Bats and Balls Podcast

We chose the busiest time in the sporting calendar to take holidays. But we're back just in time for the biggest games. The Producer has been touring Las Vegas and Los Angeles and Pies has been fishing on Lake Macquarie. But we're back for the pointy end of the season.

In the last month hell has frozen over as BS goes into bat for the NRL referees. While we were gone Parra beat Manly to get into 5th. Played their GF in the first week of the finals against the Broncos. And then went out without a whimper in Melbourne. The Storm, Roosters, Raiders and Rabbitohs are left standing, as it should be.

In the AFL Pies almost burst a valve watching the last quarter of the Preliminary Final between GWS and Collingwood. The Giants are into their first ever Grand Final and BS is on board with the local team too. Come down to the AFL GF live site at Cathy Freeman Park, Olympic Park this Saturday!

The Rugby World Cup has kicked off in Japan with some fairly predictable results.

The NFL is three weeks in. The Daniel Jones era has begun in New York. And the Rams are winning, but could look better.

Plus we catch up on some of the other sports we missed including EPL, F1, FIBA World Cup and The Ashes Cricket.

0:00:00 - NRL Finals
1:07:00 - AFL Finals
1:51:00 - Rugby World Cup
2:03:00 - NFL
2:21:00 - Soccer
2:26:00 - Formula 1
2:32:00 - FIBA World Cup
2:36:00 - Ashes

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies is joined via satellite by Big Zacko to discuss the upcoming NFL season and predict all the Division winners, as well as the Championship Games and Super Bowl winner.

There's a couple of favourites selected. But stay tuned for Big Zacko's Hot Tip for a nice long shot selection.

0:04:00 - FIBA World Cup
0:08:00 - NFL Preview
0:10:00 - AFC East
0:18:00 - AFC North
0:28:00 - AFC South
0:43:00 - AFC West
0:50:00 - NFC East
1:01:00 - NFC North
1:04:00 - NFC South
1:10:00 - NFC West
1:18:00 - Championship Games and Super Bowl
1:26:00 - AFL Finals

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

It's Father's Day so Pies gets his Dad on the phone to talk about the Panthers season fizzling out. Rod also stayed up to watch Ben Stokes carry England to victory in the third Ashes test.

Then Pies has Lobby from League By The Fireplace on the phone to talk about the run to the NRL Finals. Lobby is a Raiders fan and with Canberra currently sitting in third he has reason to be excited.

0:00:00 - Penrith Panthers
0:18:30 - The Ashes
0:32:35 - Paul Gallen
0:35:30 - NRL with Lobby
1:12:15 - FIBA World Cup

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Big Mendy is driving around Western USA so Pies felt compelled to come back. And not only that, Big Zacko has returned following a successful soccer coaching season.

Not only do we discuss NRL and AFL, But The Producer pre-recorded segments with Swainy on Rugby and Mendy on the Darts International in Melbourne.

Plus it's the first episode of Politics With Dummies Australia.

0:00:00 - NRL
0:51:00 - Rugby
1:13:00 - Darts
1:36:00 - AFL
1:55:00 - The Ashes Cricket
2:18:00 - EPL
2:23:00 - Politics With Dummies Australia

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

This week on Bats and Balls we bring in the reserve team AGAIN as the Captain Josh is away. Nathan and The Producer go through the latest round of the NRL. NRL Refs were again in the spotlight after a few crazy Sin Bins and an obstruction call. The Producer also gives a big Hell No to Gus looking after the refs after his claim he could fix them in 6 months during his lunch breaks. The Producer fixes them in 1 episode.

In the AFL St Kilda kept the boys in the game with their bet. The Pride of Queensland the Brisbane Lions are now in a 3 way tie at the top of the ladder and should lock in a top 4 finish. GWS was very disappointing in the first ever Snow Game in Canberra.

Rugby Championships in Perth has Swainy all pumped up. Can the Wallabies win again this week? Shute Shield are into the Finals after some heated Semi Finals last week. Catch the double header on 7two this Saturday from 1pm.

Australia lead the Ashes 1-0 and day 1 of the second test is washed out. The Aussies will have some team changes.

We play back a few of our guest predictions for 2019 and see how they are going. Some are not far off the mark!

Lastly the Producer goes through the EPL and Brighton gets a massive away win to start the season.

0:00:00 - NRL
0:58:00 - Rugby with Swainy
1:19:00 - AFL
1:36:00 - Predictions Review
1:44:00 - Ashes
1:45:00 - EPL

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

This week on Bats and Balls we bring in the reserve team as the Captain Josh is away. Nathan and The Producer go through the latest round of the NRL. Head Trauma was the topic. Does the NRL even care after Sam Burgess is cleared of a nasty high tackle. The Producer gives his opinion on the Ivan Cleary Tunnel drama.

In the AFL St Kilda let the boys down with their bet last week. The Pride of Queensland the Brisbane Lions are now in a 3 way tie at the top of the ladder and should lock in a top 4 finish.

Rugby Championships finish this weekend in Perth with the Aussies against New Zealand. Shute Shield are into the Semi Finals and Nathan is backing Northen Suburbs for the win.

Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the Ashes with Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon dominating.

F1 has a great race at the Hungarian GP and the Moto GP was covered by Nathan.

Nathan's Random Sports was back. Nathan covered the World Championships Basketball, Darts, UFC, Cycling plus more. The Producer went over week 1 of the EPL. Will Brighton survive this season?

Lastly we accepted the open challenge by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for a Handball challenge. The boys get off topic which leads to a new sports idea.

0:00:00 - NRL
0:44:00 - AFL
1:02:00 - Supercoach
1:09:00 - Rugby
1:13:00 - Ashes Cricket
1:22:00 - Motorsport F1, Moto GP, Rally Cars
1:34:00 - Nathan's Random Sports
2:00:00 - Kevin Rudd Handball Challenge

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies and The Producer in the studio recapping the latest round of NRL. Referees are in the spotlight and hell freezes over when BS goes into bat for the refs. Media outrage goes into overdrive after the Warriors apparently got hosed by the referees. The Rabbitohs got out of jail and the Manly bandwagon gathered a few more fans. Pies has plenty more space if you want to get on with him.

Swainy joins us to recap the 2nd week of The Rugby Championship. Australia beat Argentina and South Africa came from behind with a spectacular try to draw with New Zealand.

In the AFL BS floats a smoky for the Top 8 and after assessing the fixtures, we get on immediately. GWS hung on at the Adelaide Oval against Port, Geelong got a much needed win in Sydney and Brisbane confirmed their status as premiership threats with a win in Tasmania over Hawthorn. The Hawks inaccuracy didn't help them.

In Cricket Justin Langer has confirmed Usman Khawaja and James Pattinson will start the first test of The Ashes. We try and pick the rest of the side. They can't bring Bancroft straight back in can they?

Pies reviews one of the great editions of the Tour de France Cycling race with Egan Bernal proving too strong in the last two climbs amid landslides and glacial shifts. Aussie Caleb Ewan won 3 stages including the final stage down the Champs Elysees.

And Pies gives us a couple of stories from the Henson Park Beer Footy & Food Festival.

0:00:00 - NRL
0:49:00 - Rugby with Swainy
1:16:00 - AFL
1:53:00 - The Ashes preview
1:58:00 - Tour de France review
2:07:00 - Motorsport Supercars & Formula 1
2:14:00 - Beer Footy Food
2:17:00 - Masters of Rugby League

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies and The Producer in studio with Swainy via Satellite.

First up is a catch up on the NRL. Who's in form, who has bottomed out. And what are eveyone's run to the finals like? What's the team that can emerge from the pack and cause a headache for the top 3 sides?

Then we have our old mate Swainy back to discuss all that's been going on in the world of Rugby. The Crusaders were too good in the Super Rugby Final. South Africa and New Zealand were first up winners in the Rugby Championship.

We have a look into the crystal ball and try to figure out this AFL season. Consistency has been hard to come by. Who can hit form leading into the finals and win the flag? Can anyone from outside the 8 be consistent enough to sneak in?

Plus we catch up on the stuff we missed during our little break. Hope you didn't miss us too much.

0:00:00 - NRL
0:56:00 - Rugby with Swainy
1:23:00 - AFL
2:00:00 - What We Missed

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Pies continues the tradition with the Tour de France preview show.

We discuss the latest round of the NRL. The Bankwest Stadium is apparently an ice skating rink. The Raiders can't handle the heat. And the Sharks forgot how to play.

In the AFL GWS might not have been hosed. The defending premiers are flying under the radar. And the Swans are coming, but might not get past the Kangaroos.

The FIFA Women's World Cup and the Cricket World Cup are getting close to the semi finals.

Pies and Erik are starting a weight loss challenge. Plus heaps of other sports.

0:00:00 - NRL
1:03:20 - Weight Loss Challenge
1:10:00 - AFL
1:40:00 - Rugby
1:44:00 - FIFA Women's World Cup
1:48:00 - Cricket World Cup
2:03:00 - Tour de France Preview
2:29:00 - Motorsport
2:34:00 - Tennis & Other Sports

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/

Light up the sky with fireworks we've reached another milestone. 200 episodes! Who thought we'd get this far? Pies and BS are joined in studio by Colbee and via satellite by our old mates Big Zacko and Swainy to reminisce about the last 200 episodes and talk a little sport.

It's been a really fun 200 shows and we thank everyone who has helped us out either by appearing on the show, interacting with us on social media or sending us emails to help improve the show. Most of all we thank our families for tolerating us doing this weekly for the last 4+ years.

Cheers Josh, Brendan and the rest of the team.

0:00:00 - Big Zacko
0:19:00 - Masters of Rugby League
0:26:00 - Rugby with Swainy
0:53:00 - NRL
1:27:00 - AFL
1:47:00 - FIFA Women's World Cup
1:53:00 - Cricket World Cup
2:08:00 - Motorsport
2:09:00 - Other Sport

Part of the No Phony Podcast Network nophonynetwork.com
Twitter - @batsandballspod
Brendan - @brendansmith05
Josh - @PiesJosh
Zac - @BigZacko
Mendy - @BigMendy180
No Phony Network - @phonyno
Email - [email protected]
facebook.com/batsandballspodcast
http://batsandballspodcast.com/