The Weekly A-Z

Posted on September 18, 2020 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ADELAIDE OVAL

Is going to be a hive of activity over the next few months. Not only will the picturesque ground play host to two AFL finals featuring Port Adelaide, it will also be the venue for game one of the State of Origin series between NSW and Queensland on November 4. And with so much uncertainty surrounding the domestic and international cricket commitments, Adelaide Oval presents as a quarantine and training base for the Australian players when they return from overseas action.

B – BELICHICK’S BRAIN

Surely it has to be bigger than other NFL-invested humans. Bill Belichick’s decision to allow Tom Brady to effectively walk out of Foxborough after six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots caused a stir. As did his decision to axe kicker Stephen Gostowski, a wonderful servant. Fast forward to week one of the season and Brady was below par in his Tampa Bay debut and Gostowski missed three field goals and a PAT attempt before nailing the matchwinner in the dying seconds. It is only a small sample size, but Belichick would be comfortable with his decision. Oh, and the fact the Patriots are 1-0 behind Brady’s replacement Cam Newton.

C – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The fortunes of Tottenham throughout the EPL campaign will be boosted significantly if Gareth Bale finds his way back to the club after a tumultuous stint at Real Madrid, especially more recently under the tutelage of Zinedine Zidane. Bale is close to rejoining Spurs on a loan and if he is able to recapture his best form, can transform the club into a top-four opponent, opening the door to the big money in Europe.

D – DO OR DIE

There was a school of thought that the 18-round home-and-away season in the AFL would provide a logjam at the pointy end of the campaign. It proved correct. West Coast moved into third last night with their win over North Melbourne and tonight’s game between St Kilda and GWS is going to have ramifications for Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. The Giants and Demons know full well what a loss means.

E – ELEGANCE

Will Chris Waller’s boom mare live up to her name? Verry Elleegant made a splash in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) when she overcame a torrid run to triumph. With natural improvement, she looks ideally placed to claim another elite level win in the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick tomorrow and prove once and for all that she is very much a “spring standard” mare.

F – FAIRYTALE

Perth seemed certain to be heading down the same disastrous path of 2019 when they were beaten by Swan Districts in the penultimate round of the WAFL season. Then at stages last Saturday, it appeared their finals drought, extending beyond two decades, would be stretched for 12 more months. But a pulsating win over South Fremantle provided hope and then ultimately ecstasy as they sealed fourth spot and a date with West Perth in a first semi-final this weekend. Those without a WAFL side in the finals now have a team to follow!

G – GAMES TO END ALL GAMES

That is how the Sydney Olympics were viewed this week as we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the events in the Harbour City. And so they should have. It was a wonderful fortnight in this country and despite what may be uttered from those in other countries, the 2000 Games were and remain the benchmark. The recollection this week of Cathy Freeman’s gold medal in the 400m still brings back goosebumps.

H – HEART ATTACK

Chris Waller’s spruiked Frankel filly Hungry Heart came up short upon resumption in the Furious Stakes (1200m) last Saturday week, but gets a wonderful opportunity to go one better and take down her main rival Dame Giselle tomorrow in the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). A $2 favourite with TABtouch, it’s hard to see how she loses the Group 1 Flight Stakes in a fortnight’s time if they can’t beat her tomorrow.

I – INCREASED CAPACITY

The NRL finals will resemble something inching towards normality. If not that, a sight that seemed light years away earlier this year. The NSW Government intends to lift the capacity at the State’s stadiums to 50 per cent, enabling an attendance figure of 40,000 at ANZ Stadium. The decision is a timely boost for rugby league.

J – JUST IN REALLY GOOD NICK

Justin Thomas has operated at a high level since the US PGA Tour commenced after its coronavirus-enforced break and those who took the double figures about him entering the US Open at Winged Foot were entitled to be on good terms with themselves this morning. Thomas carded a five-under-par 65 to lead the field by one stroke. Boasting a best US Open finish of equal ninth in 2017, it wouldn’t be a shock if he added another major to his 2017 US PGA Championship title.

K – KENNEDY WATCH

That is going to take place over the next fortnight after Josh Kennedy rolled his left ankle in last night’s victory over North Melbourne. The dual Coleman medallist, the linchpin of the Eagles attack, finished the match watching on from the bench with an icepack applied to the impacted area. He has two weeks now to overcome the issue. Eagles fans will be sweating on a positive prognosis once he returns home as their side isn’t winning a flag without him.

L – LONG TIME COMING

The concussion debate in Australian Rules football just got very real. It might have been longer than some would like, but the seven-figure payout to former North Melbourne and Melbourne forward Shaun Smith as a form of compensation for repeated concussions during his career that have impacted his way of life is a monumental moment in the sport. Expect the floodgates to open from here on.

M – MAXED OUT

He has his critics, but Glenn Maxwell in form is intoxicating and seriously damaging for his opposition. Case in point was yesterday morning, WA time, when the enigmatic Victorian blasted a superb 108 alongside Alex Carey (106) that carried Australia to a stirring three-wicket ODI win over England at Old Trafford. The twin heroics lifted the tourists to a 2-1 series victory.

N – N.B.L

No Basketball Looming. That is the scenario for NBL fans who had to digest the news this week that the start of the new season would be delayed until next year, most likely mid-January. Unlike the other main sporting codes here in Australia, the NBL is reliant on bums on seats to meet the expenses and the delay allows officials to ascertain just how best to maximise exposure of a league that is getting better all the time. Clubs in hubs is almost certain.

O – OFF THE CANVAS

The Denver Nuggets’ NBA play-offs campaign looked over midway through the third quarter in game five of their Western Conference semi-final series against the LA Clippers. They trailed 3-1 in the series and found themselves in arrears by a double-figure margin. But they dodged a bullet to force a game six, which they won and then comfortably claimed game seven to book a showdown with the LA Lakers.

P – PACK YOUR BAGS

That is what the Gold Coast Titans told Bryce Cartwright this week, terminating his contract … effectively immediately. Cartwright caused a stir earlier in the year when he was one of a handful of NRL players who took the anti-vaccination stance in relation to the COVID-19 situation. His form never reached the heights in 2020 of previous years and two months after he opted out of the bubble because of personal reasons, had his cards marked by the Titans.

Q – QUESTIONS ASKED

Stewards had Hugh Bowman in the room soon after the jockeys came back to scale in the wake of the Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill. His tearaway tactics aboard Farnan caught everyone by surprise and though he explained the reasons for the colt storming to a massive mid-race lead, an adjourned inquiry was completed yesterday. The stipes imposed a 20-day suspension, which he will start tomorrow week and return for the $15 million The Everest.

R – RUSSIAN TO GLORY

If you win a Group 1 in any of the three codes, you are clearly well above average. Russian Camelot did so in last season’s SA Derby despite being bred in the northern hemisphere. His return in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last weekend was eagerly anticipated and he didn’t let anyone down. Forced to tramp wide, the striking entire never quit and ran a gallant second to Fierce Impact. A wonderful Cox Plate trial.

S – SHOCK AND AWE

You were either in the Shockwave or Chicago Bull camp ahead of last Friday night’s Group 2 James Brennan Memorial at Gloucester Park. As such, most expected they would fight out the finish. But the manner in which Shockwave over-raced to establish a massive lead and then delve deep into his reserves to hold off a typically brave Chicago Bull made the edition of the feature one we won’t forget in a hurry.

T – TRUE BLUE

Kade Simpson is not the best player to have pulled on the Carlton jumper. But there have been few braver than the diminutive left-footer, who will retire after the weekend’s game against Carlton. It will be appearance No.342 for Simpson, who is the last active player from the 2002 draft class. Only Bruce Doull and Craig Bradley have played more matches for Carlton than the 36-year-old.

U – UNFORGETTABLE

Gatting’s defence of his Makybe Diva Stakes crown clearly didn’t go according to plan. But his demise last weekend doesn’t gloss over his wonderful achievements for original trainer Darren McAuliffe. The quirky, at times stubborn, gelding won 11 of his 49 lifetime starts for more than $2 million in stakes. A winner of the WA Derby, he trained on and raced against some of the very best. He won’t be forgotten.

V – VIRTUAL CHARLIE

This year’s Brownlow Medal, like the AFL season in its entirety, will look completely different. Gone will be the parading of the WAGs with the players on the red carpet. Replacing that will be a virtual telecast broadcast on Channel 7. The “made for TV” event will see league CEO Gillon McLachlan reading out the votes from Queensland on October 18, six days before the decider at the Gabba.

W – WORTHY CHAMPIONS

Congrats to both Naomi Osaka and Dominic Thiem for their US Open triumphs. Osaka’s maiden grand slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2018 was overshadowed by the petulant carry-on from her opponent Serena Williams. With the ageing American knocked out in the semi-finals this year, it was Osaka’s final to lose. She never looked like doing so. As for Thiem, it was a case of good things come to those who wait. His five-set victory over Alexander Zverev came after he had fallen short in his three other grand slam singles finals.

X – XAN BIO

Is no longer a maiden. The five-year-old mare didn’t get the breaks when she required them two starts ago, but capitalised on a dream inside run at Northam yesterday to take out the 2200m event in style. She is not going to win a Perth Cup, but she stays and is another Anne King horse racing in excellent form.

Y – YELLOW AND BLACK

If you are sick of hearing the Richmond theme song in the finals, well tough luck. It’s best you brace yourself for it to be sung with gusto on more than one occasion … or hit the mute button on the your TV remote. The dismantling of Geelong last Friday night in a contest touted as a possible grand final preview was ominous.

Z – ZERO REGRETS

Irrespective of what happens in Sunday’s game against the Western Bulldogs, those at Fremantle responsible for making the decision to move on Ross Lyon and appoint Justin Longmuir can rest easy. The Dockers have had a very successful 2020, despite the complications of an extensive injury list, coupled with the unease of living in a Queensland hub for two lengthy stints. Longmuir’s demeanour and emphasis on relationships within the playing group and an improved skill level have been invaluable.