The best and worst Aussie sports teams with weather names
Back in the day, sports teams used to favour fearsome animals as their logos. These days, they're a little more creative and sometimes, they choose weather motifs.
But does it work? Is sport and meteorology a happy mix? Well that depends. Works for some, not so much for others. Here are our best and worst three. Who did we miss?
Best
1. The Melbourne Storm
This mob is without doubt the superior team in any professional domestic Australian sports league in the last 20 years or so. Even with the two NRL premierships they had stripped through salary cap breaches, they've still won four legitimate premierships since their first season in 1998 and are always, just always, in the mix.
Weather comment: Unlike the Melbourne weather, the Storm are remarkably consistent! Also, if we really wanted to get technical, there are other parts of Australia that see more severe storms than Melbourne.
.@billyslater has not lost a step 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fXTUPtCabV
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) December 20, 2021
2. Sunshine Coast Lightning
What's with that Melbourne Storm DNA? This Suncorp Super Netball team formed in 2016 in partnership between the Melbourne Storm and the University of the Sunshine Coast. They won the premiership in the first season in 2017, and repeated in 2018. Who said lightning never strikes twice?
Weather comment: Much more lightning on the Sunshine Coast than down in Melbourne, so points for accuracy. That said, this may not be the meteorlogical image that local tourist authorities on the "SUNSHINE" Coast want to portray!
😠FACT: Tongue out helps concentration
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) December 11, 2021
(Google if you don't believe us😉) #tongueout #concentration #netball #funny pic.twitter.com/3Z0KyMQhc1
3. The Perth Scorchers
Along with the Sydney Sixers, the Scorchers are the only triple-champions in the 10 completed seasons of the men's Big Bash League (BBL). But it's fair to say they've been the most consistent team over the years, and this season, wouldn't you know it, they're dominating again.
Weather comment: Yes, Perth is absolutely scorching in summer when cricket is played, and the orange uniforms complement the name perfectly.
SEED!! #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/nVAoWJ2L3t
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 22, 2021
Worst
1. The Hobart Hurricanes
They often have a decent lineup but have never seriously threatened to win a men's or women's BBL title.
Weather comment: Here's the thing. Australia has cyclones, not hurricanes (as they are known in parts of the northern hemisphere). But Hobart DEFINITELY doesn't have cyclones. It's way too far south. Aliteration (starting consecutive words with the same letter) is no excuse here. On the positive side, a fan once caught a six in a beer cup...
It’s nearly been a year since this great feat! 🔥
— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) December 22, 2021
We want to celebrate the efforts of our mate and reunite him with the ball that made him famous for a day. 🙌ðŸ¼
If you know this man, send him our way! #TasmaniasTeam #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/GBrJa7WIEi
2. The Gold Coast Suns
Perennial underachievers who are yet to make the AFL finals, or even finish better than 12th since entering the AFL in 2011, and we wouldn't hold your breath.
Weather comment: With average annual rainfall of 1283.7 mm, the Gold Coast gets more rain than all capital cities other than Darwin. So the home of the Suns 000000000is not always that sunny. Shhhh! Don't tell the tourists!
A night goal from a tight angle during match sim from @benainsworth9 👠pic.twitter.com/S7roav0iXp
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) December 15, 2021
3. The Brisbane Heat
They won the second-ever men's BBL back in the summer of 2012/13 but since then, they've missed the finals more years than not and have been a constant disappointment despite boasting the competition's record six-hitter and run scorer in Chris Lynn. Be better!
Weather comment: Sure, Brisbane is hot, though if this team really wanted to be meteorologically accurate, they should have called themselves the "Humidity".
A night goal from a tight angle during match sim from @benainsworth9 👠pic.twitter.com/S7roav0iXp
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) December 15, 2021