Roar, Victory in pulsating draw

Equaliser ... Ivan Franjic beats Nathan Coe to score. Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

Brisbane Roar continued to thwart Melbourne Victory and their former coach Ange Postecoglou with a 1-1 draw in an enthralling A-League encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

While the defending champions were far more welcoming of their old mentor than back in round two, Postecoglou endured a frustrating second return to Brisbane as the Victory failed to end a seven-match winless run against the Roar.

Diminutive midfielder Leigh Broxham scored the first headed goal of his career, and the visitors could well have led 3-0 at halftime, but the home side finished the stronger on a patchy surface.

After a month of rain and a series of rugby union and league matches, the pitch failed to deliver the even surface the Roar are used to at home.

But it did not prevent two quality goals and an entertaining contest in which Brisbane had a 12,624-strong crowd expecting a late winner as Ben Halloran made a huge impact off the bench.

The draw left third-placed Melbourne five points behind second-placed Central Coast on the A-League table while Brisbane are out of the six, but just one point from fifth.

Melbourne had lost in their past four visits to Brisbane, including the 5-0 rout in round two when anti-Postecoglou signs and chants were the order of the day.

Despite an enterprising opening 25 minutes by the home side, Melbourne looked in control and set for the three points at 1-0 approaching the hour mark.

But a superb pass by classy midfielder Luke Brattan put Ivan Franjic in the clear down the right sideline and the winger finished brilliantly by blazing past goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

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Re-live the end-to-end action from Brisbane Roar's draw with Melbourne Victory in our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights.

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Counterpart Michael Theo had until then kept the Roar in the match with some desperate reflex saves, stopping close-range efforts by Daniel Mullen and Archie Thompson.

Theo had no way of preventing a stunning opening goal by Broxham, against the run of play in the 11th minute.

Thompson had perfectly timed and weighted a lofted cross in the box for the 169cm Broxham who leapt high onto the back of Franjic, Australian Rules style, and headed over Theo.

The Roar, with captain Thomas Broich taking a far more direct approach on goal, continued to outflank Melbourne for most of the first half but the Victory's defence was up to each foray.

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Lions beat Magpies to reach Cup final

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High flying ... Magpies defender Jack Frost climbs over the pack. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Brisbane will have to travel for the AFL pre-season final against Carlton, despite the Lions being the only unbeaten team.

Brisbane beat Collingwood by 34 points on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium and will play the Blues next Friday night at the same venue.

0.2.4 (16)	Q1	0.2.3 (15)
0.4.8 (32)	Q2	0.4.7 (31)
0.6.10 (46)	Q3	0.9.12 (66)
0.7.12 (54)	Q4	0.12.16 (88)

Dayne Beams 2	Rohan Bewick 4
Quinten Lynch 2	Aaron Cornelius 3
Tyson Goldsack 1	Jonathan Brown 1
Ben Kennedy 1	Joshua Green 1
Caolan Mooney 1	Pearce Hanley 1
	Stefan Martin 1
	Daniel Rich 1

"Etihad Stadium was chosen as the location for the grand final as the Gabba was not available to the AFL as Brisbane's home ground, due to cricket commitments,'' the league said in a statement.

"The largest possible crowd would be drawn at Etihad Stadium ahead of any potential game at Metricon Stadium (on the Gold Coast).''

Trailing by a point at halftime, the Lions kicked clear at the start of the third and fourth quarters at the same ground and won 12.16 (88) to 7.12 (54).

Brisbane and Collingwood were unbeaten going into this match with the winner guaranteed of going into the final against the Blues.

Midfielder Daniel Rich starred for the Lions with 26 disposals and Rohan Bewick kicked four goals in front of only 12,093 fans.

Dayne Beams was Collingwood's standout with 23 possessions in the midfield.

The Blues' superior percentage meant they secured the other final berth, despite losing to Adelaide on Friday night by three points.

Brisbane welcomed back captain Jonathan Brown, Rich and Daniel Merrett for this match and were much closer to full strength.

The Magpies were missing several key players, including Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Travis Cloke.

Brisbane took control immediately after halftime, kicking three goals in the first seven minutes of the third quarter.

They then kicked the opening two goals of the final term to ensure the win.

In his first game for the year, Brown hit his shoulder hard against a point post late in the third term.

Typical of arguably the game's hardest player, Brown shrugged off the blow as the post wobbled for several seconds.

Brown has suffered several heavy blows to the head, but they have not dented his ferocious playing style.

Collingwood made full use of the unrestricted interchange with 168 rotations - more than double the league's controversial trial cap of 80 per game.

This was one of three Victorian games on Saturday where the AFL abandoned the interchange trial because of the hot conditions and Brisbane had 143 rotations.

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Swans win, Johnson needs knee reco

Adam Goodes ... chases the ball during Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns AFL trial. Source: Damian Shaw / News Limited

Sydney defeated Gold Coast by 36 points for the first win of their AFL pre-season campaign on Saturday night, but the result was soured by news young defender Alex Johnson is likely to need a knee reconstruction.

0.1.2 (8)	Q1	0.0.1 (1)
0.7.8 (50)	Q2	0.1.1 (7)
0.9.12 (66)	Q3	0.3.6 (24)
0.11.14 (80)	Q4	0.6.8 (44)

Adam Goodes 2	Harley Bennell 2
Josh P. Kennedy 2	Campbell Brown 2
Nick Malceski 2	Jared Brennan 1
Luke Parker 2	Brandon Matera 1
Jude Bolton 1
Kieren Jack 1
Ben McGlynn 1

The Suns rallied in the final quarter, but six consecutive goals in the second term meant the reigning premiers eased to a 11.14 (80) to 6.8 (44) win at Blacktown Oval in Sydney.

Any positives from the game were overshadowed by Johnson's suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, with the 21-year-old stretchered off after going to ground in the 12th minute of the opening term.

Johnson, a regular member of the Swans' back six during their successful 2012 campaign, was reeling in pain and unable to get to his feet.

He emerged shortly after halftime in good spirits, limping up a set of stairs and laughing with teammates in the stands, but scans are expected to confirm his season is over.

The Swans can ill-afford to lose Johnson, given fellow rebounding backmen Marty Mattner (hip) and Nick Smith (knee) are yet to return and remain in some doubt for the start of the season proper on March 30.

With the exception of Johnson's injury and a tepid first quarter, in which the hosts kicked the only goal, there were positives aplenty for Sydney.

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Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes returned from the serious knee injury he suffered in last year's grand final, while Josh Kennedy (22 contested possessions, 12 clearances) and Jarrad McVeigh (35 disposals, eight clearances) were dominant in the engine room.

Goodes moved well and kicked two goals, playing two and a half quarters before he was substituted for Shane Mumford.

Rhyce Shaw (calf), Nick Malceski (calf) and Mumford (ankle) also survived their first games of the year.

Malceski, who snapped the sealer in his side's 10-point grand-final win over Hawthorn last year, kicked two stellar goals in the second term as the Swans seized control of the contest.

Jaeger O'Meara, who was unable to make his AFL debut last year due to the league's age restrictions but has already been nominated as a future captain of the Suns by skipper Gary Ablett, was the standout in a losing side.

Harley Bennell and O'Meara both tallied 24 possessions for Gold Coast, but the visitors struggled to generate meaningful entries into their forward line. 

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Power trump Eagles in Alice Springs

High-Powered ... Chad Wingard led Port Adelaide with three goals in their pre-season win. Source: BEN MACMAHON / AAP

Port Adelaide utility Chad Wingard booted three goals in a six-point victory against West Coast in Saturday night's AFL pre-season cup game in Alice Springs.

0.4.1 (25)	Q1	0.3.0 (18)
0.5.7 (37)	Q2	0.8.2 (50)
1.8.10 (67)	Q3	1.10.3 (72)
1.11.11 (86)	Q4	1.13.5 (92)

Josh J. Kennedy 5	Chad Wingard 3
Jack Darling 2	Andrew Moore 2
Josh Hill 2	Jay Schulz 2
Dean Cox 1	Hamish Hartlett 1
Shannon Hurn 1	Matthew Lobbe 1
Matt Priddis 1	Jake Neade 1
	Cameron O'Shea 1
	Lewis Stevenson 1
	Paul Stewart 1
	Justin Westhoff 1

The Power won 1.13.5 (92) to 1.11.11 (86) at Traeger Park. 

Port spearhead Jay Schulz and Andrew Moore both kicked two goals and captain Travis Boak was the leading possession winner on the ground with 24 disposals.

Boak's teammates Kane Cornes (20 touches), Brad Ebert (19) and Hamish Hartlett also performed strongly for the Power.

The Eagles were brilliantly served by full forward Josh Kennedy, who kicked five goals, while Josh Hill and Jack Darling each bagged a double.

West Coast on-baller Luke Shuey was busy with a team-high 21 disposals while midfielder Matt Priddis and defenders Beau Waters and Will Schofield were solid.

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The Eagles started strongly as Kennedy kicked three of the initial four goals of the game.

But the Power, with Hartlett influential, were within seven points at quarter-time and then unleashed a standout second quarter.

Port potted five unanswered goals, including Wingard's third, but Kennedy jagged his fourth major just before half-time.

The Power led by 13 points at the main break and extended their advantage to a commanding 34 points in the third quarter, the highest margin of the match.

But the Eagles clawed their way back into the game late in the quarter, with Hill and Darling each kicking two goals to reduce the margin to only five points at three quarter-time.

Both clubs posted three goals in an even final quarter but the Eagles were unable to reel in the Power's lead.

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Glory score late to steal points

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Drama ... Michael Thwaite was Perth Glory's hero against Newcastle Jets. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Newcastle's A-League finals hopes seem in tatters after a late goal from Michael Thwaite gave lowly Perth a 2-1 win on Friday night at Hunter Stadium.

The Glory's new Argentine import Matias Cordoba put the visitors in front and teen striker Adam Taggart pulled one back for the Jets before Thwaite sealed victory in the 92nd minute.

The Jets remain in fifth place but have a congested bottom-half of the ladder breathing down their neck. Glory meanwhile climb to seventh.

Having already played their round-26 match against Wellington due to New Zealand's international commitment, time is fast running out for the Jets who only have two games remaining before the finals.

With a game away to fourth-placed Adelaide next weekend before facing rampant leaders Western Sydney Wanderers, the encounter against the Glory was their best shot at picking up three points.

"We created some good chances, but the name of the game is putting the ball in the back of the net and we didn't do that and got our pocket pinched right there at the end,'' Jets coach Gary van Egmond said.

"You don't want to lose in any fashion but especially in the fashion we just did. This is a hard one to swallow.

"Now we've made it hard for ourselves for the run into the finals.''

Desperate to make amends for their 5-0 thrashing by Melbourne Victory last weekend, the Jets came out firing with young gun Taggart, playing at the point of attack in place of injured marquee man Emile Heskey, forcing Perth 'keeper Daniel Vukovic into action just four minutes in.

But it was the Glory's newest recruit Cordoba who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when he managed to get on the end of a Chris Harold cross for his first A-League goal.

Socceroo tyro Taggart levelled just before the break, slotting home off a Marko Jesic through-ball.

Glory skipper Jacob Burns made his long-awaited return after a six-week injury layoff as a second-half substitute for Cordoba.

Swiss defender Dominik Ritter went within a whisker of putting the Jets in front in the 62nd minute, Vukovic doing well to save the effort.

The Glory gloveman produced yet another great save, stopping a strike from English attacker Michael Bridges with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Newcastle's Mark Birighitti made one of his few saves of the game moments later, defusing a dangerous header from the A-League's all-time leading scorer Shane Smeltz.

But it was Thwaite who sealed the win, pouncing on a goal-mouth scramble late in injury time to get his first goal of the season.

Glory coach Alistair Edwards was upbeat having kept his side in finals contention and leading them to their first away win since beating Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in round 12.

"We deserved to come away with something but we didn't deserve to win,'' an honest Edwards said.

"Newcastle were playing well so our whole thing was to just stay in the game and it worked a treat.''

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Beirne's Super Saturday picks

Super Saturday ... Green Moon is sure to be popular with punters. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

It's Super Saturday on March 8 and Dominic Beirne has put plenty of time into previewing the great Group One cards in Melbourne and Sydney.

Beirne tips Green Moon in the Australian Cup saying that he rated one point off his personal best first up and that "he will immediately rebound to his PB rating, particularly as this will be his final run this preparation."

He suggests that lightweight runners are the way to go in the Newmarket and recommends backing Shoot Out and King Mufhasa in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.

SATURDAY SPECIALS

Newmarket tip – Better Than Ready
In his Betfair preview, Dominic Beirne forecast that this year's Newmarket would go the way of a lightweight and this colt possesses the greatest overs of that category.

Best – Puissance de Lune [Flemington R4 No. 1]
Beirne thinks this stallion is "destined for greatness" and thinks he'll make a winning return to racing here.

Value – King Mufhasa [Warwick Farm R6 No. 2]
He's around the $14 mark on the exchange and Beirne thinks he could get a nice lead "as I'd expect the Gai Waterhouse pair to take a trail" in the Chipping Norton.

Lay – Luckygray [Flemington R6 No. 1]
Dominic Beirne's IWS computer rates this gelding upwards of $20 yet he hasn't traded longer than $10.50 on the exchange. Will be able to lay in single figures.

Best backed – Norzita [Flemington R5 No. 1]
She was huge at Moonee Valley and punters think she'll do the same thing here. $1.99 in to $1.82 early on the exchange.

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Bulldogs retain big pup Klemmer

David Klemmer ... re-signs with the Bulldogs on a lucrative deal. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Exciting young Canterbury prop David Klemmer has signed a new three-year deal with the NRL club.

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Klemmer, who tips the scales at 120kg, is yet to play an NRL game, but is rated as one of the most promising forwards in the game and was named player of the year in the NYC under-20s competition in 2012.

The 19-year-old had come through the club's development system and is set to make his first-grade debut against North Queensland in Gosford on Saturday.

"I've been at the club for a number of years now and I couldn't see myself anywhere else in this next period of my career," Klemmer said.

"I've learnt so much and I enjoy every day that I come here, I'll keep working hard and learning from Des and the other players here and hopefully I will get my chance at some stage to play NRL."

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler is excited about being able to retain the young forward.

"We're excited to have re-signed David for the next three years. He has been a part of the junior development system for a number of years. At just 19, he is an exciting prospect and will provide great depth for the Bulldogs moving forward."

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Walker's five helps Crows pip Blues

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Tackle ... Bernie Vince looks to get the ball away under pressure. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker kicked five goals as the Crows burst Carlton's pre-season bubble with a three-point victory on Friday night.

Walker's haul included two super-goals as Adelaide triumphed 4.11.7 (109) to 2.13.10 (106) at AAMI Stadium to inflict Carlton's first defeat this pre-season and under new coach Mick Malthouse.

0.6.2 (38)	Q1	0.4.2 (26)
2.7.4 (64)	Q2	2.7.4 (64)
4.11.7 (109)	Q3	2.9.7 (79)
4.11.7 (109)	Q4	2.13.10 (106)

Taylor Walker 3	Kane Lucas 3
Josh Jenkins 2	Dennis Armfield 2
Nathan van Berlo 1	Mitch Robinson 2
Brad Crouch 1	Andrew Carrazzo 1
Patrick Dangerfield 1	Jefferey Garlett 1
Richard Douglas 1	Shaun Hampson 1
Sam Jacobs 1	Brock McLean 1
Graham Johncock 1	Marc Murphy 1
Jared Petrenko 1	Heath Scotland 1
Bernie Vince 1	Chris Yarran 1

The Crows were sparked by Walker and dual club champion Scott Thompson, who collected 26 disposals, while Bernie Vince and David Mackay were also prominent.

Carlton's Kane Lucas booted three goals, teammate Dennis Armfield capped a fine game with two majors while Brock McLean was a standout with 24 touches and two goals, including a super-goal.

Adelaide laid the platform for their victory with a dominant third term which returned six goals to Carlton's two.

The scoring spree came after smooth passages of play in a free-flowing opening, with the scores locked at 2.7.4 (64) apiece at halftime.

And both teams booted two super-goals in the second quarter as Carlton's McLean and Marc Murphy and Adelaide's Walker and Sam Jacobs all scored nine-pointers.

Crows forward Walker also potted two regulation goals in the opening half for the home side, who were largely propelled by onballer Thompson's 17 disposals by the main break.

The Blues, who trailed by two goals at quarter-time, also had plenty of the ball with McLean prominent and Lucas scoring three goals for the half.

The third quarter proved decisive with Walker adding another super-goal to help Adelaide craft a five-goal advantage at the last change.

But Adelaide stopped to a near walk in the final quarter and didn't score as Carlton kicked four unanswered goals to creep within three points.

But the Crows, who lost forward pocket Ian Callinan - who suffered a knock on his left knee and was substituted out of the match at quarter-time - held on to win.

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I'll clarify the rules: Anderson

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Daniel Anderson ... vows to fix the refereeing grey areas. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

NRL referee's boss Daniel Anderson has vowed to fix the refereeing grey areas plaguing the game by offering clarity to rules and interpretations.

After a confusing and chaotic refereeing display in 2012, Anderson and Peter Sterling dissected several key areas to be rectified on Fox Sports' newest rugby League analysis show, Sterlo.

In the course of one of the most shambolic pre-season's in recent history, Anderson's bold prediction of "refereeing clarity" has taken a back seat among contract backflips, doping investigations and the Dally M Medallist being stood down.

A question on every New South Welshmens' lips: will there be any more bungles like the infamous Greg Inglis Origin try when it comes to grounding the ball?

"Separation is not an indicator for tries; if you lose possession … you must regain possession before you put the ball down," Anderson said.

"Super slow-mo cameras show things that are not really indicative of what's happening, in those instances we'll take normal vision and make our decisions from that."

Anderson has acted swiftly; sneaking under the radar and rallying the Australian Rugby League Commission to remove the "benefit of the doubt" call and ban the shoulder charge, the most contentious of all rule changes.

"The onus is on player safety.

Anderson said Ben Te'o's sickening shoulder charge on young Wests Tigers prop Matt Groat, "will be minimum penalty, minimum on report, but likely that play will be a send-off offence in 2013.

"The shoulder charge is a hip turn; the shoulder rotation where you put your arm up, you put your wing in so to speak."

Justin Hodges was herding sheep in the same notorious Origin series in 2012. The shepherd, sorry obstruction, will change?

"It's about who initiates contact, the onus is on the attacking team to just not run into the defending players and cause them any disadvantage."

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O'Connor: I want Test No.10 jersey

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Rivals ... O'Connor (L) and Cooper will put their friendship to one side on Friday night. Source:News Limited

Melbourne Rebels star James O'Connor has signalled his intentions to secure the Wallabies No.10 jersey as he prepares to face good mate Quade Cooper on Friday night.

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The rival No.10s will put their friendship to one side when Queensland Reds arrive at AAMI Park for O'Connor's first start in the playmaking role in 2013.

Speaking on Fox Sports' Rugby HQ on Thursday night, O'Connor stated his desire to once again don the Wallabies No.10 jersey as he did at the tail end of 2011.

"I haven't made it a secret that I want to be in the director's seat," O'Connor said while seated alongside Cooper in Fox Sports' Melbourne studios.

"But I just want to play with the best team when it comes to Wallabies selections – you want to be playing with the best guys.

"So for me, personally, I've got a bit to do to earn my way back into the team; obviously I didn't play much last year and I know Quade's got a few battles he wants to sort out."

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Cooper's form has been patchy following his boxing debut in February with the controversial fly half struggling to produce his renowned attacking flair.

Still, the man who last year famously described the Wallabies environment as "toxic" said the added competition at No.10 would only benefit the Test side.

"The best thing about it is pushing yourself against the best players," Cooper said.

"James is one of the best players in Australia and to go head-to-head and to have that opportunity to play against one of my best mates and one of the best players in the world, it's a great opportunity for both of us."

One man who won't be out on AAMI Park Friday night is the incumbent Wallabies No.10, Kurtley Beale.

Beale underwent surgery on a hand injury on Tuesday, ruling him out of Super Rugby for up to four weeks.
 

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