Jake Wightman gave his all in a Commonwealth 1500m final for the ages. This time, though, the familiar formula did not quite work as Ollie Hoare swooped at the last to win Australia’s first middle-distance gold at these Games since Herb Elliott in 1958.
Hoare promised to buy the legendary Elliott, who is now 84, to drink. It will surely be quite some celebration.
However, Wightman had no regrets after his bold attempt to win three major titles in a summer – at the worlds, Commonwealths and Europeans – fell short. Two weeks ago in Eugene the 28-year-old Scot had stunned everybody by kicking for glory with 200m remaining and then holding on for a famous world title.
This time, though, when he repeated the trick his pursuers were ready – and his legs were a little more heavy. And while he still led with 50m to go, he was passed first by the Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot and then by Hoare, who got up right before the line to win in a Commonwealth Games record of 3:30.12. Cheruiyot took silver in 3:30.21 with Wightman 0.32 back in third.
“That was as good as I could have done,” said Wightman. “I didn’t want to be a pedestrian and be running for minor medals. I wanted to make a statement but I didn’t feel anywhere near as good as I did a couple of weeks ago.
“I knew when I went I was going to have a tough home straight but hoped everyone else would be feeling the same,” he added. “Initially I was pretty disappointed but, if I told myself I would come back two weeks after winning the world champs and in a similar field pick up a bronze, I’d be pretty happy. It’s mentally so tough to come back from that.”
Scotland’s Jake Wightman after finishing third. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
The bookies might have made Wightman the odds-on favourite. But he, like the rest of us, knew this was a 1500m final suffused with class and doubts. Three of the first four in last year’s Olympics were in the field, along with Hoare who had had several notable performances this season before bombing out in the semi-finals of the worlds. This was to prove the sweetest of redemptions.
There was no hanging around as Kenya’s Abel Kipsang pulled the field round the first lap in a rapid 54 seconds, with Cheruiyot in close order. But Wightman looked well-placed before he made his move on the back straight. “It was a bit instinctive,” he said. “I wanted to get to the bend in the lead again. I knew I wasn’t as fresh. I was hanging on in the home straight, as opposed to feeling strong. I felt pretty vulnerable.”
Hoare, meanwhile, was reveling in a stunning victory. When asked for his thoughts on him, he replied simply: “Holy shit.”
Ollie Hoare celebrates after his victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Observer
“The race went out quick straightaway,” he said once he had recovered his composure. “But I’ve been training for a fast race and I ran 3:47 in Oslo for a mile so I knew I had the strength there. It was just about making the kick at the right time.”
“I went through on the inside with a lap to go and I saw Jake next to me and I started to panic because he’s the world champion. And you can hear the Scottish roar in the stadium. But I tried to hold my composure. And then, with 100 meters to go, when I got out to lane three, it was all about holding form and just running like bloody hell.”
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But it was only in the last five meters that he finally got up as Cheruiyot stumbled.
“I could tell I had him because he couldn’t gauge where anybody else was,” said Hoare. “So he was in a very volatile position, even if you’re of his caliber. And I saw that he was starting to lock up and I knew I had more juice in the tank. I thought: not today. I’m going for it today. And I was able to come through at the end.”
Elsewhere on the final morning of the athletics there was hammer gold for England in the form of Nick Miller, whose modest throw of 76.43m was good enough against a weak field.
Flemington will play host to a nine race program on Saturday for Aurie’s Star Handicap Day. The weather forecast is for showers, the track is soft (6) and the rail is out ten meters for the entire circuit.
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Aurie’s Star Handicap 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Aurie’s Star Handicap
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Race 1. (12:10) Vrc Member Damian Cubela-Bm70 1410m
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Back Me
Good test here for 7 Palace (BetNow:$6.00 TOP ODDS), but gee he looks a nice type for the Maher/Eustace team. Not sure he beat a great deal on debut on the Synthetic at Ballarat where he made an absolute mess of them from on speed, winning by nearly five and running fast late splits. Think he’ll lead from gate one and take beating.
danger
4 Berkeley Square (BetNow:$2.15 TOP ODDS) will love getting to the big surroundings that Flemington offers. The query is 1400m and his racing manners from him. Clearly he has a motor, but he has been doing a bit wrong, which probably cost him in the end at Caulfield last time. If he puts it all together, he could easily blow this field away.
long shot
5 Blackmax (BetNow:$6.50 TOP ODDS) has the hard race fitness/experience under the belt to give this a shake. He ran two weeks back in the VOBIS Gold Ingot when near the speed throughout and battled away really well in defeat behind Boogie Dancer. I think with a more patient steer, he’ll be fine at 1400m.
Race 2. (12:45) Villa Paradiso (Bm84) 1410m
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Back Me
3 Quintello (BetNow:$2.50 TOP ODDS) can bounce back into the winners list. Maher/Eustace trained mare that has been kept on ice, having not raced since June 18 at this track/distance when four wide no cover for the trip and dropped out behind Grande Rumore. Fresh legs and in a very winnable raced, I’m in her corner of her.
danger
6 Defiant Diva (BetNow:$5.00 TOP ODDS) has returned in really good order. Team Corstens trains this mare, which has had two runs back from a break. Good fresh before a dominant win at Sandown where she sat back but came with a well timed run to spank them. She can measure up for sure.
long shot
9 Mrs Sippy (BetNow:$7.50 TOP ODDS) is knocking on the door to win. He looked the winner at Flemington two weeks back but was nabbed near the peg in a very game effort. Run prior at Sandown the race shape was against so she’s sneaky flying this girl and she does get J Kah to steer. Knockouthope.
Race 3. (13:20) Vrc Season Premiere (Bm70) 1100m
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Back Me
Fresh legs and back down the straight, I want to give 9 Grand Pope (BetNow:$9.00 TOP ODDS) another chance. Forgiving his last start effort at Sandown where he got a mile out of his ground in a race dominated by those on speed. Proven down the straight and Olly taking over, I think he’s worth another look.
danger
13 Veranskova (BetNow:$3.30 TOP ODDS) is a hard mare to follow and trust with confidence, but the return was very encouraging. He summarized down the straight three weeks ago at Flemington and worked to the line with purpose, just missing out on the win when second to Squid Game. Fitter, she’ll take beating.
long shot
2 Duchesses (BetNow:$41.00 TOP ODDS) is a very interesting runner. Michael Freedman was the former trainer but this mare now finds herself with Tom Dabernig. This mare is very capable when right and she is a short course specialist. In a thin 70, with the claim, I think she does command respect.
Race 4. (13:55) The Riverside (Bm78) 2000m
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Back Me
I think 2 Blue Cup (BetNow:$4.00 TOP ODDS) is a horse with talent for the Maher/Eustace camp. Just want to see him on a firmer deck and touch wood, he gets it here. I found a sticky circuit here three weeks ago and just struggled late in the piece behind Hezashocka. Dry track, I think he’ll run a much improved race.
danger
Back on firmer jogging should be absolutely ideal for 10 Coolth (BetNow:$10.00 TOP ODDS), who has raced on heavy ground his past couple and has been okay, but nowhere near as effective compared to when he races on top of the ground. He gets that here and gets Ben Melham steering, so he appeals.
long shot
20 Real Sensation (BetNow:$6.50 TOP ODDS) is sneaky flying for Luke Oliver. Last couple of runs have come on the Hillside track at Sandown, the latest being last Wednesday where he got badly held up at a crucial stage and no doubt that with clear air he wins instead of a closing third. He likes Flemington, he’ll get back but be strong late.
Race 5. (14:35) Aurie’s Star Handicap 1200m
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3 King Of Sparta (BetNow:$2.70) should prove hard to beat once again. The wet track was against him two weeks ago in the Bletchingly but a peach from McNeil ensured he found best ground and was able to wear down Scallopini in a driving go. Back on top of the ground, firm footing at least, he’ll be hard to hold out.
danger
5 Shooting For Gold (BetNow:$3.70) is a fascinating runner. He makes his Victorian debut for the O’Dea/Hoysted camp, having not raced since the latter part of the Brisbane Winter Carnival when a close up fourth in the Healy. He jumped out well here last week and he does seem to race best on the fresh side, so watch the market.
long shot
7 Kalkarni Royale (BetNow:$13.00) looks to be in for a good prep. First run for Tom Dabernig came here three weeks back where she was back in the run and closed off strongly late in the piece when a close up third to Squid Game. Natural improvement, she is a key threat here for sure.
Race 6. (15:15) The Parade Lounge (Bm84) 1620m
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Back Me
8 Cashin’ Chex (BetNow:$8.00) is racing in career best form and has gone to a new level since joining Ashton Downing. He did n’t beat much two weeks ago on the Parks track at Morphettville but he made an absolute mess of them and won with plenty in hand. Good test here, but think he can measure up.
danger
4 He’s Our Bonneval (BetNow:$6.00) has done little wrong in two Australian runs for the Busuttin/Young camp. Both runs have come over 1400m at Caulfield, scoring an impressive win fresh before a strong third to Edison several weeks ago. The form out of that race is suspect, but he’s an import with upside and progression.
long shot
9 Somerset Maugham (BetNow:$9.50) isn’t far off a win. He had a suck run near the speed in the Not Usual Glorious race at Caulfield and he tried to get into the contest, but somewhat floundered on the shifty track. He has a versatile racing pattern and his best of him is certainly good enough.
Race 7. (15:55) The Rose Room Hcp 2530m
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Back Me
7 High Emotion (BetNow:$4.20) looks to be in for a really good prep. Ella somewhat unwanted in betting when resuming at Flemington but her run de ella was a beauty, closing off with real purpose when a narrow third to Hezashocka. She can be hit and miss, but her best is good enough to take this out.
danger
5 Horrifying (BetNow:$3.70) has turned his career out in recent times. Last time I backed him was a few months ago when he got beat in a 58 at Mornington. Fast forward to now, he’s a multiple city and he spanked them a fortnight back in the Flemington Cup where he got absolute control in front and gave nothing else to look in. Hard to beat.
long shot
3 memphis (BetNow:$26.00) is a former German stayer who has come here with the Melbourne Cup in mind, but he’d want to do something positive here to warrant going down that path. He did enough fresh behind Tuvalu before a down the track effort behind Hezashocka. He does get to a more suitable distance range and has good upside to come.
Race 8. (16:30) The Skyline Lounge Hcp 1410m
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Back Me
1 makram (BetNow:$14.00) is a quality animal for Team Hayes that connections believe could be a Caulfield Cup contender. He hasn’t raced since spanking his rivals here on Anzac Day and it was then that the Caulfield Cup chat began. He better suited over further, but he does bring a class edge.
danger
8 Zoltan (BetNow:$5.50) will land on the bunny and give cheek. Four weeks between runs since sitting on speed at Caulfield and he tried his guts out. Just no match late in wearing down all the way winner Edison. He was only second up there, so you’d like to think there is room for improvement.
long shot
5 Bam’s On Fire (BetNow:$13.00) is probably closer to the end of her career than the beginning, but is third up from a break and should just about be at peak fitness. She comes through the Edison race from four weeks back at Caulfield where she seemingly had her chance when battling away late. Back onto the bigger track and hard fit, her best is good enough.
Race 9. (17:05) Jockeys Celebration Day (Bm84) 1100m
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Back Me
10 Fire (BetNow:$2.30) could be Stakes class but this run will determine what level he goes to next, whether it’s up in grade or down. He summarized over 1000m at Sandown on testing ground, where he was somewhat risked in betting, but in the end, he won like it was a barrier trial in such an impressive return. Have to be with him.
danger
7 Squid Game (BetNow:$5.50) is a very genuine animal for Patrick Payne who clearly has a liking for the Flemington straight, which is a big tick when racing here because it can be a horses for courses track. Strong on speed win here three weeks back when riding a touch upside down but class got him home. Hard to beat.
long shot
3 Pioneer River (BetNow:$19.00) saves his best for the straight and can be a definite improver. He has summarized several weeks back at Caulfield over 1100m when near the speed throughout and fought on pretty well in defeat when third to Designer Chief. Back on his pet track, he’s in with a shout.
BEST BET: Race Nine Number 10 Fire
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 3 Quintello
LONG SHOT: Race One Number 7 Palaggio
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
LegOne: 3, 4, 8, 9
LegTwo: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg Three: 1, 8
Leg Four: 10
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In seven short words, fast bowler Megan Schutt has delivered an insight into the mindset driving Australia towards dizzying new heights.
They go into Saturday’s Commonwealth Games semi-final against New Zealand knowing they are just two wins away from setting a new benchmark for limited-overs success, as they look to add a gold medal to a glut of T20 and ODI World Cup triumphs. This is a team driven to succeed, and happy to embrace all that comes with it.
“We’re coming in as favourites, but we come in expecting to win every single game we play and have been the favorites for a lot of tournaments now, so we’re kind of used to it,” Schutt said. “It’s a tag that we’re humbled by. We are the favorites but we thrive on that.”
They also thrive on avenging missed opportunities. Cricket’s reintroduction to the Games is the 10th major limited-overs tournament for Australia since 2010, and they have won seven of the previous nine, a run that includes five T20 World Cup crowns.
But while the wins are what defines this team as one of the greatest national teams of all time, it is the losses – like the upset against the West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup final and the ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India in 2017 – that provide the motivation.
“There are obviously two tournaments in the past that have haunted us, and something that kind of reinvigorated our team is that 2017 loss,” Schutt said. “We do talk about that a lot, that has been a new era for us.
“Losses drive you forward and for us we want to win every single game that we play, we want to win every major championship. It’s about getting better and evolving as a team and each new tournament brings a new challenge.”
On Saturday that challenge is New Zealand, who were well below par in their loss to England in Thursday night’s final pool game.
New Zealand made just 71 off their 20 overs, a target England reeled in within 12 overs, with star duo Suzie Bates and skipper Sophie Devine both failing with the bat.
“That was un-New Zealand like,” Schutt said of the heavy defeat. “They never turn up twice like that in a row and its T20 cricket where any team can win, so we certainly are not taking them lightly.”
Saturday’s semi-final – which will be played on a traditional turf pitch at Edgbaston after hybrid surfaces were used during the preliminary rounds – is due to start at 1800 local time (Sunday 0300 AEST).
Fremantle defender Joel Hamling and his partner Lily Pittard have welcomed their first child into the world.
The couple named their little boy Henry James Hamling and posted an adorable photo online on Saturday afternoon.
The post was flooded with comments of congratulations to the happy couple, who announced they were expecting in March.
“Congratulations brother ❤️,” wrote St Kilda player Bradley Hill.
“Congratulations my guy!” said Western Bulldogs player Hayden Crozier.
Pittard recently hosted an intimate baby shower ahead of her anticipated due date, where she donned a baby blue dress to signal her first child’s gender.
The AFL star sadly lost his father last December, and posted a touching tribute to Instagram at the time.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure Dad. I’m forever grateful for everything you have done for me,” he wrote.
“I’ll never ever forget what kind of bond we had. I bloody f*****g love you, mate. Until we meet again. RIP.”
Pittard also paid tribute to Hamling’s father. In her own post, she wrote: “I will always cherish the memories with you and the friendship you gave to Joel. Thank you for everything.”
After growing up in Broome, Hamling became the No.32 pick in the 2011 national draft.
He won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2016 before being traded to the Dockers.
His recent seasons have been cruelled by injuries.
Former Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke has apologized to the players involved in the club’s infamous 2018 pre-season camp, calling the ongoing saga “a sad time for us all”.
The fallout from the camp contributed to Pyke’s time with the Crows coming to an end in 2019, and he has since landed a job as an assistant at the Sydney Swans.
Speaking for the first time publicly since his former players Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins offered raw accounts of their respective appearances on the camp, Pyke said he was saddened by the impact of the camp on his players.
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“To Josh and Eddie and the Adelaide players and staff who were involved, I apologize for the camp. It’s saddened me to see they’re feeling that way. I acknowledge the hurt and I’m sorry,” he told reporters at the Melbourne Airport on Saturday.
Don Pyke says he is saddened by the plight of his former Crows players since the camp (Getty)
“I’ve been in contact with both of them (Betts and Jenkins), haven’t had a chance to speak to them yet but have spoken to a couple of the other guys. Clearly it’s a sad time for us all. I’ ll reach out to some other guys in the next couple of days.
“Clearly we’re always reflecting, there’s a couple of components there – firstly with Eddie and Josh, the fact they feel personal information they provided was used against them, that’s disappointing and unacceptable. I’m saddened by that, sorry by that. “
Like Adelaide’s football director Mark Ricciuto did earlier in the week, Pyke also indicated the camp was implemented with good intentions by those involved.
“Clearly we entered as I’ve said before, a space to improve from a performance viewpoint. And that space had some challenges and we got it wrong, that has to be acknowledged,” he said.
Pyke, Crows captain Taylor Walker, Sam Jacobs and Rory Sloane pictured performing the team’s infamous ‘power stance’ prior to the 2017 grand final (Getty)
“Whether it was our planning, whether it was our assessment, the execution or the follow-up or the debriefing following the events of the camp, clearly it was an error and I’ve apologized to the playing group before and I apologise again.
“I respect Eddie and Josh for speaking out and saying their piece about how they felt about the camp. It’s put it on the agenda and on the table for discussion. It’s important we have the discussion to try and deal with the issues that arise from that.
“If there’s still people with ongoing issues we support them and we try and actually move on from this. It’s a challenging time for all of us but one that we’ll get through hopefully.”
Pyke’s comments came as a third former Crow, Bryce Gibbs, offered his own account of the camp.
Pyke left the Crows just two years after leading the club to its first grand final appearance in two decades (Getty)
The 33-year-old was traded to Adelaide at the end of 2017, with the pre-season camp his first at the club, and said he did not object to being placed in “group one” due to being a newcomer.
“I had just arrived at the club and the biggest thing for me was to earn respect from your teammates and build relationships as quick as you can,” he told SEN SA.
“We then had to decide who was going in group one, and for me, they explained that that was going to be the most intensive group and for me, I saw it as an opportunity to fast-track relationships with these guys and new teammates of mine that I was going to be playing with going forward – that’s the way I looked at it.
“I jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the most intense group, as I said, to try and fast-track my relationship with these guys.”
Gibbs says he regrets not speaking up in the aftermath of the pre-season camp (AAP)
Like Betts and Jenkins have stated, Gibbs said he took a call from a counselor to discuss his childhood experiences, saying he thought it was “a bit of a red flag.”
“During this interview process, I didn’t really disclose too much, I was pretty lucky enough to have a pretty good upbringing, a really great childhood which I’m very grateful for, so I didn’t have a lot of trauma so to speak,” he said.
“Even still knowing that, I was pretty calculated in what I was telling this person, I didn’t trust them, I didn’t know them, and I thought it was unusual to be doing that leading into a camp.”
Gibbs said he was disappointed in himself for not speaking up about the camp in the months that followed.
Gibbs retired at the end of the 2020 season after two years at Adelaide beginning with the camp (Getty)
“Probably the most disappointing thing for mine was the post-camp and the wash-up when we were reflecting on it and guys started to speak up on those who had issues with what had happened, talking about their experiences and that this wasn’t great,” he said.
“When I reflect, this is where I feel really disappointed in myself, this is when I started to take a back seat, watching guys stand up and say, ‘This is not on, we need to address this, we need to tell people what happened’.
“It did fracture the playing group, it fractured relationships in the football department, players lost trust with members in that football department.
Jenkins’ fresh claims on Crows’ camp
“We tried to move on where that was obviously the wrong thing to do, and that’s probably why we’re speaking about it four years on.
“If it was handled correctly and people had taken responsibility, put their hand up and knocked it on the head a lot earlier when it happened – it still would’ve been hard as people still went through what they went through, and people will still carry some emotional scars from it. But at least it would’ve been dealt with in the proper manner then and there.”
A SafeWork SA investigation in 2021 cleared the club of breaching health and safety laws, while an AFL investigation in 2018 determined the Crows had not breached any rules.
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Where are they now: Looking back at every AFL No.1 draft pick since 2000
It is a region known for producing dual Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe, but the small community of Lake Grace-Pingrup has produced six AFL players from a combined population of fewer than 1,000 people.
Key points:
Lake Grace-Pingrup Football Club celebrates 100 years this weekend
The club has produced AFL players such as Nat Fyfe, Mark Bairstow and Liam Baker
Fyfe says the club was key in his development as a player and person
Lake-Grace Pingrup Football Club is known as the Bombers in the Ongerup Football Association – one of WA’s smallest leagues with just four senior sides.
The club marks 100 years on Saturday, a feat not many country football clubs have managed as an exodus of players and people leave many in decline.
But in Western Australia’s Great Southern grain belt, the club remains the heart of the community.
Nat Fyfe credits Lake Grace-Pingrup Football Club for molding him to succeed in the AFL.(AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)
Fremantle Dockers captain Fyfe, one of this century’s most decorated AFL players, still visits the club he says was integral to his development as a player and person, when he returns home.
“You never forget where you come from,” he told ABC Great Southern.
“It’s unbelievable for the town, there’s some real history there… to get to 100 years and hopefully 100 ahead of us, is a great milestone for the community.”
The club was where Fyfe learned the football nous that has led to more than 200 AFL games and winning the league’s most prestigious medal twice.
Among the AFL players to come from Lake Grace-Pingrup are Richmond premiership player Liam Baker, Geelong legend Mark Bairstow and the three Moreton brothers, Cale, Jarryd and Mitch.
Richmond’s Liam Baker, left, hails from Lake Grace-Pingrup.(AAP: Sam Wundke)
Fyfe said he started playing for the club around year 4, when the club’s D-grade side won four premierships in a row.
“That was my grounding roots in footy… we went out, played and won,” he said.
“We had families like the Bairstows, Moretons and Slarkes; they were teaching us how to train, play and win games of footy and get together and enjoy afterwards as a team and community.
“That was my introduction to men’s footy and that taught me a lot of the craft to then go on and play AFL.”
Just 11 years after Lake Grace was settled by European pioneers a football club was established.
Lake Grace-Pingrup football club historian Bill Trevenen.(ABC Great Southern: Olivia Di Iorio)
Self-proclaimed football historian Bill Trevenen specializes in Lake Grace-Pingrup football and spent half his life in the library going through newspaper records of the club dating back to 1922.
“I profiled all the players [over the years] and it’s about 800 of them,” he said.
Mr Trevenen said regional football is extremely important to small communities across Australia.
“I think it’s the reason people get together on the weekend,” he said.
“In towns where football clubs have disbanded, those communities do struggle because there isn’t something that everyone comes to.”
Shane Carruthers says volunteers are the lifeblood of the club.(ABC Great Southern: Olivia Di Iorio)
Club president Shane Carruthers said the club continues to flourish.
“Sporting clubs are the very social fabric of country towns — it gives people an outlet on sport days to catch up with people they haven’t seen for a little while or a long while and it’s extremely important,” he said.
Israel Adesanya will have the chance to re-write some personal history when he defends his UFC middleweight title against Brazilian Alex Pereira on November 13 (AEST).
World champion Adesanya announced on Sports Center that he’ll fight old rival Pereira in a title fight at UFC 281 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The highly anticipated grudge match pits the two old foes against each other for the first time in mixed martial arts, after fighting twice before in kickboxing.
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Adesanya was visibly shocked by the judges’ decision after his first fight with Pereira, with the Brazilian winning by unanimous decision.
The pair had their rematch less than a year later in March 2017, with a left hand knocking the Nigerian-born fight out during the third round.
While he hasn’t felt the need to chase revenge after losing both fights, Adesanya vowed to “slam this b****” ahead of their meeting at the famous New York venue later this year.
“Have I ever shied away from a fight? I’ve always picked the guy no one wants to fight,” Adesanya said on Sports Center.
“The guy that everyone runs away from, I run towards. So I run towards the fire and this is no different.
“After he beat me in Brazil, I never had any plans of trying to get revenge or anything like that because I don’t hold onto things.
“I’m telling you, the universe has presented this to me and it’s right there. It’s the perfect alley-oop and I’m going to slam this b****”.
Adesanya held onto his middleweight crown with a unanimous decision win over American Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 last month.
The victory extended the 33-year-old’s unbeaten run to three fights, after losing to Polish fighter Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision in the UFC light heavyweight title fight last year.
As for his opponent, Pereira is undefeated from three fights so far in the UFC whilst he’s undefeated in his last six MMA fights.
The Brazilian is coming off a first-round knockout of the highly rated Sean Strickland.
Originally published as ‘Slam this b****’: Israel Adesanya’s message to old rival ahead of UFC grudge match
Australian Oliver Hoare has stormed home to claim a remarkable victory in the men’s 1500 meters final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Key points:
Hoare was sitting fourth when the field entered the final straight
He pipped Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot to win the gold
The Australian ran a Games record and personal best to win the final
Hoare was fourth at the top of the final straight but powered home to win in three minutes and 30.12 seconds, lunging across the line to edge out 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot from Kenya by 0.09.
Reigning world champion Jake Wightman from Scotland was third, with the first seven runners across the line all breaking the Games record.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Hoare, who only two weeks ago failed to earn a place in the final at the world championships.
Hoare’s triumph provided Australia with a triumphant end to a mixed session at Alexander Stadium.
Jemima Montag won gold in the women’s 10,000m walk in a Games record time of 42:34.30.
The 24-year-old won the 20km title on the Gold Coast four years ago and added the shorter distance title, which was making its Games debut.
Eleanor Patterson was forced to settle for a shock high jump silver.
A fortnight after winning the world title in Eugene in thrilling style, Patterson was the red-hot favorite to claim a second Commonwealth title in Birmingham.
She missed three times at 1.95m, seven centimeters less than her Australian record-equalling effort in Eugene.
The 26-year-old claimed silver on countback with her clearance of 1.92m, while Jamaica’s Lamara Distin won gold.
Widely tipped to become a Western Bulldog at season’s end, Fremantle big man Rory Lobb destroyed his likely future teammates at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Lobb put on a goal-kicking masterclass to inspire the Dockers to a pressure-releasing 17-point win – 14.11 (95) to 11.12 (78) – and all but cemented their finals spot.
The game-high four-goal haul, including three in the first half, to help his team end a three-game winless run and put them back in the top-four, for now at least.
Lobb was held goalless last week against Melbourne and was in doubt with a shoulder issue but showed no signs of any form or injury concerns.
He connected sweetly with four long bombs from around 50m before his first blemish of the night midway through the third term and finished with 4.2.
From rebound to forward pressure, slick ball movement and some imposing tall targets, everything the Dockers had been lacking in the past few weeks was back in the first half especially which helped setup the important four points.
Lobb marks. Credit: PRECIOUS ROB/AAPIMAGE
The win didn’t come without a cost however, with Matt Taberner – who kicked two first-quarter goals in a lively start – done before three-quarter time with a right calf strain in another injury blow to the key forward.
There was also a scare with WA’s Aaron Naughton, who kicked three to take his season tally to a career-high 47, and a couple of costly turnovers sparking a third-quarter Bulldog revival.
The Bulldogs were the better team around the ground in that term but Fremantle’s remarkable efficiency, with 4.4 from 10 inside-50 entries, saw them split it on the scoreboard.
Youngster Nathan O’Driscoll, who cost one of Naughton’s goals after an errant kick into the behind post down back, made up for it soon after with a stunning long-range goal on the run and huge celebration to go with it.
Caleb Serong was the star of the show in the midfield, helping Fremantle get on top in the clearance battle.
Serong had three center clearances on his own in the first quarter and finished with eight clearances all up from his 24 possessions.
The club’s games-record holder David Mundy, who announced his retirement during the week, showed he’s still got plenty left in the tank with some silver service inside 50, using it at 82 per cent efficiency.
Livewire Lachie Schultz had his best game in a while, tackling ferociously, nailing his kicks and providing a link between the midfield and forward-line.
Winger Blake Acres also bounced back from a lean run since returning from a hamstring injury, while Brownlow Medal fancy Andrew Brayshaw’s defensive efforts and two-way running was again on display.
Recalled mid Darcy Tucker was another important contributor, transferring his red-hot WAFL form to the top level to press his case for a permanent spot in the 22.
Tucker had a whopping 10 score involvements which was the equal-most on the ground.
Speedster Michael Frederick booted three goals including the sealer midway through the final term.
Caleb Daniel is tackled by Michael Frederick. Credit: Daniel Pockett/via AFL Photos
Fremantle’s three-pronged tall forward attack, Lobb, Griffin Logue and Matt Taberner all hit the scoreboard in the opening term including two majors from the latter as the visitors opened up a nine-point quarter-time buffer.
Taberner, who was under pressure to hold his spot, looked set for a big day before his injury which saw sub Liam Henry come on and do a few nice things.
The rebound from defense was excellent from the get-go with Luke Ryan, Heath Chapman and Jordan Clark particularly damaging.
Ryan’s ability to roll off his opponent Josh Bruce was important, as was his connection with wingers Blake Acres and O’Driscoll on his way to 32 disposals and 14 marks.
For the Bulldogs, prolific midfielder Josh Dunkley was their most consistent, captain Marcus Bontempelli lifted after half-time, Naughton was their main man up forward and Tim English has his moments in a see-sawing ruck battle against Sean Darcy.
on the mark
The Dockers’ uncontested-marking game caused their opponents headaches.
In the first half alone, the victors had a whopping 44 extra uncontested marks and 61 uncontested possessions.
Their ability to hit target after target proved crucial to setting up the win.
“We didn’t go into the game looking to take so many uncontested marks, it just sort of happened,” Longmuir said at half-time.
“But I think we’ve found the good balance with our ball movement, we’ve gone at the game when we’ve needed to and we’ve found a mark when we’ve needed to.”
That differential settled down in the second half but was still significant.
Son (and grandson) of a gun unearthed
A third-generation Bulldog made his AFL debut, fittingly as the club celebrated Retro Round by wearing their old Robodog jumper design.
Sam Darcy, son of club great Luke Darcy and grandson of David, got the call up after a stunning run of form in the VFL.
The 19-year-old, who stands at 205cm and weighs 94kg, started in defense and got the big job on Matt Taberner.
His first touch was an intercept mark about five minutes into the match, getting a massive round of applause, and he flew at the footy with confidence in a promising start to his AFL career.
Remarkably retiring Fremantle veteran David Mundy played against Luke in the early years of his decorated 19-year career, likewise with Scott West, whose son Rhylee was also out there.
