Good evening!

If you’re as pumped for the Swans tonight as I am (sorry to our readers who barrack for Port Adelaide) then I recommend this video from the Swans 2005 semi-final against Geelong.

Nick Davis kicked four goals in the fourth quarter to bring the Swans back from the brink of an early finals exit. It’s spine-tingling stuff… especially given they went on to win the Premiership two games later.

I have a feeling tonight’s game might be just as thrilling.

And if you couldn’t give a toss about AFL, read on, there’s plenty more sport on this weekend.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

154
How many runs Travis Head scored in the first of five One Day Internationals (ODI) between Australia and England last night. It‘s the highest score by an Australian in an ODI played in England. Australia won by seven wickets. The next match will be played in Leeds on Saturday night.

Quote of the day

"I've made the decision to resign based upon what's best for the nation, the players and Football Australia. I've given absolutely everything I can to the role, and I am immensely proud of what has been achieved during my tenure.”
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold in a statement announcing his resignation from the role he has held since 2018. The 61-year-old led Australia to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, its best-ever men’s World Cup result. Arnold’s departure follows a disappointing start to the third round of World Cup qualifiers. The Socceroos were upset by Bahrain and drew with Indonesia, making the path to the 2026 World Cup more difficult.

Random fact of the day

Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani has become the first player in Major League Baseball history to reach the elusive 50-50 mark. What does that mean? Ohtani has hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases this season. It’s an incredible feat because it’s rare that a player possesses both the power to hit home runs and the agility to steal bases. No wonder he’s on a $US700 million ($AU1 billion) contract.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🏐 The Australian Diamonds (netball) beat England’s Roses 70-57 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in front of a crowd of 9,000. The win marked Australia’s highest-ever score against England. Goalkeeper Sarah Klau was named the Player of the Match for her defensive efforts. The Test was the first of three between two of netball’s fiercest rivals. The next is at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday 22 September at 3:30pm (free on Kayo). 

🏏 Australia’s Women’s T20 cricket side got off to a strong start in their three-match series against New Zealand, beating their trans-Tasman foes by five wickets. Phoebe Litchfield starred for Australia with 64 runs from 43 balls, her highest total in a T20 innings. The two teams will face off again at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Sunday 22 September.

🏉 The Wallabies will return to action on Saturday afternoon in Sydney against the All Blacks, with veteran prop James Slipper set to break the record for most Test caps. It is the first of two Bledisloe Cup matches. which will double as both teams’ final two games of this year’s Rugby Championship. The All Blacks are sitting in third on the Rugby Championship ladder following successive losses to South Africa, while Australia are fourth having only won one of four games thus far. Kick-off is at 3:55pm. (Channel 9, Stan Sport)

🏉 In Wales, the Wallaroos are playing the Welsh at Rodney Parade in Newport. Head coach Jo Yapp has made four changes to the Wallaroos side following a comprehensive 36-10 defeat at the hands of Ireland last week. 18-year-old fullback Caitlyn Halse has been named in the starting side for the first time. The match will be an opportunity for both sides to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses before they meet again in the first round of the WXV 2 tournament next week. Kick-off is at 3:50am tomorrow (Channel 9, Stan Sport)

I’ve got 1 minute

NRL Semi-Finals Preview

Two Semi-Finals will be played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney this weekend to determine who meets the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers next week in the Preliminary Finals.

Sharks v Cowboys - Friday at 7:50pm

Tonight, the Sharks will set out to put a win on the board, despite losing their past seven finals matches. The Sharks and Cowboys have played twice each other this season, with both teams winning one game apiece. At their most recent meeting in July, the Cowboys won 30-22. The Sharks will be looking to redeem themselves from last week’s 37-10 defeat at the hands of the Storm. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will seek to take advantage of the momentum from their win over the Knights in the face of what is likely to be a Sharks-heavy crowd in Sydney. The two sides have met five times in finals and the Cowboys lead 3-2.

The winner of this match will play the Panthers next week.

Roosters v Sea Eagles - Saturday at 7:50pm

The Roosters and Sea Eagles are also one game apiece from their two meetings this year. Most recently, the Roosters won 34-30 in Round 21. The Roosters will have a home-ground advantage and will be looking to honour their fullback James Tedesco in his 250th appearance. The last time these two sides met in the finals was in 2021 (during the COVID-affected season), when Manly won 42-6. In last week’s finals, the Roosters were beaten 30-10 by a clinical Panthers side and the Sea Eagles came from behind to beat the Bulldogs 24-22. 

The winner of this match will play the Storm next week.

Help us grow!

Enjoying the newsletter?

If you are, why not share the love with your friends? We’d love your help in getting the word out there.

Send them this link to sign up:
https://sport.thedailyaus.com.au/?utm_campaign=sport-newsletter&utm_source=referral&utm_medium=email

I’ve got 2 minutes

AFL Preliminary Finals preview

The AFL Preliminary Finals will take place at two iconic venues this weekend. The winners will meet in the Grand Final at the MCG next week to play for the 2024 Premiership.

Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide - Friday 7:40pm

In the first Preliminary Final, the Swans are hosting Port Adelaide at the SCG. These two teams have met once this season in Round 21. Port won that contest by 112 points. — the heaviest loss for the Swans since 1993. Looking further back, Port Adelaide has won the last eight meetings with the Swans. If the Swans win tonight, it will be their first victory over Port since 2017. 

Putting aside head-to-head history, the Swans have demonstrated they are the team to beat this season, having sat on top of the table since Round 8. Port has been similarly strong, finishing second on the table before succumbing to a heavy defeat at the hands of Geelong two weeks ago, losing 138-54. They bounced back to eliminate Hawthorn last week by three points.

Taking a look at the bigger picture, Port Adelaide has not made a grand final since 2007, when they lost to Geelong. The last time Sydney made a grand final was 2022, they also lost to Geelong. Since moving from South Melbourne in 1982, the Swans have won two premierships, in 2005 and 2012. Port Adelaide won their sole premiership in 2004.

Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions - Saturday 5:15pm

At the MCG tomorrow, the second preliminary final is between the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions. In their only game this season, Round 6, the Cats won 63-37 in Brisbane. These two teams have met in the Preliminary Final twice in the past five years. The Cats have won on both occasions. 

After beating Port Adelaide in the preliminary final two weeks ago, the Cats have had two weeks to recover and will also have a home-state advantage. Meanwhile, the Lions clawed their way back from a 44-point deficit to overcome the Giants in Sydney and will have to be ready to battle it out until the final siren again this week. 

Zooming out, the last time the Lions made a grand final was last year in 2023 when they lost to Collingwood. They will be looking to win the Premiership for the first time since 2003. The Cats won the grand final much more recently, in 2022, and will be looking to repeat their heroics in 2024.

A message from our sponsor

The Paralympics' impact on accessibility in sport

Samantha Lilly, a Graduate Researcher at Deakin University and an elite athlete with a disability explores in a recent article how the Paralympics enhance accessibility in sport at all levels.

The first Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960 and the Games have grown in scope and influence since then. This growth has improved the global awareness of disabled sports which in turn has helped improve accessibility.

The Paralympics can be attributed to driving innovations in assistive technology to help para-athletes perform. For example, the evolution of running blades for amputee athletes from basic prosthetics to advanced carbon fiber designs. Australia encourages this sort of innovation with over 100 funding schemes for assistive technology.

Increased investment in disabled sports has also led to better training facilities. For example, the NSW Institute of Sport in Sydney is designed to accommodate and develop athletes with various disabilities.

Beyond tangible benefits, the Paralympics has fostered global discussions about inclusion and accessibility and the achievements of Paralympians continue to challenge perceptions of disability concerning sport and athleticism.

Despite the progress that has been made, Lilly notes that accessible sport is often seen as a secondary priority. She urges that accessibility should be integral to sports clubs and society and not just an afterthought.

Think Beyond The Field. Study sport at Deakin.

Looking back…

Looking forward…(All times are AEST)

TDA asks