The Weekly A-Z

Posted on May 28, 2021May 28, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

A – ALLEN KEY

The West Coast Eagles have certainly identified young gun Oscar Allen as a key component of their list build going forward, signing him to a three-year extension. Already contracted until the end of next season, Allen will remain in the nest until 2025 when he will become a restricted free agent. The West Perth product, still only 22, is one of the most exciting young players in the competition and looks like a talent who will appreciate greater responsibility when it is thrust upon him.

B – BROOME TIME

The emergence of COVID-19 early last year torpedoed the Broome Turf Club’s entire 2020 season. That is why there is enormous excitement about the opening meeting of the new season tomorrow. The six-race card gets under way at 1.38pm and is the first of nine meetings for the year, culminating with the Broome Cup on Saturday, August 14. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Broome card without the presence of the Cups King, the one and only Peter Hall, who is like a kid in a candy store at the prospect of again riding in races in the Kimberley.

C – CAT-ASTROPHIC

Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson thought he had assembled the right pieces of an NBL puzzle when he lured former Boomers centre Will Magnay to the club following a brief NBA stint. Many had the same feeling. Then came the hammer blow to end all hammer blows — Bryce Cotton requiring emergency surgery to address a haematoma to his left thigh. The best player in the league will be out of action until after the semifinal series of the play-offs — at the earliest. Even if the Wildcats progress to the grand final series, there is no guarantee Cotton will be available.

D – DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

Regardless of whether they win another race, the victorious filly in tonight’s $100,000 Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park will be referred to as a Group 1 winner for the remainder of their career. And that is not to be sneezed at. The Ross Olivieri-trained Taking The Miki caught the eye two starts ago and couldn’t have been more impressive in her heat win. From a favourable barrier and with Chris Voak in the bike, it is little wonder why she is all the rage.

E – EUROPA EUPHORIA

There is dramatic and then there is dramatic. The final of the Europa League competition yesterday morning, Australian time, was dripping in drama as Villareal prevailed over Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out. It wasn’t just any old penalty shoot-out. United goalkeeper David De Gea missed with the 22nd attempt from the spot to hand Villareal the title. His inability to finish was made all the more painful given he had failed to stop any of the opposition’s shots, 11 in total.

F – FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

Phil Mickelson, the All-American boy who has grown into a wonderful father and husband, doesn’t look like he has an abundance of grey hairs. But the 50-year-old this week became the oldest winner of a major title when he took out the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. Lefty, as he is affectionately known on tour and by the golfing community, captured the imagination of all sports lovers with a vintage display to secure his sixth major. It was one of the more remarkable sporting accomplishments in the past 12 months.

G – GET OUT OF DODGE

Did someone say de ja vu? You’d be right if it was you given what we saw this week in the AFL. Victorian clubs, as they did last year, were scrambling after the outbreak of a COVID-19 cluster led to the inevitable lockdown being imposed by the Victorian Government. We haven’t yet got to the stage where all clubs from Melbourne, and Geelong, have left the State, but it is very much a case of wait and see. Do the words flexible and agile spring to mind?

H – HORSEPOWER

Plenty of it will be on display at Eagle Farm tomorrow when two Group 1 races are run and won — the Queensland Derby (2400m) featuring the derby-winning machine Explosive Jack and the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at weight-for-age level where Godolphin have an extremely strong hand through Trekking and Savatiano, not to mention Special K … Kementari. There is also the $1 million Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m) headlined by the unbeaten Ayrton, who is the raging favourite in all-in markets for the Stradbroke Handicap, even though he hasn’t qualified as yet.

I – INSTAGRAM

That is where you will have to go if you want Naomi Osaka’s thoughts on her French Open campaign after announcing she would boycott the post-match press conferences in Paris. Citing mental health concerns, the four-time grand slam singles champion said she had nothing against the tournament or officials on the ground at Roland Garros. Instead she felt the obligation to speak to the media was a bridge too far. Having earnt in excess of $75 million last year in prize money and endorsements, any financial sanction for her stance is not likely to cause Osaka too many problems.

J – JUSTIS IS SERVED

Australian boxing got the result it desperately needed and wanted on Wednesday night when Justis Huni showcased his undeniable talent to set up a mouthwatering bout with the polarising Paul Gallen next month. The 22-year-old retained his Australian heavyweight title with a dominant 10-round beating of Christian Tsoye. It was only Huni’s fourth professional fight, but he is a treasure. Huni is big, fast, has excellent hand speed, great ring craft, wonderful evasiveness and can take a punch. In simple terms, he is the real deal.

K – KALGOORLIE CONCERNS

What to do about Kalgoorlie? Many eyebrows were raised and concerns aired, albeit privately, when just 47 horses ran around in the Goldfields last Sunday. Most concerning was the meeting came after a week off, not on the back-up from the previous weekend. Fortunately, there were two sets of trials featuring 11 horses and this Sunday’s card has considerably more depth. Onwards and upwards we hope.

L – LANGER’S LONGEVITY

Australian coach Justin Langer’s tenure at the helm of the national men’s side came into sharp focus this week when it was reported that his intense management style and mood swings had rubbed the players up the wrong way. Basically, Langer needs to change his ways or face the prospect of being axed. The combative West Australian would be filthy at what he would describe as a breach of trust. This is going to be a fascinating watch.

M – MUSCLES FLEXED

Let’s hope Richmond have learnt their lesson. That is, don’t poke the bear. Damien Hardwick’s initial reaction to the nightclub fracas involving Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli, along the lines that he was comfortable they stood up for each other, was echoed by Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale. AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan didn’t agree and said as much. Then Hardwick expressed displeasure at the Tigers having to play games at Marvel Stadium. But wait, there’s more. Hardwick had a veiled whinge at the lopsided free kick count last Friday night. It seems enough was enough. McLachlan ordered Bolton into a meeting at AFL House. Soon after the exciting youngster was slapped with a $20,000 sanction for his role in the initial stoush, accompanied by an apology. It’s fair to assume the Tigers will be a bit quieter from here on in.

N – NOWHERE TO HIDE

The Big Three of men’s tennis — Roger Feder, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — will have every right to cherish this year’s French Open title should they emerge triumphant at Roland Garros. For the first time in history, the trio who share 58 grand slam singles crowns, are in the same half of the draw. Barring any upsets, Djokovic and Federer will meet in a quarterfinal, with Nadal almost certain to be waiting in a semifinal. It seems absurd that only one of them can advance to the decider. Certainly the game will be worse off for it.

O – ORIGIN OF CONCERN

The MCG is slated to host the opening match of this year’s State of Origin contest between NSW and Queensland. With everything that is going on now in Victoria, it would seem highly unlikely that it could proceed. Optus Stadium here in Perth has been floated as an alternative venue, but it would be a shock if game one wasn’t played on the east coast. For what it’s worth, I love the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, a venue purpose built for the code in a city that loves rugby league. There wouldn’t be a spare seat in the house.

P – PLEASE EXPLAIN

AFL football operations manager Steven Hocking has done a pretty good job over the past couple of years of implementing changes to save the game from itself. But as the head of the football department at the league, you could argue he is being derelict in his duty at not publicly explaining the reasoning behind Nick Holman being incorrectly slapped with a two-game suspension for his chase-down tackle on Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan. The AFL Tribunal saw the folly of match review officer Michael Christian’s sanction, upholding Gold Coast’s appeal and enabling Holman to take his place this weekend. Fortunately, common sense prevailed in the end. There may have been a riot from players and clubs had it not.

Q – Q22

What price will Zaaki start in the $1.2 million weight-for-age feature on June 12? It’s fair to assume it will start with a 1 in front of it. The Annabel Neasham-trained import obliterated his rivals in last Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and the step to 2200m in the Q22, the race added to the calendar to bolster the Queensland winter carnival, looks at his mercy. The $3.80 being offered about him to win a Cox Plate later in the year is too skinny, but boy he is exciting.

R – REUNITED

Terrific to have Steven Parnham back in the saddle and even better to see him linking up with his favourite horse, Kay Cee, in tomorrow’s Iron Jack Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont Park. The Group 1-winning combination reunite for the first time since November 7 when successful in the Group 2 Lee-Steere Stakes (1400m) at Ascot. Parnham has had his share of injury setbacks since that day (most famously missing the ride on her in the Group 1 Railway Stakes and Group 1 Kingston Town Classic with a busted collarbone), but will be hoping to make a splash in his first day back in the saddle for more than six weeks.

S – STRIKING DISTANCE

Is where Perth Glory find themselves after their excellent recent run in the A-League. They could only manage a 1-1 draw with Macarthur last Sunday, but it was a case of no damage done. Their excellent sequence of results leading up to that match has seen them rise to eighth spot on the ladder ahead of a massive clash with the Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand this weekend.

T – TNT

The Perth Wildcats blew up the Sydney Kings 81-67 last night to become the first club in NBL history to sweep an opponent 5-0 during the course of the regular season. The win was built on a trademark efficient Wildcats display with Mitch Norton handcuffing Casper Ware and John Mooney being, well … John Mooney. But the efforts of Todd Blanchfield and Luke Travers were also extremely important. Blanchfield stepped up in Bryce Cotton’s absence to have 23 points, while Travers contributed 16 points and eight rebounds.

U – UNCERTAIN TIMES

They are over for leviathan owner-breeder Bob Peters, who yesterday agreed to sell Arcadia Queen to Arrowfield Stud for $3.2 million. Peters was a little nonplussed on Tuesday afternoon when his boom mare, comfortably in the top three horses he and his wife Sandra have raced, failed to reach her reserve of $4 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. The triple Group 1 winner was passed in at $3.4 million, leaving Magic Millions officials to deal with interested parties, chiefly representatives from leading Hunter Valley nursery Arrowfield, behind the scenes.

V – VICTOR’S VACATION

Victor Radley had tongues wagging in the NRL last weekend — and not for the reasons which brought a smile to his coach Trent Robinson’s face. The Sydney Roosters enforcer was reported four times for as many high shots and sinbinned on two occasions. At the NRL Judiciary this week, Radley was slapped with a five-match ban, ruling him out of State of Origin contention. Radley plays on the edge and that is what makes him so valuable. But his comments in the wake of the suspension, that he had no intention of changing the way he goes about it, need addressing by Robinson and his teammates. He is too important to be sitting on the sidelines, which is where he will find himself for an extended period beyond the current holiday because of the quantum shift in relation to head-high shots from the NRL.

W – WHERE ARE YOU NOW

Yes, you. The detractors of Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons. The angular Aussie with the unique skillset has been a lightning rod for critics in his time in the NBA because of his inability to fill up the cylinder like so many other No.1 draft picks via a reliable jump shot. But Simmons is an elite defender and gifted facilitator and has been a stud in the opening two games of the Sixers’ Eastern Conference play-off series with Washington, averaging 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11.5 assists a game. Serious numbers from a serious player.

X – X-RAYS

It’s not the first time we have used X-rays for the letter X. But when star performers in the AFL are continually being sent for scans, which then reveal serious injuries, the footballing public is worse off. That was the case again earlier in the week when Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar and GWS key defender Sam Taylor, a product of Swan Districts, discovered they would miss a significant chunk of the season because of a dreaded syndesmosis diagnosis.

Y – YEO GOOD TO GO

That is the opinion of West Coast’s match committee, who clearly felt the 75 minutes Elliot Yeo produced in the WAFL last week, his first match of any kind since midway through last year, was sufficient. Yeo’s recall for the clash with Essendon at Optus Stadium caught many by surprise. Fingers crossed for Yeo and the Eagles that he navigates the increased intensity that comes with the elite level well and can springboard into the second half of the season.

Z – ZIPPING CLASSIC

The money kept coming and coming and coming for Zipping Rambo in last night’s Group 1 Sandown Cup. And as they say … they knew. Not only them, but their brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and the ostracised step-brother in far away Kazakhstan. It was an enormous go, $12 into $4, one of which you rarely see in such an exposed greyhound market like the one we saw.