Mixed news for West Coast

West Coast received mixed news following their 96-point elimination final victory against North Melbourne with confirmation vice-captain Beau Waters will miss the remainder of the finals with injury. The influential defender sustained a serious foot injury which will now require surgery, bringing a premature end to a sensational season for the 26-year old.

Waters’ form this year saw him named in the preliminary 40-man All-Australian squad, highlighting just how important he has been to West Coast’s successful climb up the AFL ladder.

The defender will now have to watch from the sidelines and hope that his team-mates can now go on and finish what many feel the Eagles deserve from this season.

There has been some good news for AFL betting tips fans, as well as head coach John Worsfold, with the news that wingman Matt Rosa will be back available for selection for the rest of the finals.

That news has come only two weeks after Rosa fractured his collarbone, an injury sustained right after the wingman returned to action following a broken jaw.

Fellow wingman Andrew Embley hailed Rosa’s character for playing through the pain barrier, making it clear the 25-year old’s return to the side would be a huge boost to the Eagles as they prepare to take on Collingwood in Week 2 of the finals.

"He knows all the set-ups, he's got enormous courage, and his ability to be able to run and carry the footy as well and get the ball inside 50 for us is very important," Embley said.

"Broken jaw, cracked collarbone, and he's putting his name up to play this week. It really is a massive testament to his character."

Gamble on Leger Hope, Main Sequence, Gathers Pace

Things haven’t really gone the way of Main Sequence since his fine run when a five-length second to the tremendous Camelot in the Investec Derby at Epsom in June, but punters appear to believe the David Lanigan-trained colt offers the best value against the odds-on St Leger favourite, and are backing him accordingly, writes Elliot Slater.

With less than a week to go to the final classic of the 2012 Flat racing season, Main Sequence has been supported from 12/1 in the St Leger 2012 odds to a top-priced 8/1 across the board. He is now a clear second-favourite behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained market leader, who is generally a 4/11 shot to become the first horse since the great Nijinsky in 1970 to win the colts’ Triple Crown.

The winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial prior to coming second at Epsom, Main Sequence then had an awful trip when repeatedly denied a run in the Grand Prix de Paris, a contest won by Imperial Monarch (may re-oppose at Doncaster), who finished a length-and-a-quarter ahead of Lanigan’s unfortunate stable star. 

The tactical nature of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York would also have failed to suit the son of Aldebaran, who is clearly blessed with plenty of stamina; while he stayed on well inside the final furlong, he had given too much rope to the eventual winner, Thought Worthy, a top priced 10/1 shot for the Leger.

Reports suggest that Main Sequence has come out of the York contest in fine style. Those bidding to lower the colours of Camelot look sure to attempt to expose any stamina chinks in his armour by making the mile-and-three-quarter St Leger a searching gallop.

It appears that punters are reckoning that, if there is to be a shock, Main Sequence could well be the one to provide it. Click here to read the bookies’ appraisal of David Lanigan’s horse.

Ogletree sets Cowboys’ pace

Dallas Cowboys caused an unlikely upset in the first game of the new NFL season by rocking an inconsistent New York Giants 24-17 at the Metlife Stadium.

While the victory spurs the Cowboys into a new campaign and eradicates the problems they faced in preseason, they will also be delighted with the emergence of a no. 3 receiver that they so desperately lacked just a month ago.

Kevin Ogletree, who has three seasons already under his belt at Dallas, was the go-to guy on Wednesday evening, scoring two touchdowns from eight catches. The 25-year-old made 114 yards in his first game of the season, just 50 short of his entire tally last campaign, to ensure he grabbed the NFL news headlines post-game.

Cowboys fans and pundits in the betting world are already expecting a lot from the receiver that looked like a seasoned pro in a white jersey. For after a nervous first quarter that failed to produce a touchdown in New York, Ogletree worked his magic in the second: slipping through two linebackers before turning to accept Tony Romo’s short throw.

Ogletree’s play shocked the defending Superbowl champions – who had taken a three-point lead earlier in the game – and Dallas ran away with it after half time. The receiver went wide in the third quarter to take a huge Romo throw after bypassing cornerback Corey Webster to sneak in a touchdown for 14-3.

The Cowboys never looked back after this score and Ogletree was swamped by reporters after the game for his superb performance.

Dallas fans should not get too excited just yet as the season has hardly begun and the NFL betting odds still suggest they may struggle.

But if Romo and Ogletree can continue this partnership throughout the autumn then the Cowboys can expect to be fighting in the Playoffs once more this season.