Sporting shorts - No. 11

AFL

• During the Swans victory over Fremantle, Lance Franklin became just the second man (with Tony Lockett) to kick over 300 goals for two clubs. 
• The result of the weekend was Brisbane's win over Hawthorn. The Lions have been good this year, and deserve to be better than 1-8. The other really impressive result was Essendon's win against Geelong. Both results I didn't see coming
• Have to admit, I'm not at all sure about playing AFL games outside of Australia.  I didn't see any value to the St Kilda v Swans games in Wellington and don't see the value to the Port Adelaide - Gold Coast game in China. The crowd in China was disappointing too.
• Melbourne were impressive over the weekend too and feel more confident that they will make the eight. 
• The other really impressive team this round was West Coast - they look the real deal - and at the other end of the spectrum is the Giants. I feel that GWS will miss the eight now. They are feeling the effect of having star players out. 

NRL

• Feeling slightly more confident that the Warriors will make the eight. Last year they dropped games they might have been expected to win.
• Super impressed with Joe Ofahengaue, who has been playing on after discovering his partner was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. (Read more here)
• The Sea Eagles - Storms game brought back memories of the infamous Battle of Brookvale, and featured the first send-off since 2015; and four separate sin-bins. Manly finish on top were it mattered - 24-4 victors. 
• Next week will be fascinating with the top four playing each other - Dragons (1) v Panthers (2) and Warriors (3) v Rabbitohs (4). 

Rugby

• The point of note is with their win against the Highlanders on Saturday, the Waratahs became the first Australia team to beat a New Zealand opponent in 41 starts. 
• Next weekend's game between the Crusaders and Hurricanes will go a long way to deciding the NZ conference.

Other

• The Las Vegas Golden Knights have qualified for the Stanley Cup Final in their first season. The first team St Louis in 1967-68 to qualify for the final in their first season. 
• This article by Sam Lane about AFLW is a must read - sad that the two female coaches in the competition have both resigned.. While women play in the competition, its run and administered by men...