Five events to make you forget there’s no AFL this weekend
YOU’LL have to wait another week for your fix of AFL finals, but don’t let that dampen your sporting spirits. Here are five events to keep you captivated this weekend.
YOU’LL have to wait another week for your fix of the AFL, thanks to the controversial bye before finals, but don’t let that dampen your sporting spirits.
Here are five sporting events to keep you captivated this weekend. You won’t even remember the AFL is gone (just kidding).
NRL: Melbourne Storm vs. Cronulla Sharks — Saturday, 7.30pm, AAMI Park
The NRL could not have asked for a better match in Melbourne with no AFL to interfere.
The top two sides in the competition go head to head in a match that will decide who wins the minor premiership.
Storm star Cameron Smith says the match should provide a showcase of the NRL, as it continues to make its mark in Melbourne
“It’s a chance for the minor premiership and we haven’t been in this situation for a few years now; 2011 was the last opportunity we had to win one,” Smith said.
“Given there’s no AFL in town, it works out great for us. We’re hoping for a really good turnout at AAMI Park.”
#FreeKickStorm
US Open – Friday, Saturday, Sunday (day sessions from 1am, night sessions usually from 9am)
The night games in the US tend to produce the best tennis and that means you can get your early morning sporting fix, with those game scheduled for 9am.
The last Grand Slam of the year will just be starting to whittle down, with round three and four kicking off over the weekend.
Get your bacon and eggs for brekky out of the way and then sit down for some live tennis action.
UFC Fight night – From 5am Sunday
Look, it’s no McGregor vs. Diaz, but it doesn’t have to be when they are rumbling in the octagon.
The controversial blood sport is not everyone’s cup of tea, but, if you like the crash and bash of the AFL, this could be a good substitute.
Monsters Andre ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski and Josh ‘The Warmaster’ Barnett headline the card from Hamburg in Germany.
Not for the faint-hearted, but packed with plenty of action.
Cricket: Australia vs. Sri Lanka Fifth ODI — Sunday, 7pm
Many thought the Aussies would have slaughtered the Sri Lankans on this tour.
But they have done anything but. Brought undone by the low, slow, spinning subcontinent decks, the Aussies were trounced in the Test series, 3-0.
But they’re back to their best in the one dayers, claiming the series 3-1 on the back of a record-equalling innings from Aaron Finch. Watch Finchy tee off again on Sunday night.
Italian Formula One Grand Prix — Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights, usually from 10pm
Get your fix of speed from Monza, with our man Daniel Ricciardo, fresh of second place in Belgium, looking to go one better.
The racing is always on a bit later, but watching the F1s hurtle around the picturesque Monza circuit is the perfect end to what is still a bumper weekend of sporting action.
Bonus bet
Moonee Valley Races — Saturday
Love your footy and the races? Punters who hold an AFL club membership will get free entry to the Moonee Valley for a racecard that is highlighted by the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.
So even though the footy isn’t on, you’ll still reap the benefits of your love for the game with free entry to hopefully catch The Cleaner gun for three straight victories in the $250,000 race.
If you really can’t live without your Australian Rules...
EJ Whitten Legends Game, Friday, 7pm, Etihad Stadium
Friday night’s EJ Whitten Legends Game is a chance to raise money for a good cause but also enables players to relive some of the great moments of their playing careers.
Women’s All-Stars Exhibition Game, Saturday, 7.10pm, Whitten Oval
Watch our finest women footballers, like superstar Katie Brennan, show the men up at Whitten Oval on Saturday night and get a taste of the new Women’s Football League, which will kick off next year.
VFL, local footy finals
Go back to the sports’ roots, where the beer is cold, the locals get rowdy and gun footballers are the kings of their towns.
Originally published as Five events to make you forget there’s no AFL this weekend