Sports Shorts - September 24 - Finals #3

AFL

• So we've got a Crows-Tigers final.  For me the two best teams this year have made it. I'm leaning towards Adelaide as they are the more balanced team, but I feel if Richmond get a good start (and Adelaide start slowly), it could be a different story. 
• If the Cotchin incident had happened in the Home&Away season, I feel he would have got at least a fine. That said, I'm glad he's playing in the Grand Final. 
• On the Brownlow. I want the journo's to ask the 'WAGs' more than just what they're wearing. I think Dustin Martin will win, and poll more votes than Dangerfield. 

NRL

• It's the Cowboys and Storm. The Storm are raging favourites, being the best team all year.  But you do have to admire the Cowboys, knocking out the Sharks, Eels and Roosters just to make the Grand Final (and doing it all without Thurston). I think they'll be saying a big thank you to the Bulldogs, who's last round win against the Dragons got them into the eight. 
• I think the Storm will win, but won't mind of the Cowboys win, They'll be the first, first grade premiers who have won a grand final after finishing eight. 

Other

• The Matildas had another win against Brazil.There is just something awesome about how they approach the game, and the joy they play with. They're certainly my favourite Australian sports team at the moment. 

Sporting shorts - 17 September - Finals #2

AFL

• Tough end to the season. I thought Geelong were more of a chance than most people. But I feel the Sydney didn't really offer a shot. I guess after playing over month of elimination finals the players were heading for an off night. 
• GWS were ruthless in dispatching West Coast. Hard to tell whether the result was more about West Coast running out of puff or GWS. 
• Was disappointing to see the number at the GWS-West Coast game - a touch over 14,000 in a 21,000 seat stadium. 
• Was sad both games were over by half time, hoping next weekend's games are closer. 
• Our Preliminary Finals are Adelaide v Geelong and Richmond v GWS.  We'll know the effect of the pre-final bye this weekend.  
• Both games are fairly even, but I'm hoping for a Adelaide v Richmond final. But I'd be equally happy if Geelong wins (just as long as Adelaide or Geelong win the Grand Final). 

NRL

• Well, for this neutral, there's nobody left to support. If I have to pick anyone to cheer for it will be the Cowboys. 
• Brisbane played well, especially seeing they suffered a few injuries, 
• I can't help but feel Parramatta felt the effects of their close loss to Melbourne. 
• Our Preliminary Finals are Melbourne v Brisbane and Sydney v North Queensland. I suspect we'll see a Storm - Roosters Grand Final, but we'll see. 

Rugby

• Convincing win by the All Blacks against the Springboks this weekend. The 57-0 win was a record margin for a test between the two nations. 
• The Wallabies won the first test in this Championship with a 45-20 win against Argentina in Canberra. 
• I'm getting hungrier for a test between England and New Zealand. England are the best placed challenger to New Zealand at the moment. It's a shame we have to wait so long to see them play. 

Other

• The other highlight from the weekend, was the 15,000 strong crowd who watched the Matilda's 2-1 win over Brazil. The crowd was larger than the Giants - West Coast crowd, Very impressive. The two teams play another game in front of a sell-out crowd in Newcastle on Wednesday.

December - 33

One of the albums I've been excited about hearing all year, finally arrived in my email box yesterday.  It's due for release on September 30. I gave it the old school treatment, while I don't yet have a CD book to finger through. I put earphones on, turned off the lights and let the music speak to me.

The album in question is December's '33'.  The album is a collection of U2 songs. They're more than covers,  they've been given a breath of freshnes.  I just love Ails voice, she brings the earnestness and passion you know from Bono. There's a refreshing thing about hearing these songs, sung by a female vocalist and stripped back a little.

The album doesn't contain the band's biggest hits, but rather a collection of deeper cuts from their catalogue, including God Part II (R&H), Surrender (War),  and a couple of my favourites Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (Achtung Baby) and Bad (The Unforgettable Fire).  Along with those there's the beautiful Promenade, the powerful Surrender, and the fan favourite Where the Streets Have No Name. The album also includes A Sort of Homecoming, Invisible, I Fall Down and Ultra Violet (Light My Way).

It's a collection made by a group of people who clearly both know and love the band with songs from throughout the bands history. I'm excited to hear their own new music shortly, and hopefully a volume 2 of U2 covers down the track. The album is out on September 30 and you can order it from here.

Sporting shorts - September 10 (Finals 1)

NRL

• The talk of the weekend for me is the coaches criticism of the referees. I think we have to be harsh on coaches public criticism of the referee.  No, the referee didn't cost you to the game. I certainly think that we need be mindful of the impact criticism from coaches influences players in junior sport.  We need referees, It's a tough gig. Read this piece here from Richard Hinds, makes some great points. I'm glad both coaches have been fined. 
• On an old hobby horse, but a couple of decisions made me think we should just remove technology from the game, a decision gets sent to the bunker, who then rule "Referees Call". A Goal-line review in the AFL is declared Umpire's Call. Let's keep the theatre of sport and let the on field referees make the call. Yep, I'm sure they'll get some wrong, but I can live with that. Just like I have to live with it when my team gives up a 16 point lead.
• On the field wins to Melbourne (in a tough one against Parramatta), Sydney City, Penrith and North Queensland.  Next week sees Brisbane host Penrith, and Parramatta host North Queensland). I'm expecting Brisbane and Parramatta to win those games. Though my heart would love to see Penrith win (sorry Andrew). 

AFL

• The buzz is about the Richmond Tigers, who won the first final in ages, and qualified for the Preliminary Final. It does seem they gained an advantage with the game being at the MCG. I know its an economic decision, but I'd love to see Geelong play their finals in Geelong. Yep even their final against Sydney next week. They earned a home field advantage, but I don't think they got it.
• The Port Adelaide - West Coast final was something else, extra time, then a goal after the siren to steal the game.  Who knows what West Coast can do, now they've won a final.  I'll be cheering for them against GWS. 
• The two games next weekend, Geelong - Sydney and GWS - West Coast.  I'd put the chances of a Sydney - GWS Grand Final at about 20%, but we'll see. 
• Next week, I'm expecting GWS to win and hoping Sydney wins. 
• I was one of the 46,000 people at the Swans-Bombers. A record crowd at the ground (in it's current configuration). Was a great atmosphere, though I did hope for a closer game. About quarter time I noticed everyone standing at taking pictures of the crowd. When I looked closer, it was because our Prime Minister - Malcolm Turnbull was there.

Football

• New Zealand have qualified for the Intercontinental play-off, where they will play the fifth ranked South American team, currently Argentina (eek). 
• Australia also qualified for the playoff in Asia, where they will play Syria. If they win that game they will play the fourth ranked team from the North America and Caribbean, currently USA - but I expect that will change - and either Honduras or Panama will await. 
• The qualified countries now number eight. Hosts Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, Iran, South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia. 
• I'm looking forward for the start of the Champions League this week. Hoping the tournament throws up a few surprises and we have a new winner. 

Cricket

• Australia won the second test, and drew the series with Bangladesh. Lyon was super impressive with the ball, and Warner with the bat.
• The other notable fact is James Anderson taking his 500th Test Wicket. He had a shaky start to his career, but has improved out of sight. Read this piece here. 

Sporting shorts - September 3

AFL

• This week is the bye, so on field action was limited to Women's State of Origin football, with the Allies and Victoria battling it out. The game itself wasn't really a contest - Victoria winning the game by 97 points - and Daisy Pearce best on ground. 
• In the Men's competition, the biggest news was Dustin Martin re-signing with Richmond. Have to say I'm pleased by that.  
• Looking forward to next week, not with any degree of confidence I'm picking: Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney and Port Adelaide to win.

NRL

• North Queensland survive, and claim eight spot, mainly due to St George's loss to the Bulldogs. 
• The first round of the finals sees: Melbourne play Parramatta, the Roosters tackle Brisbane.  Manly and Penrith resume hostilities after playing this week, and Cronulla play North Queensland. If there's any upsets among those, I suspect it will be Parramatta beating Melbourne. Parramatta at the moment are seeming to play better against the teams above them.
• So, I'm picking Melbourne, Sydney City, Penrith and Cronulla to win next weekend. 
• The Warriors abysmal season finished with their ninth straight loss - 16-28 against the Tigers. Honestly, the less said about their season the better. 

Cricket

• The main news this week was the West Indies beating England; and Australia losing to Bangladesh. 
• I'm not seeing Australia's loss as an upset, the Tigers are on the way up, beating both England and Sri Lanka in the past twelve months. Australia didn't really do the preparation and paid the penalty. These results are both great for Test Cricket. 

Football

• World Cup qualifiers have recommenced, with four nations in addition to the hosts Russia now qualified (Iran, Japan, Mexico and Brazil)
• The All Whites beat the Solomon Islands 6-1 in the first leg of their final.  The winner has the task of playing the fifth ranked South American team, currently Argentina, but it could also be Chile, Peru or Ecuador. 
• Australia's path is slightly more complicated after their 0-2 loss to Japan. Australia needs to beat Thailand and hope that either Japan beats Saudi Arabia or they beat Thailand by a greater margin than Saudi Arabia beat Japan. Australia will otherwise finish third and then need to qualify by beating the other third ranked Asian team (currently Syria, but it could be Uzbekistan) then beating the fourth ranked team from the North America and Caribbean confederation (currently Honduras, but there's an outside chance it could be the USA). 
• In terms of Europe and Africa, it is still to early in the qualifiers to determine the group winners. 

US Open

• At the middle weekend of the tournament, the Mens draws looks a little top heavy with Federer and Nadal in the top half of the draw, and its really anyone's guess who the other two semi-finalists are.  The Women's Draw is quite open. I don't know enough to pick a winner, though I'd love to see Venus Williams win the tournament.
• I'm not really sure how I feel about Sharapova being in the tournament.  Yes she has had a positive doping violation, and was granted a wild-card, but do we, if we do, move on? 

Other

• Have to admit, I'm looking forward to the start of the NFL Season, which begins Friday morning with the reigning champions (New England Patriots) taking on the Kansas City Chiefs.