Sports

The Weekly A-Z

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – AMMUNITION

Geelong coach Chris Scott and his Brisbane counterpart Chris Fagan have plenty to fire in the wake of their teams’ horrible round-one showings as raging favourites. And it’s best they use those bullets to good effect tonight in their showdown at GMHBA Stadium because a 0-2 start would be borderline catastrophic for the pair, who were spoken about as legitimate premiership contenders. Only five sides that have started a season 0-2 in the past decade have gone on to play finals. Sometimes a side just needs a win to serve as a nerve settler. The Cats and Lions would be well aware of that.

B – BRYCE IS RIGHT

Basketball fans in this country fortunate enough to be courtside for a Perth Wildcats match are witnessing greatness. Even if you don’t support the Wildcats, the opportunity to see Bryce Cotton up close is something to behold. The dynamic guard is shredding games like only the very best do and will no doubt have been front and centre of Illawarra Hawks coach Brian Goorjian’s thinking ahead of tonight’s clash at RAC Arena. If you wanted to back him to win the NBL MVP award, it’s too late. He is a $1.02 with TABtouch to be crowned the league’s best player.

C – CASUALTY WARD

Each Tuesday afternoon, the AFL releases the official injury list for every club in the competition. It is a great concept and provides clarity for supporters and the ever-growing number of media outlets. It could be time though for Fremantle to do away with the injury list and rebrand it the casualty ward. Their horror run shows no signs of abating, with several of their first-choice 18 unavailable. As of this week, the Dockers’ injury list contained 15 players — three more than the next most affected club, North Melbourne.

D – DANGER SIGNS

They were obvious from the moment Patrick Dangerfield cluttered into Jake Kelly at speed last weekend. Dangerfield is a pure ball player, but once his head struck Kelly and the Crows defender was clearly in trouble, so too was the top Cat. Was it Dangerfield’s intention to concuss his former housemate? Absolutely not. Was he culpable? You bet he was. Good on the AFL Tribunal for laying down a marker, also. Everyone now knows the price of a mistimed bump.

E – EXPOSED

A lot of Brisbane Broncos supporters were thrilled when Kevin Walters was the successful applicant at the end of last season. As a decorated player in the Broncos’ halycon days throughout the 1990s, he was seen as the perfect person to lift the club from the doldrums. But he has some work to do and we’re just not talking about Brisbane’s 0-2 start. His failure to speak about Payne Haas’ wild night out when first presented with an opportunity was childish and his comments about former Bronco Andrew Fifita’s influence last weekend smacked of someone who hasn’t fully grasped the responsibility that comes with being an NRL coach. Time to smarten up.

F – FAMILIAR FACE

Melbourne Victory coach Grant Brebner is well aware he is under pressure. His predicament is understandable considering the A-League powerhouse’s current plight. While Brebner insists he is not going anywhere, unfortunately for him, it might not be his call to make. The spectre of former Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic, recently sacked by his Greek club Xanthi, looms large. If there is substance to the speculation on the east coast, Popovic could be at Victory sooner rather than later. And that means Brebner is going somewhere … out the door!

G – GO TIME

That it is for Perth Glory. Their season got off to a bright start under rookie coach Richard Garcia, but they have since slid to 10th on the ladder, only one spot higher than their opponents tomorrow night, Newcastle. The signs against Sydney FC midweek were encouraging, yet they could manage only a draw. It has been a month since the Glory have achieved a result. To say they need to beat the Jets is an understatement of some magnitude.

H – HAYNE PLANE GROUNDED

The sporting career of dual Dally M medallist Jarryd Hayne is over. The one-time darling of the Sydney media, a tag that came about following his heroics at Parramatta in 2009 and for making his way on to the San Francisco 49ers rosters, was this week found guilty of sexual assault and will be sentenced on May 6. Hayne is facing a 14-year jail term, although he has flagged his intention to appeal the decision.

I – INCONSIDERATE

This applies to Greyhound Racing NSW for their decision to push back their Golden Easter Egg carnival one week — without consulting other States. The stance impacts RWWA and Greyhounds WA, who opted against moving the heats and finals of the Perth Cup and Galaxy on April 10 and 17. It would have been nice if those in positions of authority in NSW actually thought about others rather than barge ahead. Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to that occurring from many people in and around the Sydney sporting and racing circles.

J – JAILHOUSE ROCK

That didn’t take long. Port Adelaide’s desire to wear their “prison bar” jumper in the two Showdowns against Adelaide this year prompted Eddie McGuire to go nuclear like only Eddie can this week. He outlined the reasons why Collingwood were steadfast that Port shouldn’t be allowed to wheel out the guernsey. The response? It was predictable. Former club greats Kane Cornes and Warren Tredrea snapped back, as did current chairman David Koch. Not sure we have heard the end of this. It will be interesting to see if the AFL now adopts a more authoritative stance against Collingwood with Eddie out of the picture.

K – KERR-BOOM

Headlines follow wherever Sam Kerr goes. And so they bloody well should. The WA product is a prodigious talent and showcased her undeniable skillset during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women’s Champion League quarter-final. Kerr scored Chelsea’s opening goal and then enabled Pernille Harder to find the back of the net and double the advantage. Kerr was strong on the ball and at her creative best from the opening whistle. The second leg will take place in Budapest next week.

L – LAST CHANCE SALOON

If the penny hasn’t dropped for Sydney Stack by now, he is beyond help. Stack was fined $6000 yesterday for breaching quarantine laws in WA late last year. The sanction came after he spent nearly three weeks in jail for his breach. Stack still must serve three weeks of a 10-week ban handed down last year for an alcohol-fuelled night out on the Gold Coast, which ended with a physical altercation. Richmond, who were fined $100,000 for Stack and fellow Tiger Callum Coleman-Jones’ stupidity, have said they are willing to stand by Stack. For how long though is the question.

M – MISSILE WARNING

One was registered this week at Ascot when Neville Parnham stepped out his talented Cable Bay filly Flying Missile. Desperately unlucky to still be a maiden after three starts at her initial campaign late last year, Flying Missile took care of her rivals like an odds-on favourite should. She will need to elevate further to take out next Saturday’s Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), but if Parnham regards her as the best of his current crop of juveniles, it is an opinion that must be respected.

N – NO AVERAGE JOE

What Lavra Joe was able to produce at Gloucester Park last Friday night was no surprise. Yet it was at the same time. That might sound a little confusing, but owner-trainer Ray Jones said it best when he remarked his charge shouldn’t be running those times and still pulling clear of his opposition like he did to clinch the Group 2 Intersport Slater Gartrell Western Gateway Pace. Lavra Joe rated 1.54.4 over the 2536m journey, smashing Alta Christiano’s 2013 race record of 1.55.4 (over 2130m). The best thing is, we get to see him again tonight, this time squaring off against the gifted Jumpingjackmack.

O – OVERDUE

Without the players, there is no AFL. I get that. But they have had it pretty good for a pretty long period of time. The recent survey undertaken by AFL Media was music to the ears of many. The majority of AFL senior coaches felt we had got to the stage where players should be traded without their consent. It is something that takes place in the major USA sports and given the introduction of free agency in the AFL, the balance of power needs to change.

P – PIKE IN THE LAST

How often have we heard the catch cry “Pike in the last” in reference to following anything that William Pike is legged aboard in the final race of the day? Countless times. After making a mess of his Victorian peers again last Friday night at Moonee Valley and Mornington less than 24 hours later, Pike was back in action at Ascot on Wednesday. He was victorious aboard How’s The Serenity and Let’s Cut Loose in the first half of the program, but saved his best for the final race when he summed up proceedings in a modest class 1 staying race on Final Chill. The Wizard allowed Final Chill to stride around the field at the 800m, took the lead a furlong later and then was off and gone turning for home. It was a decisive steer and one that resulted in an emphatic victory.

Q – QUESTION TIME

This isn’t taking place next week at Parliament House in Canberra. Rather at the Carlton Football Club about how best to salvage a season that is eerily similar to many before it, much to the chagrin of long-suffering Blues fans. The inability to bounce out of a solid first-up showing and get over Collingwood has caused many Carlton supporters a great deal of consternation over the past 18 hours. As a result, the pressure starts to build on coach David Teague and whether the progression under his watch is satisfactory to a board which is not afraid to wield the axe.

R – REMEMBER WHEN

Anthony Mundine fights were must-view TV? Granted, it was a long time ago and we will — fortunately — never have to see him enter a ring ever again. But the Mundine who staggered into retirement following a beatdown from Michael Zerafa should not be confused with the outstanding two-sport athlete with the big mouth and desire to generate headlines. At his pomp, Mundine was a showman and a wonderful fighter. At his retirement press conference this week, we saw the real Anthony Mundine. A humble, caring man who admitted he suffered from a bit of foot-in-mouth disease during his sporting career. Go well with whatever you do from here, Choc.

S – SPUD’S GAME

Congratulations to the Frawley family and St Kilda Football Club, not to mention the AFL, for being so swift in establishing “Spud’s Game: Time 2 Talk”. The match will feature the Saints hosting Melbourne at Marvel Stadium over the weekend in honour of the late Danny Frawley. Importantly, it will help shine a light on mental health and hopefully prompt all of us to have a greater appreciation of the disease.

T – TAKE TWO

This time last week we were checking the Sydney weather forecast hourly hoping the Golden Slipper meeting would proceed. Mother nature intervened and a call was made early last Saturday morning that the NSW autumn carnival would be pushed back a week. Under more user-friendly skies, we can confidently predict that the marquee meeting will take place tomorrow, headlined by the Golden Slipper but also featuring four other Group 1 races on the day. Better late than never.

U – UNDERWHELMING

Is the word that springs to mind when you glance at the fields for tomorrow’s Group 3 City Of Belmont WA Oaks (2400m) and Listed Schweppes Melvista Stakes (2200m). As we have come to expect, the cerise and white silks of Bob and Sandra Peters will be prominent in both features. But the overall lack of depth in both fields is alarming. There are five maidens in the 12-horse Oaks field and two maidens in the six-horse Melvista line-up.

V – VICTORIOUS

It would be a massive shock if Tim Tszyu isn’t that in his fight with veteran Irishman Dennis Hogan in Newcastle next Wednesday. Tszyu did as he pleased against Jeff Horn and Bowyn Morgan and while Hogan looms as a stiffer test, he has the tools to improve to 18-0. Watching the son of a gun — his father Kostya is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame — grow before our eyes as a fighter and embrace his role as the country’s premier boxer has been an absolute pleasure.

W – WELCOME RETURN

It was terrific to learn during the week that the WACA Ground was poised to undergo a massive refurbishment designed to see Australian Rules football return to the ground, specifically the WAFL. Informal discussions between WACA chief executive Christina Matthews and the WA Football Commission are soon to be replaced by formal talks and redesigning of the ground, making it more football friendly, could be on the cards by the end of winter.

X – X-RATED

Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil left nobody in any doubt about how he was feeling during the first set of his loss to American Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round of the Miami Open. A renowned hothead, Pospisil destroyed a couple of racquets and dropped the F bomb more than once when addressing chair umpire Arnaud Gabas. He later apologised for his behaviour via Twitter. It sits comfortably in the leading bracket of tennis rants for 2021.

Y – YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT

If I told you a Massachusetts high school football coach introduced anti-Semitic language, including references to Auschwitz, into his play calling. Well, it’s best you do. Unsurprisingly, Duxbury head football coach Dave Maimaron was fired after an investigation found his players used words like Auschwitz, Rabbi and Dreidel at the line of scrimmage against opponents Plymouth North. Absolutely staggering.

Z – ZION’S STATEMENT

Zion Williamson is looking more and more like a No.1 draft pick every time he dons the New Orleans Pelicans singlet. Despite experiencing knee issues early in his time as a Pelican, Williamson is improving at a rapid rate and has strung together a streak of 20-plus point games which is frightening for someone so young. He has now scored at least 20 points in his past 21 games. Not bad for someone who has not yet made 100 NBA appearances and doesn’t turn 21 until June. It’s now up to the Pelicans to best utilise his talents to help turn the franchise into a contender.




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