Alberto Contador tests positive to banned drug

Spanish cyclist and three time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has tested positive to a drug called clenbuterol which helps increase aerobic capacity as well as many other things including central nervous system stimulation.


Contador tested positive on July 21 this year. He blamed food contamination for the traces of clenbuterol found in his system.
Contador was part of the team of cyclists forced to withdraw from the 2006 Tour de France due to doping allegations. He never failed a drug test and maintained his clean cut image. 


In 2007 Australian cyclist Cadel Evans finished second to Contador, Contador then won the 2009 and 2010 Tour de France.


This has been by far the biggest cycling news this year and it couldn't have come at a worse time. The 2010 Cycling World Championships are currently being held in Geelong, the event is meant to celebrate cycling. 


I think this is very disappointing because everybody thought that he was a great cyclist and deserved the three Tour de France titles. It is quite like the Tiger Woods case, everybody thought he was clean cut but now we know the truth.  

Gary Ablett joins Gold Coast

Geelong star Gary Ablett Jr will today announce his five year deal with the Suns worth close to $10 million. This is just another hurdle in Geelong's horror week, coach Mark Thompson yesterday told the club that he was 'burnt out' and exhausted. Thompson has taken time off but he has only been given till the end of the week to decide if he still wants to coach Geelong.


This move ads to Gold Coast's wealth of talent heading into next season.  

2010 AFL Grand Final ends in draw

The 2010 AFL Grand Final has ended in an exhausting draw. Collingwood led by 24 points at halftime and looked to have the game wrapped up but a strong and resilient St Kilda fought back to get a one point lead late in the final quarter.

This is only the third time in AFL/VFL history that there has been a draw in a Grand Final.

It was a glorious day for football and with St Kilda down by one point with about one minute remaining Lenny Hayes bombed the ball from outside 50 and hoped for the best, the ball bounced but Steven Milne couldn't get control of the bouncing ball as it rolled through for the point that drew the match. Lenny Hayes took home the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground. 

All the players were bitterly disappointed with the final score, Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell said that there should be a change in the rules. The current rules state that there is no extra time in the Grand Final. 

Instead the two teams will play again next week in a rematch, the AFL will have to sell another 100,000 tickets, this of course will be a huge boost for the economy. 

I think that there should definitely be extra time in the Grand Final because the game is not at all the same when it is played again and the fans come to see a result.

Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au

Collingwood   4.2   7.8  7.13  9.14 (68)
St Kilda          3.2   4.2   7.5   10.8 (68)

GOALS
Collingwood: Cloke 2, Thomas, Didak, Jolly, O’Brien, Macaffer, Blair, Davis   St Kilda: Goddard 2, Riewoldt 2, Milne 2, Hayes, Schneider, Gilbert, Koschitzke
BEST
Collingwood: Shaw, Thomas, Swan, N Brown, Maxwell, Pendlebury   St Kilda: Hayes, Goddard, Fisher, Gilbert, Gwilt, Schneider
INJURIES
Collingwood: NilSt Kilda: Gardiner (TBA)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Ryan, Rosebury
Official crowd: 100,016 at the MCG

  

2010 AFL Grand Final update

At halftime in the 2010 AFL Grand Final Collingwood lead St Kilda: 7.8 50 to 4.2 26.


Collingwood got off to a fast start, Darren Jolly kicking the first goal in just 24 seconds. The Pies dominated the first quarter however St Kilda managed to get the margin back to 6 points at quarter time.


Travis Cloke could've put the Pies in front by 29 points at halftime yet he missed from directly in front.


At the moment it looks like Collingwood are going to win by a lot but we never know. St Kilda captain Nick Reiwoldt said when his team was in trouble they would remember the pain of defeat from last year's grand final and use that to get back into the game.


So with that said we will just have to wait and see who will go home with the greatest prize in AFL, the Premiership Cup.

2010 AFL Grand Final teams

Two days out from the 2010 AFL Grand Final both St Kilda and Collingwood have made changes to their final teams.


Collingwood has removed Tyson Goldsack and Nathan Brown form the team, Leon Davis and Simon Prestigiacomo are the lucky replacements.


Meanwhile St Kilda has reintroduced Steven Baker, Baker will replace tall man Ben McEvoy.


Both teams have taken a risk in including the players: 
Simon Prestigiacomo hasn't played a game for six weeks and is nursing a thigh injury.
St Kilda's Steven Baker hasn't played since round 13 after being reported against Geelong.


I still think that Collingwood will win but the game will be one of the greats.


Information below courtesy of www.heraldsun.com.au


Collingwood
B: Nick Maxwell, Simon Prestigiacomo, Alan TooveyHB: Harry O'Brien, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Dane Swan, Ben Johnson
HF: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Luke Ball
F: Dayne Beams, Chris Dawes, Steele Sidebottom
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Jarryd Blair, Leigh Brown, Brent Macaffer, Leon Davis
Emg: Tarkyn Lockyer, Tyson Goldsack, Nathan Brown

In: Davis, Prestigiacomo

Out: Tyson Goldsack, Nathan Brown 

St Kilda
B: Jason Gram, Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert
HB: Jason Blake, Sam Fisher, Robert Eddy
C: Brendon Goddard, Nick Dal Santo, Farren Ray
HF: Brett Peake, Justin Koschitzke, Leigh Montagna
F: Adam Schneider, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Clinton Jones
I/C: Sean Dempster, Andrew McQualter, James Gwilt, Steven Baker
Emg: Jarryn Geary, Ben McEvoy, Rhys Stanley

In: Baker
Out: Ben McEvoy

 

Commonwealth Games village in ruins

The collapsed footbridge. 

The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games have taken another blow after the footbridge in the athletes village collapsed causing chaos and filth. As the first athletes prepare to arrive this week, there is growing concern over the athletes health and safety. 


Questions are still being raised on wether or not the games will go on. All this concern has forced athletes to withdraw due to health and safety issues. In a blow for Australia, world champion discus thrower Dani Samuels has withdrawn.


I honestly think that it's not safe for the athletes to be competing in such danger. There has also been a terrorist threat for the games. I think it was a very bad idea to put the games in such a violent and poverty stricken country such as India.     

Chris Judd wins 2010 AFL Brownlow Medal

Carlton's Chris Judd has taken out this year's prestigious Brownlow Medal after posting 30 votes, 4 votes ahead of the next best placed Gary Ablett. 


After missing the first three matches of the season due to a suspension being carried out from last season, Judd racked up 5 maximum votes (3) in a row and set him self up for the win. Overall he amassed 8 maximum votes, 2x a two vote and 2x a one vote. My opinion is that it was a surprise win yet he had an amazing season and deserves the prize. 


It was a disappointing night for Dane Swan after he was the white hot favourite to take Charlie ( Chas Brownlow Trophy) home. Today Swan said that he has bigger fish to fry when Collingwood take on St Kilda in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.


Chris Judd now joins the dual Brownlow medlist club after previously winning it in 2004. Gary Ablett finished second with 26 votes and Dane Swan finished third with 24 votes.      

Roosters crush Panthers, book NRL semi final against Titans

The Sydney Roosters have booked a semi final clash against the Gold Coast Titans after trouncing the Penrith Panthers 34-12 on Saturday Night.

The Roosters will play Gold Coast on Friday night, the winner progressing to the NRL grand final to play either the West Tigers or St George illawarra after the Tigers narrowly beat the Canberra Raiders 24-26.

The Panthers were no match for the strong Roosters who took advantage of the injured side.

Saints gallop into 2010 AFL Grand Final

St Kilda has beaten the Western Bulldogs, 13.10 (88) to 8.16 (64) to book a grand final birth against the in-form Collingwood. The Dogs led by a goal at half time but the Saints put on a show in the third quarter, kicking seven goals to one and setting up the 24 point win at the MCG on Saturday night. 


I must say i didn't know who i wanted to win this one but in the end St Kilda prevailed and i felt sorry for Western Bulldog Brad Johnson because this was his last AFL game, however for the 2 teams that will play each other in the grand final it will be Collingwood's best chance of winning since 2003 and it will be St Kilda's chance for redemption after they lost the grand final last year to Geelong by 3 points. 


As i sat in the plane coming home from a lovely holiday in Noosa i was intrigued to find out who was winning the game. I decided to turn on Fox Sports on the little screen in front of me and the news headlines popped up and the score was: Western Bulldogs were leading on 19 and St Kilda were on 11. This to me meant that it would be a very close encounter. 


About 40 minutes before we started our descent into Melbourne the captain gave us an update on the score, St Kilda were winning by 21 points in the third quarter. After hearing this i figured that St Kilda were probably going to win and sure enough they did.


I think that this grand final will be one of the best yet, i think that Collingwood will beat the experienced Saints by about 10 points. 


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au 


St Kilda  1.5  3.6  10.10  13.10 (88)
Western Bulldogs  3.1  4.6  5.9  8.16 (64)

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Schneider 3, Milne 2, Koschitzke 2, Gardiner, McEvoy, PeakeWestern Bulldogs: Hahn 2, Addison, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Grant, Hall, Picken
BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Montagna, Dawson, Hayes, Gwilt, Fisher, Gram, JonesWestern Bulldogs: Ward, Cross, Lake, Picken, Boyd, Griffen
INJURIES
St Kilda: Dal Santo (hamstring), Gram (groin)Western Bulldogs: Addison (ribs), Wood (ribs), Murphy (knee), Picken (concussion)

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Stevic
Official crowd: 62,694 at the MCG

Freo smashed by rampant Cats

Geelong will now play Collingwood in a blockbuster preliminary final after belting Fremantle by 69 points at the MCG on Friday night. 


The match was all but over after the first quarter, with Geelong kicking eight goals and only allowing the Dockers one goal for the quarter. Fremantle showed patches of class as they tried to stay in the game but the experienced Cats were too much for them, Geelong winning 20.15 (135) to 10.6 (66).


Fremantle surged in the third quarter, kicking successive goals. However they could only muster three goals before Cameron Ling gave his team a 49 point three quarter time lead after setting up a goal.


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au


Geelong  8.1  10.7  14.13  20.15 (135)
Fremantle  1.1  4.2  7.6  10.6 (66)

GOALS
Geelong: Podsiadly 3, Stokes 3, Johnson 3, Wojcinski 2, Mooney, Ling, Selwood, Bartel, Byrnes, Hawkins, Ottens, Chapman, VarcoeFremantle: Pavlich 4, Walters 3, Mayne, Fyfe, Duffield
BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Wojcinski, Bartel, Chapman, Varcoe, Corey, Selwood, JohnsonFremantle: Pavlich, Mundy, Walters, McPharlin, Broughton, Fyfe, Johnson
INJURIES
Geelong: NoneFremantle: None
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 45,056 at the MCG


Who do you think will win the Collingwood v Geelong preliminary final?

Julia Gillard wins 2010 Election

Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor declare
thier support for Julia Gillard's Government. 

17 days after Australia went to the polls, the independent MP's have thrown their support behind Julia Gillard's Government.


Bob Katter held a press conference before the other 2 MP's to announce he had chosen Tony Abbott as his preference to lead the Nation. His announcement put Mr. Abbott one seat ahead of the Labor party.


However Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor held a joint press conference to announce they had backed the Julia Gillard to lead the Nation. The decision was made to benefit country and regional Australia and to add stability to Australia.


Do you think Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor made the right decision? 

Swans to play Bulldogs in semi-final

Sydney has beaten Carlton by five points at ANZ Stadium today to book a semi-final birth against the Western Bulldogs. Sydney led by 24 points at half time but Carlton kicked five goals in a row and led by seven points at three quarter time. 


Sydney forward Trent Dennis-Lane kicked 2 crucial goals in the fourth quarter to get the Swans home winning: 14.15 (99) to 13.16 (94).


ANZ Stadium was awash with Sydney supporters who came to see what could 
well have been Brett Kirk's final match and Paul Roos' final match as coach. However the Swans did all they could to live another week and were rewarded with a famous five point win, extending the careers of Brett Kirk and Paul Roos to at least one more week. 


Jeff Garlett would be kicking himself after he had a chance to win the match late in the game, but his shot faded to the left. This is the second consecutive year that Carlton has been knocked out in the first week of the finals.


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au


Sydney Swans    6.6    11.8    11.11    14.15 (99)
Carlton    4.3    7.8    12.12    13.16 (94)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Dennis-Lane 4, Bevan 3, Shaw 2, Jack, White, Goodes, Jetta, O'KeefeCarlton: Walker 3, Waite 3, Warnock 2, Garlett 2, Henderson 2, Murphy
BEST
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Goodes, Kirk, Dennis-Lane, Shaw, SmithCarlton: Judd, Waite, Walker, Jacobs, Carazzo, Murphy
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: NilCarlton: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Jeffery, McInerney

Official crowd: 41,596

Magpies march on

Collingwood has fast-tracked itself into a preliminary final after smashing the Western Bulldogs by 62 points at the MCG on Saturday night. The Pies took control of the first half and then cruised to victory in their qualifying final against the Bulldogs winning: 17.22 (124) to 8.14 (62).


However the Magpies had another horrid night in front of goals, kicking 22 behinds but still managing to boot 17 goals. It was a pretty good match for Collingwood, except for Sharrod Wellingham who suffered an ankle injury.


Dane Swan once again starred for the Pies, racking up 39 possessions for the match. 


It was a horrific night for the Western Bulldogs, with forward Barry Hall being reported for abusive language towards one of the umpires.


Collingwood now get a week off before playing the winner of Geelong v Fremantle.


The Bulldogs will now be playing for their season against the winner of Carlton v Sydney.


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au


Collingwood        3.6 7.15 11.18 17.22 (124)
Western Bulldogs    0.5 3.7 5.11 8.14 (62) 
GOALS
Collingwood: Swan 3, Sidebottom 3, L. Brown 2, Didak 2, Pendlebury 2, Cloke, Thomas, Dawes, Davis, JollyWestern Bulldogs: Griffen 2, Hall 2, Higgins 2, Hahn, Giansiracusa
BEST
Collingwood: Swan, Maxwell, Pendlebury, Thomas, O’Brien, BallWestern Bulldogs: Griffen, Murphy, Hudson, Gilbee, Cross 
INJURIES
Collingwood: Wellingham (foot)Western Bulldogs: Ward (elbow), Lake (arm)
Reports: Hall (Western Bulldogs) for using abusive language towards umpire Nicholls in the second quarter.
Umpires: Vozzo, Nicholls, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 66,545 at the MCG   

Freo beat Hawks, progress to semis

Fremantle has beaten Hawthorn by 30 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday to progress to next weeks Friday night semi final against Geelong. 


In front of a capacity home crowd the young Fremantle team shut down the Hawks' danger players and set up a 42 point lead at three quarter time. Hawthorn tried all they could to come back, kicking four goals to two in the final quarter but Fremantle withstood the challenge winning: 14.10 (94) to 8.16 (64).


Hawthorn were wasteful kicking 16 goals and only kicking one goal for the whole first half. Adam McPhee did a good job on Hawthorn's Luke Hodge, keeping him to a low 13 possessions for the match. Luke McPharlin outmuscled forward Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli suffered a hamstring injury early in the second quarter, Rioli didn't return which meant that both of Hawthorn's match winners had been shut down.


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au

Fremantle     4.3   6.4   12.7   14.10 (94)
Hawthorn     1.4   1.11   4.13   8.16 (64)

GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Mayne 2, Broughton, Morabito, Sandilands, Walters, Hill, Crowley, McPhee, Mundy, SilvagniHawthorn: Roughead 4, Franklin 2, Whitecross, Ladson

BEST
Fremantle: McPhee, Mundy, McPharlin, Fyfe, Broughton, Hill, Pavlich, GroverHawthorn: Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lewis, Roughead, Gibson

INJURIES
Fremantle: Sandilands (knee)Hawthorn: Rioli (hamstring), Ellis (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Kennedy, Meredith

Official crowd: 42,719 at Subiaco Oval 

Saints squeeze into prelim

Nick Reiwoldt celebrates after kicking
one of his three goals on Friday night.

St Kilda has become a strong flag contender after scraping past the cats in a nail-biter at the MCG on Friday night, beating Geelong: 12.11 (83) to 11.13 (79).
A crowd of almost 64,000 watched as the Saints broke out to a 33 point lead early in the third quarter, however the Cats fought back.


With rain falling strong and steady the Cats controlled the fourth quarter, getting the ball inside their attacking 50 seventeen times whilst the Saints could only manage five inside 50's for the quarter.


Geelong brought the margin to one goal after Paul Chapman kicked a goal from a tight angle, Dennis Cometti labeling Chapman "Mr September". The Cats looked to have won the game when Cameron Ling kicked a goal with one minute and one second remaining on the clock.


However umpire Matt Stevic disallowed the goal because Cameron Mooney's  tackle on James Gwilt (which had spilled the ball out to Ling) had been ruled a push in the back. Mooney questioned the call stating these words to Stevic: "You've just lost us the game".


St Kilda then held on to win a classic, progressing straight to a preliminary final where they will play the winner of Collingwood v Western Bulldogs. 


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au


Geelong  3.4  5.6  10.6  11.13 (79)
St Kilda  4.7  8.8  11.11 12.11  (83)

GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 3, Johnson 2, Stokes 2, Varcoe 2, Byrnes, ChapmanSt Kilda: Milne 3, Riewoldt 3, Gardiner, Goddard, Jones, Koschitzke, Montagna, Schneider
BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Chapman, Ablett, Ling, MilburnSt Kilda: Hayes, Riewoldt, Goddard, Fisher, Milne, Dal Santo
INJURIES
Geelong: NoneSt Kilda: None
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan
Official crowd: 63,608 at the MCG