Sport
T
he end of Monday night matches in both the AFL and NRL has been a boon for sports watchers everywhere,
as in their place the NRL has introduced Thursday night footy and at present play two matches on Friday. The
AFL first round fixtures boasted a Thursday night match but apart from Easter and ANZAC weekends the
formats appear to be set in stone for a three day weekend.
The big talking point in AFL circles is whether the AFL should play the Grand Final later than the traditional 2.30pm
start. That won’t be occurring in 2017 but there is plenty of support for the big game to commence early evening.
That way more people will sit down in front of the tellies which will please the TV sponsors no end.
Injuries and suspensions are in the news for obvious reasons. With injuries already piling up at some clubs this early
in the season it can greatly affect team balance. In AFL Adelaide have a growing injury list of some eight players.
The Lions have eight on the injury list. Fremantle and West Coast both have a long list of players unavailable but
before last weekend it was Melbourne that was worst hit.
In NRL the unavailability lists read like the casualty rate after a major war zone battle.
Broncos: Tom Opacic (shoulder, indefinite), Mitchell Dodds (knee,
indefinite), James Roberts (hamstring, indefinite), Benji Marshall (wrist,
Round 11)
Raiders: Kurt Baptiste (Achilles, indefinite), Kato Ottio (ACL, Round
10-12), Joe Tapine (finger, Round 6-7), Elliott Whitehead (suspended,
Round 6)
Bulldogs: Kerrod Holland (shoulder, Round 6-8), Will Hopoate (eye
socket, Round 6-8), Chase Stanley (knee, indefinite), Richie Kennar
(foot, Round 6-8), Moses Mbye (suspended, Round 6)
Sharks: Daniel Mortimer (knee, Round 8-10)
Titans: Nathan Peats (shoulder, Round 8), Pat Politoni (arm, indefinite),
John Olive (pec, indefinite), Jarryd Hayne (ankle, Round 6-7), Karl Law-
ton (shoulder, indefinite), William Zillman (calf, indefinite), Dan Sargin-
son (knee, indefinite), Agnatius Paasi (shoulder, Round 9-10), Tyrone
Roberts (knee), Joe Greenwood (head knock), Nathaniel Peteru (foot).
Sea Eagles: Darcy Lussick (wrist, Round 6)
Storm: Tohu Harris (foot, Round 9), Cameron Munster (broken jaw,
Round 8-9), Suliasi Vunivalu (shoulder, Round 6-7)
Knights: Rory Kostjasyn (throat, indefinite), Pauli (dislocated hip,
Round 8), Dylan Phythian (knee, indefinite), Jack Cogger (pelvis, Round 16), Chanel Mata'utia (hamstring, Round
6), Sam Mataora (knee, indefinite), Sione Mata'utia (concussion, indefinite)
Cowboys: Josh Chudleigh (ACL, season), Matthew Scott (ACL, season), Antonio Winterstein (broken arm, Round
8), Justin O'Neill (knee, indefinite), Coen Hess (concussion, Round 6-7)
Eels: John Folau (wrist, Round 6), Will Smith (knee, Round 6), Isaac De Gois (concussion, indefinite), Kenny Ed-
wards (suspension, Round 8)
Panthers: Sam McKendry (knee, indefinite), Josh Mansour (knee, mid-season), James Fisher-Harris (fractured
cheek, Round 6), Bryce Cartwright (ankle, Round 6-7)
Rabbitohs