EFL: Tigers roar into semis after gallant fightback

Blackburn is chased down by Balwyn in their 22 point loss at Ringwood (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Finals footy brings out the physicality, and at the spacious Jubilee Park on Sunday, Balwyn and Blackburn brought just that; tough, possession footy interspersed with plenty of fire.

Balwyn’s eventual 11.8.74 to 7.10.52 victory was one of true fight, having been completely stunned by the Burners early aggression and bone-crunching tackles.  Heath O’Farrell and Jake Hammond hammered home three goals before the Tigers even had a look in, but with it came same heated exchanges and push-and-shove tactics from both sides.

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EFL: Vermont’s winning charge extends to finals

Vermont’s Justin Van Unen grabs for the ball as his Montrose opponent slips (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Finals footy does not get any better than warm sun, no wind and a huge crowd.

Vermont took on Montrose at Bayswater Oval on Saturday in the Division One qualifying final, and came away victorious, 16.7.103 to 13.9.87.  It was a dominant second and third quarter display that allowed the Eagles to seal the game by three quarter time, despite an extremely spirited effort from Montrose late in the fourth quarter.

EFL: Division One Finals Teams preview

Justin Van Unen of Vermont soccers one through against Balwyn (photo: Davis Harrigan)

The Eastern Football League Division One and Two Choose Tap finals series kick off this coming weekend, and the top grade is packed with quality teams.

Norwood, Vermont, Montrose, Blackburn and Balwyn have all made it through.  The Wooders get the first week off and go straight through to a semi-final berth, while Vermont and Montrose have the double chance in the qualifying final on Saturday, August 30.

Cricket: One of Big Three coming up short

Cheteshwar Pujara heads to the pavilion as India crumble (photo: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

It is extremely difficult – yet so easy – to understand why India is not setting the world on fire.  England trounced them 3-1 in the test series after losing the second test, making them look third-class.

Let’s have a look at India’s numbers in the past 12 months in regards to international matches (Test, ODI and T20I):

26 ODIS (back to the series against Zimbabwe, July-August 2013)

11 Tests (back to the West Indies series in November 2013)

5 Twenty20 Internationals (including 2014 WT20)

AFL: How Brisbane need to set themselves for the future

Tom Rockliff v Adelaide (photo: Getty Images)

The battle at the MCG on Saturday night between Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions, in some aspects, is a game-changer.

On the back of a 105 point belting at the hands of the Adelaide Crows, the young Lions brigade received a rude shock.  They cannot make finals, but they can ruffle the Magpies feathers if they bring an A-Game performance.

Beyond Realisation is turning two, and still going

Hannah Willmott (LTU) & her RMIT opponent at SUG 2014 (photo: Davis Harrigan)

At the end of August, Beyond Realisation hits its second birthday.

It does not feel like two years since I began writing on this blog, focusing on issues and discussions beyond the general reviews and previews.  On top of that, 20,500 views might not seem like a lot either, but it’s the culmination of hard work and passion.

Cricket: Jacques Kallis one of a Protea kind

Jacques Kallis (photo: The Guardian)

When an international cricket player can score more than 25,000 runs and take almost 600 wickets across all formats, you know you have a keeper.

Jacques Kallis may have officially announced his retirement from all international forms of cricket (having stepped down from test cricket in December of 2013), but the presence and impact he made on the game is forever.