Australia Make Quick Work Of England

Excellent conditions for the first test of the 2025/26 Ashes series in Perth in what would become a historic result with wickets tumbling rapidly within two days for Australia to deliver a stunning victory out of what was almost certain to be a crushing defeat by England.

Day one conditions were perfect, with warm sunny conditions with a flat deck with plenty of bounce and carry with a little bit of a green tinge to offer something for the seamers and the quicks to cause trouble to the batsmen. As it would pan out this would be the case and the quicks would cause complete devastation to the batting line ups.

 

England won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket offering early bounce and sideways movement. Their innings never settled into rhythm, with Australia’s pace attack applying persistent pressure. Mitchell Starc was the standout performer, swinging and seaming the ball at high pace to dismantle England’s top and middle order. Despite a few brief periods of resistance, England were bowled out for 172, a total that felt below par in good batting conditions. Starc claimed the majority of the wickets, setting the tone for the match with a commanding display. I think that Starc is only getting better and better as he ages with his pace, swing and bounce being a headache for batsmen. Can very easily see him reaching the 500 wicket mark within 3 seasons.

 

Australia’s response began shakily. England’s bowlers extracted similar movement under lights, and Australia stumbled to 132 all out, giving England a narrow 40-run lead. While the total was not ideal, the match remained evenly poised thanks to disciplined English bowling from the likes of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes. However, the small lead meant England needed to bat with composure in their second innings to set a competitive target.

 

England were on track for setting the pace and taking control of the match. However, what would be the game changing spells of bowling from Starc and Scott Boland sent the English from 65 for only one wicket to being bundled out for 164. This only left England with a lead of 205. Given how Australia batted in the first innings, this would perhaps be a challenge for the hosts. Although there would be another 4 days worth of batting left ahead of them, this perhaps would be mathematically and logically within reach of them chasing down this total given how long they would have to chase down the total.

 

While Starc's phenomenal bowling had caused more difficulties for the visitors, it was yet again another incredible display from Boland to bag 4 wickets to clean up the innings and essentially be the match winner with such display. Australia's pace attack had forced 8 wickets to fall for only 40 runs. This dominant display by the Australians paved the way for their run chase that would be a breeze with exquisite batting from Travis Head and a scratchy but valuable half century from Marnus Labuschagne. Wetherald improved from his disappointing first innings score with a handy start. Hopefully can build upon that for the next test in Brisbane. However, the star of the show was Head's 123 which ensured that Australia won the game within 2 days by 8 wickets.

   

Now about the food and beverages. I honestly did not have any of the food as the wickets and the drama was unfolding rapidly. I mean the game was wrapped up within 2 days. Though I did have the time to have some drinks. The 600mL of Pepsi were 7 dollars as well as 500mL of Dare coffee drink. These are on the absurd levels, even for stadium prices these are becoming rather silly and out of control. These should not be more than the 6 dollar mark as when you hit 7, you start to push towards 10 and then the prices of food and drinks start to run away and become unaffordable. Although the saving grace of my time while watching the cricket was the price of premixed Bundaberg Rum and cola. The spirits are 15.50 and though they are on the slightly expensive side, I would rather have them as full strength. If these were not full strength and being the same price but at mid-strength, this would simply be unacceptable. However, this would have been th case outside of the membership enclosure, so that would be thoroughly irritating.

I would say it was another great time out at Perth stadium to watch some test cricket. While it was thoroughly enjoyable, it was all so very quick and something that will probably not happen any time soon. Though test cricket could throw up interesting events as Ashes cricket usually does. Never a dull moment at the cricket.

Kings Fail to Ignite Against United

On 8 October 2025, the Sydney Kings hosted Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena in front of a vocal crowd of 9,528 fans for a highly anticipated Ignite Cup fixture — a special mid-season competition within the NBL calendar designed to add extra stakes and showcase marquee match-ups between top teams. The Ignite Cup, introduced to build fan engagement and create high-intensity games early in the season, features selected fixtures that count towards both regular season standings and a separate Ignite Cup ladder. The top two teams from this mini-tournament later face off in a showcase final, making each game crucial not only for momentum but also for potential silverware.

 

Melbourne United rose to the occasion, defeating Sydney 107–93 in a commanding performance. United started strongly, moving the ball fluidly and finding open shots to take a 29–25 lead at quarter-time. Sydney responded well in the second period, tightening their defense and attacking the rim to outscore Melbourne 27–21 and snatch a narrow halftime advantage. The third quarter proved decisive. United lifted their intensity on both ends, outscoring the Kings 31–19 with sharp perimeter shooting and disciplined team defense, creating a double-digit lead. From there, Melbourne controlled the tempo, fending off Sydney’s final-quarter push to close out a 26–22 final term and secure a convincing Ignite Cup win.

 

Melbourne’s offensive efficiency was a key factor, shooting 50.7% from the field and 15/32 from three-point range (46.9%), compared to Sydney’s 46.8% overall and 36% from deep. Tyson Walker led all scorers with 27 points, including 5/9 from three, while Jesse Edwards dominated inside with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Captain Milton Doyle added 16 points and six assists, with Tanner Krebs (15 points) and Finn Delany (8 points, 9 rebounds) providing crucial support. For Sydney, Kendric Davis battled hard for 21 points and six assists, and Xavier Cooks delivered a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, but the Kings’ inconsistency across quarters and inability to contain Melbourne’s third-quarter surge ultimately proved costly.

 

This Ignite Cup result not only strengthens Melbourne’s position in the standings but also highlights their title credentials, while giving Sydney an early-season benchmark against one of the league’s most balanced and disciplined outfits.

 

Now for the food side of things. Well, I do sound like a broken record but I simply have to say it about the prices of food and beverages at sporting venues in Australia. While I am no fool and expect that the prices will be somewhat higher than regular prices in order for companies to clear profit margins and make it in this capitalist world. However, I think the margins for how much things cost at venues are somewhat on the excessive side of things given that the factors such as the cost of living and heightened inflationary pressures are not making things easy for people to attend sporting events. This is fine if I am by myself or with someone at the game. However, if it is with a family or with children, then the cost of the food and beverages will shoot through the roof and cripple a family's budget.

    

In saying this the Pepsi 600mL bottle was 6.80 and of course it is what it is, bottle of Pepsi and went down nicely for the game. I was sipping on this during the game and enjoyed it on the way home also. I bought a hotdog and chips. The hotdog was 8.60 and was rather nice actually. I could take a guess and say that it was a Don's small-goods hotdog sausage and while not good for you, did taste rather fine as the meat wasn't too bad and you had that nice saltiness to it to coincide with the tomato sauce and the mustard. Then I had some chips for 8.90 and that was rather deliciously salted. They were like french fries from McDonald's or Hungry Jacks but just a bit more saltier which was what you would want you chips to taste really.

 

I am glad to finally attend the Qudos Bank Arena as it was the former venue for the 2000 Olympic games that I have ticked off. I remember the 2000 games so vividly as a child so to see these venues 25 years on does activate some nostalgic sentiments. But was a good experience to see the basketball in Sydney and if I am given the chance for another time, I would try and take that on board and bet there for the next time.

 

Lions Roar into Action Against Fremantle

Brisbane powered to a commanding 57-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium, with their 15.11 (101) to 5.14 (44) victory underlining both their finals credentials and the Dockers’ ongoing struggles in front of goal.

The opening quarter set the tone. Fremantle dominated territory and ruck contests but failed to convert, kicking five behinds without reward. Brisbane, far more clinical, struck through Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher to establish a 15-point lead at the first break.

The Dockers briefly rallied in the second term as Michael Walters and Josh Treacy found goals, but every surge was matched by the Lions’ composure. Hugh McCluggage and Lachie Neale controlled the midfield, while Keidean Coleman’s rebound carved through Fremantle’s defensive setup. At half time Brisbane’s advantage was only eight points, but their efficiency was obvious.

After the break, the Lions crushed Fremantle’s resistance. Winning clearances and dominating inside 50s, Brisbane piled on five goals to one in the third quarter to blow the margin out to 31 points. Eric Hipwood and Cam Rayner stretched the Dockers’ defence, while Brisbane’s midfield lifted another gear.

The final quarter became a procession, with Brisbane adding five more majors as Fremantle managed just one in reply. The Dockers’ inaccuracy—finishing with 5.14—summed up their night, while Brisbane surged past the 100-point mark.

Numbers told the story: Brisbane collected 395 disposals to Fremantle’s 289 and out-kicked them 268 to 168. Despite losing hit-outs, the Lions’ ground-level work and cleaner ball use proved decisive. Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw toiled for the Dockers, but lacked support.

Brisbane left Perth with momentum and belief, while Fremantle were left to reflect on wasteful scoring and the gulf to the competition’s top sides.

The chicken pops at Optus Stadium put a twist on classic popcorn chicken, trading bite-sized pieces for arancini-style spheres. Each portion feels more substantial, with a crisp golden coating that gives way to juicy chicken inside. The larger size means you actually get to savour the meat, not just the crumb, and they hold seasoning well. A hint of pepper and garlic comes through, though the flavour relies heavily on dipping sauces—barbecue and aioli were standouts.

At $16.95, they sit on the slightly high end for stadium food. It’s not outrageous given the portion and quality, but enough to make you pause before grabbing a second serve. Still, they’re undeniably satisfying as a game-day snack—easy to share yet filling enough that one serve does the job. For footy fare, they’re a solid option: comforting, tasty, and built for four quarters of grazing.

The butter chicken curry at Optus Stadium is one of the more substantial offerings, served with biryani rice and two small naan breads. The curry leans toward the mild, creamy side—rich in tomato and butter but light on spice, making it approachable for most. The chicken pieces are tender enough, though a little more depth of flavour would elevate it.

 

The biryani rice is fragrant and well-cooked, adding texture and colour to the dish. The naan breads, while soft, are on the smaller side—closer to mini flat-breads than the fluffy naan you might expect, but still useful for scooping up sauce.

At $18.95, it pushes the high end of stadium pricing. It feels like value in portion size compared to lighter snacks, but still makes you think twice before ordering. That said, it’s hearty, warming, and a welcome alternative to the usual chips and burgers.

 

Royals Shine Over Clipped Swans

East Perth delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, June 28, defeating Swan Districts by 40 points at Steel Blue Oval in Round 12 of the 2025 WAFL season. The Royals were in control from the outset, maintaining a consistent level of intensity and execution to claim a 13.8 (86) to 7.4 (46) victory.

 

The opening term was tightly contested, with East Perth taking a narrow 13–8 lead into quarter time. From there, the Royals gradually asserted their authority. Their midfielders were clean around stoppages, generating repeated inside-50 entries, while their forwards capitalised with scoreboard pressure. By halftime, the lead had extended, and Swan Districts found themselves chasing the game.

 

To their credit, the Swans responded after the main break. A spirited third-quarter surge saw them string together multiple goals and wrestle back some momentum, giving the home crowd reason for optimism. However, East Perth weathered the challenge and closed out the game strongly, regaining control in the final quarter to seal a well-earned victory.

 

While individual stats weren't highlighted in official reports, it was East Perth’s even spread of contributors and composed ball use that stood out. Their ability to absorb pressure and punish mistakes proved decisive. For Swan Districts, the third-quarter fightback showed glimpses of promise, but inconsistency and missed opportunities ultimately let them down.

 

The result strengthens East Perth’s position heading into the back half of the season, while Swan Districts will be eager to regroup and address the lapses that cost them the game.

I was chatting away and focused on East Perth’s strong and commanding performance that I didn’t even think about grabbing food during the match. Instead, I parked myself at the Swan Districts bar and soaked it all in with a few Somersby’s ciders and some Melbourne Bitters in hand—an ideal combination for an afternoon of quality footy and Royals brilliance. It had been a while since I last tasted a Melbourne Bitter, and while it’s definitely an acquired taste, I found myself enjoying it more with each sip. There was something oddly satisfying about reacquainting myself with that bold, old-school flavour while watching East Perth methodically dismantle their opposition.

 

The Somersby’s ciders, on the other hand, provided a refreshing contrast. Their tart and slightly sour apple notes cut through the sharp bitterness of the beer perfectly, cleansing the palate and offering a lighter, crisper alternative between quarters. The cider’s effervescence paired nicely with the overcast and cooler afternoon atmosphere with some sun shining through. It is bright, punchy, and easy-drinking. It was a well-balanced beverage duo for a game where East Perth left no doubt about who was in charge.

That said, the drinks were priced at $9.50 each—not outrageous, but edging toward the expensive side, especially for a WAFL venue. While the drinks are fine, there's a slight sense that prices like these are sliding further and further higher in such a manner that is causing a potential point of no return. You cannot have drinks that expensive to begin to turn people away; or potentially bring in drinks from outside. For a club built on community, local pride, and accessible football, keeping things affordable remains just as important as what happens on the field.

 

It's always a pleasure to watch football at Bassendean between two, hard-working, no-frills clubs rich in their working-class history. Swans faithful are always great value to be around sharing drinks and soaking up the atmosphere, creating a spirited and welcoming atmosphere. Always a great Saturday afternoon out watching quality football. 

 

Anchors Aweigh: Fremantle Fend Off A Bounding North Melbourne

In a nail-biting Round 14 clash at Optus Stadium on a rather wet and crisp June evening at Optus Stadium with Fremantle narrowly edging out North Melbourne by six points, winning 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67). The Dockers looked in control for most of the game, building a strong 28-point lead during the third quarter. However, a determined final-term surge from the Kangaroos brought the margin down to just a single point with minutes to play, setting up a thrilling finish.

North Melbourne’s comeback had the home crowd on edge, but it was Fremantle’s Luke Jackson who stepped up when it mattered most, kicking a crucial goal late in the fourth quarter to restore some breathing space. Just as the Kangaroos threatened to go coast-to-coast for a final attack, Josh Treacy took a match-saving mark in defence, halting the momentum and ensuring the Dockers held on for their fourth consecutive win.

Fremantle’s performance was highlighted by several standout contributors. Luke Jackson was instrumental, not only with his key goal but through his physical presence around the ground. Josh Treacy's last-minute intercept was arguably the most pivotal moment of the match. Corey Wagner also provided an early spark, nailing a long-range goal that kept the Dockers firing during the first half.

The match unfolded in contrasting quarters. North Melbourne got off to a strong start, leading by two points at quarter time. Fremantle then took control in the second and third quarters, kicking six goals to just three from the Kangaroos. But the final quarter belonged to North, as they piled on 4.2 to Fremantle's 2.2, nearly stealing the game.

Post-match, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir praised his team’s composure under pressure, noting the importance of weathering North Melbourne’s late challenge. The win lifts the Dockers into sixth place on the ladder and continues their strong mid-season form. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos, despite the loss, showed considerable improvement and competitiveness that will hearten their supporters.

The condition of the Optus Stadium surface drew some criticism following heavy use during an NRL State of Origin clash earlier in the week. Players at times struggled for footing, but both sides adapted well to the challenging conditions.

Fremantle will now turn their attention to a Round 15 meeting with Essendon, while North Melbourne will look to build on the momentum from their strong final quarter in upcoming fixtures. Despite the result, both teams left the field with positives to take forward into the second half of the season.

On the food front I delved into the habanero hot chicken wings. Priced at $16.20, these wings made a bold impression with their smoky, tangy marinade and a heat that steadily built to a serious burn. Crispy on the outside and juicy within, they delivered plenty of flavour and fire for those game enough to take them on. While I have had these during cricket matches and some other events at the stadium, the price match is a little off-balance. However, the taste factor is very decent for a stadium offering and with the sauce that pairs with it, does go down rather nicely. 

Also on the stadium menu was the much-hyped cheeseburger kebab, priced at $18.50 — a figure that raised eyebrows before the first bite. Unfortunately, the taste didn’t come close to justifying the cost. Despite the novelty of wrapping classic cheeseburger ingredients — beef, cheese, pickles, and burger sauce — in a flatbread, the result was uninspiring. It tasted exactly like a stock standard cheeseburger you’d expect to get at any WAFL ground, sitting on the grassy banks watching a Saturday afternoon game. That kind of nostalgia is fine — even enjoyable — but not at nearly twenty dollars. For a stadium aiming to elevate its food offerings, this one felt like a half-hearted attempt dressed up as innovation. 

Even more disappointing were the spicy chicken dim sums, priced at $14.50. Despite their name, they lacked any noticeable spice, delivering a bland and uninspired flavour that fell flat from the first bite. The texture was rubbery and forgettable, and the overall taste was compared by one fan to “chewing cardboard in soy sauce.” At that price point, the quality simply didn’t match the cost — making them feel overpriced and underwhelming. It’s a clear case of style over substance, and unfortunately, the flavour didn’t deliver on the promise of heat or value.

Drinks that were consumed were Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker which were mid-strengths and at 13.50. I have said it a million times that alco-pop taxes are not mitigating the consumption of alcohol in Australia and is simply not working. But they went down nicely with the wings and with good company also.

Another outing at Optus stadium done and dusted. A nice belated birthday treat for myself and was a nice evening out and was good fun all round. Hopefully do this all again sometime soon.

Melbourne Victorious over Macarthur on Anzac Day

Ventured to my first Anzac Day A-League match for the first time and my first A-League match in Sydney for a while since the western Sydney derby clash between West Sydney and Macarthur in Parramatta. Today would be a contrast to what I had seen back then with Campbelltown Stadium being a rather interesting experience. It was also my very first time that I have ventured to Campbelltown and the stadium. So, there will be opinions on these matters throughout the article.

The stadium is originally for rugby league and union and the layout of the stadium certainly show this as it feels like a National Premier Leagues venue and with the demographic to match that feeling also. The stadium only has two grandstands where there is very little cover even for the grandstand. As it was raining on and off during the day, it would be a problem for fans where watching the last 5 minutes of the game where they would be exposed to the elements and if you didn't have anything to protect you from the elements, you would be in trouble. This would also be a problem during the day as there is little shelter to protect viewers from the harsh Australian sun. I do not understand why Australian architecture and engineering do not incorporate these factors into buildings.

To Macarthur's credit at Campbelltown, there were no areas in the ground that were restricted or areas where it would be difficult to watch the game. This was evident with so many children at the game and they were playing football. They could be watching the game as well as playing their game. Which makes me raise the next question, as it ties into Macarthur's stability as well as the leagues'. How can such a team sustain itself when from based off what I had seen, the demographic of the fans would be overwhelmingly youthful. There were not very many adults.

While this is great for generating grass roots support for the team as well as for the region. You do need to have adults become more engaged with the team and to get behind them. The nature of the team is still rather new and they simply do not have a concrete club culture. So far it is dictated my the Football Federation of Australia and the culture of the team just seems deeply forced and contrived. Team culture needs to be created from somewhere, but it just does not seem to be growing and flowing in a positive direction because of the sanitised manner in which the FFA treat and deal with the football teams in the A-League.

I think that one reason why going to a Macarthur match is because the ticket prices for an adult are just way out of step, even for these high prices labelled as "cost of living", the prices for the tickets are high. For example, grandstand tickets are 60 dollars. Why would these seats cost so much at a venue such as at Campbelltown? It just doesn't make sense. The price for an adult grandstand ticket shouldn't be no more than 40 dollars tops. General admission was in the 20s which is understandable as there are many places to sit down and watch. Campbelltown stadium is a typical rugby league venue where there are grassed banked seating at both ends of the ground and with the corners with grassed banked seating too. 

 

 

I should get on with the game itself. Macarthur just did not seem to be in the game as Melbourne Victory dealt a massive blow to the Bulls spirits with the opening goal in the 4th minute. From that point on-wards, Melbourne just seemed to be in complete control. Melbourne just seemed to be the quicker team when they pressed forwards, they were connecting their passes far more quicker than Macarthur, they were positioning themselves with more intent and far more vigilance than Macarthur and they would be able to track back with ease and ensure their defensive lines were not under pressure.

Macarthur just could not regather themselves after that goal and they were just not quick enough to beat the man when they would try and take on the defensive lines of Melbourne. The communication just seemed to be also lacking and they would either over-run the ball when trying to string passes, miss-queue their passes when trying to venture into their attacking third and also they just could not switch the play fast enough where Melbourne would simply have enough time to shut down their telegraphed passage of play.

It wasn't until the 36th minute when the second goal was scored. Melbourne looked constantly threatening to kick open the door and the floodgates to open. The second goal occurred, ironically as I ventured to gather food and a drink when I went behind the grassed bank northern end and Melbourne doubled their lead and 2-0 up. In the 68th minute the Bulls' hard work paid off with getting one through the Victory's defense and showed some spark and some life. However, it was too little and too late where they just were not good enough to score that elusive second to draw the contest. Though while they were busy at it, Melbourne were constantly threatening to score their third, or potentially their 3rd and 4th in rapid succession.

The food was a lean affair, which is rather saddening but I mean for A-League matches, I shouldn't be shocked, nor horrified given the nature of me going to Perth Glory matches. I only saw a food truck by the main gate of the stadium, so I could have missed another food truck. However, I really doubt that there were any other food offerings available as many people, or children I should say, were going to this one large food truck. They had Mexican on offer and chips with hotdogs also on offer. There were many topping offerings available for the chips. However, I decided to order chips with gravy as it was cool and a but chilly in the evening. So thought that this would hit the spot while watching the contest with a can of coke to just keep me perked up and sharp.

The coke was 3 dollars with the chips and gravy being 16 dollars. The chips were not too bad and were not badly salted. However, they could have been salted more and the gravy could have been slightly thicker and more applied over the chips. But all-in-all, the chips were not too bad but could have been much better. Though were suitable given the nature of the contest and for the demographic attending the game. I think that if there were more people attending and a better venue, the food offerings would be there for the locals.

Macarthur have a long way to go to build up their fan-base as well as to creating and developing a culture for the team, their supporters and the region. The potential is there and I think that it is progressing there, though thanks to the sanitised nature of the FFA and the officials running the competition with the Australian Premier Leagues, there are so many more people out there in all Australian cities that are not being engaged with the local A-League teams because of the lack of atmosphere. Or I should say because of the lack of atmosphere, with fans wanting to create one, being prevented and even forbidden to create a unique fan culture turns many football fans away from watching the games. 

That wraps up my first A-League match out further west and another football match in New South Wales ticked off the list. I haven't been going to many Perth Glory games for obvious reasons, it was nice to get out there and to watch some football. Looking forward to another football experience in Sydney.