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Sporting fairytales: Some unlikely scenarios to ponder in 2017

Scott Spits

We saw the best of sport in 2016, a year boasting some remarkable sporting fairytales. From the Chicago Cubs to Leicester City, to the Western Bulldogs and the Cronulla Sharks, there was a remarkable feel-good factor that was counter to corruption and controversy in sport. Then Roger Federer started the new year with an unexpected grand slam triumph. So, will it all happen again? Scott Spits gazes into the crystal ball to ponder some sporting scenarios that, yes, may seem unlikely now, but should they somehow eventuate, might leave you smiling again.

1. THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM WINS ITS TEST SERIES AGAINST INDIA

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OK, OK, just one Test match win in India some time over the next seven weeks might be enough to put a "tick'' in the fairytale box. Australia have a four-Test series in some of the lesser-known Indian cities, starting with the first Test in Pune on February 23, and it's as close to a "mission impossible" assignment as you can find. Those who are slightly unfamiliar with Australia's recent record on the road in the five-day, red-ball format may need a reminder than Australia has lost 11 straight matches on the sub-continent. Coming up with blanks in last year's three-match series in Sri Lanka might be fresh in the memory but don't forget they also lost to Pakistan 2-0 in the UAE three years ago and were humbled by India 4-0 in 2013 – a series most memorable for the #Homeworkgate debacle.

When was the last time Australia won a Test match on the sub-continent? Well, you need to go back more than five years when the batting line-up featured Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson. That victory in Galle was part of a 1-0 series win for the visitors and also back when Sri Lanka was considered a feeble opponent. The record in India is deplorable. Australia lost both matches there in 2010 and came away with two wins from their four matches in 2008. You need to go all the way back to 2004 – the time of Clarke's Test debut – when Australia managed a gutsy 2-1 series win. But in that series they were also beaten in the fourth and final Test when they managed just 93 in their second dig of a topsy-turvy contest.

Australian captain Steve Smith

Could captain Steve Smith lead Australia to victory? Photo: Getty Images

So, what are the odds of Australia winning in India? Don't get me wrong, it's not a Leicester City-winning-the-EPL type of scenario, but history will be against the visitors. Selectors have tried to pick a squad capable of winning on the sub-continent, featuring four tweakers – Nathan Lyon, Steve O'Keefe, Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson – but the reality is that unless Australia's batsmen stand up, you can consign the fairytale outcome of an Australian series win to the dustbin.

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2. MELBOURNE OR ST KILDA WIN THE AFL PREMIERSHIP

These two clubs are spring chickens when you compare their premiership droughts to some of the ones finally cracked across the sporting world in 2016. You all know the Demons last stood atop the dais in 1964 while St Kilda's last (and only) premiership triumph came two years later. The Western Bulldogs broke their duck in gloriously unexpected style last year and the storyline around Sydney's drought-breaking triumph in 2005 was equally memorable. Melbourne and St Kilda have reached a grand final at least once in the past 20 years and supporters of both clubs must believe their day in the sun is be edging closer. After all, the only club (outside of the AFL's two expansion teams) not to reach the final day of the season since 1999 is Richmond. Sorry, to remind you of that Tiger fans. It just goes to show that a Richmond flag wouldn't be that far behind in the fairytale stakes.

Melbourne captain Ron Barassi receives the 1964 VFL premiership cup from Sir Kenneth Luke.

Melbourne captain Ron Barassi receives the 1964 VFL premiership cup from Sir Kenneth Luke.

St Kilda and Melbourne finished last season hovering just outside the top eight. In St Kilda's case they only missed the finals on percentage. The Doggies went all the way after finishing seventh and having a September to remember. Their story would be hard to top by any AFL team in 2017. But should the Saints or Demons somehow come from outside the eight one year to winning the flag the next, such triumphs would undoubtedly fall in the "fairytale" category.

Here's one footy fan barracking for another memorable outcome.

3. NICK KYRGIOS WINS A TENNIS MAJOR IN 2017

We all, deep down, want to see NK come good. Don't we? Yes, he's one of the most immensely frustrating players we've seen on a tennis court for some time. The sentiment goes something like this: he has more talent in his little finger than any of us will ever wish to have. All the wise heads in tennis know he's got the game to go right to the top. We could dabble in some amateur psychoanalysis, but we'll leave that for another time. It's as simple as this, however: Kyrgios is obviously not even getting close to the best out of himself. At a tender age just a few years ago, NK rode a wave of momentum – featuring a win over Rafael Nadal no less – all the way to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

But this year we've already seen him lose the seemingly unlosable match at the Australian Open when he gave up a two-sets-to-love advantage against Andreas Seppi to lose in five. And he had match points. Seriously, for Kyrgios to go all the way in one of this year's remaining three majors – let's rule out the French Open and leave the scenario at one of the remaining two majors – would be a fairytale for the ages. I hope he comes good one day. It doesn't have to be this year.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 04: Nick Kyrgios of Australia has a drink poured on him after winning the tie against Czech Republic during the first round World Group Davis Cup tie between Australia and the Czech Republic at Kooyong on February 4, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)

Don't we all want to see Nick Kyrgios come good? Photo: Getty Images

4. JOBE WATSON WINS THE BROWNLOW MEDAL

This might be the fairytale to top all sporting fairytales – in Melbourne anyway. Almost everyone has at least a degree of sympathy for the Essendon champion and the way he was stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal. Along with a host of his Bomber teammates, Watson was banned for the entire 2016 season for their part in the club's supplements saga. Just for something different, Watson spent part of last year plying his trade as a barista in New York. He appears fresh and ready for another stint in the AFL. But after a season out of the game, another year older and with a host of younger midfielders starting to have a bigger impact on the game, a Watson Brownlow five years after he was one of the standout players in the game is highly unlikely and suitably slotted under the "fairytale" file.

Brownlow returned: Jobe Watson announced he would be handing back the medal last November.

Brownlow chance? Jobe Watson. Photo: Getty Images

5. TIGER WOODS WINS A 15TH GOLF MAJOR IN 2017

Next year is the 10-year anniversary since Tiger Woods won the last of his 14 majors. Woods, 41, has battled a host of injuries over the past decade and hasn't been close to winning another major since his career enjoyed a brief upwards spike in 2013. His image was damaged by an infidelity scandal in 2009 but it is physical injuries that continue to plague him. Last year he missed all four majors due to issues with his back. Federer may have reached the elusive mark of 18 tennis majors only a few weeks ago but Jack Nicklaus' mark of 18 golf majors appears out of reach for Woods. He may yet win another major, but don't expect it to happen in 2017. That's just fairytale stuff.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 02: Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on February 2, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Don't expect a major win for Tiger in 2017 ... that's fairytale stuff. Photo: Getty Images

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