ADP puts Sydney in seventh heaven

Seventh heaven ... Del Piero was on fire at Allianz Stadium. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Alessandro Del Piero delivered one of the A-League's greatest individual performances as his four-goal masterclass inspired Sydney FC to their biggest ever win, a 7-1 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.

Del Piero delighted 12,691 fans at Allianz Stadium, striking the competition's second-fastest hat-trick in the first half and adding another brilliant goal after halftime.

The 38-year-old former Italy and Juventus great notched four goals in a match for the first time in his esteemed career.

"I felt free in my mind today, for sure,'' said Del Piero, who now has nine goals for the season.

"It's a day from the heavens because when you score four, for sure it's a great day.

"I'm really happy, not only for the four goals but because we play very good from the first minute."

Del Piero had a strong supporting cast, with new signing Joel Griffiths delivering the opening goal and a fine all-round display on debut.

---

Watch video highlights of every goal with our A-League Match Centre!

---

The performance moved Sydney to the cusp of the top six as they registered back-to-back wins for only the second time in a turbulent season.

Both Del Piero and Farina Farina hoped the performance could be a catalyst for Sydney making a run at the finals but the coach said it was imperative the Sky Blues backed it up away to Melbourne Victory next week.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	17	10	5	2	15	35
2	Adelaide	17	10	2	5	6	32
3	Victory	16	8	3	5	0	27
4	Western Sydney	16	8	2	6	6	26
5	Heart	17	6	3	8	-1	21
6	Newcastle	17	6	3	8	-8	21
7	Sydney	17	6	2	9	-7	20
8	Perth	16	5	4	7	1	19
9	Brisbane	16	5	2	9	-1	17
10	Wellington	17	4	4	9	-11	16

"We'll enjoy tonight, but it's three points, let's be realistic,'' Farina said.

"Next week we go to Melbourne so unless we continue to play like that and continue to fight and work hard, it means nothing."

The defeat equalled the Phoenix's worst losing streak of four to leave them rooted to the foot of the ladder, with pressure mounting on coach Ricki Herbert.

He branded the performance "totally unacceptable."

"That's the most disappointing performance by a team that I've had at the football club," Herbert said.

Griffiths and fellow recruit Tiago were both handed starts and a fresh-faced Sydney side exploded to five-goal lead inside 39 minutes.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Former Newcastle striker Griffiths, returning to the A-League after more than four years in China, oozed class early and opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he combined brilliantly with Del Piero.

The Italian delivered a superb, lofted-through ball from almost halfway, and Griffiths read it perfectly before latching onto it from a tight angle to score.

From there, Del Piero stole the show.

He was allowed too much time and space in the box in the 21st minute when he cooly steered the ball past Mark Paston and had his brace two minutes later.

There was more than a touch of fortune as Andrew Durante was harshly adjudged to have fouled Jason Culina inside the box and Del Piero made no mistake with the penalty.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Culina scored a goal of his own in the 26th minute before Del Piero then wrapped a hat-trick inside 18 minutes, unleashing a powerful, curling shot from the top of the box.

The Phoenix were not without their chances, but headed into the sheds stunned.

There was more pain in the second half.

Del Piero grabbed his fourth in the 65th minute, tormenting Durante with some fancy footwork before unleashing another pin-point finish.

Wellington's Ben Sigmund bagged a consolation goal in the 79th minute but it could not prevent their worst ever loss.

Yairo Yau ensured that when he played a brilliant one-two with Blake Powell to score in the 84th minute, moments after Del Piero had been substituted off to an enormous ovation.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heart's Fred to miss four weeks

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Sidelined ... Fred will miss the Heart's next four A-League clashes. Source:AAP

Melbourne Heart's superb win over Adelaide United has been tempered by confirmation on their captain Fred is facing one month on the sidelines after scans confirmed he has a strained quadriceps muscle.

Brazilian playmaker Fred injured his left quad just 10 minutes into the second half of Friday's clash at AAMI Park.

The Heart remain the A-League's red-and-white shirted riddle - and a great 2-0 win over high-flying Adelaide did little to change it.

The home side controlled the match against a good side from kick-off at AAMI Park on Friday night, and showed no sign of the capitulations which have dogged them this season.

They now sit inside the top six, and at their best look serious finals players.

But it made even more perplexing their worst as seen the previous week - leading and outplaying bottom side Sydney FC before conceding twice in the last five minutes and losing.

If A-League matches were 45 minutes long, the Heart would lead the competition - statistics showing they are the best-performed first half side in the league.

Yet they are also the worst second half team in the competition, as shown by their alarming fadeouts at key moments this season.

Coach John Aloisi paid tribute to his team's ability to learn from the Sydney FC defeat, the importance of coaching each other on-field, and maintaining focus for the full 90 minutes.

And Aloisi believes the quality of the performance against Adelaide - especially how rock-solid they were late on unlike other games this season - showed just how good his side can be.

"When you're controlling a game like we are for 80 minutes, it's important the players don't change the style of play, and coach each other ... make sure players don't start doing their own thing," Aloisi said.

"The players did that (against Adelaide). You could hear them out there coaching each other, organising and helping each other.

"It was a good performance, considering what happened last week. A lot of questions were asked about fitness, about concentration, about are we good enough.

"But the boys showed against a team that's second-top, we can beat anyone in this league.

"We have to now, for the next 10 games, show that we can keep playing like that."

The Heart have now won three of their past four matches and have a platform to build serious momentum towards the finals.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Federer ends Tomic's Open campaign

All class ... Federer was too good for Tomic on Rod Laver Arena. Source: Paul Crock / AAP

It was billed as Roger's Weekend at Bernie's but Rod Laver Arena remains very much Federer's house.

Australian Open: Mens Singles

Round 3, 19/01/13

No man has won more Open crowns at Melbourne Park than Federer and the Swiss master put paid to the Australian apprentice's immediate title ambitions with a sublime display on Saturday night.

Tomic's 10 straight wins this summer may have instilled the local hope with unshakeable belief, but it counted for nothing as Federer swept imperiously to a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory in less than two hours.

Tomic was anything but poor, at times looking every bit the future grand slam champion he believes he is, but the great Swiss had every answer in a high-quality third-round contest.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"I think we both played a great match," Federer said.

"He has had a great run and really got the best out of me tonight, so I hope he can keep it up.

"He's a big guy and he's got a lot of power and a big serve and he uses it well ... he'll be tough to beat in the future, that's for sure."

It was Federer's fourth win from as four meetings with the 20-year-old and only Tomic's fourth loss from his past 27 matches in Australia.

But just like in the fourth round last year and in Davis Cup in Sydney in 2011, it was Federer who brought the young upstart down.

"It's important to take the right things out of a loss because usually you learn more when you lose," said Federer, noting Tomic was a vastly more difficult proposition than 12 months ago.

"He's more mature, a bit more power at times. It's hard to explain; it's just the whole package is a bit better."

Only Canadian Milos Raonic, who Federer has never lost to either, stands between the 17-time major champion and a 35th consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearance.

Bidding for an unprecedented fifth men's Open title, Federer snared the only three breaks of the match and offered up just one break point on his own serve in a commanding performance.

Tomic had won 76 consecutive service games and claimed to be in the best serving form of his career - yet Federer broke him in the opening game of the match.

It was the only break Federer needed as he powered through the first set in 34 minutes.

Tomic had to fight tooth and nail to stay in the second set, saving further break points in his first two service games and then staving off a total of four mini set points in the 10th and 12th games.

In the tiebreaker, Tomic produced a brilliant running forehand to jump to a 4-1 advantage and seemed poised to level the match up.

But from 5-3 down, Federer reeled off four consecutive points to take a stranglehold on the third-round contest.
It was vintage Federer who broke Tomic for a 2-0 advantage in the second set.

In the rally of the match, a free-wheeling Tomic had Federer stretching from side to side before luring the second seed to the net with a deft backhand half-volley drop.

Against virtually anyone else, Tomic's shot was a winner, but Federer not only reached it but swatted it crosscourt for a breathtaking winner of his own.

Federer was in full flight now, grabbing the double break with an off-forehand winner and serving it out after one hour and 58 minutes to record his 250th grand slam match win.

"I was pretty satisfied with my tennis," Tomic said.

"I was competing out there, trying to hang in there with him. He just came up with good stuff when he really needed it the most."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mariners, Jets share F3 derby spoils

F3 fire ... The Mariners and Jets couldn't be separated at Bluetongue. Source: AAP

One of the saves of the A-League season from goalkeeper Mark Birighitti ensured Newcastle Jets deservedly shared the points in a 0-0 draw with Central Coast at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.

A full stretch Birighitti pushed wide a brilliant Michael McGlinchey shot from close range after he had beaten four players in the 40th minute.

There was a frantic end to the 29th edition of the F3 derby; Mariners striker Daniel McBreen hit the side netting in the 78th minute and the Jets came close in the 85th minute when Pedj Bojic was forced to clear off the hosts' line.

Coach Graham Arnold, watching from the stands as punishment for his dismissal from the sideline the previous week, would have been relieved to escape with a point after a trying week in which he lost Bernie Ibini to a trial at Club Brugge and young gun Tomas Rogic to Celtic.

Central Coast extended their lead at the top of the ladder to three points, sitting on 35 points to Adelaide United's 32 after the Reds lost to Melbourne Heart on Friday.

In persistent rain before a crowd of 11,249 the Mariners, eager to make up from their poor first half showing against Wellington last week, were upbeat early and enjoyed the better of proceedings without creating any genuine chances.

The Jets began to wrest control as the half progressed but were also unable to capitalise.

Former England strilker Emile Heskey lacked touch when he could only lightly head the ball on in front of goal twice midway through the half and was replaced by James Virgili in the 60th minute.

Mariners assistant coach Phil Moss, in charge for the night, said he was happy with his team's effort.

"It was a scrap, not the prettiest game of football but our determination to keep a clean sheet was fantastic," he said.

Newcastle boss Gary van Egmond was also pleased by the Jets' performance against the ladder leaders.

"To come to Gosford and play the team coming first and to come away with a point is great," he said.

"I feel we could have got a goal or two early in the second half. We are buoyed by this and will take confidence from that performance."

Review all the stats and watch video of the big plays at Match Centre!

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lance cheated the sport: Djokovic

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Disgrace ... Novak Djokovic slams confessed drug cheat Lance Armstrong. Source: Romeo Gacad / AAP

World No.1 Novak Djokovic is confident tennis is safeguarded from the doping that has rocked cycling by the testing measures the sport has in place.

Djokovic slammed disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, who confessed to doping throughout much of his professional career in a television interview with Oprah Winfrey.

He said he cheated in each of his seven Tour de France victories.

"I think it's a disgrace for the sport to have an athlete like this,'' Djokovic said after his third round win over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

"He cheated the sport.

"He cheated many people around the world with his career, with his life story.

"I think he should suffer for his lies all these years.''

Djokovic said he used to enjoy watching cycling but felt that many of the great champions were tainted by the doping.

Former Belgian tennis pro Christophe Rochus made claims in 2010 that drug-taking in tennis was rife and he recently told Belgian radio that performance-enhancing drugs were still used.

The former world No.38 accused the sport's authorities of covering up chemical cheating.

Djokovic said results had shown the sport was clean and he believed drug-testing in tennis were rigorous enough.

He welcomed more blood testing if that helped prove the sport was clean.

"From my perspective, it's really good,'' the Serb said.

"We have to write where we are every day of our lives so they have an opportunity to test us every day of 365 days in a year.

"I think that doesn't give anybody a chance to do something that is unsportsmanlike.

"The results are showing that.

"In last few years there maybe has been one or two cases, but those players were more or less outside of the hundred (at the top of the rankings).''

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

V8 Abu Dhabi race cancelled

Cancelled ... Jamie Whincup in action at last year's race in Abu Dhabi. Source: EDGE Photographics / AAP

V8 Supercars organisers have been forced to cancel their glamour race in Abu Dhabi for the 2013 season.

It was announced on Friday that the event at Yas Marina Circuit has been sidelined this year in what appears to have been a call made by Formula One authorities, namely Formula One Managemtn (FOM).

The Abu Dhabi race was run last year as the only support category for the F1 Grand Prix at the same venue and was scheduled to do the same this year before Friday's announcement.

"V8 Supercars have been absolutely amazing in the three years we've worked with them building a fan base for the sport locally and in the region," Yas Marina Circuit CEO Richard Cregan said.

"As one of the most exciting motorsport categories in the world we hope to see them back at Yas Marina Circuit soon."

V8 Supercars organisers said they understood the decision and are comfortable with it, but are hopeful of returning to the circuit in 2014.

"It has always been clear that FOM ultimately decides, or approves, 'support' categories that run in conjunction with Formula One," V8 Supercars CEO David Malone said.

"We were acutely aware of this when we announced the 2013 calendar, with FOM then making this decision in late December. We thoroughly enjoy competing alongside Formula One and are absolutely comfortable with this news.

"There are contingencies in place and we will discuss the options, which may include racing on an alternate date to Formula One in 2014, with Yas Marina Circuit as soon as possible.

"What is very clear is the outstanding relationship we have with Richard Cregan and his team at Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management; and a committed combined will to find an alternative solution that fits for all.

"V8 Supercars and ADMM will announce any new arrangements as soon as they are decided."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sharapova continues Open dominance

Fired up ... Sharapova was in control from start to finish against Williams. Source: Dita Alangkara / AAP

Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams became another Maria Sharapova victim as the Russian took her astonishing Australian Open start up a notch in the third round.

Sharapova, 25, whose preparation for the tournament was limited by a collarbone injury, had gone through the first two rounds without losing a game, blitzing fellow Russian Olga Puchkova and Japan's Misaki Doi.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

Unlike those victims, Williams at least made it onto the scoreboard as Sharapova won 6-1 6-3.

Williams had been expected to give the No.2 seed her first real fight of the tournament.

But Sharapova, who won the Open in 2008 and lost last year's final to Victoria Azarenka, dominated from the start.

She won the first four games, making it 28 in succession to start her tournament, before Williams held serve to ensure she would avoid a whitewash.

It was a blip as the Russian played clinical tennis to race through the next five games.

---

Click here for a full list of the day's Australian Open results.

---

It was only when Sharapova first served for the match at 5-1 that Williams provided substantial resistance, breaking serve for the first time.

That prolonged the match for two more games.

Sharapova will meet unseeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the fourth round, after Flipkens beat Russia's Valeria Savinykh on Friday.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

Iva (13)	7	6
Jan (22)	5	3

Sharapova said it the meeting with Williams was something she had been eyeing since the draw was announced.

"No matter what she's ranked or seeded she's always a very tough opponent,'' Sharapova said.

"I was very determined out there and really wanted this victory.''

Meanwhile, Ana Ivanovic, seeded 13, defeated compatriot Jelena Jankovic, the 22nd seed, 7-5 6-3 in the third round on Friday.

Radwanska had an easier pathway, continuing her stunning form with a 6-3 6-1 win over young Briton Heather Watson.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

The fourth seed has already won titles in Auckland and Sydney and is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park on her progression through to the last 16.

Crowd favourite and former finalist Li Na of China, meets German Julia Goerges after defeating Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

A second German, the fifth-ranked Angelique Kerber, also made it to the last 16 with a 6-2 7-5 victory over rising American star Madison Keys.

Radwanska and Watson, a 20-year-old from Guernsey, had met once before - at Wimbledon, last year where the Pole was the eventual runner-up.

---

Find all your Australian Open results here!

---

"It's great that I am already playing my best tennis at the beginning of the year,'' Radwanska said after her win on Wednesday.

"I just hope I can keep playing on the same level through the rest of the tournament.''

Watson managed her first service break points in the final game but watched them evaporate as Radwanska clawed her way to deuce.

An ace brought up match point, which she seized on as the British woman netted a return.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Melbourne break Adelaide hearts

Head hunter ... Josip Tadic celebartes with teammates after scoring. Source: Hamish Blair / AAP

Melbourne Heart leapt into the A-League top six and left Adelaide United with a greasy grip on a top two spot with a 2-0 victory at AAMI Park.

The Heart rebounded from their late capitulation to Sydney FC last weekend with a far more controlled performance against a Reds side which struggled for rhythm.

Goals in both halves to Josip Tadic and Richard Garcia secured the victory, pushing the Heart into fifth place.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	16	10	4	2	15	34
2	Adelaide	17	10	2	5	6	32
3	Victory	16	8	3	5	0	27
4	Western Sydney	16	8	2	6	6	26
5	Heart	17	6	3	8	-1	21
6	Newcastle	16	6	2	8	-8	20
7	Perth	16	5	4	7	1	19
8	Brisbane	16	5	2	9	-1	17
9	Sydney	16	5	2	9	-13	17
10	Wellington	16	4	4	8	-5	16

Adelaide are in danger of both falling further behind league leaders Central Coast if the Mariners can pick up points against Newcastle Jets on Saturday and having third-placed Melbourne Victory close in if they succeed against Perth Glory on Saturday night.

As is their usual modus operandi, the Heart grabbed an early lead when striker Tadic headed home a Fred cross in the fifth minute with Adelaide's marking non-existent.

Both teams had dangerous patches of play and Adelaide could have equalised had Dario Vidosic done better on 42 minutes.

He shot well over the bar after Evan Kostopoulos had played him in on goal.

A minute later, Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic made a fine save to deny David Williams and Tadic was unable to make any meaningful contact with a difficult rebound.

---

Relive every goal, tackle and foul in our Match Centre.

---

But it took just four minutes after halftime for the Heart to go further ahead, when midfielder Matt Thompson dispossessed Kostopoulos in midfield, ran to the edge of the box, then played in Garcia who slotted home coolly.

While Heart are the best first half team in the A-League this season, they are also the worst second-half performers.

But they were rarely troubled by a flat Reds side in the second half - long-range shots from Kostopoulos and Cameron Watson late in the period their best attempts.

Both teams also have significant injury concerns out of the match.

Heart lost skipper Fred to what appeared a hamstring or quadriceps injury just 10 minutes into the second half.

And soon after Adelaide's Vidosic limped from the field to be substituted.

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi confirmed post match that Fred had damaged his quadriceps and would have scans to determine the severity of an injury which left the Brazilian visibly distressed.

"I only spoke to him very briefly and he's very upset, so we'll have to have scans to see if it's something serious - if it's a tear or not,'' Aloisi said.

"Disappointing, because last week you saw the old Fred coming back and now this happened ... we'll just have to see the extent of it.''

Adelaide coach John Kosmina said Vidosic had a hip injury, picking up two knocks in the same area during the match.

And he lamented what he called "two cheap goals'' his side conceded at poor times.

"We played well in patches but we gave two cheap goals away, and that's what probably killed us,'' Kosmina said.

"When we did keep the ball we looked half-decent. We just didn't do it for long enough.''

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Geeves takes on 'best match ever'

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Best game ever ... Brett Geeves offers his thoughts on an epic BBL semi-final. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Brett Geeves is back for another installment of his yet-to-be-named column. This time he runs the rule over Australia's rotation system and dissects the best game of cricket he's ever seen.

This rotation business has to stop. We thought we had seen the end of it after the Sri Lankan experiment. Anthem singer Alston Koch was rotated out of the Sydney test in favour of the pretty young lass with potential.The failure of this experiment was summed up well by Sri Lankan master blaster, Tillakaratne Dilshan*: "Unfortunately we should have finished the series off strongly, on a high note. Of course when I say high note, I don't mean a note so high it would paralyse bird's mid-flap, causing them to drop out of the sky; or a note so low it causes you to soil yourself. I mean an Alston note. He is the king of pop and replacing him is harder than replacing a hip with just a chisel and no anaesthesiologist."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Such is the confusion surrounding the rotation system, John Inverarity, has named Steve Rixon as the nation's new opening bowler while Mitch Starc recovers from shin splints or lower back pain or something. Ben Cutting will take over as head coach while Mickey Arthur has a breather from watching too much cricket, which results in eating too much food; this will lessen the chances of getting gout. It is also reported that Moises Henriques may also be rested, with Humphrey Bear creating history to be the first Australian-born bear to play for his country and the first player in the history of the game not required to wear pants on the field. On a serious note, this is becoming a large issue. There isn't a former player that hasn't weighed into the debate with a thought as to why this isn't working. If former players are coming out in favour of the rotation policy, we certainly aren't hearing about it or they have been silenced by the anti-CA mobsters employed to ... well ... silence people. I'm not sure I hold enough credibility to have an opinion on this one, but let's give it a crack in the hope that someone quotes me in this evening's news, or a local journalist gets hold of these pearls and writes of me and my thoughts. Maybe I'll just write the story myself...

*Denotes a semi made up quote. Dilshan actually said that he was pleased to head into game three on a high note.

---

BY GEEVES, HE AGREES

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Former Tasmanian and somehow two-time one-day player for Australia, Brett Geeves, has come out in defence of the CA selectors.  "Let's be honest, while the rest of us work nine to five and count down the hours to lunch and the next available RDO or public holiday, Australia's elite cricketers are working tirelessly in the nets from 9:30am to 11:30am and from there they have 12:30pm tee times to make" Geeves says.

When quizzed about the stresses of elite level sport, Geeves's mood changes dramatically, "have you ever showered, changed, ate lunch, made the trek from Adelaide Oval to Kooyonga, hit a bucket of balls and made ten straight putts on the practice green in the space of one hour? That is stress and if you can't handle this type of activity, you're not ready to be a full time professional cricketer and will most likely require the rotation policy. The modern cricketer is tough, they are now fitting in hair appointments and feng shui-related yoga around their jam-packed daily schedules. If you think these guys don't work hard and don't deserve time off like you and I, then it's time for self reflection."

As the debate rolls on, you can rest assured that the cricket loving public will be asking themselves this question: How did that guy play for Australia?

---

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The best match ever...

Last night's KFC T20 Big Bash League semi-final between the Stars and Scorchers was without doubt the best game of cricket I have ever seen. I will openly admit to disliking cricket as a spectator. I have the attention span of a wombat, named Karl, who has been run over by a tractor. But last night's game had it all; so many sixes, Shaun Marsh batting and speaking on live TV, Brad Hodge's six over cover was dreamy, Alex Keath looking like poor Karl with the tractor lights in his eyes and then there was the last over. OH. MY. GOODNESS.

How is it possible that on the last ball of the game, the bowler and captain can discuss their plan for two minutes and not see there were only three men in the circle, leaving one too many men on the boundary? To make it worse, the bowler has coughed up a front foot no ball, which I guess can be forgiven. The intense nature of that last ball, the rising adrenalin and nervous energy can all be attributed to the bowler over-striding by an inch. Leaving an extra man out of the circle, on the most important ball of the tournament, is as inexcusable as kicking a Labrador puppy. James Faulkner went from being the greatest finisher in Australian cricket and the resultant hero for the Stars, to being the villain in the space of seven centimetres and also sharing the attention span of Karl. You have to feel for the boy. He will learn from this. Sadly, the captain might not get a chance at redemption.

The other lad you have to feel for is Alex Keath. This is a kid who was named as a priority pick by the Gold Coast Suns. He made the decision to give cricket a go and after Wednesday night, you wonder if hindsight is a word he has used a few times today? One over for 26 is the nature of the game. We've all been there. I once bowled four overs for 64 runs on national TV!!

All you can do sometimes is look at the positives. Imagine if on your debut for the Gold Coast Suns, you got smashed by a rampaging Max Rooke, who had run from the back pocket to half-forward, just to ensure your face made contact with his shoulder and then the ground. Getting smacked by Shaun Marsh, Michael Dighton or David Warner in a game of cricket may dent your ego and may also leave you a touch bloated after you've comforted yourself with a four-litre tub of ice-cream and a chick flick. What it won't do, is dent your cheekbone, fracture your eye socket or leave you dizzy and confused. These are positives.

Brett Geeves is a regular columnist for foxsports.com.au. Unfortunately, Brett isn't clever enough to come up with his own column name and desperately needs your help. Two words and no profanities please...

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Port disappointed with Jurrah

Port disappointed ... Liam Jurrah outside court. Source: Xavier La Canna / AAP

AFL club Port Adelaide have expressed their disappointment over ex-Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah's alleged drink-driving incident.

Port chose not to draft Jurrah for 2013 after giving the 24-year-old Northern Territory product a chance to make his way back into the AFL via their SANFL club the Port Adelaide Magpies.

Jurrah, who has played 36 AFL games, failed to show up for training with the Magpies this summer.

Without confirming Jurrah's identity, police said patrols stopped a 24-year-old man on Monday night in Adelaide and he returned a breath test of 0.269.

His driver's licence was disqualified for 12 months and he will be summonsed to appear in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court at a date to be decided.

The incident comes after Jurrah was charged with assault over an alleged machete attack in the NT in March last year and after he quit the Demons at the end of the AFL season.

He is due to face court in Alice Springs on the assault charge in March.

"After making the decision not to select Liam in last month's pre-season and rookie drafts, the club has been working with the AFL to attempt to provide a pathway for Liam to return to the AFL system,'' Port said in a statement.

"During this period, the club has been waiting on a commitment from Liam in relation to training and playing with Port Adelaide (Magpies) in the SANFL and working in the club's community department.

"The club is disappointed with Liam's alleged driving offence but before making a decision on his future the club needs time to assess all the information regarding Liam's situation.''

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More