The Geelong Cats yesterday stormed to their 10th Australian Football League (AFL) title with an 81-point demolition of a shell-shocked Sydney Swans in the Grand Final.
After charging to a 43-point lead before halftime, the Cats closed out the 20.13 (133)-8.4 (52) win in front of a heaving crowd of 100,024 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to hoist their first premiership cup since 2011.
“They’re hard to win and every side says it, but I think we deserved one,” said emotional Geelong captain Joel Selwood, who won his fourth AFL championship after Grand Final triumphs in 2007, 2009 and 2011. “This has been building for five or six years.”
Photo: AP
The showpiece match of Australian Rules football returned to the MCG for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the sell-out crowd at the sport’s spiritual home were denied anything like a contest.
The oldest and meanest team in the AFL, Geelong booted seven of the first eight goals in a ferocious start, dismantling a Swans midfield who appeared paralyzed by stage fright.
The Cats then shut down the match with six unanswered goals in the third quarter to trigger early celebrations in their sleepy home base an hour out of Melbourne.
“This is the pinnacle,” Geelong utility Patrick Dangerfield said. “Worth the wait and better than I could have ever imagined, it’s bloody special. We just played such a complete game.”
The Cats’ 16th win in succession capped one of their most dominant seasons, while erasing the heartbreak of their Grand Final thrashing by Richmond two years ago in Brisbane.
Geelong winger Isaac Smith kicked three goals and won the Norm Smith medal as the Grand Final’s best player, but plenty of his teammates had claims to the prize.
The Cats’ small forward Tyson Stengle top scored with four goals, while power forward Tom Hawkins booted three, igniting his team with the first two of the game as he outpointed Swans big man Tom Hickey twice in ruck duels.
More had been expected of the Swans, who came into the match on a nine-game winning streak, but they head home sore and sorry after humiliation on the game’s biggest stage.
“We’ll be back hungrier and better for it next year,” Swans cocaptain Dane Rampe said. “To our red-and-white supporters: Sorry. We failed you today.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely