It’s that point once more after we replicate on the 12 months that was.
And 2022 was an enormous 12 months for Australian sport, giving us some magical moments that can reside lengthy within the reminiscence.
WATCH IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Shane Warne remembered by daughter Summer time in gut-wrenching tribute.
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Whereas the surprising and sudden loss of life of the ‘king of spin’ Shane Warne was not a sporting spotlight, it is going to eternally be some of the important tales of the 12 months.
The Australian public have been shocked when the information got here by about his tragic loss of life.
However the nation rapidly moved to rejoice the loveable character he was.
Warne was given a state memorial service, attended by over 50,000 folks at his beloved MCG, the place the previous Nice Southern Stand was renamed the Shane Warne Stand.
The late, nice Warne deserved an honourable point out and the outpouring of grief and love that adopted his loss of life sits as a standalone occasion.
So let’s get to it – let the countdown start to the No.1 sporting second of 2022, and relive the massive moments within the video gamers beneath.
10. The Kangaroos raise the World Cup
Australia started the Rugby League World Cup within the UK as one of many match favourites however considerations lingered after a expertise drain, largely to Samoa and Tonga, but the Kangaroos lived as much as the hype.
The star-studded Aussies cruised by the group stage with coach Mal Meninga having the luxurious of resting gamers and altering up his halves mixture.
The Kangaroos have been hardly troubled of their quarter-final as they smashed Lebanon 48-4, backed by winger Josh Addo-Carr scoring an unbelievable 5 tries.
The semi-final towards rivals New Zealand was a tricky battle however Australia triumphed in a hard-fought 16-14 win.
Within the remaining at Outdated Trafford, the Kangaroos confronted match shock packets Samoa.
Australia dominated the game and ran out convincing 30-10 winners, claiming their 12th Rugby League World Cup title general.
Kangaroos captain James Tedesco was named man of the match after an unbelievable efficiency that includes two tries, seven deal with breaks, a try-saving deal with and 234 working metres.
“It’s a reasonably unbelievable feeling. It’s a extremely proud second,” he mentioned post-game.
“We came visiting right here 6-7 weeks in the past with this group of blokes and shaped such a particular bond. It’s so particular representing our nation and placing this jersey on… to characterize my family and friends again residence.”
Kangaroos win the World Cup
9. Kyrgios reaches long-awaited first grand slam remaining at Wimbledon
Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios lastly had all of Australia behind him as he went on a fairytale run to the Wimbledon remaining.
Within the third spherical, he confronted Greek star and No.Four seed Stefanos Tsitsipas with most specialists tipping it to be the top of Kyrgios’s grand slam.
Nevertheless, Kyrgios gained an epic four-set battle and his Wimbledon journey continued.
The 27-year-old made his means by the draw and obtained a slice of luck after former world No.1 Rafael Nadal withdrew from their semi-final conflict with an belly harm.
Within the remaining, Kyrgios, who was enjoying for his first main singles title, began sturdy and claimed the primary set over tennis celebrity Novak Djokovic.
Nevertheless, Djokovic fought back to claim the championship in an entertaining, hard-fought four-set battle.
Kyrgios was the primary male Australian finalist at Wimbledon since Mark Philippoussis in 2003 and gained loads of followers alongside the best way.
“Hats off to him (Djokovic),” Kyrgios mentioned following the match.
“That was a hell of a match. I assumed I served effectively. I put myself able to win, however I simply wasn’t in a position to play these clutch factors effectively in any respect in the present day.”
Djokovic defeats Kyrgios at Wimbledon.
8. Diamonds earn redemption on the Commonwealth Video games
Following their heartbreaking defeat to England 4 years in the past within the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games remaining and silver on the 2019 World Cup, the Diamonds have been out for revenge in Birmingham in August.
The match was thrown on its head after the Aussies suffered a shock loss to Jamaica within the remaining pool match. The outcome meant Australia would face England in a single semi-final, whereas Jamaica performed New Zealand within the different.
The semi-final was a good affair because the Diamonds led the star-studded Roses by six at half-time and stretched the margin to win 60-51.
The Diamonds were up against Jamaica in the final in what proved to be an exhilarating, end-to-end contest. The Aussies claimed gold with a 55-51 victory in entrance of 8000 screaming followers who have been principally cheering for Jamaica.
It was the Diamonds’ fourth Commonwealth Video games triumph and their second since 2002 as they claimed redemption for the one-goal loss to England within the 2018 remaining and revenge for the sooner loss in Birmingham to the Jamaicans.
The gold medal for the Diamonds additionally went down as Australia’s 1000th in Commonwealth Video games historical past.
Captain Liz Watson mentioned the victory was the proudest second of her profession.
“We’re nonetheless ranked No.1 however we didn’t essentially really feel like that having misplaced to Jamaica and the World Cup,” Watson mentioned after the ultimate.
“We actually needed to indicate tonight that we’re the worlds’ greatest and work exhausting and play with ardour and tonight I feel we confirmed that.”
Diamonds win Australia’s 1000th Comm Video games gold medal.
7. Buddy makes historical past with 1000th AFL aim
Sydney Swans celebrity Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin turned simply the sixth VFL/AFL participant in historical past to kick 1000 goals as the Swans recorded a convincing 30-point win over Geelong in March.
Buddy joined Tony Lockett (1360 targets), Gordon Coventry (1299), Jason Dunstall (1254), Doug Wade (1057) and Gary Ablett Sr (1031) within the unique membership.
Following the historic set shot, Buddy was mobbed by teammates and supporters who rushed onto the sphere because the Foo Fighters’ basic ‘My Hero’ performed over the audio system.
The 35-year-old was finally in a position to go away the sphere, forcing his means by a crowd in delirium.
Rapturous scenes as Buddy Franklin kicks 1000th aim
In superb scenes, play was suspended for practically 20 minutes so everybody on the SCG turf may very well be cleared again to the stands.
“It was good to get it performed, it’s been enjoying on my thoughts a little bit bit,” Franklin advised Channel 7’s Matthew Richardson about his aim.
“I had the style of Carlton Draught (beer) in my mouth from somebody (within the crowd).
“It was an incredible second and one thing I’ll cherish eternally.”
6. Jak ends Australia’s lengthy watch for Winter Olympic gold
Lastly, after 12 lengthy years, Australia had one other Winter Olympic gold medallist following Jakara Anthony’s moguls win in Beijing.
Anthony smashed her rivals to win the Tremendous Ultimate with an incredible rating of 83.09, comfortably forward of American Jaelin Kauf (80.28) and Russian Anastasiia Smirnova (77.72) within the six-woman competitors.
After ending fourth on her Olympic debut 4 years in the past in PyeongChang, the now 24-year-old admitted the aerial element of her run was the important thing weak point stopping her from successful a medal.
Since 2018, Anthony labored exhausting on her aerial abilities and was the one skier – and the primary girls in Olympic competitors – to incorporate a ‘cork 720 mute’ leap, with the upper diploma of issue giving her an edge on her rivals.
She accomplished the leap round 2000 occasions in apply on the newly constructed water ramp coaching facility in Brisbane earlier than utilizing it in her competitors run.
“Once I crossed the road I used to be like, no matter occurs now I’m completely content material with as a result of I used to be so proud of that run,” Anthony mentioned following her gold medal efficiency.
“I assumed I’d performed sufficient (to win gold) and if anybody had overwhelmed that run I might have been so stoked for them as a result of it could have been an outstanding run.”
Jakara Anthony wins gold in girls’s moguls.
5. Socceroos nice salutes with Celtic in Scotland
Ange Postecoglou created historical past in Could when he turned the first Australian manager to win a title at a major European club in a men’s competition.
Earlier than the Asian Cup-winning former Socceroos coach took over, Celtic have been struggling. They’d ended the season and not using a trophy for the primary time since 2009-10, bitter rivals Rangers gained the title by an enormous 25 factors, gamers have been leaving left, proper and centre, and followers have been disillusioned with the membership.
Postecoglou signed a 12-month rolling contract in June 2021 to change into the primary Australian supervisor to educate a significant membership in Europe.
After shedding three of their opening six video games to begin the season, he guided Celtic on an incredible 31-game unbeaten league run to beat Rangers within the title race.
The achievement put the 57-year-old on the prime with a handful of Australian sporting feats on the world stage.
“There isn’t any secret. I inform the gamers day-after-day that the magic that occurs out there may be sheer exhausting work day-after-day,” Postecoglou mentioned following Celtic’s title success.
“Respecting one another, pushing one another and respecting who you’re employed alongside. It’s sweat and tears and pushing your self on a regular basis.”
Ange Postecoglou lifts Scottish Premiership trophy
4. Queenslander wins the well-known Claret Jug
Australian golf star Cam Smith catapulted himself into the document books when he won the 150th British Open at St Andrews in July.
After an unbelievable 5 successive birdies to begin the again 9 on the ultimate day, Smith chased down native favorite Rory McIlroy to change into the primary Aussie to win the well-known Claret Jug since Greg Norman – his new boss at LIV Golf – at Royal St George’s in 1993.
The triumph was Smith’s first main victory and he turned the primary Aussie to raise one in all golf’s most prestigious trophies since Jason Day in 2015 (PGA Championship), and simply the third this century after Adam Scott (Masters, 2013) and Geoff Ogilvy (US Open, 2006).
Displaying nerves of metal, the 29-year-old closed with a document eight-under-par 64 to seize the elusive title after two close to misses on the Masters.
Smith gained by a shot from American Cameron Younger, who eagled the final for a 65 to pressure the Aussie to gap a clutch two-foot birdie putt to disclaim the American a four-hole playoff.
“Ah, geez, what per week. I’m going to collapse right here, I do know,” Smith mentioned, choking again tears after being handed the coveted trophy.
“All of the names on there, each participant that’s been on the prime of their recreation has gained this championship.”
Cameron Smith wins British Open.
3. Golden lady topped the Commonwealth Video games’ biggest ever
Australia’s queen of the pool Emma McKeon turned the most successful athlete in Commonwealth Games history in August after winning eight medals in Birmingham, with six of them gold.
In complete throughout her profession, McKeon has gained an unbelievable 20 Commonwealth Video games medals – 14 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze.
McKeon beat the earlier document for many Commonwealth golds of 10, achieved by Australian swimmers Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones.
The Wollongong surprise collected gold in Birmingham in 50m freestyle, 50m butterfly, the ladies’s and blended 4x100m freestyle relays, and the ladies’s and blended 4x100m medley relays,
McKeon mentioned she was happy with her achievements and the individuals who have come earlier than her.
“It’s very nice to be talked about alongside a few of these names and I shall be a part of that historical past for years to come back, hopefully,” she mentioned in Birmingham.
“It’s particular. It makes me replicate on the final eight years since my first Commonwealth Video games.”
Emma McKeon turns into biggest of all time
2. Aussie hero lives as much as the hype – and retires
Former Australian tennis star Ash Barty cemented herself in sporting folklore when she won the Australian Open women’s singles title last January.
The then world No.1 accomplished a dream fortnight at Melbourne Park with a hard-fought 6-Three 7-6 (7-2) win over American Danielle Collins in essentially the most anticipated girls’s remaining in nearly half a century.
Barty’s success noticed her change into the primary participant to win the Australian Open in 44 years and introduced her tally of grand slam titles to a few following victories at Roland Garros in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021.
In a touching second, Barty, a lot to her shock, obtained the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from her mentor and Indigenous idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
“That is unbelievable. Time and time once more now we have come so shut and now to have my palms on such a stupendous trophy after an distinctive fortnight is simply unbelievable,” Barty mentioned after receiving the trophy.
“Only a dream come true for me and I’m simply so proud to be an Aussie.”
Solely two months after capturing the nation’s hearts on her technique to the Australian Open title, Barty shocked the tennis world when she unexpectedly retired on the peak of her powers aged simply 25.
Ash Barty wins Australian Open title
1. Socceroos defy expectations with historic World Cup feat
The Socceroos carried the hopes of Australia on their again on the World Cup in Qatar and captured the creativeness of the general public alongside the best way.
The nation dared to dream when Craig Goodwin opened the scoring towards reigning champions France of their first recreation, earlier than crashing again all the way down to earth with a 4-1 loss.
However a win over Tunisia within the subsequent group recreation meant the Socceroos’ hopes have been alive once more heading right into a conflict with European powerhouse Denmark that may resolve their round-of-16 destiny.
The Socceroos have been removed from favourites and a draw was seen because the extra doubtless consequence in the event that they have been to progress. As an alternative, the Aussies shocked Denmark to claim a 1-0 win and confidently move through to the knockout stages for the primary time since 2006.
Socceroos winger Matthew Leckie turned an Australian hero after scoring the successful aim when he discovered himself remoted one-on-one with a defender, earlier than weaving his means into the field and firing a left-footed rocket into the nook.
“Because the ball was rolling in, I noticed it getting in, I used to be so excited and so blissful,” Leckie mentioned after the sport.
“By the celebration you see how a lot emotion there was. My first World Cup (aim) might be some of the essential targets for me and for the workforce.”
The golden aim for Australia in a historic upset win over Denmark
The aim sparked unbelievable scenes round Australia, even on the unfriendly Thursday morning time of practically 3am, particularly at Federation Sq. in Melbourne as hundreds of followers went completely wild celebrating the aim.
At full-time Fed Sq. was rocking and packed to capability as 8000 inexperienced and gold followers created an incredible environment as they danced, cheered and let off flares to create a pink glow over the precinct.
Though the Socceroos misplaced to the Lionel Messi-inspired – and soon-to-be champions – Argentina within the spherical of 16, the workforce had performed themselves and the nation proud by stepping out of the shadow of the ‘golden era’.
Honourable mentions
Australia lift the women’s Cricket World Cup to carry all main ODI/T20 trophies
Ollie Hoare wins 1500m Commonwealth Games gold
Joel Selwood kicks emotional farewell goal before retiring after Geelong win AFL grand remaining
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis win Australian Open men’s doubles title
Penrith Panthers go back-to-back as NRL premiers
Socceroos qualify for the World Cup behind Andrew Redmayne’s shootout heroics
