In sport this weekend, Collingwood wins the AFL flag in a thriller, the Penrith Panthers make it three premierships in a row, the NBL season kicks off, the Aussie women win their first T20 and the second half of the AFLW season gets underway this week.
Collingwood secures premiership glory
Collingwood has now won an equal high 16 premierships after a thrilling four-point victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, 12.18 (90) to 13.8 (86).
100,024 fans packed out the MCG to watch the two best sides of the 2023 season battle it out in the Saturday sun.
The game went back and forth all day with 10 lead changes, however, it was Collingwood’s star players that stood up in the dying stages to deliver them the elusive flag.
Bobby Hill capped off his remarkable comeback story to kick four goals and win the Norm Smith Medal.
Penrith Panthers achieve three-peat
The Penrith Panthers have successfully made it a three-peat after coming back to defeat Brisbane Broncos 26-24, thanks to a Nathan Cleary masterclass.
Channel Nine commentator, Mat Thompson said the game at Sydney’s Accor Stadium would go down in history as one of the greatest grand finals ever.
Panthers’ half back and captain, Cleary delivered scoring the match-winning try in the 77th minute to secure victory for his side. He was awarded with his second Clive Churchill Medal – making him the first player ever win more than one.
The Broncos held a 24-8 lead after 58 minutes, however, the momentum shifted and they fell short in a heartbreaking loss just in the last 120 seconds of the match.
NBL season starts with a bang
The National Basketball League (NBL) 2023-24 season is underway and there have already been plenty of good games since the season opener last Thursday night.
The Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings sit at the top of the table by percentage after round one, while Melbourne United and New Zealand have also started well.
The first game of the season last Thursday saw a sold-out crowd fill the stands of John Cain Arena to watch Melbourne United take on South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Round two gets underway on Thursday night with an exciting clash between New Zealand and Brisbane to kick it off.
Aussies cruise to victory in first T20
Australia has made light work of the West Indies in the first T20 International of the series, cruising to an eight-wicket victory yesterday in Sydney.
Despite a dominant display from West Indies’ captain, Hayley Matthews who smashed 99-not-out and picked up player of the match honours, Australia put in a strong performance.
Alyssa Healy was in stellar form with the bat smashing 56 off 29 balls to get the Aussies off to a successful run chase in her 250th international match.
An unbeaten knock of 60 from Tahlia McGrath saw the side chase down West Indies’ total of 147 in just the 14th over.
The sides will face off again tonight for the second T20 of the series.
AFLW season at halfway mark
It’s officially the halfway mark of the season for AFLW, and Melbourne and Adelaide remain as the only two undefeated sides in the competition.
There were plenty of close games in round five but Melbourne’s 49-point win over Geelong wasn’t one of them as Kate Hore kicked four goals to help her side to victory.
Round six sets up an enthralling encounter between the two undefeated sides and while the Dees will go into the game as favourites, it could go either way.
The ladder remains very even, and the next two rounds will be crucial for sides to try and get the edge over their opposition and push towards the finals race.
Photo: MCG AFL Grand Final 2022 by Storm machine available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.
