The Weekly A-Z

Posted on July 9, 2021July 9, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

A – ARROW OFF TARGET

Jai Arrow. Wowee. Clearly, you have you been living under a rock. It can be the only explanation behind your decision to invite a woman into your hotel room while on camp with the Queensland State of Origin squad. To put the code in jeopardy by bringing back someone from outside the COVID bubble was not only reckless but remarkably selfish. Arrow can consider himself fortunate that the punishment of exclusion from the Maroons camp and a two-game suspension, including next Wednesday night’s game three against NSW, was accompanied by a fine of only $35,000.

B – BREATHE OUT

Let’s all take a deep breath over Emma Raducanu’s decision to withdraw from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon against Ajla Tomljanovic. The 18-year-old lost the first set to the Aussie 6-4 and soon after started having trouble breathing. A medical time-out was required and shortly after she left the court for assessment when trailing 3-0 in the second set, it was decided she could no longer continue. It prompted many, including John McEnroe, to have an opinion on whether she had the necessary mental strength to compete at the elite level. Let’s not forget Raducanu is just a kid and was carrying the hopes of a nation at her home-town grand slam.

C – COMING HOME

The de facto anthem “It’s Coming Home” for the England national team has been blurted out ad nauseum during the Euros and you can expect more of it in the coming days as we build up to the final between Gareth Southgate’s men and Italy on Monday morning. England advanced to the showpiece with their 2-1 extra-time win over Denmark yesterday morning, helping exorcise the demons that have troubled the side on the international stage since the country’s 1966 World Cup win. We are about to learn whether football is indeed coming home.

D – DATE WITH DESTINY

If you have a glass half-full attitude, you are entitled to sit down in front of the TV tomorrow night full of confidence. Ash Barty is just two sets away from emulating the heroics of her long-time idol and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley when she takes on Karolina Pliskova in the Wimbledon final. It has been 50 years since Goolagong Cawley beat Margaret Court to win the first of her two Wimbledon titles, her second coming nine years later. Barty, who won the junior Wimbledon singles crown a decade ago, is also sporting a dress this year that pays tribute to the outfit fellow Indigenous star Goolagong Cawley wore in 1971.

E – EARLY FAVOURITES

Melbourne United are not resting on their laurels. Having swept the Perth Wildcats 3-0 in last month’s grand final series, it seems the organisation has set its sights on establishing a dynasty. Reports this morning suggest Matthew Dellavedova has committed to United for next season. He will be a fresh face alongside Brad Newley, who has moved on from the Sydney Kings. Throw in current Boomers teammate Jock Landale and at least two Americans and United look like they will again be the testing material.

F – FLYING THE FLAG

Kudos to Australian Olympic Games chef de mission Ian Chesterman for choosing Patty Mills and Cate Campbell to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony in Tokyo later this month. Mills and Campbell will be contesting their fourth Olympics and have forever and a day preached the importance of representing their country every four years. The immensely popular Mills will become the first indigenous Australian to carry the flag at an opening ceremony, making his appointment even more significant. If you haven’t seen the pride on his face when handed an Australian flag by Boomers teammate Joe Ingles this week, you are missing out.

G – GOING FOR GOLD

The state’s best juvenile pacers will be showing off again tonight at Gloucester Park when they contest the $125,000 Choices Flooring 2YO Golden Slipper (2130m). Aidan De Campo chases more Group 1 glory, Justin Prentice will be aided by a more favourable draw with his representative Tricky Miki, Ryan Bell’s Swingband created an impression on debut and has the pole, while former Kiwi Youre So Fine boasts strong formlines and will no doubt have his admirers in his maiden start for Gary Hall Snr. It all adds up to a cracking race.

H – HIGHWAY TO HELL

No tears will be shed by Adam Simpson and his players if they never have to play another game down the highway at GMHBA Stadium. For the second time this season, West Coast had their backside handed to them at Geelong’s home ground. But it wasn’t the Cats who did the damage last Sunday, rather a young Sydney side which played with courage, hardness and belief. I’m not sure what was worse … the 92-point margin at the end of the game or the fact the Eagles could muster just three goals. West Coast remain winless at the ground since their premiership year of 2006.

I – INCARCERATED

Angel Cabrera is going to be for some time. The dual major champion well known to Australian golfing fans for being conquered by Adam Scott in the 2013 US Masters play-off, was this week sentenced to two years jail after being convicted of assaulting a woman he was previously in a relationship with. Cabrera won the 2007 US Open at Oakmont by a shot from Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk and then prevailed at Augusta National when triumphant in a play-off over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell. The only driver he needed this week was the individual at the wheel of the prison van.

J – JUST JOSHING

WA cricket enthusiasts will be keeping a close eye on the events over there in Caribbean after some excellent lead-up form from Josh Philippe. The pocket dynamo blasted 67 off just 43 balls yesterday morning, WA time, in the second intra-squad game, boosting his chances of batting in the middle order in game one of the five-match T20 series against the West Indies, starting tomorrow morning, again WA time. Philippe is an outstanding white-ball cricketer and with an exposed run at the top level, could become a genuine star. His WA teammates Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar have also caught the eye in St Lucia and will have important roles to play.

K – KENNETT BE DONE

Hawthorn caused the biggest of stirs this week when they became the latest club to announce a succession plan. Hawks chairman Jeff Kennett, no stranger to controversy or certainly keeping those under his watch on their toes, revealed that Alastair Clarkson would be replaced by Sam Mitchell at the end of his current contract in 2022. Whether Clarkson, the finest coach in the modern era, can work hand-in-hand with Mitchell, who is likely to be his adversary in years to come, is debatable. It wouldn’t be a shock if the four-time premiership coach hands over the keys to Mitchell at the end of the season and links up with another club as early as next year. Let’s hope that is the case because the first meeting between a Clarkson-coached side and Hawthorn will be salivating.

L – LAME

This applies to both Port Adelaide and Zak Butters. The Power’s wretched record against genuine top-eight sides was again exposed last night with a disappointing display in the loss to Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. It came after they were also beaten up at home by the Western Bulldogs and Geelong this year and was compounded by Butters’ latest setback. In his first match for three months, Butters was subbed out of the match with a right knee injury. Scans will determine his fate.

M – MISSING IN ACTION

Fremantle fans were entitled to be more than a little nonplussed by their side’s inability to convert a string of opportunities in what shapes as a costly loss to Carlton last Saturday night at the MCG. The failure to approach the contest with the necessary mindset was equally galling. To manage just four behinds opposed to the Blues’ return of 4.2 at quarter-time left the Dockers with too much work to do. Bitterly disappointing.

N – NORMAL SERVICE RESUMES

There is an expectation that will be the case at Caulfield tomorrow when Jamie Kah chases her 100th metropolitan victory for the season. Kah was looking to become the first Melbourne-based rider to achieve the feat at Sandown on Wednesday, only to walk away frustrated and stranded on 99 after having what she described as a “s…” day. Kah and metropolitan success go hand in hand and it would be a shock if she is not celebrating a breakout season tomorrow night.

O – OUT THE DOOR

Steve Hocking wasted little time in leaving AFL House after announcing he was resigning as the league’s general manager of football operations to succeed Brian Cook as CEO of Geelong at the end of the season. Hocking, who played for the Cats and also worked at the club before heading to the AFL, finished up yesterday. Though his tinkering with the rules infuriated many, Hocking leaves the game a better product than when he arrived. He has big shoes to fill after Cook’s reign, but will be no doubt happy to be among friendly faces in familiar surrounds.

P – POSITIVELY POSTECOGLOU

Ange Postecoglou wasn’t Celtic’s first choice to become their new manager. He knows that and in typical Postecoglou style, he couldn’t care less. His job is to ensure the Scottish giants remain a daunting opponent regardless of what competition they are contesting. The former Socceroos coach made the perfect start to his time at the helm this week when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in a friendly. Tellingly, the attacking mindset which has accompanied Postecoglou-coached teams was evident. Celtic fans are entitled to think the Postecoglou era will be a prosperous one.

Q – QUICK TO ACT

It seems the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence are well and truly on the same page. The Jaguars took the young quarterback, who boasts what some believe is a once-in-a-generation arm, with the first pick in the NFL draft. Often that doesn’t correlate into an immediate financial agreement between team and player. Fortunately for Jags fans, that wasn’t the case here. So much so that Lawrence this week agreed to a four-year rookie contract worth $49.6 million, clearing the path for him to attend the start of training camp later this month.

R – RED ALERT

It’s fair to say Red Can Man’s debut run in Melbourne down the Flemington straight was not as good as many had hoped. Back around a corner tomorrow in the Group 3 John Monash Stakes (1100m), it wouldn’t be a shock if the tough-as-teak gelding bounces back to his best. It would be a terrific result if he added more black type to his CV after his sire Gingerbread Man was in the headlines last weekend with Chili Is Hot’s win in the Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m).

S – SHOWTIME

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s much-anticipated AFL debut is almost here. Last year’s No.1 draft pick has been carefully managed by the Western Bulldogs, who have decided to remove the bubble wrap and unleash the lanky teenager against Sydney at Marvel Stadium. Despite his undeniable talent, Ugle-Hagan’s commitment to training and less than satisfactory fitness levels have held him back. The concussion to WA high flyer Aaron Naughton has provided him with an opportunity. Over to you, Jamarra.

T – TRIPLE TREAT

It was a red-letter weekend for Australian golf. Cam Davis chalked up his first victory on the US PGA Tour when outlasting Troy Merritt in a five-hole play-off in the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. He now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and will be lining up in next year’s US Masters. Davis’ triumph came after Lucas Herbert claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the Irish Open and Stephanie Kyriacou prevailed in the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands.

U – UNDEFEATED

Father Time has never been beaten. Not once. And he is about to prevail yet again in what has been an absorbing, long-standing battle with arguably the greatest tennis player the planet has ever seen – Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro exited Wimbledon in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, the first time he has been beaten in straight sets on the hallowed grass in 19 years. Remarkably, Federer lost the final set 6-0. Turning 40 in a month, it might just be the last time we see Federer compete at Wimbledon.

V – VAUGHAN VANISHED

Paul Vaughan has a PhD in moronic behaviour. There can be no other conclusion after he elected to host a house party last weekend for 12 of his St George Illawarra teammates … after being told by coach Anthony Griffin and football manager Ben Haran not to celebrate the 19-18 win over the New Zealand Warriors. The NRL understandably took a dim view of the shenanigans and the attempt to deceive authorities in the aftermath, dishing out suspensions and fines totalling more than $300,000. The Dragons went a step further, tearing up Vaughan’s $800,000 a year contract. I said it last week and I will say it again … some of the NRL boys just don’t get it.

W – WORLD STAGE

It awaits Australian sensation Tim Tszyu after his demolition of Stevie Sparks in Newcastle on Wednesday night. Tszyu produced a brief boxing masterclass that ended in the third round when a body shot left Sparks crumpled on the canvas in obvious discomfort. There is nothing more the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu can do here against local talent. He is befitting a big stage against a big-named international opponent. Let’s hope his team can deliver that sooner rather than later because you can never have too much of a good thing.

X – X-FACTOR

It’s hard to argue that Amasenus doesn’t have it in spades. The four-year-old mare will line up in tomorrow’s $100,000 Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) at Belmont Park chasing a seventh consecutive victory. It is clearly her biggest test, but the decision by Chris Parnham to ride her over gifted stablemate Miss Conteki, who he has enjoyed considerable success aboard, is a good push. Amasenus has never seen a heavy track, but has shown a liking for soft ground and is one of the more intriguing runners on the day given she started this campaign as a class one galloper.

Y – YELLOW FEVER

Perth cyclist Ben O’Connor vaulted into yellow jersey contention with his stage nine victory in the Tour De France. O’Connor showed great initiative and heart to launch a solo break with about 17 kilometres to go. He finished more than five minutes ahead of Mattia Cattaneo and Sonny Colbrelli to vault into second position overall. While he has dropped to fifth on the standings, it has been a breakout tour by the 25-year-old Aquinas College product.

Z – ZERO

We already knew the Olympic Games in Tokyo, thanks to COVID, were going to be an Olympic Games the one of which we had never seen before. That was reinforced yesterday when Japan declared a state of emergency over growing numbers of COVID cases. It means there are strict pandemic measures in place, including rules that prohibit spectators at sporting events and that includes the Olympics. It is an extremely sad state of affairs, but clearly a step authorities believe is necessary.