Rebels overpower Force in style

Entertaining ... Rebels defenders try to tackle Force flyer Alfi Mafi. Source: Justin Benson-Cooper / News Limited

Western Force lock Hugh McMeniman injured his shoulder as the Melbourne Rebels snapped a five-game losing streak with a 30-23 Super Rugby triumph at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

The Rebels opened up a 15-0 lead inside 20 minutes, but had to hold off a fierce Force fightback to secure their second win of the season and jump off the bottom of the Australian conference.

3 Tries 4
Winston Stanley 33'	Hugh Pyle 8'
Will Tupou 59'	Jason Woodward 18'
Pat Dellit 66'	Richard Kingi 49'
	Jason Woodward 69'
1 Conversions 2
Kyle Godwin 60'	James O'Connor 20'
	James O'Connor 71'
2 Penalties 2
Sias Ebersohn 39'	James O'Connor 13'
Sias Ebersohn 40'	James O'Connor 58'

Winger Jason Woodward scored a brace, including a beautiful chip-and-chase try in the 70th minute, while Hugh Pyle and winger Richard Kingi also went over for the visitors in the bonus-point win.

Not only did the result relegate the Force to last in the Australian conference, but they face a nervous wait to determine the extent of McMeniman's injury.

McMeniman, who had rocketed into Wallabies contention after a great start to the season, was forced off in the 42nd minute after copping a big hit to the top of his left shoulder.

The 29-year-old struggled to move his arm as he received treatment on the bench, with initial reports suggesting he may have injured his AC joint.peThe Force also lost five-eighth Sias Ebersohn early in the second half after he was accidentally headbutted by teammate Heath Tessman.

Force coach Michael Foley said he wasn't sure about the seriousness of McMeniman's injury.

"It's an AC injury, so it could be reasonably minor. But we won't know for 24 hours.''

Ebersohn (head), Alfie Mafi (hamstring cramping), prop Kieran Longbottom (head) and Salesi Ma'afu (knee) also suffered injuries.

The home side was left shellshocked early as the Rebels unleashed a flurry of attacking plays that resulted in tries to Pyle and Woodward.

Woodward's try came in comical fashion, with the winger able to stroll over untouched after Force fullback Will Tupou slipped over as he attempted to collect a grubber kick.

But the Force recovered to take control of the game, and levelled the scores up at 23-all in the 66th minute when Pat Dellit got on the end of Winston Stanley's well-weighted grubber.

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Re-live the entertaining battle between the Force and Rebels with our Super Rugby Match Centre, featuring video highlights.

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But man-of-the-match Woodward produced a piece of magic of his own just four minutes later to swing the momentum back Melbourne's way, with his deft chip opening up the Force's defence.

Former Force star James O'Connor missed a penalty in the dying minutes that would have made the game safe, but the Rebels survived a string of 15 phases from the Force after the final siren to secure victory.

"We toughed out a really good win. To finish off the tour with that effort was exceptionally pleasing,'' Rebels coach Damien Hill said.

"Every team goes through ups and downs, and it's about how you bounce back and what your reaction is. It was left up to those 22 players today and they did a tremendous job.''

Wallabies winger Cooper Vuna, who was sent home from the Rebels' recent tour of South Africa after getting into a punch-up with teammate Kurtley Beale, was introduced into the fray straight after half-time.

The Rebels have now won five of their six encounters against the Force, with two of those coming this season.

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Hewitt, Ebden secure doubles win

Double delight ... Australia win an epic double Davis Cup match. Source: Marcus Brandt / AAP

Australia hold all the aces heading into the final day of their crunch Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan after Lleyton Hewitt and Matt Ebden secured a gutsy five-set doubles win on Friday.

The pair defeated Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 3-6 6-3 on clay in Namangan to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five tie.

It left Australia needing to win only one of Sunday's two reverse singles matches to progress to September's World Group playoffs, where they would earn a shot at returning to the competition's top tier for the first time since 2007.

Bernard Tomic can wrap it up if he beats Uzbek No.1 Istomin in the first match, while Hewitt would likely come in to face Dustov if the tie goes to a deciding fifth rubber.

Australian captain Pat Rafter spared Hewitt from Friday's singles, with Marinko Matosevic losing in four sets to Istomin after Tomic won the opening rubber against Dustov.

With both Uzbek players backing up from tough singles battles, the first-time Davis Cup pairing of Hewitt and Ebden had the advantage of being the fresher duo at the Pahlavon Sport Complex.

Still, the home team came out strong and broke Hewitt's serve in the third game of the opening set.

But the Australian pair fought back to 3-3 and pounced on Istomin's service game at 6-5 to take the first set.

The home side rallied to take the second in a tiebreak but another crucial break on Istomin's serve late in the third set allowed Australia to go 2-1 up.

Istomin and Dustov fought back to send the match to a deciding set but Hewitt and Ebden displayed brilliant fight in the fifth.

They secured a crucial early break, from 0-40 down, and showed nerves of steel in holding off the Uzbeks, with a crucial hold from 0-40 down on Hewitt's serve to reach 5-2.

Ebden had battled illness in the days leading up to the match but still showed the form that helped him to a mixed doubles grand slam title at the Australian Open.

He preserved an unbeaten Davis Cup record while record breaker Hewitt improved his doubles record in the competition to 14-3.

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Bombers bury sorry Dees

Comprehensive ... Jobe Watson and his Essendon team mates were one step ahead of Melbourne all night. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Essendon showed no mercy to the hapless Demons, routing Mark Neeld's embattled side by 148 points on the MCG.

The Bombers vanquished memories of last season's shock loss to Melbourne and has surpassed their score in that game before half-time on Saturday night.

Stewart Crameri kicked six goals for the Bombers while Tom Bellchambers (four) and Jobe Watson (three) also hit the scoreboard for career-highs.

It was Essendon's highest ever score against Melbourne and their greatest winning margin, surpassing the 1986 match in which Paul Salmon kicked eight goals. It was also the second greatest winning margin in club history against any opponent.

Watson accumulated 39 disposals while Dyson Heppell (36), Brent Stanton (34) and Brendon Goddard (30) were heavily involved.

Full report and highlights to come shortly...

Click here to review the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Port honour fallen mate with victory

OMG! ... Kane Cornes gets a handball away before being tackled by Stephen Coniglio. Source: DAVID MARIUZ / AAP

Port Adelaide have honoured the late John McCarthy in the best possible way with a resounding win over the GWS Giants.

Despite being challenged by the Giants early, the Power kicked away in the second half to prevail 19.20 (134) to 11.12 (78).

6.2 (38)	Q1	2.1 (13)
13.6 (84)	Q2	4.5 (29)
21.11 (137)	Q3	5.5 (35)
28.16 (184)	Q4	5.6 (36)

Stewart Crameri 6	Aaron Davey 2
Tom Bellchambers 4	Mitchell Clark 1
Jobe Watson 3	Jack Grimes 1
Alwyn Davey 2	Nathan Jones 1
Dyson Heppell 2
Ben Howlett 2
Michael Hurley 2
Jackson Merrett 2
Brent Stanton 2
Courtenay Dempsey 1
Brendon Goddard 1
Patrick Ryder 1

Justin Westhoff booted five goals as Kane Cornes played a familiar dominant role in the midfield, gathering a game-high 30 disposals, 22 of which were contested.

Jeremy Cameron kicked a treble and showed glimpses of why he has the potential to be an elite key forward in the near future while Callan Ward topped the possession count for the visitors with 26.

Full report and highlights to come...

Click here to review the scores and stats in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Kings steal bizarre Brumbies draw

Colossal upset ... Kings steal bizarre draw against the Brumbies. Source: Kym Smith / News Limited

An after-the-siren try by No.8 Cornell du Preez has lifted the Southern Kings to a 28-all Super Rugby draw against the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.

2 Tries 4
Henry Speight 12'	Schalk Ferreira 22'
Joseph Tomane 17'	Wimpie van der Walt 33'
	Cornell du Preez 47'
	Cornell du Preez 80'
0 Conversions 4
	George Whitehead 23'
	George Whitehead 34'
	George Whitehead 47'
	Demetri Catrakilis 80'
6 Penalties 0
Christian Lealiifano 4'
Nic White 30'
Christian Lealiifano 37'
Christian Lealiifano 52'
Christian Lealiifano 70'
Christian Lealiifano 79'

It was the second week in a row the Brumbies were outscored in the tries department by a South African side and the visitors will walk away from the game with a sense of victory.

Australia Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Brumbies	5	1	1	73	3	29
2	Reds	5	2	0	5	2	26
3	Waratahs	3	3	0	-26	1	17
4	Western Force	1	5	0	-35	2	10
5	Melbourne Rebels	1	5	0	-100	1	9
New Zealand Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Chiefs	5	1	0	84	5	29
2	Blues	3	3	0	27	6	22
3	Crusaders	3	2	0	42	4	20
4	Hurricanes	3	2	0	1	2	18
5	Highlanders	0	6	0	-59	2	6
South Africa Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Sharks	4	1	0	60	1	21
2	Bulls	3	3	0	-5	3	19
3	Cheetahs	4	2	0	-4	2	18
4	Stormers	2	3	0	-4	3	15
5	Southern Kings	1	4	1	-59	1	11

They were the only team to claim the four-try bonus point as the Brumbies blew an early 13-point lead.

It looked like the Brumbies had the game wrapped up when they earned a penalty after the siren.

But the TMO ruled prop Ben Alexander had put a shoulder charge on Steven Sykes and the visitors earned another bite of the cherry.

They didn't falter, with du Preez scoring his second try of the match near the posts.

The Brumbies missed the composure of rested five-eighth Matt Toomua, with the backline not looking as crisp as it has in recent weeks.

Despite dominating both possession and field position, the Brumbies handed over the ball throughout the match with handling areas, aimless kicking and poor passing despite a blistering 20-minute opening performance.

The Brumbies flew out of the blocks, with an early penalty to Christian Lealiifano and tries to unmarked wingers Henry Speight and Joe Tomane.

The Kings hit back after the restart in the 22nd minute, stringing together about a dozen phases before loosehead prop Schalk Ferreira burrowed over next to the posts.

Kings flanker Wimpie van der Walt then crossed the line from the back of a rolling maul in the 33rd minute after five-eighth George Whitehead put a penalty kick on the halfway line five metres out from the Brumbies line.

The visitors were the first to score again after the break when the Brumbies lost possession five metres out and the Kings went the length of the field to put du Preez under the posts for his first try.

Ignoring booing from the crowd, the Brumbies took three points whenever on offer throughout the match to keep the scoreboard ticking over, with Lealiifano kicking five from five penalty attempts and Nic White one from three.

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Riewoldt's seven paces Richmond

Spearhead ... Jack Riewoldt slots another goal for Richmond. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

The Tigers have opened their season with two consecutive wins for the first time since 1997 with a 17-point victory over St Kilda at the MCG.

The Tigers controlled proceedings for most of the night, but the tenacious Saints never went away and were in the contest until the dying minutes.

3.1 (19)	Q1	4.5 (29)
6.6 (42)	Q2	8.10 (58)
11.7 (73)	Q3	12.12 (84)
12.10 (82)	Q4	14.15 (99)

Nick Riewoldt 4	Jack Riewoldt 7
Beau Maister 2	Luke McGuane 2
Ahmed Saad 2	Reece Conca 1
Sam Gilbert 1	Jake King 1
Ben McEvoy 1	Ivan Maric 1
Stephen Milne 1	Chris Newman 1
Rhys Stanley 1	Tyrone Vickery 1

The Riewoldt cousins combined for 11 goals in a Friday night shootout but it was Jack's haul of seven that led the Tigers to eventual victory.

Trent Cotchin was again instrumental in the Richmond midfield with 31 diposals while Brett Deledio and Leigh Montagna accumulated 27 each.

Full report to come shortly.

Click here to view all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Broncos beat wounded Titans

Josh Hoffman ... scores for Brisbane against Gold Coast Titans. Source: adam head / News Limited

Brisbane have beaten an injury ravaged Gold Coast 32-12 in Friday night's local NRL derby at Skilled Park.

2 Tries 6
Albert Kelly 14'	Peter Wallace 20'
Beau Falloon 30'	Josh Hoffman 34'
	Matt Gillett 46'
	Justin Hodges 69'
	Andrew McCullough 73'
	Nick Slyney 80'
2 Conversions 4
Greg Bird 15'	Scott Prince 22'
Greg Bird 31'	Scott Prince 47'
	Scott Prince 74'
	Scott Prince 80'

The Titans were forced to make a late change to their starting side with five-eighth Aidan Sezer ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Co-captain Greg Bird took his place in the halves but with six minutes of the match remaining they lost their other half in Albert Kelly to a leg injury.

It is a giant blow to the Titans with Kelly in fine form, scoring the first try of the match.

Kelly stepped his way through the defence, breaking the line before chipping over the head of the fullback and regathering for a spectacular solo try.

Peter Wallace soon crossed with Scott Prince's conversion leveling the scores at six-apiece.

A try to hooker Beau Fallon got the home side back to the lead and a missed goal from Prince following a try to Josh Hofman would keep the Titans in front at halftime.

The visitors started the second half in fine form with Prince laying a magic ball for a barnstorming Matt Gillett.

16-12, Justin Hodges crossed courtesy of a Corey Norman pass.
 
Andrew McCullough burrowed over for a solo try and Kelly injured his leg in the process.

26-12, nick Slyney crossed on full time to wrap up the game.

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Drama, controversy in Victory win

Heated ... Shane Smeltz and Leigh Broxham trade barbs. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

A missed penalty, a disputed penalty, a send-off and an extra-time winner have put Melbourne Victory and coach Ange Postecoglou just one win away from the A-League grand final.

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The Victory conjured up a drama-charged 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Etihad Stadium on Friday night after spending most of the game looking destined for the exit door.

Instead the Victory booked a showdown with Central Coast Mariners next weekend, and last season's grand finalists Perth bowed out in the worst of deja-vu experiences.

After losing last year's grand final to Postecoglou's old club Brisbane Roar in controversial circumstances, they succumbed to the same opposition coach, the same referee in Jarred Gillett awarding another late game-changing penalty, and walked away with nothing to show for their efforts.

The Glory had controlled the vast majority of the match after Ryo Nagai's 15th minute goal.

The Japanese winger cleverly chested home a Scott Jamieson cross from the left which Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe badly misjudged.

From then on the Victory poked and prodded but were unable to penetrate a disciplined and committed Glory defensive effort.

But after the Glory appeared in control and on the way to the next stage of finals, all hell broke loose with two late penalties - with vastly different results.

Firstly Gillett penalised Victory's Mark Milligan for bringing down Jamieson in the box in the 87th minute.

But Glory's Shane Smeltz missed the penalty which could have put his side two-up and sealed a win.

Then in the last minute of normal time, Gillett adjudged Glory defender Steve Pantelidis to have pulled Victory attacker Andrew Nabbout's shoulder, awarded a spot-kick, and sent Pantelidis off.

Milligan slotted home the equaliser to send the match to extra-time.

But with the Glory shell-shocked, the Victory struck just four minutes into extra-time when Archie Thompson headed home from close range after a Marco Rojas cross.

With both sides out on their feet, the Glory also had a penalty shout turned down in the second period of extra-time, when Nagai fell in the box.

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Farah: Potter will hook me again

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Cranky ... Robbie Farah was fuming to be benched against Manly. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Robbie Farah has admitted to being "a little bit cranky" with Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter when he brought the skipper off at a crucial time during their clash with Manly last Thursday night.

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A renowned 80 minute workhorse, Farah was controversially hooked just before half-time, at a time in the game where the Sea Eagles had taken a 4-0 lead and were starting to gain ascendency.

History will show that Manly went on to record a comfortable 26-0 win over the Tigers at a sodden Bluetongue Stadium and a fair bit of the damage was done during the 17 minutes Farah was off the field.

Reflecting on the match on Sterlo on Thursday night, Farah admitted he felt Potter had got his timing wrong.

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"I've spoken to him and I think we both agree that there's time when he can afford to bring me off but at that stage of the game, at 4-0 just before half-time, I would have prefered to stay on the field," Farah said.

"But definitely there's going to be times during the year when he can afford to bring me off."

Farah said Potter had always planned to give his skipper some bench time at different stages through the season as a strategy to keep him fresh for big moments.

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But Fox Sports rugby league expert Matthew Johns disagreed with the philosophy saying the Tigers weren't good enough to leave the best players on the sidelines.

"At the moment at the Tigers I don't think there's the depth there," Johns said.

"All respect to (Farah's replacement against the Sea Eagles, Masada Iosefa) but when you went off the field things went wrong.

"I think we all agree (Farah) needs to play the 80 minutes, or close enough to."

That won't always be the case.

"It's never nice sitting on the bench and to come off for that period of time made me a bit cranky but I could understand why the coach did it, and he's got my welfare in mind," Farah said.

"It's going to be a long year and there'll be times when I'm a bit flat and he's going to look to give me a rest and I can understand that." 

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NRL leaves door open for Dugan

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Path cleared ... NRL leaves door open for Josh Dugan. Source: Penny Bradfield / AAP

The path for Josh Dugan's return to the NRL is clearing, but nobody knows just how long it might be.

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NRL chief executive David Smith left the door for Dugan's return ajar on Thursday, but also revealed no club had made a formal request to register a new contract for the troubled star.

On Tuesday Dugan met with NRL representatives to reportedly undergo psychological analysis - where it was established the 22-year-old had "no major issues'' and no clinical diagnosis that would hold him back from returning to football.

Dugan's social media faux pas led to the termination of his contract at Canberra, while a second online outburst ended negotiations on a $2 million deal with Brisbane.

But it is believed Dugan has convinced those at the NRL that he will be able to navigate this turbulent period of his career and make a successful return to the football field.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Storm	4	0	0	0	52	8
2	Rabbitohs	4	0	0	0	37	8
3	Sea Eagles	3	1	0	0	64	6
4	Titans	3	1	0	0	54	6
5	Knights	3	1	0	0	44	6
6	Roosters	3	1	0	0	42	6
7	Sharks	2	2	0	0	11	4
8	Tigers	2	2	0	0	-35	4
9	Broncos	1	3	0	0	-6	2
10	Bulldogs	1	3	0	0	-17	2
11	Panthers	1	3	0	0	-18	2
12	Dragons	1	3	0	0	-36	2
13	Eels	1	3	0	0	-37	2
14	Cowboys	1	3	0	0	-40	2
15	Warriors	1	3	0	0	-54	2
16	Raiders	1	3	0	0	-61	2

"We're positive that we can get him playing football again,'' NRL welfare and education manager Paul Heptonstall said on Thursday.

"We had a positive meeting.''

But just how soon is dependent on whether the one-time NSW representative can entice an offer from St George Illawarra, understood to be his last option to stay in the NRL.

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Smith said Dugan and the NRL were working through "a process'' but refused to put a timeframe on how long that might take.

"I think that's running through the process,'' Smith said.

"I've got nothing more to say in terms of whether he'll be registered or not registered, but the process is under way and I'm comfortable with the way it's playing out.

"We haven't received a request to register yet so the salary cap auditor (Ian Schubert) is working it through as are all ongoing discussions with Josh in terms of welfare and other things.

"The process is underway, there's no registration (that has) been applied.

"We'll let the process run its course. I'm really comfortable with the way the clubs have reacted and responded and we'll work with the player.

"At the end of the day it's about (Dugan's) welfare.''

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Wrap: Neeld swings changes

Dropped ... David Rodan is one of three Demons sent packing. Source: News Limited

David Rodan, Cam Pedersen and Luke Tapscott are the casualties after Melbourne's calamitous start to the AFL season.

The Demons dropped the trio for Saturday night's shot at redemption against Essendon at the MCG, while Lynden Dunn is out with a hamstring injury.

Veteran midfielder Rodan (Port Adelaide) and Pedersen (North Melbourne) joined the Demons in the off-season.

Tapscott, like Pedersen, is a third-year player.

Co-captain Jack Trengove, speedy midfielder Aaron Davey and defender Tom McDonald will return to the side following Sunday's awful 79-point loss to Port Adelaide.

The Demons also promoted backman Dean Terlich for his AFL debut, while Essendon are unchanged.

St Kilda also made four changes, regaining a quartet of big names for Friday night's MCG clash with Richmond.

Leigh Montagna returns from suspension, while Sam Fisher, Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster are back from injury.peThe Saints lost Farren Ray (hip), Tom Hickey (foot) and James Gwilt (knee) as Trent Dennis-Lane was dropped.

Highly-rated newcomer Nick Vlastuin still cannot break into the Tigers 22 and was named as an emergency.

Former Demon Ricky Petterd will make his Richmond debut and Dylan Grimes returns at the expense of Robin Nahas and Ben Griffiths.

After Will Minson dominated them in the ruck last weekend, Brisbane regained top big man Matthew Leuenberger for Saturday's home game against Adelaide.

It will be Leuenberger's first senior match since his Achilles injury in round three last season.

Billy Longer and Aaron Cornelius, the man Brisbane hope will partner Jonathan Brown in attack, were dropped as Matt Maguire (calf) was sidelined.

Andrew Raines and Ryan Lester were the other inclusions.

Highly-rated Adelaide teenager Brad Crouch will make his AFL debut, with Ian Callinan recalled.

Veteran Graham Johncock and Brodie Martin were dropped in the wake of their poor round-one performance against Essendon.

Sydney regained premiership midfielder Craig Bird and Andrejs Everitt at the expense of Tony Armstrong and first-gamer Dane Rampe for Saturday's SCG match against Gold Coast.

The Suns lost Greg Broughton with a calf injury and Jack Hutchins will take his place.

The Western Bulldogs are unchanged and their opponents Fremantle brought in Hayden Crozier for suspended forward Hayden Ballantyne.

Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney made one change apiece - Power defender Alipate Carlile returns for Andrew Moore and Taylor Adams (hip) is out for Rhys Palmer.

Sunday's squads feature star Geelong pair Joel Corey and James Kelly, with the Cats losing Jared Rivers (knee) and Jordan Murdoch (hand).

Heath Shaw could return for Collingwood, who remain without stars such as Dale Thomas and Dayne Beams.

Sam Rowe is in Carlton's 25 after recovering from testicular cancer.

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge is in their squad, but he is unlikely to resume in the away game against West Coast.

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Copycat Raiders need new game plan

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Josh Papalii ... is shattered by another Raiders loss. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Matthew Johns has urged Canberra to forget cloning Melbourne's gameplan and come up with something original to get themselves out of a hole.

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Johns has spoken on a number of occasions about his desire to see NRL teams stop relying on block plays and decoy runners and start to attack with more variety and speaking on Sterlo on Thursday night, it was the Raiders in his sights.

"They've just got to take a few risks, and this applies to most teams in the competition," Johns said.

"Playing these block to block to block shapes all the time is nauseating to watch. It seriously is. It's almost like everyones agreed, we're playing a uniform style across the league.

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"The reason why I didn't want Daniel Anderson to go back on his initial interpretation of obstruction was that it was going to force teams away from playing what Melbourne have done and what Melbourne have gone to over the last seven or eight years.

"And when I look at Canberra, I think why do you want to play that way when you're never going to beat Melbourne?"

Fellow Sterlo panelist Mark Gasnier went a step further, saying that not only had the Raiders been disappointing in attack, it was like they were playing with no gameplan at all.

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"I was speaking to Tom Leahroyd-Lars after their last game and I said to him, 'Mate, are you slowly getting to where you want to get to?' Gasnier said.

"And he kind of looked a bit blank and he said, 'yeah, you know, we're slowly getting to where we want to get to.'

"And it's funny because generally you have a plan in place, especially when it comes to your game plan.

"There's something to fall back on and for me it just seemed like they haven't necessarily got that and they're trying to play themselves out of trouble, instead of trying to do a few little things right as stepping stones towards getting better it's just like - let's try it and if it doesn't come off then oh well."

Johns encouraged the Raiders to look to St George Illawarra for inspiration after the Dragons turned their structure upside down against Cronulla, surprising the Sharks with an innovative attacking style.

"The Dragons got great results by abandoning that structure the other night and Canberra have got to do the same." 

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Tevez admits to driving offences

Carlos Tevez ... won't be driving anytime soon. Source: Stephen Pond / AAP

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at a court appearance on Wednesday.

The Argentina forward admitted the motoring offences at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, near Manchester in northwest England.

Speaking in Spanish, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty through an interpreter.

The court heard that the City forward had not yet obtained a British driving licence, partly because he struggled to understand the theory exam conducted in English.

The Argentinian received a six-month driving ban at Manchester Magistrates' Court in January.

But he was stopped at the wheel as he left a golf club on March 7, following an anonymous tip-off to the police.

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'AFL playing the schoolyard bully'

'Schoolyard bullies' ... is the AFL running sport's version of the Spanish Inquisition? Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

AFL's reputation as the schoolyard bully on Australia's sporting landscape has been enhanced by its decision to prevent a Port Adelaide employee from volunteering to help A-League club Adelaide United find a new coach.

Darren Burgess, the highly respected strength and conditioning coach who worked with the Socceroos and English giants Liverpool before returning home to work with Port Adelaide in the AFL, was seconded by the board of Adelaide United to contribute to a panel formed to recruit the Reds next coach.

Centre of storm ... Darren Burgess. Source: News Limited

Other members of the panel are former Socceroos Craig Foster and Alex Tobin.

Burgess's role was to be purely voluntary. He has a real affinity with football and has experience in the game at the highest level that would be hard to find anywhere else in Australia.

Given his understanding of elite team sport and the role of the coach therein, it seemed a reasonable thing for the Reds to seek his opinion in choosing a permanent replacement for John Kosmina.

But those plans were scuppered when the AFL hierachy personally and directly intervened, instructing Port Adelaide that Burgess was not to have involvement with Adelaide United on any official basis.

Technically, the AFL commission might have a right to dictate those sort of terms to its member clubs, but the question is why they chose to do so.

What are the AFL worried about?

The only explanation is the obvious one, which is that the AFL is the biggest kid in the schoolyard and is looking to exact total dominance over the marketplace.

The AFL's apparent attempts to run a totalitarian state bring into sharp focus Graham Arnold's comments after Central Coast Mariners' game last weekend.

Asked if he watched Western Sydney Wanderers play the previous night - the team he has been battling all year for A-League supremacy - Arnold replied that he didn't see the game because he was watching the NRL.

If the AFL is running Australian sport's version of the Spanish Inquisition, then surely Graham Arnold would have been burnt at the stake.

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Mariners grab crucial ACL victory

In form ... Pedj Bojic scored the opener for Central Coast. Source: AAP

Trent Sainsbury picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday, heading in late to earn his side a 2-1 win over Chinese side Guizhou Renhe that revives the Mariners' AFC Champions League campaign.

The Mariners had looked set for more ACL heartbreak after an unlucky own goal by goalkeeper Mat Ryan equalised Pedj Bojic's spectacular 50th-minute opener at Bluetongue Stadium.

But with just nine minutes left, Michael McGlinchey whipped in a perfect right-wing cross for the charging Sainsbury to head in at the far post.

Group H		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Kashiwa	2	2	0	0	3	6
2	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	-1	4
3	Suwon	2	0	2	0	0	2
4	Guizhou	3	0	1	2	-2	1

The 21-year-old fullback's strike secured the Mariners only their second win in three continental campaigns and hoisted them up to four points at the halfway point in Group H, putting them in good shape for next week's return fixture.

"We made it real hard for ourselves," Mariners coach Graham Arnold said.

"We should have been up 3-0."

Things could have been a lot more comfortable had referee Abdullah Baloushi awarded the Mariners a penalty for a blatant fifth-minute handball by Guizhou defender Wu Wei, who missed his attempt at a clearing header and swatted the ball out of the area with his arm.

Guizhou threatened sporadically through Zvjezdan Misimovic, who set up fellow Bosnian international Zlatan Muslimovic for an effort that Ryan smartly blocked at his feet, but the Mariners were the better side and merited their opener when it came.

There seemed little danger when Bojic picked up the ball on the right corner of the penalty area, but he cut inside with a touch of his right foot and hit a dipping shot with his left to score at the far post with goalkeeper Zhang Lie nowhere.

That looked to have set the Mariners on their way but they paid for their profligacy in the 71st minute when they conceded in unlucky fashion.

Joshua Rose headed a wicked free kick from Misimovic onto his own post, from where it rebounded, hit goalkeeper Ryan and rolled agonisingly over the line.

The home side were not to be denied, however, and Arnold's 100th match as Mariners coach ended in glory with Sainsbury's intervention.

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Cam Smith offers Dugan advice

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Troubled star ... Josh Dugan has been given some advice from Australian captain cam Smith. Source:News Limited

Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith believes former Canberra fullback Josh Dugan needs a club rich in culture and leadership to help him make his NRL return.

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Dugan had his $650,000-a-season contract with the Raiders torn up after breaking team protocol which was revealed after the fullback posted a photo on Instagram of him drinking while flipping the bird.

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Most recently on the same social media network, he told an abusive fan to "end themselves" which cost him a lucrative deal with Brisbane. 

Troubled and without a club, Smith said on NRL360, he needs guidance. 

"He needs a good club," Smith said.

"He needs a club where there's good leaders around him, a strong coach (and) a good culture. I'm not too sure what the culture's like at the Raiders, I've never played there so I'm not going to criticise them. 

"He just needs some guidance I think. He's still only a young fella. First of all he needs to sort himself out off the field before he even thinks about getting back and playing footy."

When posed the question if Dugan joined Melbourne, what would be the first thing Smith would do, the hooker replied; "I'd be sitting down with him first up and finding out a little bit about him and what makes him tick.

"Then I'd be saying to him 'you need to sort yourself out with where you want to go with this club. What are your goals here and work hard and get back into first grade.

"You wouldn't be chucking him back into first grade because there's no reward… you've got to earn the respect of the players around you and some responsibility back. 

"He's got it in him, there's no doubt he's got it in him but at the moment he's not there." 

Reformed NRL bad boy Willie Mason says the simple solution to avoiding these situations is by being smart when using social media. 

"Anyone who follows you can say whatever they want to you in 140 characters," Mason said.

"...I've copped a fair bit of personal stuff on Twitter and Instagram. I just block them. I probably say 'whatever you tool', give them a little spray back and block them.

"I wouldn't go to the next level because it can really get to you and start affecting you and you lose sleep… they got into Dugan and it's happened to me but it's how you handle it.

"All you have to do is block a person… If you want to keep arguing other people get involved and start smashing him and at the moment Dugan doesn't have a leg to stand on… he's cost himself a $2 million contract."

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Teams: Walsh axed, Anasta at No.7

Dropped ... Luke Walsh will run out with Windsor in the NSW Cup this week. Source: Grant Trouville / AAP

Wests Tigers coach Michael Potter's patience has taken just four weeks to wear thin, with young halfback Jacob Miller dumped and back-rower Braith Anasta pitched into the No.7 jumper.

Just weeks after pleading for Tigers fans to give the 20 year-old time to find his feet in the NRL, Potter punted Miller to the NSW Cup as he attempts to turn around a 1-3 start to the season - which included last week's 26-0 shutout by Manly.

He has plumped for experience in the form of Anasta - who last month admitted to enjoying the role of playing in the back-row and being free of playmaking responsibilities after spending much of his time at Sydney Roosters playing five-eighth.

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"Milky (Miller) has been up now for four weeks and he's had some good football up there, but we've decided to send him back to gain a little bit more experience," Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons said.

"We're hoping Braith helps steer us around the park with his experience, a lot of football and representative football in the halves."

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Miller wasn't the only No.7 to feel the axe with Penrith halfback Luke Walsh also dumped - with 22-year-old local junior Blake Austin to play his 15th top grade game against North Queensland on Saturday night.

Cowboys coach Neil Henry has resisted the urge for change despite three straight losses for the pre-season fancies, with only a positional change seeing Glen Hall move from the bench into the starting back row.

Parramatta winger Vai Tautai has survived despite a horrible night against the Sydney Roosters in which he was peppered under the high ball.

He is likely to be targeted again when Cronulla - who will have Chad Townsend in place of the injured Todd Carney in the No.6 jumper - visit Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.

Canterbury have named Tim Lafai in the centres for the suspended Krisnan Inu, with skipper Michael Ennis needing to pass cognitive tests before he is cleared to face Manly on Friday night.

Brisbane are hopeful of having Josh Hoffman (Achilles) and Justin Hodges (hamstring) available for the local derby against Gold Coast, who have named Ashley Harrison (concussion) at lock after he missed the win over Penrith.

The Warriors have named big winger Manu Vatuvei (ankle) on an extended bench for the home game against South Sydney, while Canberra will be without Blake Ferguson for between 3-6 weeks with a fractured cheekbone.

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Glory out to halt Brazil-like Victory

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Deadly duo ... Melbourne Victory's Marco Rojas (C) and Archie Thompson (L). Source: Joe Castro / AAP

Perth Glory are confident they possess the right tactics to thwart Melbourne Victory's Brazilian-like attacking mentality in Friday night's A-League elimination final at Etihad Stadium.

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The Victory boast one of the best attacking outfits in the competition, with the likes of Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas wreaking havoc on opposition sides.

The star pair were on international duties a fortnight ago when Glory stunned Victory 3-2, and Melbourne will start hot favourites in the re-match.

Perth defender Michael Thwaite said his side were well aware of Victory's attacking prowess, and was confident the tactics employed two weeks ago would work wonders once again.

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"It's probably like the olden-day Brazilian mentality - if they score four, we'll score five,'' Thwaite said of the Victory's attacking flair.

"Ange (Postecoglou) is a very switched on coach and it's going to be like a chess match out there.

"We've got our ways to stop it. It worked last time, so why can't it work on Friday?

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"It was obviously other players for Melbourne, but the guys that come back like Mark Milligan, Rojas and Thompson will be doing the same movements that Ange is trying to teach."

Perth will be boosted by the return of Liam Miller from suspension and striker Shane Smeltz from injury.

Japanese speedster Ryo Nagai and defender Steve Pantelidis looked sore as they left the training track early on Tuesday, but they didn't seem overly concerned.

Perth only scraped into the finals courtesy of a superior goal difference to Sydney FC.

But Thwaite said the confidence gained over the past seven weeks under new coach Alistair Edwards would prove vital in the finals.

Edwards guided the team to four wins and a draw to secure sixth spot, and the Glory are now hoping for another inspired run in the finals after their surprise appearance in last season's decider.

"The two teams with a bit of momentum are us and Brisbane, so it could be a bit of fate,'' Thwaite said.

"It's probably the first time in a long time where the whole of Perth Glory Football Club is one unit and everything's working and ticking quite functionally."

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'Family was disappointed with humanity'

Bitter ... Mick Malthouse won't be forgiving or forgetting any time soon. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

The bitter fallout from Mick Malthouse's Collingwood departure continues, with the veteran AFL coach saying the saga left his family bitterly disappointed.

Malthouse will be the centre of attention on Sunday when he coaches Carlton for the first time against his old club in their MCG blockbuster.

He left Collingwood after they lost the 2011 grand final, having earlier agreed to a contentious succession plan engineered by club president Eddie McGuire.

Nathan Buckley took over as coach and Malthouse was supposed to stay on in a coaching director role, but negotiations broke down.

After he left Collingwood, Malthouse said his family thought he would not coach again.

"They were bitter in many respects, the way it (his time at Collingwood) finished," Malthouse told the Carlton website.

"They were really done with football, really quite disappointed with humanity if you like.

"I like to build things on friendship and they go along with that ... when it's broken, it's broken - and badly broken."
Malthouse's wife Nanette said she was dreading the match.

"I will just be glad for it to be over," she said.

"It's all everybody talks about ... I'd like to go and hide away somewhere."

Malthouse also said on Tuesday that Sunday's match would not be about him, but had no problem if the media's focus took pressure away from his players.

"If I draw the attention and it helps my team, so be it," he said.

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On Monday night, Malthouse also said he had no plans to reconcile with McGuire, who had indicated the Magpies would eventually want to honour their former coach.

That prompted McGuire to say he did not understand why Malthouse remained upset.

"Hand on my heart, I have no idea what he's on about,'' McGuire told Channel Nine.

Carlton defender Michael Jamison said the drama surrounding the match would not affect his new coach.

"Mick's been around long enough not to let emotion get in the way of preparation," he said.

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'Mum's putter does trick for Points'

Secret weapon ... D.A. Points celebrates victory with his mum's borrowed putter. Source: AFP

There is a great saying out on Tour and one that I and every professional believes in repeating over and over and over again and that is, "there is always next week!"

When things aren't going good and you seem to be stuck in a rut, just keep repeating that saying plus work hard, believe in your ability and sooner or later something will click.

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Well it did for Darren Andrew (DA) Points on the weekend at the Shell Houston Open. The 36 year old was going through one of those stretches where everything was seemingly going wrong on course.

He started the year off making the cut at the Sony Open only to finish in a share of 63rd and from then on it was all downhill.

In his last eight events he has made just one weekend and that finish was hardly awe inspiring: a tie for 68th at the Honda Classic.

If you ask a player a change of good fortune generally starts with looking at something that has given you confidence before and for Points it was his mum's old Ping Anser putter. In the first round he needed only 23 putts and then on the final day had 26 putts including a pressure packed 13 footer to win. Thanks MUM!

Points' victory in Texas continued a hot streak for the Americans. That now makes it 14 straight winners in 2013 for the old red white and blue, that is something that hasn't happened since 1989 and the player to break it back then, Nick Faldo at the Masters.

And talking of the trip up Magnolia Lane, the field is now set for the first major, except for the winner of this week's Valero Texas Open, provided he's not already in the field.

From an Aussie point of view we have four players that will be there next week, Adam Scott, Jason Day, John Senden and Marc Leishman.

Unfortunately Geoff Ogilvy will be watching from home. The Victorian has played 10 out of the last 11 weeks on tour trying to get his world ranking inside the top 50. Unfortunately he missed the past two cuts and fell from 50th to 55th in the rankings.

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Scott Hend claimed his third win on the Asian Tour last week and what a way to do it, coming from six shots back on the final day to run over the top of the field. The Queenslander fired 8 birdies and an eagle in his final round 64.

Hendy's always been a monster driver of the ball and any time he gets a course with a little room and width off the tee, look out. And that's exactly what the Alpine Resort in Thailand offered. He played the par fives in 14-under par for the week and on Sunday was five-under for the four of them. How unreal is that?!

The US Tour remains in the Lone Star state this week for the Valero Texas Open. The Greg Norman/Sergio Garcia AT&T Oaks course will host the event for the fourth time and what a terrific track this is. Last year the scoring average around here was 73.9.

The late addition of Rory McIlroy has added some depth to the field and now boasts four of the top 15 players in the current world rankings. McIlroy will be joined by No. 9 Matt Kuchar, No. 12 Ian Poulter and No. 15 Charl Schwartzel.

Not only have I backed Schwartzel to win this week but I think he will be in the thick of it at Augusta next week. Remember he has already donned a green jacket back in 2011.

I also think Cameron Tringale is ripe and ready to break out with a win. He played well around here last year (T8) and is playing well at the moment.

Fourteen Aussies are teeing it up this week. Because it's a tight course I like Nick O'Hern but I'm not very confident.

Also this week is the first major of the year for the women, the Kraft Nabisco which will be played at the Mission Hills Golf Club in California.

Back to defend her title is South Korean Sun Young Yoo but she will be hard pressed to repeat with the likes of World No.1 Stacy Lewis absolutely on fire at the moment, winning two of her last three events.

Also in the mix are two time Kraft Champion Karrie Webb who showed some good signs a fortnight ago in finishing T6th at the Kia Classic.

Have a great golfing week everyone!

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'Lindsay Thomas is very lucky'

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Tribunal ... Lindsay Thomas has no case to answer and is free to play round two.   Source:AAP

North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas has escaped AFL suspension and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says he was lucky.

The match review panel cleared Thomas of his collision with Magpies key defender Ben Reid on Saturday.

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The incident in the third quarter at Etihad Stadium prompted some angry post-match comments from Buckley and his North counterpart Brad Scott.

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Thomas and Reid clashed heads after the Kangaroos small forward changed direction, leaving the Collingwood player with concussion and a gashed mouth.

It is unclear whether Reid will play in Sunday's blockbuster against Carlton.

The panel ruled the collision was outside Thomas' control.

"Lindsay has got away with one,'' Buckley told radio station Triple M.

"But that happens - sometimes you get good decisions, you get bad decisions, you get lucky ones, you get unlucky ones.

"That's footy. I have no animosity at all towards anyone at North or anything that's happened.

"I think there's a grey area in the tribunal and it's up to others to discuss that.''

The panel ruled "the contact to the head was caused by circumstances outside the control of the player, which could not be reasonably foreseen.''

Buckley said after the match that Thomas' action was average, prompting an angry reaction from Scott.

The North coach said Buckley should worry about his own team.

Buckley also accused Thomas post-match of "staying down'' - lying on the ground - after the collision.

He apologised for that accusation, but had another dig at Thomas.

"Watching the incident, he obviously had an impact himself,'' Buckley said.

"He's pretty good playing for free kicks, though - he got a couple earlier in the night.''

North chairman James Brayshaw said on Monday that Buckley should not have used the post-game media conference to criticise Thomas.

"I don't think a coach's post-match presser is the right forum to hang an opposition player,'' Brayshaw said.

The match review panel also charged Brisbane's Pearce Hanley with rough conduct and Melbourne utility Colin Sylvia with striking.

The pair received one-match bans, but can reduce the penalties to reprimands with carryover points if they take early pleas.

Hanley was charged for his late challenge on Western Bulldogs forward Daniel Giansiracusa during Saturday's match at Etihad Stadium.

Sylvia was charged with striking Port Adelaide key forward Justin Westhoff in the last term of Sunday's MCG clash.

Carlton's Chris Yarran and Gold Coast's Jared Brennan were cleared of match-day striking charges.

New Sydney co-captain Kieren Jack was also cleared of contact with GWS opponent Stephen Coniglio.

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Gerard Healy's round one analysis

Harry O ... Collingwood's round one use of Harry O'Brien drew plenty of interest from FOX FOOTY's Gerard Healy. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

Round one of the AFL season always sees months of off-season strategy and planning on display.

The Sunday twilight contest at Etihad Stadium was an interesting case study. The Kangaroos surprised as they looked to go a lot wider than the high-risk, high-reward approach through the middle of the ground that took them to the finals last year. 

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North Melbourne's handball numbers were down enormously on last year's average.

Ironically, Collingwood went the other. The Magpies, long-term users of the boundary-line approach, played more through the middle of the ground when the opportunity opened up. They backed themselves with some high-risk moves that paid dividends.

The most obvious alteration to the Collingwood set-up was shifting Harry O'Brien to the wing. 

We saw O'Brien move up the ground in the NAB Cup against West Coast and it looked to be promising on that occasion. After Sunday it appears it could be a season-long event for the dreadlocked defender. And it could be a move that reinvigorates the career of Harry O.

Last year was pivotal in a sense that the competition believed Harry had become vulnerable one out in defence.

Opposition forwards dragged him back to the goal square in an attempt to expose him in one on one contests. The ploy forced Nathan Buckley to consider what he would do with his talented premiership defender.

Harry's size and pace is a major weapon a bit further up the ground. At least half a dozen times on Sunday the 188cm O'Brien was the target for long dump-out kicks from the back half. He was also the go-to man on

Collingwood kick-ins and intercepted the North kick-ins, setting up shots for goal.

When O'Brien won the footy he quickly rebounded, put the Magpies in dangerous territory, and had the opportunity to kick a couple of goals himself. In time his ability to finish and hurt teams on the scoreboard will come but his attacking flair going forward was impressive. 

I haven't seen Harry run as freely and creatively for a long time. It reminded me of previous big wingmen who have had a big impact on the competition. There was all 100kg of Dipper for the rampaging Hawks, Jimmy Stynes for Melbourne, Matthew Richardson at Richmond, and Andrew Embley and Martin Pike for successful West Coast and Brisbane outfits.

If you've got athleticism, size isn't an issue. O'Brien can become a ball carrier, a marking target, a goal assist player for the Magpies – that's a difficult package to combat.

Interestingly, given Heath Shaw's late withdrawal, Buckley ignored the obvious thought to push O'Brien back to defence to cover. He appears to be committed to the move.

There were other interesting positional changes across the opening round. Young Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia performed the roll of small defender probably for the first time in his career in a serious match. It's a good move from Suns coach Guy McKenna. Prestia makes good decisions with the ball and Gold Coast have an abundance of young midfielders trying to find a place in the club's best 22.

Andrew Walker went back to the future for Carlton and was one of their better performers against Richmond while Chris Yarran's efforts in defence during the NAB Cup – which were too loose for coach Mick Malthouse – meant he was played forward. It should have won the game for the Blues.

Western Bulldogs also mixed things up with Robert Murphy released from defence by the inclusion of Brett Goodes as had been flagged by the coach. Nobody could have tipped how successful the move would be with Murphy performing well and Goodes near best on ground.

Coaches won't be locked into these moves for the season given the flexibility of players but on the early showing they'd be encouraged by what they saw.

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Kennett calls for Clarkson's head

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Under Pressure ... former president Jeff Kennett has called for the Hawks to sack Alastair Clarkson. Source: JULIAN SMITH / AAP

Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has called for premiership coach Alastair Clarkson to be sacked at the season's end.

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Asked if he thought Clarkson should be moved on at end of the season, Kennett said: "Yes."

"I think we need to introduce a freshness at the club that doesn't exist at the moment because so many of the personnel have been there for a number of years," Kennett told 3AW on Sunday evening.

"They have been listening to the same voice for too long."

Clarkson, who has a 57 per cent winning percentage in his eight years at the helm, has another year remaining on his contract.

But Kennett said the club had "underachieved" since winning the 2008 premiership.

"I always believe six to eight years is long enough any coach should stay at any club," he said

"He has brought great service to the club, but he has been in charge of one of the best groups of young men going around in footy now for a number of years now, certainly since 2008.

"There was an excuse in 2009 for our performance because of injury.

"But in 2010, 2011, 2012 we underperformed ... someone has to accept responsibility for that."

Kennett said the club should look at appointing an untried assistant coach rather than try to lure a big name.

"I'd be looking for a second-tier coach who has proved himself and hungry for success and trying to prove himself," he said.

"I don't believe you look around for another senior coach - you elevate an assistant coach who has something to prove.

"Alastair has now been there for a long time, the players understand him very well...you have to freshen up the group.

"And we have a very good list still."

Kennett said near enough was not good enough at Hawthorn.

"What are we doing right? We're not winning flags," he said.

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Roosters put 50 on spineless Eels

Hat-trick hero ... Roger Tuivasa Sheck runs riot over the Eels. Source: Renee McKay / AAP

Sydney Roosters' big-money off-season signings finally hit their straps on Monday and it was Parramatta that bore the brunt, the home side inflicting a record 50-0 win over Parramatta at Allianz Stadium.

Sonny Bill Williams and Michael Jennings both scored tries for the Roosters and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck bagged a hat-trick as the hosts ran in nine unanswered four-pointers.

9 Tries 0
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 12'
Sonny Bill Williams 19'
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 28'
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 35'
Michael Jennings 45'
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 64'
Daniel Mortimer 69'
Daniel Tupou 73'
Boyd Cordner 78'
7 Conversions 0
James Maloney 13'
James Maloney 30'
James Maloney 37'
James Maloney 65'
James Maloney 71'
James Maloney 74'
James Maloney 79'

James Maloney maintained his good form since his arrival from the Warriors, kicking seven goals as the Roosters held a team scoreless for a second successive week after beating Brisbane 8-0 last Saturday.

		W	L	D	B	PD	Pts
1	Storm	4	0	0	0	52	8
2	Rabbitohs	4	0	0	0	37	8
3	Sea Eagles	3	1	0	0	64	6
4	Titans	3	1	0	0	54	6
5	Knights	3	1	0	0	44	6
6	Roosters	3	1	0	0	42	6
7	Sharks	2	2	0	0	11	4
8	Tigers	2	2	0	0	-35	4
9	Broncos	1	3	0	0	-6	2
10	Bulldogs	1	3	0	0	-17	2
11	Panthers	1	3	0	0	-18	2
12	Dragons	1	3	0	0	-36	2
13	Eels	1	3	0	0	-37	2
14	Cowboys	1	3	0	0	-40	2
15	Warriors	1	3	0	0	-54	2
16	Raiders	1	3	0	0	-61	2

Ricky Stuart said after being appointed it would take time to turn the Eels around and his words look to be prophetic as he experienced the biggest defeat of his long coaching career in front of a crowd of just over 18,000.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves opened the scoring after 12 minutes when he powered over after Parramatta winger Vai Tautai fumbled Mitchell Pearce's teasing kick, before Williams added his second of the season.

Tautai's defensive frailties were again exposed by Pearce when he found Tuivasa-Sheck with a well-weighted kick and the winger acrobatically climbed above the Eels wide man to break his scoring duck.

Tuivasa-Sheck didn't have to wait long to double his career tally as the Roosters once again roasted the Eels' right-flank to score a fourth try five minutes before halftime.

The second half saw the Eels find good field position but two scoring opportunities were squandered when Ben Roberts twice knocked on from dummy-half.

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Check out all the key numbers with our Match Centre.

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Their sloppy play was punished in ruthless fashion when Jennings opened his account for the club in the right corner five minutes after the restart.

That try opened the floodgates as the Eels capitulated, conceding four tries in the final 16 minutes as Tuivasa-Shek completed his treble before Daniel Mortimer and Daniel Tupou got in on the act.

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Shootout Awards: season's bests

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Best of the best ... Adam Peacock and Mark Bosnich select their A-League highlights. Source:AAP

The 27 rounds of the regular season have concluded and even with a grand final winner yet to be decided, it's widely accepted that this has been the best A-League competition we've ever witnessed.

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The Wanderers' fairytale run to the Premiers' Plate has captured the hearts of fans while three high-profile marquee stars delivered on the enormous hype that came with their announcements.

Ange Postecoglou worked wonders with a youthful team in his first year at the Victory while on the other end of the age spectrum, veterans Daniel McBreen picked up the golden boot and Alessandro Del Piero the Alex Tobin Medal.

On Fox Sports' Sunday Shootout, Mark Bosnich and Adam Peacock reflected on the end of the regular season by offering their highlights, including best goal, save, player and match.

Did the Italian magician and his one-man mission at Sydney FC earn him a nod or did the duo opt for one of Tony Popovic's inspirational troops or an ever-consistent Mariner?

Sit back and enjoy the great video at the top of the page and let us your choices of best goal, player, save and match of the season below.

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How Poppa inspired an entire squad

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Thrilling scenes ... Western Sydney celebrate their Premiers' Plate success. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Rocky Visconte put the icing on the cake of Western Sydney Wanderers' history-making win over Newcastle Jets with a searing strike.

The same Rocky Visconte who couldn't get a game at Brisbane Roar for the first-half of this season, and who was making just his second appearance for Tony Popovic's side.

But that's the Wanderers. The A-League Premiers' Plate winners. And the great sports story of the year. 

"Since day one, he's (Popovic) brought in the culture that everyone's important, whether you're 17 or three years old," Wanderers striker Labinot Haliti told Sunday Shootout. 

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"And at some stage of the competition you'll be called up to do your job – the best you can." 

So on a night where the pressure was on to grab the point needed to secure top spot - missing Shinji Ono, Aaron Mooy, Adam D'Apuzzo, Jerome Polenz and Iacopo La Rocca - the Wanderers rose to the mark - yet again.

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Was Visconte's goal the best of the round? Watch the contenders for Goal of the Week above and and vote right here for your chance to win!

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Their 3-0 win ensures they remain undefeated in 12 rounds, having capitalised on Central Coast Mariners' brief stumble a few weeks back to siege control of the A-League ladder. 

Fox Sports football expert Mark Bosnich paid tribute to Popovic's ability to rotate his squad through the season.

Indeed, Haliti found himself on the bench in the derby despite scoring a brace the week before against Heart, while being the goal-scoring hero against the Mariners. 

"One of the most difficult things, especially in a successful team, is to keep people who are not playing happy," Bosnich said. 

"We're seeing that game in, game out. Tarek Ehlrich … comes in against Newcastle and looks like he's been playing all season. 

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"Great team spirit … the easiest thing in the world for a player when he's left out is to put his head down and that can sometimes spread through the whole dressing room." 

Players have sung Popovic's praises all season for the way he has moulded his squad so quickly. Haliti joins that chorus. 

"Credit goes all to the coaching staff and to the boss," he said. 

"The way he prepares the team is like nothing I've seen before – probably the best I've been under.

"I've learnt a lot and I'm sure the rest of the guys have learnt. It's showing on the field."  

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Labinot Haliti: from Kosovo to the Jets to the Premiers' Plate.

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Haliti was renowned as a bit of a super-sub after 12 goals in 66 games at the Jets. But like so many in the squad, he has found a new gear this term. 

"(The preparation is) a level I've never experienced before," he said.

"I go into every game comfortable, ready, and I'm sure the rest of the players feel the same." 

The Wanderers' season has made the broader Australian sporting audience sit up and take notice. 

But have they convinced the football purists with their pragmatic style? Bosnich went into bad for the side. 

"I'm sick and tired of people diminishing their achievement," he said.  

"These guys play winning football in the right areas of the pitch. 

"When they've got the chance they can play as good a one and two touch football as anyone in the competition … it is a phenomenal achievement." 

So as Haliti and his teammates dream of finals success to go with their Premiers' Plate win and AFC Champions League qualification, does Haliti envisage himself scoring the grand final winner and flinging his short off in his renowned jubilant style?

ELIMINATION FINAL 1, FRIDAY APRIL 5:

Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory, Etihad Stadium 7:30pm EDT

ELIMINATION FINAL 2, SUNDAY APRIL 7:

Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar, Hindmarsh Stadium 5:00pm EST

SEMI-FINAL 1, FRIDAY APRIL 12:

Western Sydney Wanderers v Lowest-ranked elimination finals winner, Parramatta Stadium 7:30pm EST

SEMI-FINAL 2, SUNDAY APRIL 14:

Central Coast Mariners v Highest-ranked elimination finals winner, Bluetongue Stadium 5:00pm EST

GRAND FINAL, SUNDAY APRIL 21:

Winner Semi-Final 1 v Winner Semi-Final 2, Venue TBC, 4:00pm EST

"I guess I'll have to ask the boss!," he quipped. 

Indeed, that says a lot about the side's success. 

"They can celebrate now in the change room and enjoy the bus trip back," Popovic said after the game on Friday night. 

"But there's still more to come. There's still more to do."

And with him in charge, good luck to the others trying to stop them.

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POPPA'S PIONEERS

There's been plenty said about how the rookie coach has brought together journeymen and players looking for another chance to earn the most unlikely of A-League Premierships. It's no cliche. Here's the proof:

Ante Covic: unwanted at Melbourne Victory by Ange Postecoglou

Jerrad Tyson: clubless after Gold Coast United folded

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Shannon Cole: out of favour at Sydney FC after 95 games. 

Reece Caira: looking to prove his worth after coming through ranks at Aston Villa

Iacopo La Rocca: 29-year-old journeyman Italian trying something new in Australia. 

Adam D'apuzzo: after 102 matches with Newcastle, D'apuzzo gave up on his football career to pursue career in accounting - before Popovic called. 

Jerome Polenz: the under-19 and under-20 German international's career was at the crossroads before the 26-year-old joined the Wanderers in August. 

Tarek Elrich: also on the outer under van Egmond at Newcastle, the western Sydney local was one of the first men lured to Wanderland looking to kick-start his A-League career. 

Nikolai Topor-Stanley: an inspired signing by Popovic. The former Sydney FC, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets was always a regular performer in the competition, but Popovic has taken him to new heights.

Michael Beachump: he might have been to two World Cups, but Popovic's skipper hasn't quite been settled at club level, moving from the Mariners to Germany, Denmark, the UAE before Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart. Like NTS, has gone to another level of consistency.

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Aaron Mooy: an important signing for the club and an important move for a player at St Mirren in Scotland. Deal has been an inspired one for both. 

Shinji Ono: a great example of Popovic's ability to motivate and inspire. The 33-year-old Japanese legend, with 56 national caps, left Shimizu S-Pulse disillusioned. It's fair to say he loves the game again. 

Jason Trifiro: plucked from the Victorian Premier League. 

Mateo Poljak: 23-year-old former Croatia under-19 international, looking for a fresh start after failing to graduate from Dinamo Zagreb's youth squad. 

Youssouf Hersi: 30-year-old Dutchman was a shrewd pick-up by Popovic. After a slow start he has shown lived up to his reputation after a decade in the Eredevise to become one of their x-factors 

Rocky Visconte: joined Popovic's squad mid-way through the season from Brisbane Roar, looking for a chance. 

Tahj Minniecon: dubbed overweight and seemingly on the scrapheap, he was thrown a lifeline by Popovic. 

Mark Bridge: an extraordinary renaissance. Had it all ahead of him after moving from the Jets to Sydney FC, but slipped off the radar. A star this season, who has found his goalscoring boots again. 

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Labinot Haliti: from a super-sub to a genuine match-winner.

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi: Popovic has shown he's willing to throw youth in, and the exuberant 20-year-old has shown great promise when used this year in his rookie season.

Dino Kresinger: the 31-year-old Croatian has been a polarising choice up-front for Popovic's side - yet he has persisted with him and sees him as a vital cog in his side, despite his lack of goalscoring prowess.

Joey Gibbs: a perennial fringe A-League player, Gibbs trialled and trialled and trialled until Popovic had to give him a go. 

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Knights put the sword to Canberra

Adam Cuthbertson ... scores his second try for Newcastle. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Move over Kurt Gidley - there's a new halfback in town.

5 Tries 2
Akuila Uate 15'	Joel Thompson 29'
Anthony Quinn 21'	Josh Papalii 33'
Tyrone Roberts 51'
Adam Cuthbertson 63'
Adam Cuthbertson 77'
4 Conversions 2
Kurt Gidley 17'	Jarrod Croker 30'
Tyrone Roberts 52'	Jarrod Croker 34'
Tyrone Roberts 65'
Tyrone Roberts 79'

For the second successive week young Tyrone Roberts has laid claims to being Newcastle's long-term No.7, scoring a superb try to help his side to a come-from-behind 28-12 win over Canberra on Sunday at Hunter Stadium.

Skipper Gidley missed last week's impressive victory over North Queensland with a calf injury and although he returned to face the Raiders, it was at hooker, before being forced out of the game with concussion at halftime.

But seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett said Roberts is likely to keep his spot - for now.

"He sold one dummy there and I was waiting to see someone else running and he got to the line before I realised he still had the ball," Bennett said of Roberts' 51st-minute try.

"He does that well, Tyrone, he has that little bit of class.

"It's a great show and go he's got and it works for him. It confuses defenders.

"But no-one is No.1 for anything. He's doing a good job there at the moment and Kurt has got a head knock.

"Kurt only made himself available yesterday, no-one thought he was going to play and I wasn't going to change the team at that late notice."

Trailing 12-10 at the break after squandering a 10-0 lead, Roberts restored the Knights' advantage 11 minutes after the restart, with an outrageous right-foot step that fooled the Raiders defence, then ran through the subsequent gap to score.

It was almost a carbon copy of the his try against the Cowboys last Monday and on this evidence Gidley may have to get used to sharing hooking duties with Danny Buderus this season.

The Knights opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark through Akuila Uate who hauled in a delicious kick from Jarrod Mullen that curled over the head of Jack Wighton and into the arms of the NSW winger.

Bennett's side continued to press and the advantage was stretched six minutes later when Anthony Quinn scored his first try since returning to the Knights from Melbourne.

The Raiders claimed there was an obstruction against Josh McCrone in the build-up to the try, but the video referee ruled in favour of the home side.

Gidley missed the extras but Quinn's four-pointer woke up the Raiders who scored two unanswered tries to take the lead.

Joel Thompson grabbed the first when he got his fingertips onto a well-judged Sam Williams grubber-kick before Josh Papalii added a second when he ran straight over Gidley to score from 10 metres out, while Jarrod Croker converted both.

But Roberts' try settled Wayne Bennett's side down in the second period and despite close efforts from Blake Ferguson and Thompson, who could only put the ball down on the foot of Uate as he lurched for the line, were good value for their win.

Back-rower Adam Cuthbertson iced the result for the hosts just after the hour-mark when he bulldozed his way to the line and scored his first try since the 2011 semi-final for St George Illawarra against Brisbane.

The former Manly and Cronulla man then added his second just before the siren to seal a third win of the season for his side.

In a further blow for the Raiders, Wighton left the game with an arm injury.

Raiders coach David Furner was seething at his side's insipid second half display and slammed the kicking game of his halves combination Josh McCrone and Sam Williams.

"Our last play options and kicking game were pretty ordinary in the second half," Furner said.

"We didn't give ourselves a chance in the first half, we visited their line four times and didn't even get a repeat set, it makes it hard," Furner said.

The Raiders mentor was also upset about a shoulder charge by Danny Buderus on Blake Ferguson that went unpunished.

The Knights hooker poleaxed the centre, but referee Brett Suttor ruled the incident was merely a collision and allowed play to continue.

"I just saw it again on the video, and I was very surprised," he said.

"There's been a lot of hoo-ha about this recently, and what I saw summed it up.

"Going off what we've been going off it was most certainly a mandatory penalty."

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Knights put the sword to Canberra

Adam Cuthbertson ... scores his second try for Newcastle. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Move over Kurt Gidley - there's a new halfback in town.

5 Tries 2
Akuila Uate 15'	Joel Thompson 29'
Anthony Quinn 21'	Josh Papalii 33'
Tyrone Roberts 51'
Adam Cuthbertson 63'
Adam Cuthbertson 77'
4 Conversions 2
Kurt Gidley 17'	Jarrod Croker 30'
Tyrone Roberts 52'	Jarrod Croker 34'
Tyrone Roberts 65'
Tyrone Roberts 79'

For the second successive week young Tyrone Roberts has laid claims to being Newcastle's long-term No.7, scoring a superb try to help his side to a come-from-behind 28-12 win over Canberra on Sunday at Hunter Stadium.

Skipper Gidley missed last week's impressive victory over North Queensland with a calf injury and although he returned to face the Raiders, it was at hooker, before being forced out of the game with concussion at halftime.

But seven-time premiership-winning coach Wayne Bennett said Roberts is likely to keep his spot - for now.

"He sold one dummy there and I was waiting to see someone else running and he got to the line before I realised he still had the ball," Bennett said of Roberts' 51st-minute try.

"He does that well, Tyrone, he has that little bit of class.

"It's a great show and go he's got and it works for him. It confuses defenders.

"But no-one is No.1 for anything. He's doing a good job there at the moment and Kurt has got a head knock.

"Kurt only made himself available yesterday, no-one thought he was going to play and I wasn't going to change the team at that late notice."

Trailing 12-10 at the break after squandering a 10-0 lead, Roberts restored the Knights' advantage 11 minutes after the restart, with an outrageous right-foot step that fooled the Raiders defence, then ran through the subsequent gap to score.

It was almost a carbon copy of the his try against the Cowboys last Monday and on this evidence Gidley may have to get used to sharing hooking duties with Danny Buderus this season.

The Knights opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark through Akuila Uate who hauled in a delicious kick from Jarrod Mullen that curled over the head of Jack Wighton and into the arms of the NSW winger.

Bennett's side continued to press and the advantage was stretched six minutes later when Anthony Quinn scored his first try since returning to the Knights from Melbourne.

The Raiders claimed there was an obstruction against Josh McCrone in the build-up to the try, but the video referee ruled in favour of the home side.

Gidley missed the extras but Quinn's four-pointer woke up the Raiders who scored two unanswered tries to take the lead.

Joel Thompson grabbed the first when he got his fingertips onto a well-judged Sam Williams grubber-kick before Josh Papalii added a second when he ran straight over Gidley to score from 10 metres out, while Jarrod Croker converted both.

But Roberts' try settled Wayne Bennett's side down in the second period and despite close efforts from Blake Ferguson and Thompson, who could only put the ball down on the foot of Uate as he lurched for the line, were good value for their win.

Back-rower Adam Cuthbertson iced the result for the hosts just after the hour-mark when he bulldozed his way to the line and scored his first try since the 2011 semi-final for St George Illawarra against Brisbane.

The former Manly and Cronulla man then added his second just before the siren to seal a third win of the season for his side.

In a further blow for the Raiders, Wighton left the game with an arm injury.

Raiders coach David Furner was seething at his side's insipid second half display and slammed the kicking game of his halves combination Josh McCrone and Sam Williams.

"Our last play options and kicking game were pretty ordinary in the second half," Furner said.

"We didn't give ourselves a chance in the first half, we visited their line four times and didn't even get a repeat set, it makes it hard," Furner said.

The Raiders mentor was also upset about a shoulder charge by Danny Buderus on Blake Ferguson that went unpunished.

The Knights hooker poleaxed the centre, but referee Brett Suttor ruled the incident was merely a collision and allowed play to continue.

"I just saw it again on the video, and I was very surprised," he said.

"There's been a lot of hoo-ha about this recently, and what I saw summed it up.

"Going off what we've been going off it was most certainly a mandatory penalty."

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