Weekend sport preview

SBS World News Radio: This weekend, the A-League Grand Final takes centre stage but it's also a big weekend for the other football codes.

Weekend sport previewWeekend sport preview

Weekend sport preview

This weekend, the Western Sydney Wanderers face the trip south to Adelaide to take on the Reds, with both sides hoping to end long waits to win the big one.

One thing is certain, whichever club lifts the A-League trophy on Sunday, a new name will be inscribed on it.

Each team has been in two previous Grand Finals and each time have come up empty-handed.

For Adelaide defender Michael Marrone, the chance to be involved in his second season finale is something he wants to make the most of.

"You don't know how often these things come around. Probably took it for granted the first time, when I happened to be on the bench I didn't play but it's a big deal. It's a big thing to get into the grand final its not easy in this competition being so close, so especially at home we have to take advantage of it."

Because the capacity for Adelaide's usual home ground, Hindmarsh stadium, is just under 17,000, the Grand Final is being held at the far bigger Adelaide Oval which can accommodate over 53,000 fans.

Adelaide will have the majority of fans for obvious reasons.

But the Wanderers players are confident their raucous supporters will make themselves heard.

Romeo Castelen scored a hat-trick against Brisbane to help send Western Sydney to the Grand Final.

"I didn't play there before so I don't know what it is (going to be like), but it's a final you know, it doesn't matter where it is. You know our fans are going to be there and they are going to support us in big numbers. So for us we've got to go there get the job done and make history again."

Flights between Sydney and Adelaide sold out quickly and the consequential rising prices for flights ruled out the possibility for many Wanderers fans to be there for the game.

But for many who've been to the two previous grand finals, the thought of missing the decider this season wasn't an option.

Supporter Jeff Walsh and a mate have planned out their weekend trip, including a 15 hour drive each way.

"Saturday afternoon we're planning on leaving, so we'll drive through, get there sometime Saturday night, early Sunday morning. Probably find somewhere under a nice cool tree to grab a couple of hours sleep. We'll go to the game, stay in Adelaide Sunday night, drive back Monday.

The lengths that fans go to get to a game may be extreme, but they pale in comparison to Aliir Aliir's journey into the Sydney Swans A-F-L team for this weekend's game against Brisbane at the Gabba.

The 21 year old Sudanese man was born in a Kenyan refugee camp.

His family settled in Australia when he was seven years old.

Standing just four centimetres short of two metres tall, Aliir has the physical attributes to play the game.

But it's taken him three years as part of the Swans set-up to earn his big chance.

His elation at being named in the team to make his debut was understandable.

"I rang Mum and yeah she was very excited. I spoke to my brother and my brother, he couldn't believe it. He was just so happy for me like the rest of the family so hopefully all of them can come down and watch the game. I couldn't really believe it, I'm still trying to process it at the moment but I'm excited, so I'm ready to go."

Aliir has given much of his spare time over the past three years to work as the club's Multicultural ambassador.

Round six of the AFL kicks off tonight when the unbeaten league-leaders, the North Melbourne Kangaroos, take on second-placed Western Bulldogs.

The big match in the NRL tonight pits the Parramatta Eels against local Western Sydney rivals, the Canterbury Bulldogs.

In overseas action this weekend, the English Premier League title may be decided, with Leicester City travelling to Old Trafford on Sunday night.

Should the unfancied Foxes beat United, it will secure the title and complete one of the most remarkable "against all odds" achievements in Premier League history.

There's also the Russian Formula One Grand Prix taking place, with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg looking to make it four wins from the first four races of the season.

And in the United States one of the biggest sports events over the weekend won't be seen on any sporting fields.

The NFL Draft always attracts huge publicity with the top college players in the country chosen by the clubs and given the chance to begin their professional careers.

 






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