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The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: A Recap of 2024’s first “week” of Sport

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: 09 Jan 2024
Ryan Tucker 09 Jan 2024
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  • David Warner retired from Test cricket on a high note, securing a 3-0 win for Australia in his last match.
  • Sam Kerr's unexpected injury at a training camp casts a shadow over the Matildas' chances in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
  • NFL disappointment as Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars both lost five of their last six games, resulting in division title losses.
Australia vs Pakistan Third Test
Will David Warner sign off on a high with a win? (Getty Images)

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: A Recap of 2024’s first “week” of Sport


Introduction


Well to be honest, it is a week and a half. 2024 has started with a bang and as your resident sports expert this year, I will be bringing you the highlights, the lowlights and the lowlowlights week to week across all major sports.

The Good


Whether you are a fan or not, it was hard to miss David Warner’s farewell match at the SCG. With his Baggy Green in hiding this could have very easily turned into an “Ugly” but fate had other plans. Warner hit a solid 34 in his first innings followed by a half century (57) on day 4 helping the Aussies to secure a 3-0 win in his last ever test. Warner finishes his test career as the second highest Australian run-scorer (18,521), having the second highest number of centuries in international cricket (49 from 371 games) as well as the second highest individual score by an Australian in a test innings (335*).

  • Aussie Punter Tory Taylor broke an 85-year old major college football record for most punt yards in a single season (4479) for his Iowa Hawkeyes.
  • Illawarra Hawks NBL resurgence. The Hawks are 7-2 since interim coach Justin Tatum took over the reigns in round 8.
  • Teenage sensation Daniela Galic (17) netted a hat-trick in the Melbourne City A-League demolition of Adelaide United.


The Bad


High off the success of the home World Cup the Matildas were looking strong heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics. News emerged this week that star forward and captain Sam Kerr had suffered an injury at a training camp in Morocco which revealed itself to be a ruptured ACL. According to @nrlphysio it is “usually 9+ months return to play time… for female athletes in 360 degree sport like football/soccer.” A truly Bad shot for Aussie Sports on the international stage.

  • Big Bash Wash Outs. 7 games this season have either been abandoned or have had to use the DLS method to get results. 
  • Newcastle Jets give away 99th minute penalty to Macarthur FC resulting in a draw.


The Ugly


Despite it not being an Australian sport the NFL dished out some UGLY scores over this past week. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars lost 5 of their last 6 games including their most recent Week 18 match-ups culminating in them both giving away their Division Titles. The Eagles and Jaguars looked to have everything wrapped up heading into the month of December but poor form derailed both teams with Jacksonville completely missing the playoffs. Where does a team from Florida go for Mad Monday?

  • Quinton de Kock underperforms in short stint at Melbourne Renegades as Marquee Platinum Player costing the franchise approx $380,000.
  • Wests Tigers still can’t handle social media in Jarome Luai signing.
  • Western United A-League team have scored only 8 goals in 11 matches so far this season.


Conclusion


We love sports for the rollercoaster ride of emotions. 2023 gave us quite the ride and 2024 is already promising to deliver. Over the coming weeks we will see some sports entering finals whilst others ramp up for the beginning of their seasons. Our experts will have their ear to the ground and their eyes fixed to their screens to bring you the Good, the Bad and the Ugly across all sports every week.



Summary


The Good:

  • David Warner and Australian Cricket
  • Tory Taylor and Punting
  • Illawarra Hawks and Winning
  • Daniela Galic and Scoring

The Bad:

  • Sam Kerr and Injury
  • Big Bash League and Weather
  • Newcastle Jets and Penalties

The Ugly:

  • Eagles, Jaguars and Losing
  • Quinton de Kock and Underperforming
  • Wests Tigers and Social Media
  • Western United and Scoring Goals

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