A new decade has begun and The Advertiser has predicted what it thinks might happen in the world of sport in 2020
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020? Which SA team will win a flag? The Advertiser’s sports team has made its predictions for the year ahead.
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The 2020 year looms as a big one in sport, with many South Australian teams and national stars looking to kick-off the decade with a bang.
The Advertiser’s sports team has given their predictions about what they think might happen in the world of sport over the next 12 months.
Reece Homfray
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Kyle Chalmers. Olympic year, he will medal, if not win, the 100m, 200m and the freestyle relays in Tokyo.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Matthew Glaetzer recovers from thyroid cancer to win Olympic gold on the velodrome in Tokyo.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Lightning (WNBL).
The sports headline you want to read.
The State Government grows a pair and puts SA on the map by hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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Warren Partland
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Travis Head. His century in the Boxing Day Test will be his breakthrough moment.
Potential feel good story of the year?
South Adelaide winning the SANFL premiership. It has been 56 years and would be a popular victory, given the Panthers are everyone’s second team.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Port Adelaide will win in the SANFL flag. While the Panthers would be a good feel story, Port will pump everything into the premiership in its 150th year.
The sports headline you want to read.
There are two. Racing battlers win Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, and AFL scraps supplemental and mid-season drafts after research proves community football good for game.
Matt Turner
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Joe Ingles. There’s no bigger impact than doing well on the international stage and I think Ingles will be part of Australia’s first men’s basketball team to medal at an Olympics. Also reckon the Jazz will go on a run and make at least the Western Conference semi-finals in the NBA.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Eddie Betts returns to Adelaide Oval with Carlton, kicks the winning goal after the siren against the Crows – from his pocket – and hugs fans of both teams afterwards.
Which SA team will win a flag?
I’ll back Adelaide Strikers in from here. They are in a nice position and have winning experience from two summers ago. Reckon it might be pretty barren across our national winter sports for SA clubs.
The sports headline you want to read.
AFL rips up MCG agreement and promises to take the grand final on the road to home venue of interstate team (or to Geelong) if it finishes higher on the ladder and makes the flag decider.
Lincoln Moore
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Staying in my patch expect a massive year from a young jockey by the name of Lachie Neindorf. He’ll make his metropolitan debut at Gawler this weekend and will get a lot of opportunities in 2020 to establish himself as the next young gun in the SA riding ranks.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Dalasan to deliver at Group 1 level. He’s the best horse we’ve produced in recent years and proved that in the spring winning the Group 2 Danehill Stakes and Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes. He’s a young horse with a lot of upside and when he works it all out could be a major player in some very nice races in the autumn.
Which SA team will win a flag?
The Adelaide Strikers might be the best hope for a South Australian team to grab a flag. Losing Alex Carey to national duties is going to hurt but they almost pulled off a remarkable win on New Year’s Eve and have a side capable of winning.
The sports headline you want to read.
Raquel’s successful return - former Tasmanian jockey Raquel Clark had her rapidly rising career put on hold after a fall at Morphettville back in November. Seeing her back riding winners is what everyone in racing wants to see.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Megan Schutt to fire Australia to world T20 glory in front of the largest crowd ever for a female sporting event in Australia.
Potential good feel story of the year?
Raquel Clark to return to racing after her horror fall and win another Melbourne Spring Carnival race would be amazing, just to get back would be an achievement in itself.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Strikers in BBL09 or in WBBL06. The Lightning will go close though.
The sports headline you want to read.
Chelsea claim Premier League after Liverpool’s biggest ever bottle job.
Gordon Armstrong
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Alex Carey. Cricket’s Mr Nice Guy will make the most of his opportunities in the Australian team, regardless of the format.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Adelaide Lightning wins its first WNBL flag since 2007/08, packs out stadium and has no more financial woes.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Giants are going great guns and looking a big chance for a flag.
Rebranded from Bite to Giants and managed by the Adelaide Crows obviously is the answer for success.
Sadly this one might fly under the radar as far as the public is concerned.
The sports headline you want to read.
Two in a row! Is this the start of a Bays’ dynasty?
Daniela Abbracciavento
Which SA sports person will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Kyle Chalmers.
I reckon he will back up his performance in Rio and take home gold in the 100m freestyle again – this time at the Tokyo Olympics.
I think Chalmers will also lead the relay team to victory and will once again be the toast of the Olympics for Australia.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Erin Phillips navigates a successful return to footy after her ACL surgery, helps the Crows reach the AFLW grand final again and kicks four goals in the flag win.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Lightning will get over its heartbreaking grand final series loss in 2019 and finally break its 12-year WNBL title drought with a premiership in 2020.
The sports headline you want to read.
Port Adelaide celebrates 150th anniversary with historic SANFL and AFL flags.
Val Migliaccio
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Former South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil can help guide his Danish side Midtjylland to the title by scoring the winner on the last day of the season to earn UEFA Champions League qualification.
The ex-Adelaide United and Campbelltown City winger will also be imperative in getting the Socceroos to the third round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
He then wins a dream move to Manchester United - a club he has dreamt of playing since he was a kid growing up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.
Potential good feel story of the year?
Hindmarsh Stadium is given back to all of SA’s FIFA affiliated clubs who will control the venue in a share agreement.
The stadium will again be accessible to everyone to play on from children, amateur men and women and professionals.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Norwood in the SANFL.
The sports headline you want to read.
Hindmarsh Stadium to host five 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup matches after Australia wins the bid.
Andrew Capel
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Cricketer Alex Carey. Unlucky not to already be in the Australian Test team (skipper Tim Paine, who also takes the gloves, is keeping him out), the Glenelg product will force his way in this year, probably as a batsman, and prove himself as one of the country’s best players.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Crows, Power end two years in the AFL finals wilderness, to meet in first Showdown final since 2005.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Strikers (BBL). Jason Gillespie’s team is very well balanced, with a mixture of matchwinners and role players, and has an ace up its sleeve - legspinning wizard and hard-hitting, lower-order batsman Rashid Khan.
The sports headline you want to read.
Liverpool breaks 30-year championship drought - wins first English Premier League title.
Jack Hudson
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Riley McGree. After completing a stellar season in the A-League, the Gawler lad gets his second chance in Europe and finally lands his first appearance for the Socceroos, scoring on debut.
Potential feel good story of the year?
The Adelaide Crows, despite a wave of injuries, take out back-to-back AFLW flags.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Port Adelaide returns to the summit of the SANFL in its 150th year, defeating fierce rival Norwood in the decider.
The sports headline you want to read.
Mikel Arteta guides Arsenal back to the Champions League after a terrific second half of the Premier League season.
Grady Hudd
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Adam Scott. The Adelaide-born golfer is flying high on the back of a drought-ending Australian PGA victory and if it all clicks is a real chance of winning one of the big four major championships on the American PGA Tour this year.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Nick Kyrgios goes on to win the Australian Open after winning over nation with bushfire fundraiser initiative, which will see him donate $200 for every ace he hits throughout the tournament.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Strikers. There’s still plenty of work to be done yet, but the SA team looks a real chance of taking out this year’s BBL title.
How good is Rashid Khan?!
The sports headline you want to read.
Tiger Woods wins back-to-back Masters titles at age 44.
If you think the GOAT winning last year’s tournament against all odds was huge, just imagine if he does it again.
Dale Fletcher
Which SA sportsperson will have the biggest impact in 2020?
Joe Ingles will help the Utah Jazz make a deep run into the NBA playoffs before helping the Boomers claim that elusive medal in Tokyo.
Potential feel good story of the year?
Matthew Glaetzer winning a medal of any colour in Tokyo after recovering from thyroid cancer.
Which SA team will win a flag?
Adelaide Lightning to win their first WNBL title since 2008. Chris Lucas and his team deserve some success.
The sports headline you want to read.
21-year drought ends as Magpies claim SANFL premiership.
Originally published as A new decade has begun and The Advertiser has predicted what it thinks might happen in the world of sport in 2020