AFL
One of the AFL’s biggest rivalries took centre stage on Friday night as over 88,000 spectators filled the MCG for the Collingwood v Carlton clash.
The reigning Premiers again showed why they are easily the best side in the competition as they ran out 102-74 winners with Rhyce Shaw and Dane Swan in fine form.
The pressure mounts on Brisbane coach Michael Voss as his side lost again, this time to Melbourne, while Geelong, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and Fremantle all recorded wins. Freo skipper Matthew Pavlich enjoyed a milestone day in his home city of Adelaide as he became the club’s record appearance holder.
My live footy this week came in the form of West Coast against Sydney, having opted for that over the Western Force v New South Wales Waratahs Super Rugby game. Why a city like Perth has two major sporting events on the same day at the same time I don’t know, considering I would have gone to both were it possible.
Anyway, it was another close game between the Eagles and the Swans who were the sport’s dominant sides for much of the 2000s. In the end the Swans ran out 13-point winners though most West Coast fans left Paterson’s Stadium frustrated at their side’s failure to kill off the game in the final quarter.
Quick mention to Gold Coast debutant Daniel Gorringe who took a fantastic catch in their defeat to the Bulldogs but didn’t get paid a mark as the ball was touched in the air first.
Cricket
It was the beginning of a new era for Australia’s one day side as Michael Clarke took over the captaincy for the first time. Clarke’s tenure certainly started in style as he blasted 101 off 110 balls to help the Aussies down Bangladesh by 60 runs. In the process, Ricky Ponting’s successor picked up the Man of the Match award in what couldn’t have been a better start.
“I’m very happy to make a century today. The wicket was quite slow but once you got in, it was a nice wicket to bat on,” said Clarke.
“They (Bangladesh) have four spinners in their team and they have got a lot of talent. So we are pretty happy to get off to a good start, although there is room for improvement.”
Fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee struck early to leave Bangladesh on 2-9 chasing the Australian total of 7-270 and they never recovered. Ponting made 34 with the bat before being run out.
IndyCar
Aussies Will Power and Ryan Briscoe shared the front row of the grid going into today’s IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The Team Penske teammates posted excellent times in qualifying ahead of the 90-lap race.
Things got even better for Power as he led from start to finish to win the race ahead of Scott Dixon in second. The victory was made even more remarkable as Power never relinquished first spot at any stage, even on in and out pit laps; the first driver to do so since Dario Franchitti in 2009.
“It was one of the most relaxing races I’ve ever had,” Power said afterwards. “I was just really cruising.”
Things didn’t go so well for Briscoe as he was one of six drivers to crash out at various stages. His collision came in a first corner accident when he was struck from behind by Ryan Hunter-Reay who was penalised for avoidable contact. Power leads the 2011 IndyCar Series after the opening two rounds.
