Bombers survive scare

Ferocious ... Brendon Goddard manages to clear the ball from a pack at Etihad Stadium.   Source: Alex Coppel / News Limited

A sluggish Essendon have sprung to life in time to avoid having their unbeaten streak ended by winless Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

1.5 (11)	Q1	5.2 (32)
3.8 (26)	Q2	7.5 (47)
10.15 (75)	Q3	8.9 (57)
17.18 (120)	Q4	12.9 (81)

Stewart Crameri 4	Jeremy Cameron 6
Alwyn Davey 4	Taylor Adams 2
Scott Gumbleton 3	Tom Scully 2
Mark Baguley 1	Josh Bruce 1
Tom Bellchambers 1	Adam Treloar 1
Brendon Goddard 1
Kyle Hardingham 1
David Hille 1
Heath Hocking 1

For slightly more than a half on Saturday, the bottom-placed Giants threatened to produce one of AFL history's great upsets against the top-placed Bombers.

But after trailing by 27 points early in the second half, Essendon lifted as the Giants tired to win 17.18 (120) to 12.9 (81) and remain unbeaten heading into Friday night's bumper clash with Geelong, when there's no way they'll get away with such a poor start.

The Giants kicked three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes, including two to impressive young key forward Jeremy Cameron (six goals).

Cameron had three by quarter-time, forcing the Bombers to swap his starting opponent Tayte Pears for Cale Hooker.

But GWS, 21 points clear at the first change, went further ahead.

Tom Scully, enjoying a fine game in the midfield, kicked his second goal early in the second term.

And while Alwyn Davey replied for the Bombers, Cameron got clear of Hooker to mark and kick his fourth to push the lead to 27 points midway through the quarter.

The Bombers got it back to 21 points by halftime, but Cameron kicked his fifth less than a minute into the second half to rebuild a 27-point lead.

When Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton was subbed out minutes later with an apparent quad injury, the Bombers seemed in major trouble.

But having managed just three goals to that point, they finally hit back, with four majors in a nine-minute burst.

Brendon Goddard kicked the first of those and key forward Stewart Crameri the fourth, after taking his first mark for the day midway through the third term.

That brought Essendon within two points.

The Giants held the Bombers at bay for another nine minutes, before Crameri's second goal gave Essendon the lead for the first time since the game's opening minutes.

With captain Jobe Watson lifting after a quiet start, Goddard and David Zaharakis busy and Michael Hibberd and Courtenay Dempsey providing enormous run, Essendon dominated the rest of the term to take a stranglehold on the match.

By five minutes into the last quarter, Crameri had four goals, the Bombers led by 24 points and the result was clear.
 

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

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Petrie fires Roos' to victory

Leader ... Drew Petrie led from the front all day long in the Kangaroos' victory. Source: ROB BLAKERS / AAP

North Melbourne have ended Port Adelaide's unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 10-point victory at Blundstone Arena.

7.2 (44)	Q1	1.5 (11)
9.4 (58)	Q2	6.7 (43)
12.7 (79)	Q3	7.9 (51)
14.9 (93)	Q4	12.11 (83)

Drew Petrie 3	Jay Schulz 3
Leigh Adams 2	Chad Wingard 2
Aaron Black 2	Matthew Broadbent 1
Lindsay Thomas 2	Robert Gray 1
Majak Daw 1	Matthew Lobbe 1
Todd Goldstein 1	Angus Monfries 1
Daniel Wells 1	Jake Neade 1
Sam Wright 1	Brent Renouf 1
Jack Ziebell 1	Oliver Wines 1

The Kangaroos improved their season record to 2-4 with a 14.9 (93) to 12.11(83) win at their part-time Hobart base, seeing off a spirited Port side that sent a final-quarter scare into the home side.

The Power are now 5-1 after proving early-season surprise packets and they fought hard but were outmuscled by a home side hardened by a tough opening to their campaign.

North had nine goalscorers with Drew Petrie bagging three and Aaron Black, Lindsay Thomas and Leigh Adams doubles.

For Port, Jay Schulz kicked three and Chad Wingard a double.

The Kangaroos kicked seven goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 33 at the first break before the gallant Power fought back in the second to be down by just 15.

North booted three goals to one in the third to lead by 28 at three-quarter time before managing just two to Port's five in the last.

The Kangaroos' tough losses to big guns Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney and Hawthorn should have stood them in good stead against a side whose scalps included strugglers Melbourne, GWS and Gold Coast.

But they again showed the lapses that have cost them so far in 2013.

Without grounded head coach Ken Hinkley, who stayed in Adelaide after suffering from a virus midweek, Port looked to be continuing their impressive start to the season when diminutive Jake Neade booted the first goal of the match.

But North upped the physical pressure and kicked the next seven, including two from Black, to take a commanding 44-11 lead to the first break.

Port fought back with five goals to two in the second, including two to Wingard, to get themselves back into the game at 58-43 at the long break.

The Kangaroos stifled anything Port could offer in the third to lead 79-51 at the final change but needed to find some desperation in the final minutes to hang on.

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

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Bosnich a fan of South Melbourne offer

Where to next ... Heart are standing firm on talks of a takeover. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Melbourne Heart's owners might have no interest in selling the club, but Fox Sports' Mark Bosnich would if he was in their position.

Heart chief executive Scott Munn made it clear during the week that the club's owners weren't interested in selling their controlling stake and have knocked back two South Melbourne offers.

But Bosnich believes we haven't heard the end of this story and is an unabashed fan of the proposal from the former National Soccer League powerhouse. 

"Most definitely (I'm a fan)", Bosnich told foxsports.com.au.

"A lot of people are probably a little bit cautious after what happened with Clive Palmer, but there's a big difference between this and what happened there. These people have football history. They've got a very good core support and I'm a big, big fan (of the proposal)." 

Munn told the Herald Sun this week: "We've made it very clear we have no interest in taking their offer any further.

"We've been approached this year a couple of times, from the Middle East and a Eurpopean consortium.

"Those conversations were quite open and transparent but we made it very clear that there were some non-negotiables and one of them is that the founding owners always want to retain control.

"We'd love to invest more in areas such as marketing, advertising and most importantly the footy department.

"We can sustain a club, we can post a small profit and that puts us in an enviable position for investors, knowing they won't have to reach into their pocket each year."

The Victorian Premier League side, who made an offer in excess of $3.5m for 100 per cent of the club's license, said that Brazilian legend Emerson had expressed interest in coaching and they had received backing from a major sponsor for their A-League ambitions. 

It's a proposal, from a four-time NSL champion, that Bosnich believes can re-invigorate Heart. 

"Off the pitch, it's been a struggle for them," Bosnich said. 

"The only thing that concerns me is they have to continue to sell players to continue to balance out their books; it has had adverse effects.

"The interest from the South Melbourne consortium, for me, is a wonderful indication of where the league is going. 12 months ago, I don't think you would have heard this. 

"They are serious ... they have a wonderful football tradition, were one of the biggest clubs in the old NSL.

"First Australian team ever to play in the Club World Championships - we (Manchester United) played against them in 2000 in Rio - and they have people who genuinely care about the club and Australian football, more importantly.

"I've spoken to one of the people involved in the consortium and very encouraged by what I heard. 

"They are very aware of the direction and place Australian football is in. They want to do nothing to harm that, they just want to improve our game. 

"They've also got wonderful facilities. The Bob Jane Stadium, which they opened in conjunction with Victorian government is a wonderful facility. It will need a bit of upgrading for the A-League, but they're fine about doing that. 

"It's something that will continue throughout the off-season." 

Bosnich is not perturbed by the return of a strong NSL identity into the A-League, and believes football in Australia is ready for it. 

"Lines wouldn't be blurred – this is a different (South Melbourne) generation. 

"They're very aware of Australian football's history, present and future. 

"There's no way they want to undermine or jeopardise the wonderful future we've carved out through a lot of hard work, pain and tears. 

"I spoke to the guy personally, I will go meet with him in the next couple of weeks and I've got a really good feelings about it. 

"I wish them all the best with their bid to become part of, you have to say, one of the most exciting sporting competitions in Australia."

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Bogut books Boomers NBA showdown

Showdown ... Bogut will play Boomers teamates Patty Mills and Aron Baynes. Source: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AAP

Andrew Bogut played what he described as his best game in a Golden State uniform to lead the Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Bogut finished with 14 points and 21 rebounds in game six against Denver as the Warriors held on to win 92-88 and secure the series 4-2.

Golden State guard Stephen Curry, who the Warriors felt was the target of deliberate injury attempts in game five, poured in 22 points, while Nuggets star Andre Iguodala led all scorers with 24.

Bogut said the performance was his finest for his new club, which stuck with the Aussie giant despite missing half the season through injury.

"For sure (it's his best win). Saved the best for last. It's a great day for us," Bogut said.

"It's always about the team."

Bogut said the win should silence some of the Warriors doubters who said they couldn't make a dent in the finals.

"We're in the second round of the playoffs. No.1 - no one thought we'd make the playoffs. No.2 - no one gave us a chance to get through the first round."

"We almost let it slip away but we fought hard and it's a huge win."

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 95-92 victory over the short-handed Chicago Bulls to force a deciding game seven in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Deron Williams scored 17 points, handed out 11 assists and won a jump ball against Chicago's Joakim Noah in the closing seconds to seal the victory.

Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson chipped in another 17 points each and Gerald Wallace added 15 for the Nets, who will host the series decider in Brooklyn on Saturday.

The winner of the series will face reigning NBA champions Miami in the second round. The Heat, led by LeBron James, swept Milwaukee out of the playoffs in four games.

The Nets shot just 28 per cent from the field in the second half, but they held on against a Bulls team playing without starting point guard Kirk Hinrich for the second straight game because of a calf injury.

Chicago were also without Britain's Luol Deng, who was sidelined by the flu.

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Japan teen tipped to become fastest Asian

A JAPANESE teenager will this weekend bid to become the first native Asian to run 100 metres under the 10-second barrier.

Yoshihide Kiryu, 17, is already the joint world record holder for juniors, having this week clocked 10.01 seconds at a meet in Hiroshima - making him one of only three men under-20 to have run that fast.

The high school student says he is confident he can shave his time to become Japan's quickest sprinter, but has his eyes on a greater prize - taking on Usain Bolt.

"It's like a dream. Honestly, I am surprised," he told Japanese media after his show-stopping time in the 100m heats at the Mikio Oda Memorial meeting, his first race with seniors.

He won the final in 10.03, beating London Olympic semi-finalist Ryota Yamagata, 20, by one hundredth of a second.

"Having come this far, I want to become the first (Japanese) to run under 10 seconds," he said. "If I tune up thoroughly, I can run 10.00."

Kiryu's next chance to beat the 10-second barrier will come on Sunday at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix - the third leg of the 15-round IAAF World Challenge series.

At Tokyo's National Stadium, he will race against seven others, three of whom have run under 10 seconds - Americans Mike Rodgers (9.85) and Mookie Salaam (9.97) and Bahama's Derrick Atkins (9.91).

Kiryu's race up the ranks of the sprinting world has been rapid. He burst onto the scene last year, twice breaking the world under-18 100m best - first with 10.21 in October, then with 10.19 one month later when he was 16.

Kiryu's junior world record performance this week brought him level-pegging with Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown, who logged 10.01 in 2003, and American Jeffery Demps, who clocked the same time at the 2008 US Olympic trials. Both were 18 at the time.

But dipping under 10 seconds is a tough ask.

It has been achieved by only about 80 male runners, nearly all of them of West African descent, since American Jim Hines clocked 9.95 at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

In 2003, Australian Patrick Johnson ran 9.93 to become the first runner without an African background to join the sprint elite.

In 2010, Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre became the first white European to duck under 10 seconds, clocking 9.98.

But Kiryu's eyes are fixed on multiple world and Olympic sprint champion Bolt, whose 100m world record of 9.58 has stood since August 2009.

Despite the present gulf between the young Japanese talent and his hero, Kiryu can take solace from the fact that at this stage of his career, he is already faster than the younger Bolt - the Jamaican ran 10.03 when he was 21.

"I want to run alongside Bolt (at the worlds) and see how he is different from me," said Kiryu at 1.75 metres tall, a full 20 centimetres shorter than 26-year-old Bolt.

"I lack experience in competing on the big stage. I must gain more experience."

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan teen tipped to become fastest Asian

A JAPANESE teenager will this weekend bid to become the first native Asian to run 100 metres under the 10-second barrier.

Yoshihide Kiryu, 17, is already the joint world record holder for juniors, having this week clocked 10.01 seconds at a meet in Hiroshima - making him one of only three men under-20 to have run that fast.

The high school student says he is confident he can shave his time to become Japan's quickest sprinter, but has his eyes on a greater prize - taking on Usain Bolt.

"It's like a dream. Honestly, I am surprised," he told Japanese media after his show-stopping time in the 100m heats at the Mikio Oda Memorial meeting, his first race with seniors.

He won the final in 10.03, beating London Olympic semi-finalist Ryota Yamagata, 20, by one hundredth of a second.

"Having come this far, I want to become the first (Japanese) to run under 10 seconds," he said. "If I tune up thoroughly, I can run 10.00."

Kiryu's next chance to beat the 10-second barrier will come on Sunday at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix - the third leg of the 15-round IAAF World Challenge series.

At Tokyo's National Stadium, he will race against seven others, three of whom have run under 10 seconds - Americans Mike Rodgers (9.85) and Mookie Salaam (9.97) and Bahama's Derrick Atkins (9.91).

Kiryu's race up the ranks of the sprinting world has been rapid. He burst onto the scene last year, twice breaking the world under-18 100m best - first with 10.21 in October, then with 10.19 one month later when he was 16.

Kiryu's junior world record performance this week brought him level-pegging with Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown, who logged 10.01 in 2003, and American Jeffery Demps, who clocked the same time at the 2008 US Olympic trials. Both were 18 at the time.

But dipping under 10 seconds is a tough ask.

It has been achieved by only about 80 male runners, nearly all of them of West African descent, since American Jim Hines clocked 9.95 at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

In 2003, Australian Patrick Johnson ran 9.93 to become the first runner without an African background to join the sprint elite.

In 2010, Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre became the first white European to duck under 10 seconds, clocking 9.98.

But Kiryu's eyes are fixed on multiple world and Olympic sprint champion Bolt, whose 100m world record of 9.58 has stood since August 2009.

Despite the present gulf between the young Japanese talent and his hero, Kiryu can take solace from the fact that at this stage of his career, he is already faster than the younger Bolt - the Jamaican ran 10.03 when he was 21.

"I want to run alongside Bolt (at the worlds) and see how he is different from me," said Kiryu at 1.75 metres tall, a full 20 centimetres shorter than 26-year-old Bolt.

"I lack experience in competing on the big stage. I must gain more experience."

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Manly boys serenade Cherry-Evans

Daly Cherry-Evans ... sporting the "Travis Bickle". Source: News Limited

Daly Cherry-Evans could not have expected to keep running around with his Travis Bickle-style hairdo without a song eventually being written about it.

And that's exactly what's happened, with a YouTube video emerging of his Manly Sea Eagles teammates in a barbershop quartet of sorts performing the "The Daly Cherry-Evans" haircut song.

Set to the tune of the Four Seasons' "Sherry", the Stewart brothers, George Rose, Brent Kite, Jason King, Steve Matai and Kieran Foran are all featured in the mock clip.

Check it out for yourself...

 The video comes courtesy of Denis Carnahan, who is also responsible for this popular "That's in Queensland!" clip, among others... 

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Speight won't dwell on Test wait

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Frustrating ... Henry Speight faces anxious wait to become a Wallaby. Source: Lukas Coch / AAP

Red-hot Brumbies winger Henry Speight says he can't afford to dwell on the thought he will miss a once-in-a-career chance to play for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions by just a few months.

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It's a frustrating scenario for both Speight and the Australian Rugby Union, who will have to wait until the end of October for the IRB to allow the Fijian-born Australian resident to represent the Wallabies.

Wallabies great Stephen Larkham has no doubt Speight's form would warrant an Australian jumper but he will miss qualifying for the British and Irish Lions tour in June and July by just four months.

Currently the leading try scorer in Super Rugby, Speight's case has been set back as he played for Waikato in the New Zealand Provincial Championship (NPC).

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"It's a little bit (frustrating) but it is something beyond my control. So to dwell on it would only cause more frustration,'' Speight said.

"But it's been over two and a half years and if I have to wait a few more months it won't kill me.

"The thing I'm happy about is that the Brumbies are still playing the Lions so I can still say I've played them.''

It will be Speight's only crack at the Lions, as the next time they grace Australia's shores will be in 2025 when he is 37.

"All I know is that I'm not eligible for the Lions or for the Rugby Championship too,'' he said.

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"I don't want to dwell on it too much because if I think about it too much then it might probably affect the way I'm playing for the Brumbies.''

Speight took his 2013 try tally to seven on the weekend when he scored a double in the Brumbies' 41-19 thumping of the Force.

He split the defence in the middle of the park wide open for his first try and then raked in a wild George Smith pass with a one hand juggle to dot down in the corner for his second.

"Someone of (Smith's) calibre and experience, you wouldn't want to drop a ball that's coming from him because he'd probably get into you after,'' Speight joked on Tuesday.

Handling is an area of Speight's game that backs coach Stephen Larkham said he's really tried to develop over the past year.

"First year at the Brumbies he probably dropped a little bit more ball than we would have liked, but since then he has really worked on it,'' Larkham said.

"What we've seen over the past twelve months is a real improvement in his attacking game.

"He is really deserving of an Australian position at this stage.''

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Manly's Fa'aoso facing 10-week ban

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Trouble ... Richie Fa'aoso is put on report for his second spear tackle on Greg Inglis. Source: RENEE MCKAY / AAP

Manly prop Richie Fa'aoso faces an NRL ban of up to 10 weeks after being charged for two dangerous throw tackles on South Sydney's Greg Inglis.

Fa'aoso upended Inglis in two ugly incidents during last Friday's spiteful contest at Brookvale Oval, and was hit with a grade two and grade three dangerous throw charges by the match review committee on Monday.

Should he fight and lose on both counts, Fa'aoso would miss 10 games, ruling him out until Manly's round 20 clash with Wests Tigers.

With early guilty pleas Fa'aoso would still spend eight weeks on the sideline.

Complicating matters for Fa'aoso is that he still has 72 carryover points from a dangerous contact charge for a shoulder charge on Gold Coast's Ashley Harrison in round three this year.

His Sea Eagles teammates also didn't escape punishment with centre Steve Matai facing one week on the sideline for a grade one careless high tackle on George Burgess.

Matai's hit sparked an all-in brawl involving South Sydney enforcer Sam Burgess and Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran, but that drew no further charges.

Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart can escape a suspension with an early guilty plea after being given a grade one dangerous contact charge for elbowing Rabbitohs' winger Andrew Everingham.

Newcastle prop Kade Snowden can also escape punishment should he accept the early plea on a grade two careless high tackle which broke the jaw of Gold Coast utility Luke O'Dwyer.

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Crows could pitch for Buddy

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Frenemies ... could Lance Franklin be lining up alongside Rory Sloane and the Crows? Source: MAL FAIRCLOUGH / AAP

Cashed-up Adelaide could chase Lance Franklin in the wake of the season-ending knee injury to key Crow Taylor Walker.

Walker will have a knee reconstruction within days, while Franklin's Hawthorn teammate Cyril Rioli grapples with at least seven weeks on the sidelines with a severe hamstring tear.

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Essendon	5	5	0	0	176.70	20
2	Port Adelaide	5	5	0	0	148.45	20
3	Geelong	5	5	0	0	114.20	20
4	Hawthorn	5	4	0	1	131.57	16
5	Sydney	5	4	0	1	124.53	16
6	Richmond	5	3	0	2	112.13	12
7	Fremantle	5	3	0	2	102.57	12
8	Collingwood	5	3	0	2	93.61	12
9	Carlton	5	2	0	3	103.67	8
10	Adelaide	5	2	0	3	98.90	8
11	Gold Coast	5	2	0	3	95.13	8
12	Brisbane	5	2	0	3	77.53	8
13	North Melbourne	5	1	0	4	100.20	4
14	St Kilda	5	1	0	4	97.63	4
15	West Coast	5	1	0	4	97.46	4
16	Bulldogs	5	1	0	4	79.47	4
17	Melbourne	5	1	0	4	57.16	4
18	Greater Western Sydney	5	0	0	5	63.84	0

Walker and Rioli, two of the most exciting forwards in the AFL, were given grim news on Monday.

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But within hours of hearing of Walker's 12-month layoff, the Crows floated sounding out Hawk mega-star Franklin, who falls out of contract at season's end.

"There is always the free agency route ... Buddy Franklin or somebody like that would be nice,'' Adelaide's general manager of football administration Phil Harper told reporters on Monday.

"Whether he wants to come to Adelaide or not, I know there's a few people putting their hand up for him. Maybe we will do that as well.''

The Crows were given some salary space by Kurt Tippett's bitter split to Sydney. Tippett worked in tandem with Walker last year.

But despite staring at a future without both key forwards, Harper said the Crows wouldn't run a cash-based race for Franklin's signature.

"I wouldn't think we could outbid the world,'' he said.

"I think that if he was interested, we would certainly put something there.'' 

Walker's injury is a body blow for the Crows, struggling with two wins and three losses ahead of a home clash with Hawthorn on Saturday.

Rioli won't play for the Hawks until after the round-11 bye because of a torn hamstring but the club can't put an exact timeframe on his return.

"It's probably not looking too good,'' Rioli said on Monday.

"I have had a lot of trouble with my hamstrings, so there's no real timeframe on when I'll come back.''

Rioli won't need surgery but his injury hits the Hawks a week after they lost backman Ryan Schoenmakers for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Carlton had better news regarding onballer Bryce Gibbs, subbed out of Saturday's win over Adelaide with a hamstring problem.

Scans showed a low-grade hamstring strain and the Blues expect Gibbs to miss just one game.

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