Event of the Day: Geelong versus Adelaide
Our event of the day is the AFL fixture between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at the GMHBA Stadium in South Geelong. Geelong currently lead the AFL with only two losses this season so far. Meanwhile Adelaide are fifth but are having a strong second half of the season that makes them one of the biggest threats in the AFL right now. This is a match you won’t want to miss. The Geelong Cats currently lead the AFL, having gone 11-2 through the first 13 matches of the season. However, their loss to Port Adelaide on June 22nd snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Cats. Geelong last won the AFL title in 2011. They haven’t made a Grand Final since that victory, falling one round short in the playoffs in 2013, 2016 and 2017. This is has been a big season so far for Geelong. Aside from leading the league, the first match of the season saw Tom Hawkins score his 500th goal in the AFL. Hawkins is the son of Jack Hawkins, a Geelong legend who played for the club between 1973 and 1981, and made his debut for Geelong in 2007. Since then, he has been a vital part of Geelong’s line-up. He has been Geelong’s lead goal-kicker every season since 2012. This season, Hawkins has 35 points and sits in second in the Coleman Medal standings.
However, standing in their way today are the Adelaide Crows. After starting the season 1-3, the Crows have won 7 of their last 9 matches to come into today’s match in fifth place in the standings. While they enjoyed a bye last week, their match prior to that saw them dominate Richmond, a team on the fringe of playoff contention. The Crows beat them 15.11 (101) to 9.14 (68) as they showed off the high-scoring offense that has been keeping them firmly in the playoff race. Adelaide reached the Grand Final in 2017, losing to Richmond 16.12 (108) to 8.12 (60). The last time that Adelaide won the AFL title was in 1998. Despite this championship drought, 2019 might just be the year that they return to the top. Their record since week 5 is the third best in the AFL. They are fighting to compete with teams like Geelong and Collingwood and given how their second half of the season has begun, teams should not underestimate Adelaide. This is a match you won’t want to miss.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the FIFA Women’s World Cup where the USA face hosts France at the Parc des Princes in Paris in the quarterfinals. The USA, the defending champions, beat a resilient Spanish side in the round of 16 to continue their title defence. Meanwhile, France needed extra time to beat Brazil to continue their tournament run and set up what will be one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. In the Copa América, the quarterfinals continue with Venezuela facing Argentina at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro and Colombia playing Chile at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo. The first Super Rugby semi-final takes place in Buenos Aires with the Jaguares hosting the Brumbies at Estadio José Amalfitani. The Jaguares hope to make their first Super Rugby final after joining the league in 2016. Meanwhile the Brumbies look for their first final appearance since finishing as runners-up in 2013. This is an exciting match that you won’t want to miss. In the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury host the Indiana Fever at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The medal events of the track cycling take place at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus. On the LPGA tour, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by AFL