State of Origin is an over-hyped, over-commercialised, watered-down version of what it used to be - and it's never going to get any better, writes SHAYNE BUGDEN
When I tune in to Channel Nine's coverage of the Origin just a few hours from now, I'll be treated to slow-motion replays of big hits and try celebrations while voiceovers tell me I'm about to watch a war, a battle between the best of the best, the pinnacle of rugby league, an ages-old rivalry steeped in hatred.
And I'll be thinking, please, give it a bloody rest.
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The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Can Giants v Suns go from ‘mockbuster' to megahit?
The Expansion Cup. It's the biggest game on the football calendar. At least it is for two clubs and their supporters who circle the day as a reminder that they're not alone in trying to break into a crowded market. But this time, the clash between the GWS Giants and the Gold Coast Suns is more than just a 'mockbuster'. It's for more than just tongue-in-cheek bragging rights. The AFL's glorified 'nepo babies' will meet for the first time with both sides sitting inside the top eight. The finger of blame for this anomaly over 14 years of the clubs' shared history can be firmly pointed at the Suns. The Giants have appeared in seven finals campaigns, won nine post-season matches and reached a grand final in 2019. For the Suns, the numbers for the same are none, zero, zilch. But this season they are on the verge of overtaking the Giants in the premiership race. After giving the Giants a huge head start, the Suns are threatening to be the first of the expansion clubs to reach the promised land. Gold Coast have only once been a genuine finals contender, when they were still sitting in the top eight as late as round 16 in 2014. Gary Ablett Jr went down at that point with a season-ending shoulder injury. The Suns tumbled with him to 12th. That remains their equal-highest finish, but the perennial underachievers are now likely five wins away from breaking their finals drought. They have six matches to come on their home deck and two games in hand on four of the sides sitting above their sixth place. A challenging run home awaits, but with three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick's fingerprints all over their gameplan and brand, they finally look ready to stand up at the pointy end of a season. The former Richmond coach inherited a high-potential midfield built around onball bull Matt Rowell and veteran Touk Miller. Noah Anderson adds the touch of class. Handing the captaincy to Anderson at 23 years old has been a masterstroke as much as a changing of the guard – just as Hardwick made Trent Cotchin the Tigers' skipper at a similar same age. Anderson finished in the top 10 of the 2023 Brownlow Medal in his fourth season. He is now a much more complete footballer; still polished in possession but better at winning and distributing the ball from the inside. The recruitment of Daniel Rioli, who played under Hardwick at the Tigers, and John Noble has already paid dividends. The duo's dash and dare from half-back sets the tone and has helped make the Suns harder for opposition defences to contain. They have the fourth-highest scoring attack, with focal point Ben King already on 34 goals, as well as the fifth-tightest defence. That blend has been the premiership model in 18 of the past 20 years. The best is still to come for Gold Coast. Grassroots participation in the city is booming and their well funded academy is paying for itself. Key forward Jed Walter, athletic tall Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham all arrived from their football factory as first-round picks in 2023. Leo Lombard is another academy graduate since taken in the top 10. More highly touted prospects are tipped to be added later this year and leave the clubs in footy's heartland fuming. Gold Coast and GWS both come with their flaws, their inconsistencies and talented but imbalanced playing lists. But at their best, they can match it with any team in the competition. GWS have beaten Collingwood, Geelong and Brisbane this year. Gold Coast have edged past the next tier of Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn. The Suns are rising, while the Giants are … not quite falling, but too often just hanging on. The forward group led by the talismanic Toby Greene and reigning Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan could be the most potent in the game. But the Giants are ranked mid-table for scoring, marks inside 50 and tackles inside 50. Arguably the best intercepting backline in the league is forced to paper over the cracks further afield, as it defends against the most inside 50s coming its way outside West Coast. An ageing midfield is creaking and needs a refresh alongside Finn Callaghan and Tom Green. The Giants have set the standard for the two newest clubs in the league. They have won 13 of their past 14 matches against the Suns, and all seven meetings at their home base by an average of 66 points. More than half of the 19 clashes between the Suns and Giants have been far from close encounters. They have been straight-to-DVD affairs decided by 40 points or more. The clash on Sunday is unlikely to break any box office records but the top-eight tussle will be worth watching if only for a glimpse into the future of an emerging force. The reigning premiers will seek to return to form against the Cats on Friday night at a venue where they have not won since 2003. GWS were the brash young upstarts threatening to build a dynasty. On the brink of a grand final in just their fifth season, their rapid rise was an AFL fever dream. But the Western Bulldogs had their own wave of momentum behind them during an emotionally charged finals campaign. The 2016 preliminary final had more on the line than just a spot in the decider. It soon became an all-time classic. After a see-sawing first half, the Giants led by the narrowest of margins at the last change. Goals to Rory Lobb and Toby Greene gave them some breathing space, before the Bulldogs took the lead with three majors on the trot. Giants key forward Jonathon Patton brought the game back to within a point with his fourth of the day, and scores were level when Jack Macrae booted just his second goal of the season for the Dogs. GWS small forward Devon Smith blasted wide from just inside the 50m arc with two minutes remaining to bring the margin back to under a kick. As the Giants pushed forward one last time, the Dogs' stand-in captain Easton Wood stood up with three desperate acts in as many seconds, befitting of the pulsating contest from both sides. It was irrelevant to the outcome but felt right that Tory Dickson's shot after the siren hit the post, keeping the margin to a solitary goal. That was still enough for the Bulldogs to secure a grand final spot for the first time in 20,090 days, with more history to be written a week later when they faced the Swans. The Brisbane veteran was first on the scene after Payne suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury against GWS. 'I was right at his feet,' Zorko told SENQ Breakfast. 'There was a little bit of a noise, obviously him impacting the ground didn't sound great.' Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion 'The biggest thing for me when I was going through a rough patch was I just lost passion for the game, I didn't enjoy the grind,' the Giants forward Jesse Hogan told AFL 360. 'It became really tough and that's when my mind kind of wandered. 'I didn't enjoy getting to the club, I wasn't enjoying the small things that when you were 16 or 17 you did enjoy. Until you figure out the smaller things and you can really strip it all back and start to enjoy those things and put really good people around you, it can get really hard. He can make it work, absolutely he can.' The reigning Coleman medallist backed Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to rediscover his love for the game after the former No 1 pick returned to training with the Western Bulldogs. Any thoughts you want to share? Reply to this email or send your views to fromthepocket@ Lance Franklin is the last player to kick a century with 113 goals in 2008, but who has booted the most majors in a season since then? Bonus points if you know the year and total number. Answers in next week's newsletter, but if you think you know it, hit reply and let me know. Last week's answer: Which two clubs have played the most matches against each other without meeting in a final? The Western Bulldogs (including as Footscray) and Richmond have played 161 times without a finals clash. Congratulations to Logan P, who was first to reply with the right answer. Bailey Smith has lived up to his star billing and helped change the way Geelong play since joining from the Western Bulldogs – but he is no showstopper, writes Jonathan Horn. Reply to this email and drop me a line, or email fromthepocket@ Have a friend who might? Forward this to them, or tell them how to get it.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Nick Kyrgios gets a very surprising new partner as his career takes an unexpected new turn
has been tempted by the controversial new format of the US Open mixed doubles into signing up for the event in a blockbuster pairing with two-time US Open women's singles winner Naomi Osaka. Kyrgios has been tormented by a succession of injuries in the last two-and-a-half years and only played six singles and three doubles matches since the start of 2023, winning one of each. But the prospect of the short-form event, and a star-studded cast, has persuaded him to enter along with a series of intriguing pairings. Only two of the 20 current top-10 male and female players have to date declined to put their names forward in a victory for the organisers' rebrand, the creation of which drew condemnation from regular doubles players including Australia's Ellen Perez. Men's No.1 Jannik Sinner has paired with American women's world No.9 Emma Navarro and men's No.2 Carlos Alcaraz with former US Open winner Emma Raducanu. Women's No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has linked up with men's No.19 Grigor Dimitrov. Men's No.9 Holger Rune and women's No.2 Coco Gauff are the current top-10 players not to have entered so far, nor have Australian No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina - the entry window closes on July 28. However, de Minaur said on Tuesday he and his British fiancee Kate Boulter, currently world No.39, were planning on doing so. 'We're definitely going to be keen to try and play if they allow us to and if they want us to,' he said. 'If that's an option, then we'll definitely be up for it.' Sixteen teams have signed up with the top eight with the best combined singles ranking guaranteed a place along with eight wildcard entries. Kyrgios and Osaka would need a wildcard, being ranked 633rd and 57th respectively, but given the revamp is aimed at attracting more fans, viewers and sponsors there is little doubt such a high-profile duo would get one. 'Seeing the teams that have already put their names on the entry list makes us all incredibly excited,' US Tennis Association CEO Lew Sherr said. 'It shows that the players are behind what we are trying to do, and we know that the fans will love it.' The attraction for many singles players is the shortened format and the timing, the event being played in the 'Fan Week' before the main draw. Most matches will be best-of-three sets played to four games instead of six, with a deciding point played at deuce. Tiebreakers would be at 4-4, while a first-to-10-points match tiebreaker would replace a third set. The final would be played to six games but still with no-advantage scoring and a 10-point match tiebreaker. This format, the selection criteria and the clash with singles qualifying, are reasons why established doubles players were unhappy. 'Tell us that you think doubles players are trash, that tradition is overrated and job opportunity is a thing of the past without actually saying it,' Perez, a players' council representative, posted on X at the time of announcement. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who have entered but will need a wildcard given their singles rankings, said the changes were a 'profound injustice' that disrespects doubles players, describing the new event as a 'pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show'. 'Making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations,' they added.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Carrie Bickmore hails footy star Scott Selwood's incredible sacrifice just after losing a second brother in 'the most horrific personal circumstances'
Aussie radio presenter Carrie Bickmore has paid tribute to Scott Selwood after the former footy star completed a solo marathon to raise money for charity just weeks after the death of his brother, Adam. Selwood, now assistant coach of Collingwood, had been planning to run in South Africa 's Big Five Marathon with Bickmore but was forced to pull out due to the tragic death of Adam in May. Adam's death at the age of 41 came just three months after his identical twin and fellow former AFL player Troy Selwood died. Scott's commitment to the cause remained, with him completing 42.2km around Albert Park on Saturday - raising money for Bickmore's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer in the process. Former player Isaac Smith joined Bickmore in South Africa in Selwood's place, running a marathon with just three week's notice. 'Collapsed against the wall is Scott Selwood, who was due to participate in The Big 5 with us but had to pull out at the last minute due to the most horrific personal circumstances,' Bickmore posted to Instagram. Selwood (above) had been planning to run in South Africa 's Big Five Marathon with Bickmore but was forced to pull out due to the tragic death of Adam in May. Former player Isaac Smith (pictured flat on his back above) joined Bickmore in South Africa in Selwood's place 'He still chose to do the marathon in Australia at the same time as we did ours in South Africa. He ran around Albert Park lake and did the 42K alone. What a superhuman effort. 'The pic of the man laying down is Isaac Smith, a former footy player who stepped in with 3 weeks to go and only managed 3 training runs before running The Big 5 marathon. 'He nearly got medic'd off the course because he was so unwell, but he wouldn't let them stop him running. He completed the marathon, the colour of grey, and stumbling everywhere but he did it. He did it for Scott. 'Sending love to both of you. You are both beautiful humans.' Alongside the message, Bickmore posted an image of both Selwood and Smith after running their respective marathons. Smith, who has a newborn at home, said stepping up to run the race was a no-brainer for him. 'There wasn't really a question because they've done so many amazing things for so many people,' he said. 'They're a beautiful family and I'll do anything to help them out.' Adam (pictured delivering a eulogy for brother Troy) was planning on a charity run in Perth at the time of his death Before his death, Adam Selwood was meant to run a half-marathon to honour his brother Troy. He hoped to raise $10,000 for WA charity zero2hero, which supports mental health leadership and suicide prevention. A group of Adam's friends – including West Coast teammates – finished what he started by running the race.
