In sport this weekend, Australia makes history at the World Athletics Championships, Giants seal last finals spot, Wallabies performance raises concerns, and Boomers loss sets up a must-win clash with Japan.

Australia reaches best-ever medal haul

Australia have now claimed six medals at this year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, making this the nation’s best-ever medal haul in the competition.

This achievement for Australia came after Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers won silver and bronze in the women’s high jump. It also marked the first time Australia had two athletes on the same podium at a world championships, something Australia hasn’t achieved since the 1968 Olympic Games.

Australian pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall also won a bronze medal at the world championships finishing with a best vault of 5.95m.

Giants crucial win headlines big AFL weekend

A four-goal masterclass by Giants captain and forward Toby Greene has helped GWS snatch an AFL finals spot, displacing the Western Bulldogs from the top eight with a 32-point win over Carlton in the last match of the home-and-away season.

The margin wasn’t quite great enough for GWS to earn a home final as they finished seventh on percentage behind St Kilda. The two teams will face off in an elimination final on September 9.

Despite the loss, Carlton celebrated Charlie Curnow securing a second straight Coleman Medal, finishing with a total of 78 goals for the home-and-away season.

In other games, Bailey Fritsch was clinical kicking five goals in the Demons’ win over the Swans and Port Adelaide secured third place with a win over the Tigers at home.

Wallabies performance raises concerns

The Wallabies have been dismantled during a disappointing 41-17 loss to France in their Rugby World Cup warm-up Test in Paris.

Sloppy kicking and poor discipline cost the Wallabies dearly in defeat to France. Vice-captain and half-back Tate McDermott said the team was “letting itself down” with errors.

Australia conceded 14 penalties to France, with the Wallabies continuing their winless record this year.

The Wallabies will now regroup and look ahead to their World Cup opener against Georgia, on September 10

Boomers loss sets up a must-win clash with Japan

Australia have fallen agonisingly short after an 85-82 defeat against Germany at the Basketball World Cup in Okinawa.

Sharpshooter Patty Mills led Australia with 21 points, but just four of those came in the second half as Germany outplayed the Boomers. Throughout the game, the Boomers struggled with slow starts to the first and final quarters. With their first loss of the tournament, Australia must now defeat Japan in the final match of the group stage to be able to advance from the first phase of the competition.

Photo: White and Red Track Field by Markus Spiske available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.