Reigning Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola failed to fire in his Brisbane debut, as a determined Western Bulldogs overcame the Lions at a rain-soaked Manuka Oval.

Valuable Carlton key position player Jarrad Waite believes he is on track to play in the AFL season-opener against Richmond.

Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig maintains his side will mount a strong AFL premiership challenge despite the evidence of their NAB Cup drubbing by arch rivals Port Adelaide.

Hawthorn gave an early indication they will be a powerhouse again as they delivered new Richmond coach Damien Hardwick a nightmare start to his Tigers tenure.

Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop will face scrutiny for a spear tackle in his side's 56-point thumping of Adelaide Crows in their season-opening AFL NAB Cup match.

A Hawthorn premiership player who coach Alastair Clarkson said "the footy world had written off" is ready to break loose in Launceston.

Adelaide Crows' top-four ambitions will be given a first significant test on Saturday night by a Port Adelaide side intent on building a more stingy reputation.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick knows he cannot promise much but he has pledged his Tigers will be tough, defensively minded and brimming with youthful talent.

Nick Naitanui led West Coast Eagles into the second round of the NAB Cup after a dominant performance in his side's win over Essendon Bombers in Perth.

You little beauty: footy is back! With the NAB Cup starting this week, it's time to put down the cricket bat, pick up the Sherrin - and take a screamer with our predictions for 2010.

Reigning Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola failed to fire in his Brisbane debut, as a determined Western Bulldogs overcame the Lions at a rain-soaked Manuka Oval.

Valuable Carlton key position player Jarrad Waite believes he is on track to play in the AFL season-opener against Richmond.

Adelaide Crows coach Neil Craig maintains his side will mount a strong AFL premiership challenge despite the evidence of their NAB Cup drubbing by arch rivals Port Adelaide.

Hawthorn gave an early indication they will be a powerhouse again as they delivered new Richmond coach Damien Hardwick a nightmare start to his Tigers tenure.

Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop will face scrutiny for a spear tackle in his side's 56-point thumping of Adelaide Crows in their season-opening AFL NAB Cup match.

A Hawthorn premiership player who coach Alastair Clarkson said "the footy world had written off" is ready to break loose in Launceston.

Adelaide Crows' top-four ambitions will be given a first significant test on Saturday night by a Port Adelaide side intent on building a more stingy reputation.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick knows he cannot promise much but he has pledged his Tigers will be tough, defensively minded and brimming with youthful talent.

Nick Naitanui led West Coast Eagles into the second round of the NAB Cup after a dominant performance in his side's win over Essendon Bombers in Perth.

You little beauty: footy is back! With the NAB Cup starting this week, it's time to put down the cricket bat, pick up the Sherrin - and take a screamer with our predictions for 2010.

A magnificent century by captain Ricky Ponting has guided Australia to a 50-run win and series victory over West Indies in the fourth one-dayer at the Gabba.

Shane Watson stared at Test oblivion 15 months ago, after being axed by the Australia selectors. Now he is the red-hot favourite to win the 2010 Allan Border Medal.

Debutant Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla smashed fluent centuries for South Africa before India hit back in a dramatic start to the second and final Test.

Phillip Hughes made a welcome return to form with a century that steered New South Wales out of danger against Victoria on day three of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.

Afghanistan will face India and South Africa after capping their fairytale qualification for the World Twenty20 finals by beating Ireland on Sunday (EDT).

Tasmania spinner Xavier Doherty bowled the Tigers to a 19-run run victory over Queensland in their Ford Ranger Cup clash at Bellerive Oval, keeping the Tigers' final hopes alive.

Victoria are within reach of first-innings points against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG and are hopeful of defying forecast bad weather to push for more.

Australia looked to have been rattled for the first time this summer in Sydney on Friday night but Mike Hussey says it was West Indies who dodged a bullet.

Rising all-rounder Steven Smith has become the latest Australian to join the Indian Premier League by signing a rich deal with Bangalore.

Rain may have saved Australia from a tense finish against underdogs West Indies in the third one-day international at the SCG.

Red Bull's Mark Webber expressed his delight with his team's brand new car as he drove it for the very first time in the second Formula One testing session of 2010.

The V8 Supercars round in Perth has been scrapped by the sport's governing body, with officials labelling the circuit "third world".

Felipe Massa set the pace in his Ferrari on the second day of testing ahead of the 2010 Formula One season in Valencia, Spain.

Retired V8 Supercars driver Mark Skaife will form a super team with Craig Lowndes for the endurance rounds this year.

German Formula One legend Michael Schumacher said he felt like a kid with a new toy in his official return to the sport after a three-year absence.

The All Stars battle may have celebrated reconciliation, but for a bunch of NRL bad boys it was all about redemption on the first official weekend of pre-season trials.

St George Illawarra held off a spirited fightback from Parramatta to post an entertaining 34-20 victory in their NRL trial match in Perth.

Worried club coaches may have reservations but the NRL All Stars game looks set to become a permanent fixture in the wake of a spectacular and bruising inaugural match.

It was more a snapshot than a master class but the first glimpse of Tim Smith's return to the NRL will be hard for Brisbane Broncos coach Ivan Henjak to ignore.

A piece of Jonathon Thurston magic contrived a gripping 16-12 victory for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars at Skilled Park.

Warriors recruit Brett Seymour took another step towards rebuilding his NRL career when he captained the Warriors to a 26-8 pre-season NRL trial win over Sydney Roosters.

Cronulla recruit Dean Collis is confident he can recover from a knee injury in time to make his Sharks debut in round one of the NRL season.

The set up of an independent commission before the NRL season starts on March 12 will have to wait.

Melbourne Storm signing Joseph Tomane scored two tries and kicked two goals for Gold Coast Titans in their 52-0 thrashing of the Brisbane Broncos.

Darren Lockyer has given the firmest indication yet that he might know at the end of Saturday's All Stars match if he has played his last representative game.

Sydney FC secured their first A-League Premier's Plate and an Asian Champions League berth with a stunning 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Gold Coast United have missed their chance to finish in the top two on the ladder, falling to a 2-1 loss to North Queensland Fury 2-1 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Perth Glory warm up for their A-League finals debut against Wellington Phoenix next weekend with an impressive 2-0 victory over Brisbane Roar at ME Stadium.

Adelaide United handed the Newcastle Jets their fourth consecutive loss and may have avoided the dreaded wooden spoon with a 2-1 win at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

A late brace to striker Paul Ifill sealed a top-four finish for Wellington Phoenix as they trounced Central Coast Mariners 3-0 at Westpac Stadium.

Sydney FC's Alex Brosque and Melbourne Victory's Adrian Leijer talk to Australian Football Weekly ahead of their blockbuster end-of-season A-League match on Sunday.

All the full squads for round 27 of the A-League.

Newcastle Knights are lodging an application with the Supreme Court to wind up A-League club Newcastle Jets because of debts exceeding $300,000.

Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory prepare to face off in a battle to decide the A-League's premier in a game officials are calling the biggest ever.

Brisbane Roar striker Sergio van Dijk will join Adelaide United for their upcoming Asian Champions League campaign.