rosewall, Connors and Agassi with a win. One of the greats already and has only just turned twenty three.

5. Wallabies v Argentina. A tame draw splits the series, but a huge test awaits. The brilliant Springboks v New Zealand All Blacks series was locked at 1-1 and it was the Boks who triumphed, with a game to follow. High quality and so far ahead of us it is unbelievable. We are in for a shock.

6. EPL. Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all undefeated and leading the pack. The excitement of the EPL is incredible win, lose or draw. Arsenal v Chelsea tonight will be pivotal to the season's final standings. Hull have two wins and a draw and are on 7 points. 35 points keeps you safe from relegation most seasons.

7. Cricket - Australia in South Africa. Starts on 24 September, but the Australian A team to travel to India has been announced. Interesting to see the selectors' thinking for the future. Still massive concerns over our batting when Kurtis Patterson is thought of as Marnus' replacement. He does not have the footwork on those fast decks (not being in either squad tells you he is front of the Test selectors' minds):

8. F1 - Piastri. A grid penalty and with it goes all hope sadly. He sits in seventh spot in the entire championship and needs some sort of luck again in the Italian Grand Prix.

9. Diamond League - Mens. Cameron Myers had a slashing victory in the Mens 1500m final in Brussels this weekend against some Olympic standards opponents. He broke the national record in June and looms as a sensation in Australian athletics, if not already there!