The Weekly A-Z

The next time Cameron Bancroft faces up to Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in a Sheffield Shield match is going to be fun. Fun for us watching on. Not so much fun for Bancroft, who over the weekend stopped short of saying the fast-bowling cartel, and outstanding spinner Lyon, knew exactly what was going on in Cape Town during the Sandpaper-gate scandal. In all seriousness, it might be better for Bancroft to face up to the quicks in a match rather than at the nets when bowlers continually overstep by three or four yards.

We might as well lump in both Collingwood and Carlton here. What another shambolic week by the pair. It’s like they are doing their best to upstage the other in the bonehead department. It’s currently a tie. Collingwood are doing everything they can to remain on the back page of newspapers with their on-field efforts, dressing room antics and ineptitude at board level in a bid to stave off a challenge from a Jeff Browne-backed ticket. Then there is their great rival, the Blues. It was reported this week that two approaches were made from the club to former Brisbane head coach and decorated Richmond assistant Justin Leppitsch — one to serve as David Teague’s right-hand man and the other to work as a football director, succeeding the departing Chris Judd. Really!

That is the scenario confronting the opposition of Lavra Joe in tonight’s final of the $50,000 Pearl Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park. And that is still unlikely to be sufficient to take down the Ray Jones-prepared three-year-old. Betting for the Group 2 feature was stifled from the moment Lavra Joe came up with the pole, enabling the redoutable Chris Lewis to dictate proceedings to his rivals, including WA Derby winner Mighty Ronaldo.

How long can Alastair Clarkson avoid the blowtorch for Hawthorn’s miserable start to the season? Deserving of his mantle as the premier coach in the competition after winning four flags in his nearly two-decade stint at the helm, Clarkson has overseen a wretched season and a half. The Hawks are a woeful 2-7 and last Saturday became the first side to drop a match to a depleted North Melbourne. The turmoil at Collingwood and Carlton’s defensive failings have attracted considerable attention, but if Hawthorn are to lose to the Blues tomorrow, things might get very interesting. And we haven’t even mentioned Sam Mitchell … until now.

They will be shining brightly at the Gabba tonight as Brisbane look to build on what has been an excellent month and dish out a beating to a vulnerable Richmond. Having been dominated by the Tigers for an eternity, the Lions were able to come up trumps in last year’s qualifying final, their most recent meeting. Those on hand inside the Gabbatoir will be baying for blood and Brisbane, on what we have witnessed in their surge up the ladder, are not going to be taking a backward step. In fact, it would be a massive shock if it wasn’t the complete opposite.

Takes place at Cannington tomorrow night with the running of the Group 2 WA Derby (520m) and heats of the Group 2 WA Oaks (520m). The prospects of Stout Monelli’s rivals in the derby took a blow when the David Hobby-prepared dog came up with box one. Already boasting 13 wins from 23 starts, Stout Monelli is likely to have Domino Mac for company in the early stages in what shapes as a cracking race.

We’ve been quite happy to give Peter V’Landys a clip along the way, but he deserves considerable credit for taking significant steps in order to correct the big number of high shots in the NRL. The predictable grumbling from rusted-on figures, including coaches, about protecting the macho element of the game needs to stop. Concussion is one of, if not the, most important issue facing both the NRL and AFL. Both codes should be praised for implementing changes to ensure players are still in possession of their faculties when they leave the game. We know the narrative … depression, violence, suicide. It has to stop and sooner the better.

Israel Folau and Clive Palmer. They are two of the more polarising figures in Australia and have now  joined forces to assist the former rugby union, rugby league and Australian Rules player return to competitive sport. The pair sat side by side earlier today at a press conference where Folau announced his intention to play with the Southport Tigers in the Queensland Rugby League. Folau needs all the help he can get, not to mention a deviation from his beliefs, to be embraced by the sporting community. I’m not sure having Palmer in your corner is much help.

Is where Jamil Hopoate seems destined to spend many years after he was denied bail earlier this week for his alleged involvement in the importation of $155 million of cocaine. Hopoate, who has had his issues on and off the field just like his father John, attempted to flee on foot before he was arrested. Sacked by Parramatta as a teenager, Hopoate played 12 games for the Brisbane Broncos in 2020 before being released at the end of last season.

Former US PGA Championship winners Keegan Bradley and Brooks Koepka headed to Kiawah Island for the year’s second major at opposite ends of the TABtouch market. However, after a testing opening round on the links lay-out in South Carolina, the American pair sit alongside each other at three under — two shots adrift of Canadian Corey Conners. Koepka knows what it is like to claim multiple majors. Bradley would love to have that feeling again come Sunday afternoon.

There are likely to be many punters throughout the State that will be happy to blow a kiss in the direction of Tiff Has Spoken should he salute in the $100,000 Provincial Championship Final (1400m) at Belmont tomorrow. The Sharon Miller-trained galloper doesn’t win out of turn — his two wins from 17 starts illustrate that — but he enters the feature second-up after a solid third over 1300m at Northam earlier this month. Also weighing in his favour is the likelihood of a soft track and a low draw for Alan Kennedy. Tiff Has Spoken has finished outside the top four just once in his past 13 starts, so a good run for your money is guaranteed.

Seven-figure I Am Invincible yearlings have in recent times gone together like an ice-cold beer and a Sunday session. However, new ground was broken yesterday when a weanling colt by the superstar Yarraman Park stallion fetched $1 million at the national weanling sale on the Gold Coast. The striking youngster, out of former WA mare Ocean Jewel and consigned by Rick Jamieson, the breeder of the legendary Black Caviar, was purchased by Ciaron Maher, who just so happened to train Jameka, also bred by Jamieson. It was the first weanling by I Am Invincible to fetch at least $1 million and gives breeding and racing enthusiasts something to look forward to in the 2022-23 season.

American racing has been viewed by many for a long period of time as lawless. Given the activities that have been allowed to flourish over the years, it’s not entirely surprising. So when a body like the New York Racing Association decides to take a stand on a cheat like Bob Baffert, it gets the attention of all with more than a passing interest in horse racing. The NYRA has temporarily suspended Baffert, meaning he cannot enter horses, chiefly Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit who has since tested positive to a banned substance, from running at Belmont Park, the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. Thank God for small mercies.

There are only a handful of players in the AFL who polarise opinions like West Coast forward Jack Darling. The strong-marking Eagle was at it again last weekend. Darling had been quiet for just over a quarter against Adelaide before he erupted in the second term, booting five goals in 10 minutes. One of them was a good old-fashioned nutmeg through the legs of Crows defender Brodie Smith. You can say what you like about Darling, but he has been remarkably reliable and durable throughout his 223-game career, averaging just under two goals a game.

With scores tied at 100 and one minute left in yesterday’s NBA play-off appearance between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, it was time for the big boys to shine. And there is one boy who is the baddest and biggest in the NBA. LeBron James. Receiving a pass well outside the three-point line with the shot clock expiring, James proceeded to drain a triple, much to the delight of Lakers fans worldwide praying for something special. It would be the final score in the game, guaranteeing the Lakers the seventh seed in the Western Conference and a match-up with the Phoenix Suns.

Is about to get real. Outstanding mare Arcadia Queen will enter the sale ring at the Gold Coast complex of Magic Millions next Tuesday where heavy hitters from local and international breeding ranks will look to tap into a family that has been years in the making from the perspective of Bob and Sandra Peters. Former outstanding filly Sunlight set tongues wagging last year when she fetched a southern hemisphere record for a mare of $4.2 million. It’s fair to say the money the strapping daughter of Pierro will command next week will be befitting a Queen.

To the AFL umpires out there, please put your whistle to the mouth and blow it. It’s not that hard. It really isn’t. The refusal to reward the tacklers last round, in particular the defensive efforts of St Kilda against Geelong last Friday night, was unbelievably frustrating. By and large, umpires do a very good job of carrying out a thankless role. But when perfectly executed tackles are being ignored, frustrations builds. Ditto the congestion.

Hands up if you would love to own a horse like Money Matters? Okay, okay … one at a time. It’s hard not to have a great deal of admiration for horses who keep getting it done campaign after campaign. That is exactly what Money Matters does. The four-year-old has been a ripper from day dot and reached a career peak last Saturday when holding off the challengers to take out a high-class renewal of the Group 2 Roma Cup (1200m) at Ascot. Adam Durrant has done a super job with the gelding, who last year claimed three Listed races — two as an autumn three-year-old and the other an early-season four-year-old in the Hannan’s Handicap. He is simply the gift that keeps on giving.

NBL play-offs and the Perth Wildcats. The pair have been inseparable since 1987 and the union was extended by another 12 months this week when the most successful organisation in the league clinched a 35th consecutive play-off appearance. Perth avoided a banana-skin game against Cairns to seal the accomplishment and though they lost to Brisbane on Wednesday night, return to the comforts of RAC Arena tonight for another clash with the Taipans. We are getting closer and closer to the grand final match-up so many basketball fans are keen to see and that is the Wildcats dueling with Melbourne United.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is not one to stare down the barrel and berate those who dare question how he goes about his business. He’s not Ross Lyon. But he was quick to explain what Caleb Serong and his teammates’ tactics against Essendon looked like. And good on him. Serong went head-to-head with Zach Merrett in a role that will hasten the young Docker’s development. The Dockers put a lot of work into the prolific Bomber, but you would think they dismembered him listening to some of the commentary around the game plan. It was hard-nosed, unconditional football. Merrett walked off knowing he had played a game of Australian Rules. The Dockers lost the match, but it wasn’t because they were undisciplined, rather inefficient. You are allowed to ruffle the feathers of an opponent the last time I checked.

Congratulations go to Lauren Jackson, who this week became the first Australian basketball player to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. If you aren’t up to date with Jackson’s accomplishments, consider the following. She is a three-time WNBA MVP, a seven-time WNBA All-Star and won the WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2007 and 2010. In the second of those titles, she was the grand final MVP. An absolute superstar, Jackson also helped the Opals win silver medals at the Olympic Games in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Glen Boss offered that yesterday when quizzed on his thoughts regarding the prospects of Zaaki in tomorrow’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m). Zaaki couldn’t have been more impressive in demolishing his rivals in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago, a field which on face value looked worthy of Group 1 status. Bossy, who links up again with Sir Dragonet tomorrow, isn’t convinced. “He beat a horse the other day (Fifty Stars) that hasn’t won for nearly a year and a half and the horses behind him were just non-winners,” Boss said. “It was an ordinary race to be pretty frank. He’s got to come to the big boys now at weight-for-age.” Game on.

Is what the daughter of Extreme Choice provided her connections with at Rosehill last week. The two-year-old wore down Ashema over the concluding stages to clinch a vital stakes victory in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1200m). Trained by John Thompson for well-known syndicator Joe O’Neill and a number of other owners, Xtremetime is now likely to be spelled before being aimed at the Princess Series throughout the Sydney spring. She is definitely one to follow.

It has taken a lot longer than Elliot Yeo and West Coast coaches, players and supporters would have liked. But the dual John Worsfold medallist is good to go. Yeo, who hasn’t been seen at any level since midway through last year because of groin complications, will play in the WAFL tomorrow against East Perth. Eagles coach Adam Simpson said Yeo would be nursed through as he continued to build his loads, but expected his star midfielder to spend more than 60 minutes on field. If Yeo and captain Luke Shuey can get back after the mid-season break, West Coast’s push for a top-four berth will gather real momentum.

Is at a level that is threatening the eagerly anticipated bout between the hard-hitting Victorian and Tim Tszyu in Newcastle in early July. Michael Zerafa was hospitalised earlier this week after complaining of severe discomfort in and around his stomach and ribs. Those close to Zerafa are loathe to push on with preparations for the fight with Tszyu, which in all likelihood will shape or shatter Zerafa’s career unless he is issue free by midway through next week. For the sake of Australian boxing, let’s hope he is well on the road to recovery over the weekend.