🗞 Applaud the bravery

Richmond has suffered another blow ahead of Gather Round, losing Liam Baker to a one-game suspension after the Tigers' AFL tribunal appeal failed.

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Sport Journal
April 02, 2024

G’day Sports Fans,

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🏉 Official team lists, updates and injury news for Round 5 (NRL.com)

Broncos: will unleash the biggest player in NRL history. 205cm teenager Big Ben Te Kura will make his Broncos debut.

Bulldogs: The loss of winger Josh Addo-Carr (concussion) brings Blake Wilson back into the starting side.

Knights: Jackson Hastings returns to the line-up for the first time since being dropped after Round 2 (in for Tyson Gamble).

Rabbitohs: With prolific winger Alex Johnston sidelined by a hamstring injury, Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson gets the call up

🇦🇺 The Verdict: Richmond has suffered another blow ahead of Gather Round, losing Liam Baker to a one-game suspension after the Tigers' AFL tribunal appeal failed.

The Tigers gave the tribunal plenty to think about, with chairwoman Renee Enbom KC, Jason Johnson and David Neitz deliberating for 45 minutes on Tuesday night after the hour-long hearing.

But ultimately the panel upheld Baker's ban for his high bump on Sydney opponent Lewis Melican during the Tigers' thrilling win at the MCG on Sunday.

🥊 🇦🇺 Former boxing world champion Danny Green has applauded the bravery of the AFL greats stepping outside their comfort zone and into the ring on tonight.

Dane Swan, Kane Cornes, Nathan Brown, Dale Thomas, Anthony Rocca, Corey McKernan, Mitch Robinson and Kayne Pettifer​ will all throw hands at The Gathering as part of a huge card that culminates with the Jackson England vs Jamel Herring world title fight.

"If you threw us boxers onto the football field, we wouldn't get a kick," Green told Wide World of Sports in Adelaide.

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🏉 St George Illawarra said in a club statement that the final two years of the talented centre's contract would be "terminated" and revealed the club would make "no financial contribution" to his 2025 or 2026 seasons.

That allows the $800,000-a-year star "the freedom to explore opportunities with other clubs effective immediately", the club said.

A meeting between Lomax and the Eels is scheduled for today, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, with Parramatta preparing to offer him a deal until the end of 2027.

The Dragons could potentially make a play for out of favour Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona with the money free’d up by the pending departure of Zac Lomax.

🐴 WATCH: When your horse wins a ticket into the Melbourne Cup. Absolute scenes! (Twitter)

⛳️ In the Tokyo Olympics of 2021, Cameron Smith finished just one shot away from an extra-hole shootout for third place.

The top two Australians in the World Golf Rankings (WGR) as of June 17 will be selected to represent the nation in Paris – but LIV Golf events don’t count.

That means that Smith has just three majors to score WGR points and qualify for the Olympics.

Currently, Jason Day is Australia’s top-ranked player (22), ahead of Min Woo Lee (32), Adam Scott (52), Cam Davis (60), Cam Smith (62) and Lucas Herbert (82).

🇦🇺 The AFL reached out to Hawthorn on Tuesday and conceded small forward Jack Ginnivan should have been paid at least a couple of free kicks for high contact during the Easter Monday clash against Geelong.

The League has also issued a warning to the Cats and their star forward Tom Hawkins after he was caught looking at a mobile phone during the long lightning delay at the MCG.

🏎️ Mercedes may have found their replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is heading to Ferrari for the 2025 season and beyond.

F2 debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli a chance behind the wheel. The 17-year-old will spend two days driving Mercedes’ 2021 Constructors’ Championship-winning car at the Red Bull Ring

⚽️ Adidas has banned football fans from buying German football kits customised with the number 44, after media raised their resemblance to the symbol used by World War Two-era Nazi SS units. 

"We will block personalisation of the jerseys," an Adidas spokesman said.

⚽️ Newcastle have reignited their interest in Arsenal and England's Aaron Ramsdale, 25, as they target a younger goalkeeper.

⚽️ Meanwhile Newcastle are braced for bids from Arsenal and Tottenham, potentially worth £100m, for Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 24, if the Magpies need to raise funds to allow them to refresh their squad within financial fair play rules. 

🏀 Devin Booker scored 52 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-111 to boost their chances of qualifying for the NBA play-offs.

Kevin Durant added 20 points and Jusuf Nurkic 19 as all five Phoenix starters finished with double figures.

Phoenix are now just one game behind sixth-placed New Orleans, who occupy the final automatic play-off spot in the Western Conference.

🏏 England all-rounder Ben Stokes has asked to not be considered for selection for this summer's T20 World Cup to focus on his fitness.

He had knee surgery over the winter and bowled just five overs during the recent five-Test series in India.

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