#brad & tarryn

[thebehindpost]

Season previews: North Melbourne (17th)

Last season: 17th (3 wins, 20 losses, 71.5%) Notable ins: Colby McKercher (no. 2 draft pick), Zane Duursma (no. 4 draft pick), Zac Fisher (Carlton) Notable outs: Ben McKay (Essendon), Todd Goldstein (Essendon), Jack Ziebell (retired)

Similarly to fellow cellar dweller, West Coast, predictions of an improved North Melbourne are not matched by an expectation of a rise up the ladder. For a club that has failed to win more than four games in any of the past four seasons, there is a feeling that North Melbourne's attempted return to relevance is only now beginning after a series of false starts. It was reported in 2019 that when then coach Brad Scott suggested to the board the playing list was mediocre and in need of a rebuild, he was told they had already started rebuilding three years earlier and could not afford to do so again (referring to the year they moved on Nick Dal Santo, Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie among others). So Scott left and was replaced by Rhyce Shaw who coached only two seasons, who was succeeded by David Noble who coached even less than that, following which "the great white hope" Alastair Clarkson arrived and coached just nine games before needing extended personal leave. Exhausted? Spare a thought for someone like Curtis Taylor who has played for six senior coaches in five years on the list.

Clarkson eventually returned for four dead-rubber clashes at the end of 2023 but is finally enjoying clear air and a full pre-season with his young list and without the spectre of the Hawthorn racism scandal looming - at least for now. The coach would be looking at the talent North Melbourne have amassed in the last two national drafts and daring to dream... Could Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, McKercher and Duursma one day be looked back on as being as signficant a haul as Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis were at the Hawks in 2005? Perhaps so but it has not all been blue skies overhead at Arden Street, given at the time of this writing Tarryn Thomas has been suspended for 18 matches by the AFL for abuse toward women and his contract finally torn up by the club. Thomas was a distraction the club could ill afford and a toxic presence it is better off without, despite desperately needing players of his considerable talent.

A side with so much youth needs leaders along every line to drive the standards off the field and provide direction on the field. The exits of Goldstein, Ziebell and Ben Cunnington will leave a leadership vacuum at North Melbourne even if their best football was clearly behind them and it remains a concern as to who will step up to fill it. Jy Simpkin, a co-captain, is one who has demonstrated loyalty to the club and resilience by managing 18 games in 2023 despite injuries. Nick Larkey, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Cam Zurhaar possess all the talent and have now moved into an age and experience profile where they should start to throw others on to their back and win the occasional game. It was a surprise to see Luke McDonald tapped to go around again as a co-captain given his lack of awareness, limited skill and a question mark on whether he would be in any other club's best 22.

The plan at North Melbourne for 2024 would be fairly simple: get games into their young guns, become harder to play and score against and put a stop to the blowout losses (despite being more competitive last year than in 2022, they still suffered seven 40-plus point defeats). It should not be beyond them to double the number of wins from three to six and demonstrate to their fans and the wider football world that after backfiring and stalling out a few times, the car is finally moving forward.

Déjà vu in the bottom four continues, next up is Hawthorn…

[sammyandmattsblog]

Feliz ano novo

31st Decembber 2019

We had the best surprise on NYE with Brad rocking up in Maputo because Tarryn was doing a show at the casino here. It was so awesome to see familiar, friendly faces and be able to spend the night with old friends. It makes you realise how hard it is to be away from the people you know and ❤.

Happy 2020!

My pit for the year: My family moving to England.

My peaks for the year: Going to Namibia with Tanya, Liad and Matt.

I'm not sure what the new year will bring. More studying is certain but I hope that we will be able to move to SA while I finish my degree, even though just the thought of moving again is exhausting. Most of all, I am really looking forward to Tanya and Liad's wedding in Thailand (maybe).

[dailyrugbytoday]

Jillaroos V Kiwi Ferns Rugby 2022 will go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Sunday (AEDT)

New Post has been published on https://thedailyrugby.com/jillaroos-v-kiwi-ferns-rugby-2022/

The Daily Rugby

https://thedailyrugby.com/jillaroos-v-kiwi-ferns-rugby-2022/

Jillaroos V Kiwi Ferns Rugby 2022 will go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Sunday (AEDT)

Two powerhouses of women’s rugby league will go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Sunday (AEDT) when the Australian Jillaroos v Kiwi Ferns square off in their fourth-consecutive World Cup Final.

Winger Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly is the only change to the Kiwi Ferns for their Rugby League World Cup showdown against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday morning (NZ time).

The trans-Tasman foes will face off for the fourth time in a World Cup final, with the Jillaroos winning the last two, while also enjoying a narrow 10-8 pool win over the NZ women at this tournament.

New Zealand qualified for the title match with a 20-6 win over England midweek, but from that line-up, Katelyn Vahaakolo makes way for Stephens Daly.

Read More:  Toa Samoa v Kangaroos Rugby League World Cup Final in Manchester

The two sides have already faced off in the 2021 World Cup, with Australia defeating their Trans-Tasman rivals by two points in the final group game — the Kiwi underdogs standing tall against such their highly-touted opponent.

Led by 2022 NRLW Dally M medallist and Golden Boot winner Raecene McGregor, Brisbane props Amber Hall and Brianna Clark and rugby union convert Mele Hufanga, the Kiwi Ferns will head into Sunday’s match full of confidence after finding another gear in Tuesday’s 20-6 win over a fired-up England.

Brad Donald’s Jillaroos side, boasting world-class talent and remarkable depth, remain hot favourites and will head into the match full of confidence having racked up the points against Papua New Guinea in the semi-final.

Jillaroos v Kiwi Ferns set to play three tests in nine days for Rugby League World Cup glory

Two rugby league matches in four days is a tall order but if Australia and New Zealand have their way, they will be playing three games in just over a week as they hunt Women’s Rugby League World Cup glory.

When the Jillaroos meet Papua New Guinea and the Kiwi Ferns take on England in Tuesday morning’s (AEDT) semifinals in York, it will be just four days since the bruising final group match between the trans-Tasman rivals.

The winner will advance to the final at Old Trafford, which will be played as part of a double-header with the men’s final between Samoa and Australia.

Jillaroos: Sam Bremner returns at fullback, shifting Emma Tonegato back to the bench, while Evania Pelite and Julia Robinson retain spots in the outside backs alongside star centres Isabelle Kelly and Jess Sergis. Tarryn Aiken partners Ali Brigginshaw in the halves, while co-captain Kezie Apps joins Yasmin Clydsdale in the back row. Kennedy Cherrington, Lauren Brown and Shaylee Bent join Tonegato on the bench with Holli Wheeler the unlucky player to miss out.

Kiwi Ferns: Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly returns to the side on the wing and will partner Mele Hufanga, who looms as a player to watch for the Kiwi Fern after starring in the semi-final against England. 2022 Golden Boot winner Raecene McGregor will start in the halves alongside Abigail Roache, while Charlotte Scanlan and Katelyn Vahaakolo have been named at 18th and 19th players respectively.

[goalhofer]

2020 Olympics South Africa Roster

Swimming

Martin Binedell (Pietermaritzburg)

Pieter Coetze (Pretoria)

Ethan Du Preez (Cape Town)

Michael McGlynn (Johannesburg)

Matthew Sates (Durban)

Michael Houlie (Cape Town)

Chad Le Clos (Durban)

Brad Tandy (Ladysmith)

Clarissa Johnston (Durban)

Laura Strugnell (Johannesburg)

Aimee Canny (Gnysa)

Mariella Venter (Johannesburg)

Emma Chelius (Pinecroft)

Kaylene Corbett (Bloemfontein)

Erin Gallagher (Durban)

Rebecca Meder (Pinecroft)

Tatjana Schoenmaker (Johannesburg)

Michelle Weber (Vereeniging)

Duné Coetzee (Pretoria)

Athletics

Tlotliso Leotlela (Phuthaditjhaba)

Phatutshedzo Maswanganyi (Soweto Township)

Akani Simbine (Kempton Park)

Clarence Munyai (Johannesburg)

Wayde Van Niekerk; Jr. (Bloemfontain)

Sokwakhana Zazini (Cape Town)

Elroy Gelant (George)

Desmond Mokgobu (Lempopo)

Stephen Mokoka (Mahikeng)

Cheswill Johnson (Germiston)

Ruswahl Samaai (Paarl)

Kayle Blignaut (Tuks)

Jason Van Rooyen (Johannesburg)

Rocco Van Rooyen (Johannesburg)

Anaso Jobodwana (Aberdeen)

Zakithi Nene (Ladysmith)

Thapelo Phora (Johannesburg)

Lesiba Mashele (Johannesburg)

Antonio Alkana (Cape Town)

Galaletsang Ramorwa (Johannesburg)

Ranti Dikgale (Phalaborwa)

Lythe Pillay (Benoni)

Lebogang Shange (Johannesburg)

Wayne Snyman (Welkom)

Marc Mundell (Pietermaritzburg)

Dominique Scott-Efurd (Stellenbosch)

Wenda Nel (Worcester)

Gerda Steyn (Dubai, U.A.E.)

Irvette Van Zyl (Sandton)

Jo-Ané Van Dyk (Potchefstroom)

Cycling

Nicholas Dlamini (Cape Town)

Ryan Gibbons (Johannesburg)

Daryl Impey (Johannesburg)

Jean Spies (Randberg)

David Maree (Kroonstad)

Alan Hatherly (Durban)

Alex Limberg (Johannesburg)

Stefan De Bod (Worcester)

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Pretoria)

Carla Oberholzer (Bloemfontein)

Charlene Du Preez (Sasolburg)

Candice Lill (Durban)

Diving

Micaela Bouter (Johannesburg)

Julia Vincent (Johannesburg)

Equestrian

Tanya Seymour (Gqeberha)

Victoria Scott-Legendre (Pietermaritzburg)

Field Hockey

Mustaphaa Cassiem (Cape Town)

Nduduza Lembethe (Tuks)

Keenan Horne (Cape Town)

Matt Guise-Brown (Pretoria)

Dayaan Cassiem (Cape Town)

Mohamed Mea (Johannesburg)

Tevin Kok (Durban)

Nicholas Spooner (Johannesburg)

Sam Mvimbi (Plettenberg Bay)

Austin Smith (Cape Town)

Tim Drummond (Cape Town)

Taine Paton (Durban)

Jethro Eustice (Durban)

Rasie Pieterse (Virginia)

Nqobile Ntuli (Johannesburg)

Clinton Panther (Gqeberha)

Tyson Dlungwana (Johannesburg)

Rusten Abrahams (Johannesburg)

Ryan Julius (Johannesburg)

Daniel Bell (Johannesburg)

Edith Molikoe (Gqeberha)

Robyn Johnson (Johannesburg)

Nomnikelo Veto (Gqeberha)

Charné Maddocks (Kimberley)

Lerato Mahole (Johannesburg)

Taryn Potts (Stellenbosch)

Onthatile Zulu (Johannesburg)

Celia Evans (Johannesburg)

Kristen Paton (Johannesburg)

Lisa-Marie Deetlefs (Johannesburg)

Erin Hunter (Johannesburg)

Lilian Du Plessis (Johannesburg)

Phumelela Mbande (Pietermaritzburg)

Quanita Bobbs (Cape Town)

Tarryn Glasby (Cape Town)

Nicole Walraven (Johannesburg)

Marizen Marais (Pretoria)

Toni Marks (Gqeberha)

Soccer

Katlego Mohamme (Soshanguve)

Mondli Mpoto (Umlazi)

Sifiso Mlungwana (Emanguzi)

Ronwen Williams (Gqeberha)

James Monyane (Johannesburg)

Teboho Mokoena (Bethlehem)

Luke Fleurs (Fish Hoek)

Kamohelo Mahlatsi (Sebokeng)

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (Pietermaritzburg)

Thabo Cele (KwaMashu Township)

Evidence Makgopa (GaMampa)

Luther Singh (Soweto Township)

Fagrie Lakay (Manenberg Township)

Sipho Mbule (Bethlehem)

Thendo Mukumela (Limpopo)

Sibusiso Mabiliso (Rustenburg)

Repo Malepe (Middelburg)

Lyle Foster (Soweto Township)

Goodman Mosele (Stilfontein)

Kobamelo Kodisang (Seraleng)

MacBeth Mahlangu (Kameelrivier)

Reeve Frosler (Port Elizabeth)

Golf

Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Johannesburg)

Garrick Higgo (Stellenbosch)

Paula Reto (Cape Town)

Gymnastics

Caitlin Rooskrantz (Johannesburg)

Naveen Daries (Johannesburg)

Judo

Geronay Whitebooi (Pretoria)

Rowing

Luc Daffarn (Rondebosch)

Kyle Schoonbee (Johannesburg)

Sandro Torrente (Johannesburg)

Jake Green (Makhanda)

Lawrence Brittain (Pretoria)

John Smith (Germiston)

Rugby

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Paarl)

Ronald Brown (Johannesburg)

Angelo Davids (Bellville)

Selvyn Davids (Humansdorp)

Mogamat Davids (Rondebosch)

Chris Dry (Bloemfontein)

Branco Du Preez (George)

Stedman-Ghee Gans (Pretoria)

Justin Geduld (Parow)

Sako Makata (East London)

J.C. Pretorius (Secunda)

Siviwe Soyizwapi (Qonce)

Impi Visser (Pongola)

Sailing

Leo Davis (Johannesburg)

Benjamin Talbot (Johannesburg)

Alex Burger (Cape Town)

Skateboarding

Dallas Olberholtzer (Durban) 

Brandon Valjalo (Johannesburg) 

Melissa Williams (Cape Town) 

Boipelo Awuah (Kimberley)

Climbing

Christopher Cosser (Johannesburg)

Erin Sterkenburg (Durban)

Surfing

Bianca Buitendag (Victoria)

Water Polo

Nardus Badenhorst (Pretoria)

Jason Evezard (Johannesburg)

Cameron Laurenson (Johannesburg)

Lwazi Madi (Johannesburg)

Magomad Mayman (Cape Town)

Yaseen Margro (Durban)

Liam Neill (Johannesburg)

Roarke Olver (Johannesburg)

Nicholas Rodda (Johannesburg)

Donn Stewart (Johannesburg)

Ross Stone (Johannesburg)

Gareth May (Durban)

Devon Card (Johannesburg)

Timothy Rezelman (Johannesburg)

Yanah Gerber (Port Elizabeth)

Amica Hallendorff (Cape Town)

Shakira January (Johannesburg)

Meghan Maartens (Bloemfontein)

Chloe Meecham (Johannesburg)

Georgia Moir (Johannesburg)

Boati Motau (Johannesburg)

Hannah Muller (East London)

Daniela Massoni (Waverley)

Megan Sileno (Hilton)

Ashleigh Vaughan (Port Elizabeth)

Jordan Wedderburn (Johannesburg)

Nicola Macleod (Johannesburg)

Hannah Calvert (Johannesburg)

Triathlon

Henri Schoeman (Vereeniging)

Simone Ackermann (East London)

Gillian Sanders (Johannesburg)

[curatorialandco]

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[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Ed and Charlie on a Mission from God

HOW would be feel if you’re Tom Hawkins?

Both Curnow brothers head to the tribunal and get a great result, with Steven May allowed to board the plane to China as well. All after poor Tom copped a week for his indiscretion only one week prior.

It is all a bit random at the moment these sanctions, but for mine, given the sudden increase in umpire contact, the resolution isn’t about consistency with the tribunal outcomes, but if the umpires can stop being so touchable, dial back the flirting.

Haven’t had umpire contact for years and now four in two weeks. Perhaps the Lynx Africa umpires sponsorship is working too well.

Onto more pressing and interesting matters..

1.  Monday night, Chris Judd had an idea to increase the spectacle of the game by replacing percentage on the ladder with simply points scored, encourage teams to score more. That works well for Etihad Stadium tenants always under a roof on a fast track, but for anyone else, particularly those who play in Queensland monsoons every now and then, not so good. Thanks Chris.

2.  Essendon - something else going on? The Mark Neeld thing is bizarre. Don't believe 'public media releases'. It's amiss. Especially when the coach uses "they" in press conferences talking about his own players. Heppell is a star looking anything but, Goddard is not good for that team at this minute and don't ask on Stringer. This is a very well-run organisation, particularly post-drugs saga, and it’s a very talented list. Worsfold was good at West Coast and awesome in his first year at Tullamarine. So yep, something away from the cameras, away from game day, is properly wrong.

3.  Devon Smith a bright spot for Essendon though, in a side looking light on for want, desire, effort, he is averaging 8 tackles a game, second in the comp.

4.  Buddy Franklin, bruised heel, didn't get up last week and already ruled out for this week. Strange. Wouldn't be another Dayne Beams-style injury-layoff, would it?

5.  Ben Ronke, seven goals, fantastic, taken as a rookie, pick 17. The pick before in that same rookie draft was Jack Henry, last week’s rising star nominee for Geelong. The pick before that, Tendai Mzungu, the ex-Docker, taken by GWS. They can't get much right the Giants.

6.  As for the GWS, now sitting out of the eight. If they don't beat North down in Hobart they're in big trouble to get back in the eight. As it stands you’d be happy to lock in the top two on the ladder for September, and pencil in those three through seven. You could argue Port, in eighth, with the next four or five clubs are playing for perhaps one spot. The  Giants are supposed to be a team almost ‘designed’ to be top four at worst. Early crow, but they can’t afford to head past midnight on the premiership clock, they are getting no crowds and need a flag within their first 5-10 years of existence. Need.

7.  Good to see Port turn up but you just don’t trust them. They'll win this week and go 6-3 before their post-China bye, however, if they were anyone else you'd be locking them in for the eight, but with Alberton we still have way too many trust issues.

8.  North have got a good thing going, not a super list but this column must give credit to Brad Scott. They play a different style to Richmond but are performing in a similar vein, Scott is extracting success from the specific parts he has available, akin to Hardwick last year. Other than the Crows who took the Tigers apart in in Round Two, are North the best opposition the reigning premier has faced to date?

9.  Jack Macrae having some sort of year! Will be second in the Brownlow count to this point; remembering unless the leader gets injured or suspended he has his second medal. Listen to this column, put your life savings on, and be grateful later.

10. Speaking of Nat Fyfe, he is in unreal form and so to is Patty Cripps. Both similar styles on the inside, huge beasts almost impossible to stop. Both those boys crumbing to Nic Naitanui in an Origin game, something utterly magical we're likely never going to see. Shame.

11. Melbourne are the sleeper, got themselves to 5-3 and are getting the most inside 50s of anyone in the comp, genuine initial entries but also re-entries due to pressure. Second in the comp for clearances too and fifth in tackles. Have the game to go well and deep. A 'Buy'.

12. Shout out to Angus Brayshaw, looked at one point to be the next Jack Trengove, incredibly talented junior, more than their fair share of injuries, becoming an unfortunate but inevitably wasted pick. But no no, he is now integral to their midfield mix. Brings the tackle pressure, over five a game, averaging 23 touches as well. He is amongst the league leaders for inside 50s too, a clean user, is tough – a fantastic foil to some of their real jets. Like I said, get on the Dees.

13. Let’s get a couple on the Pies out of the way – firstly Mason Cox, top five in the comp for contested marks. Not many strings to his bow, but on the back of his vast improvement catching the thing, worth persisting with for now. A 'Hold’.

14. Tom Mitchell and Jack Macrae having great years, not only amongst the league leaders in contested ball, but ranking really highly in uncontested ball too;  working hard inside and on the spread alike. Only one other is doing something similar, Adam Treloar, top 20 in both categories, having as good a year so far as his 2016 where he polled 21 Charlie votes.

15. No-one has handballed more than the Pies this year, not even close. The Tigers are going about 1.26 kicks to handball, around average, the Eagles are kicking the highest, 1.78 kicks to handball, yet the Pies, 1.11 kicks to handball. Looks to be working visually, impressive against two 2017 preliminary finalists (Adelaide and GWS), and for a half against a third (Richmond). But three of their four wins though are against 15th, 17th and 18th. However, if they were to win every coming game against someone currently below them on the ladder they will finish with 12 wins, so the draw is their oyster.

16. Darcy Moore stays at Collingwood a million percent, unless Ned Guy is as confident in securing Tom Lynch as Sydney was all 2013 in securing Lance Franklin - it’s already been done, it’s just a secret until it's permissible to go public with it. With Ben Reid the wrong side of 30 next season, and always injured, no way the Pies go into 2019 without one of Moore or Lynch. Having both is more likely than having neither.

17. Reckon Olli Wines goes. Victorian boy out of contract, the Power had a tonne of space last year but whilst they didn't spend all of it, they did commit plenty of new money beyond 2018, so the space wasn't just used up for one year, it’s considerably used up going forward. Plenty of Melbourne clubs with space they've been trying to burn for a while, so North, St Kilda, these clubs, unless the kid's dead loyal or sees real premiership potential soon (maybe?), the money and term will be better back this side of Horsham.

18. Top 3 in the Coleman? Ben Brown on 26, on 70-goal pace, utter megastar the Taswegian. But second and third, Luke Breust and Jack Darling.  Will Tom Lynch's price be going down with every passing round? Why would the Tigers want him? Breust has 23 majors, Roughead for comparison, four inches taller yet nine less goals, who is more important? Breust top 5 in the league for assists too, unbelievable first third of the season for the Riverina product.

19. This column loves that this game has so many unique aspects, most notably the father son in the draft. It’s awesome - no-one else has it. But its gone too far now with academies. Not only do the expansion clubs have priority access to kids in their area, but also the northern clubs get the same entitlement with anyone remotely geographically close too (Heeney and Mills with Sydney for example). But now all clubs have pseudo academies, which aren't academies at all, they are basically the re-emergence of zones.

Take Tarryn Thomas. He is an indigenous gun from Tasmania, a serious jet who I’m really looking forward to see in the big time, who in this new world comes under the Roos' ‘Next Generation Academy’. Nothing to do with North really and Tassie has produced VFL/AFL footballers for as long as a typical season of MKR. But recently they were given the area to which Thomas is from for who knows why. So they will now get priority access to him in November’s draft, but then take the case of former North and Fitzroy wingman John Blakey's son, Nick. Could go father son to North, could go father son to Brisbane too, but because John has worked for Sydney as a coach and lived there long enough, Nick is eligible to go via academy to the Swans as well. And guess what, the kid doesn't want to move interstate so has nominated Sydney as his club of choice. This draft, combined with all the malarkey with points accrual and what not, has lost its essence. Go back to something simpler or just ditch the draft and revert to zones proper like it always was and be done with it.

20. Lastly, to Rugby League. Last Saturday night there was over 30,000 to a double header at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Nothing else in the round came close to half that, most crowds in Sydney barely broke five figures. How is that competition, a comp dying out for an in increase in crowds, still without a second team in Brisbane? Imagine the AFL not having the Power or Dockers, it's a real head scratcher. How a broadcaster hasn’t demanded it either is also staggering. Especially when it seems the Broncos aren’t just a universal love up there either, which surprises this column. You want the next bitcoin – shares in the second NRL team in Brisbane. A HUGE ‘Buy’….. when it happens. If, sorry, if it happens. Clowns.

(originally published 16 May)