THE HANGOVER: DRAFTSTARS WEEKLY WRAP

This week was not just any old week of sport. The NBA Finals kicked off, which has been amazing. The AFL just kept on keeping on, providing two games decided in the final minute. The NRL eased into Origin. The cricket world cup got cracking in the UK. The Champions League was run and won by Liverpool is incredible scenes.

And Draftstars hosted the biggest weekend of sports prize pools ever with $100k going off on Friday night and $75k on Sunday just being an example!

A shock Collingwood loss saw Geelong jump two games clear on top of the ladder and GWS leapfrogged the Pies into second. The Lions consolidated their spot in the eight and consigned Hawthorn to a lacklustre 11th, ominous after a third place finish last year.

The Eagles look like they are back to their GF winning form and the Kangaroos may have found a silver lining after a rough start to 2019. Caretaker coach, Rhyce Shaw, oversaw a stylish victory over highly fancied Richmond and could lead them to a surprise finals berth. Carlton… Well, the less said the better. Another horror showing finally spelled the end for Brendon Bolton who departs with a 25 per cent winning record.

Only four NRL games were played over the weekend before origin kicks off on Wednesday. The biggest talking point? The Rabbitohs getting shocked by the Eels and losing top spot to the Storm, who did not even play. And the Cowboys and Titans combined for ten points in a drawl.

Toronto played game one like champions, but then Golden State played game two like even better champions. Now, tied 1-1 and with the Warriors scraping one through away from home, the truly impressive Raptors are vulnerable.

And the Cricket World Cup started over the weekend. It descended, somewhat, into obscurity while everything else in the sporting world was happening but it will only build through the group stages. The Aussies cruised to victory in their first game against Afghanistan, New Zealand and the Windies made statements over Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively, and South Africa are in all sorts after consecutive losses to England and Bangladesh.

AFL ROUND ELEVEN

Friday night looked predictable and it looked gloomy for the Roos. But they flipped the script and battered Richmond from pillar to post, coming away 37-point victors. A number of Roos had their best games of the year but Mason Wood stood out with four goals and 92 DS points.

Freo gave everyone déjà vu with a final minute Michael Walters goal giving them an unexpected victory over the Pies. Despite being marred by controversy due to a dodgy goal review, the Dockers were better when it mattered. Nat Fyfe showed why he’s a Brownlow medallist with 32 touches and 122 DS points.

The Giants made light work of the Suns and jumped into second spot on the ladder. Again, the Giants dominated across the field but Stephen Coniglio was unsurpassed. For his 36 disposals, eight tackles and three goals he earnt a staggering 192 DS points.

Geelong reclaimed their GMHBA fortress status from Sydney after they battled out a 22-point victory. The match was decided in a 15-minute spurt from the Cats in which they kicked eight goals. Dan Rampe battled on for the Swans with 102 DS points while the Cats batted deep with just Patrick Dangerfield scoring in triple figures with 108 DS points.

The Lions conceded another big first quarter deficit but dominated from then on to come away with a 19-point victory, decisively taking the wood over the Hawks in recent history. Lewy Taylor answered those calling for his omission with an industrious 108 DS points but Jarryd Lyons was the most prolific with 131 DS points from 33 disposals.

Adelaide came from the clouds to topple the dilapidated Demons, with a final seconds shot from Sam Weideman drifting wide. Six Crows scored in triple figures and their relentlessness is what got their side the win. Tom Lynch was their most important, playing his best game and delivering 26 disposals, 13 marks, three goals and 126 DS points.

Port made it two from two for the SA sides with a huge victory over the Saints in Shanghai and their victory saw them jump into the eight. Jarrod Leinert has been a revelation for the Power over the past few weeks and again he was prolific. While Travis Boak (125 DS points) and Robbie Gray (120 DS points) were the best, Leinert’s 31 touches secured him 116 DS points at strong value.

A dreary affair on a shocking Sunday in Melbourne the Bombers consigned Brendon Bolton to unemployment. Essendon held the Blues at bay all day, allowing just 33-points against. Cale Hooker (116 DS points) and Michael Hurley (111 DS points) cleaned up while second gamer, Dylan Clarke, put the clamps on Patrick Cripps with ten tackles and racked up 109 DS points of his own.

The Bulldogs were left ruing their early match inaccuracy after the Eagles dominated them in the second half. An 11-point half time deficit blew out to 61 by full time as the Eagles forwards ran rampant. Jake Waterman booted three straight goals and boosting his confidence in the best game of his career. Racking up 22 touches to go with his majors, he cleared 104 DS points to be a value choice for the contest.

NBA FINALS

Game one was a Canadian celebration. The Raptors were just too good. And people genuinely started to believe Toronto might be able to do the unthinkable and beat the Warriors.

Game one saw Spicy P, Pascal Siakam, remind everyone the Raps are not just a one man team. He had the most efficient 30-point Finals performance, shooting 14-17 from the field while snatching eight boards and dishing five assists.

He was ably assisted by Marc Gasol who tallied 20-points and hauled in seven boards. Joining them was Fred VanVleet who has been on a tear since the birth of his child; he had 15-point and ignited the Raptors time and time again.

The Warriors were not bad; the Raptors were just better. Steph Curry still had 34 points, Klay chimed in with 21 and Draymond Green had his fifth triple double.

And it led them into game two where Curry and Klay combined for 48-points and Draymond fell just one assist short of another triple double. But this game was defined by the dominance of Boogie Cousins who returned to the starting line-up after an injury lay-off. He had 11-points, 10 boards and six assists and curtailed both Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol.

And after Klay left the game with a hamstring injury, Quinn Cook was the next soldier in line. He nailed three dagger triples and sparked a Warriors side which may have fallen victim to the loss of Thompson. If Klay misses game three, Cook could prove to be a contest winner.

CRICKET WORLD CUP

The World cup opened up on Thursday with England cruising to victory over South Africa. Ben Stokes knocked a match-winning 89 from 79 balls and took 2/12. But what this match will be remembered for is his insane outfield catch.

39-year-old Chris Gayle reminded the world what he, and the Windies, are capable of as they rolled Pakistan for 105, thanks to Oshane Thomas’ 4/27, and chased it down in 13 overs, thanks to Gayle’s 50 from 34.

New Zealand made light work of Sri Lanka as their opening duo of Martin Guptill (73 from 51) and Colin Munro (58 from 47) chased down their total in 16 overs without losing a wicket.

Dave Warner marked his return to the Aussie side with 89 runs and a man of the match performance. He and Aaron Finch combined for a 96 run opening partnership while Pat Cummins took 3/40.

And Bangladesh smashed their highest ODI total ever against South Africa as Mushfiqur Rahim (78 off 80) and Shakib Al Hasan (75 off 84) took their total to 330. It was a bridge too far for South Africa who managed only 309 themselves.

Written by Brin Duggan

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