Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith and Bulldogs caption Michael Ennis. PIcture: Marco Del Grande.
For sporting lovers it is the biggest weekend of the year.
Drinks, barbecues and the biggest television screen humanly possible is all that is needed on this October long weekend.
It all kicks off with the AFL grand final in Melbourne tomorrow.
Despite the absence of the Greater Western Sydney Giants, NSW pride is still on the line.
The Sydney Swans will line up against the Hawthorn Hawks.
Although the red and white boast the likes of Adam Goodes and Keiran Jack in the side, the Hawks have 2012 All Australians Lance ‘‘Buddy’’ Franklin and Cyril Rioli.
It will be a mountainous task for the Swans’ defence to contain Franklin and Rioli — but it’s certainly not impossible.
Finally on Sunday it’s the big one.
The NRL grand final between the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and the Melbourne Storm.
They are both teams everybody loves to hate.
They are both teams who previously paid the price for significant salary cap breaches.
But they are both teams who know how to entertain.
Which excitment machine will stand and guide their team to glory — Billy Slater and Ben Barba?
Unlike last year’s disappointing game between the New Zealand Warriors and the Manly Sea Eagles, this Sunday’s match should be a tight affair and worthy of a grand final.
Fields of fashion
Rosehill Gardens will host Fashions on the Field this Saturday.
The winner will walk away $15,000 richer and one race day voter will grab $2000.
Details: 96638400, theraces.com.au.