G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "Shane Warne's idea of a balanced diet is a cheeseburger in each hand" - Ian Healy

In today's edition fo Sport Journal:

🐐 Lyon wants five hundred

🥥 How many Coconuts?

🏀 Ball's Aussie adventure pays off in draft

📺 Make sure you check out our live sport TV guide at the bottom of the newsletter. It has all the sports, times and channels you need.

🇦🇺 AFL

This year's AFL Draft will be held as a virtual event.

There were discussions about the Draft potentially being staged in the same format as the Brownlow Medal, with rooms of players across the country.

However to remain COVID-safe the League is instead expected to follow a similar format to the AFLW Draft which was staged online in October.

The one-night event has been slated for December 9.

Draftees are likely to be involved in the broadcast via video link from around the country. (AFL)

Jack Steven announces his immediate retirement (with a year left on his contract).

Steven, 30, spent just one season with the Cats and was limited to nine games due to soft tissue injuries and was caught up in a police investigation at the start of the year after he was stabbed. He didn't feature in Geelong's finals run.

"We are happy for Jack that he has made this decision and wish him well in his future," - Geelong's general manager of football Simon Lloyd

Prior to joining the Cats at the beginning of the 2020 campaign, Steven played 11 seasons with the Saints where he won four best and fairest awards.

Steven finishes up his career having played a total of 192 games, kicking 113 goals.

🏏 Cricket

The GOAT wants 500 wickets

Aussie Test star Nathan Lyon has set himself a target of more than 500 wickets as he edges towards his 100th match in the baggy green.

Lyon is set to become just the 10th player in Australian history to reach 100 Tests in the fourth and final match against India in Brisbane in January.

He has racked up 390 wickets in his 96 Tests, already the most by any Australian off-spinner.

He remains the frontline Test spinner for Australia, but will be joined in the 17-man squad by Queensland leggie Mitch Swepson, who took 23 wickets in three Sheffield Shield matches to emerge as the next in line.

WBBL

• Melbourne Renegades bt Adelaide Strikers by 7 wickets (Scorecard)

• Brisbane Heat bt Perth Scorchers by 4 wickets (scorecard)

• Sydney Sixers beat the Sydney Thunder by four runs

• Melbourne Stars beat the Hobart Hurricanes by 39 runs

Brisbane are 5 points clear after 12 matches - anyone for a 3-peat?

🏏 ICC World Test Championship

Following an ICC Board meeting today, it has been confirmed that the finalists of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship will be decided by percentage of points earned.

Which means Australia jump past India to claim spot in the ICC World Test Championship.

🏉 NRL

Cheika back in rugby league with an ‘unbelievable’ head coaching role

Since the Wallabies, Michael Cheika will take on his first head coaching role and his first in rugby league by becoming Lebanon’s boss next year. 

The Daily Telegraph reports that the former Wallabies coach will lead Lebanon into the Rugby League World Cup in England.

Cheika, whose parents were born in Lebanon, told the publication that it is an “unbelievable opportunity” for him to represent where his family comes from. (Fox)

State of Origin 2020: Steve Renouf, Wayne Bennett has enjoyed his finest hour as Maroons coach — www.nrl.com

Wayne Bennett won the first of his five Origin series as Maroons coach in 1987 and now in 2020 he has produced the best of them all.

✍🏼 Signings

Rumour: Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall could be a handed an NRL lifeline with the Cronulla Sharks showing interest in the playmaker. (Nine)

Roberts joins Tigers - From South Sydney - James Roberts will wear Wests Tigers colours for the 2021 and 2022 NRL seasons.

English young gun Hodgson joins Knights - Knights announce the signing of English young-gun Bailey Hodgson on a three-year NRL deal. Hodgson, is the nephew of Canberra Raiders and England Test hooker Josh Hodgson

Sue switches to Newcastle - Newcastle Knights announce the signing of former Bulldogs forward Sauaso 'Jesse' Sue on a two year deal.

King re-signs with Knights - Josh King re-signs on a one year deal for the 2021 season

⚽️ Football

Sydney punished as Mooy leads Shanghai to come from behind victory

Sydney FC were left to rue some costly misses and a goalkeeper brain fade as an Aaron Mooy-inspired Shanghai SIPG secured a 2-1 win in their Asian Champions League clash in Qatar.

Sydney's plight was summed up by a brain implosion from goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle, who was shown a red card in the 91st minute when he handled the ball while more than five metres outside the box.

First half strikes take Shanghai Shenhua past Perth Glory in AFC Champions League opener, losing 2-1

Appearing in a competitive fixture for the first time since August, Perth grew into the game and managed to compete well with their match-hardened opponents, keeping the bulk of possession but only occasionally hinting at danger in the final third.

Two goals before half time meant the second half was relatively comfortable for Shanghai.

Perth, pulled a goal back in the final 10 minutes through Jonathan Aspropotamitis, are now winless in two outings, giving them little margin for error in the remaining four matches of their maiden group stage appearance.

✍🏼 Transfers

Brisbane Roar have signed 20-year-old Japanese midfielder Riku Danzaki

Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal that will see him remain as Manchester City manager until the summer of 2023. - The 49-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups since joining in 2016.

Liverpool and Manchester United have received a boost over the possible signing of RB Leipzig's 22-year-old France centre-backDayot Upamecano as a decision over his future will be made in January. Bayern Munich cannot afford to sign him. (Bild via Mirror)

🎾 Tennis

An error-prone Novak Djokovic was beaten for only the fourth time this year as Daniil Medvedev reached the semi-finals at the ATP Finals.

The Serb hit 24 unforced errors and five double faults in a 6-3 6-3 loss to fourth seed Medvedev.

Russian debutant Andrey Rublev earned his first ATP Finals victory in a dead rubber against Austrian third seed Dominic Thiem, who was already assured of his place in the semi-finals.

US Open champion Thiem, 27, could not recover from a slow start as Rublev won 6-2 7-5 at the O2 Arena in London.

Thiem reached the last four by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal.

Tsitsipas and Nadal meet in a straight fight for the other spot from Group London 2020 at 07:00 today

🥇 World Record

🥋🥥 Karate artist Muhamed "Hammerhand" Kahrimanovic just set the world record for coconut smashing. In Germany, he smashed 130 coconuts with his bare hand in 60 seconds.

🐴 Racing

Ballarat Cup day preview: Saturday, November 21 — www.punters.com.au

It's Ballarat Cup day, with the country track hosting metro racing. Race-by-race preview, tips and best bets for the 10-event card here.

Matt Tripp’s ‘morphine hit’ warning to online bookies

wagering pioneer Matt Tripp has forecast there are choppy waters ahead for corporate bookmakers as the racing sector emerges from the “morphine hit” provided by the perfect storm of the COVID crisis. 

Tripp says corporate bookmakers were major beneficiaries from the billions of dollars that governments pumped back into the Australian economy during the COVID disaster. 

Racing was able to keep going, apart from a current six-day shutdown in South Australia, and bookmakers were big winners as extra customers turned to the punt as other social outlets were often not possible during COVID.

🏉 Rugby

Wallabies swap props for crunch Tri-Nations clash with Argentina

• Dave Rennie makes three changes for Newcastle Test

• Sio comes back in for injured James Slipper

Australia (1.5) v Argentina (2.88)

Wallabies (1-15): Scott Sio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Matt Philip, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Harry Wilson, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright, Tom Banks.

Coach Dave Rennie has shown faith with the backline that helped the Wallabies upset the All Blacks, but injured prop James Slipper will be missing for their Tri-Nations clash with Argentina.

Australia stunned New Zealand 24-22 a fortnight ago in Brisbane, with Reece Hodge impressing as playmaker in the absence of James O’Connor and Matt To’omua.

Both those players remain injured with Hodge keeping the number 10 shirt in an unchanged backs combination boasting Nic White, Marika Koroibete, Tom Wright and Tom Banks.

Sio beats out Angus Bell for the starting spot.

“After being left out in our last Test we got the reaction we expected from Scott. His preparation this week has been excellent, and his experience will be invaluable against Argentina,” Rennie said (Rugby).

🗓 18th November 2015 - We lost a Rugby legend. Here he is monstering England int he 1995 World Cup. Legend has it, the England 15 was buried where he lay!

🇺🇸 USA

LaMelo Ball's NBL experiment pays off as teen picked third in 2020 NBA Draft

LaMelo Ball's journey via Australia to prepare himself for a superstar career in the NBA paid off today when he was picked third in the NBA Draft.

Anthony Edwards was snapped up by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the number one pick and James Wiseman went to Golden State as the second before the Charlotte Hornets laid claim to Ball.

The move will see him play for the franchise owned by the man many regard as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan.

Australian Josh Green, who spent one season at Arizona, was snapped up by the Dallas Mavericks with the 18th overall pick.

A high-level defender and shooter, Green will join the likes of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis at one of the most exciting teams in the NBA.

👊🏻 UFC

Conor McGregor has signed his bout agreement for his rematch with Dustin Poirier for January 23. (Twitter)

Heart-attack? suck it up!

Daryl Hayes, the head coach of the St. John's Catholic Prep football team in Maryland, was relatively muted following a 53-0 loss last Saturday to potentially end the season.

Hayes had reportedly experienced a heart attack. And kept coaching for the rest of the second half.

The heart attack reportedly began at halftime, and was caused by a blood clot that blocked 99 percent of an artery connected to Hayes’ left ventricle.

Despite worsening chest pains throughout the second half, then numbness in his left limbs, Hayes stayed on the sidelines.

Hayes was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital after the game, where doctors cleared the blockage and inserted a stent. (Yahoo)

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

🏉 06:45 - Super League Semi-Final - Wigan Warriors v Hull FC (Fox League)

🎾 07:00 - ATP World Tour Finals Group Game - Rafael Nadal v Stefanos Tsitsipas (ESPN 2)

🏈 11:30 - NCAA Regular Season - Tulsa Golden Hurricane v Tulane Green Wave (ESPN 2)

🏈 12:20 - NFL Regular Season - Seattle Seahawks v Arizona Cardinals (ESPN 1)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Semi-Final - Otago v Northland (Fox Sports)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, Joburg Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🐎 22:50 - Open Pacers G1 - Fremantle Pacing Cup, 2,536m (Sky Racing 1) 

SATURDAY

🎾 01:00 - ATP World Tour Finals Group Game - Novak Djokovic v Alexander Zverev (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League - Kerala Blasters v ATK Mohun Bagan (Fox Sports More) 

🏉 04:00 - Super Rugby Unlocked - Bulls v Pumas (Fox Sports) 

⛳️ 05:00 - PGA Tour, RSM Classic, Round 2 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 05:00 - France Ligue 1 - Stade Rennais v Girondins de Bordeaux (BeIN Sports 1)

🎯 06:00 - PDC Grand Slam, Round 2, Night 5 (Fox Sports) 

🏌🏼‍♀️ 06:30 - LPGA Pelican Women's Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports More) 

⚽️ 06:45 - English Championship - Coventry City v Birmingham City (BeIN Sports 2)

🏉 06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (Fox Sports) 

🏉 06:45 - Super League Semi-Final - St Helens v Catalans Dragons (Fox League)

🎾 07:00 - ATP World Tour Finals - Daniil Medvedev v Diego Schwartzman (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - AS Monaco v Paris Saint-Germain (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Osasuna v Huesca (BeIN Sports 3)

🏏 09:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Melbourne Stars Women v Brisbane Heat Women (Kayo Sports)

⚽️ 10:30 - MLS Play-In Round - New England Revolution v Montreal Impact (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏈 11:00 - NCAA Regular Season - Louisville Cardinals v Syracuse Orange (ESPN 1) 

🏉 12:05 - Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Semi-Final - Auckland Rugby v Waikato (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 13:00 - MLS Play-In Round - Nashville SC v Inter Miami CF (ESPN 2) 

🏏 14:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers Women v Sydney Thunder Women (Kayo Sports)

🏉 14:35 - Mitre 10 Cup Championship Semi-Final - Hawke's Bay v Taranaki (Fox Sports) 

🏏 15:40 - Women's Big Bash League - Hobart Hurricanes Women v Perth Scorchers Women (7mate or Fox Cricket) 

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Oita Trinita v Kawasaki Frontale (Optus Sport 1) 

🐴 16:25 - Listed Race, Ballarat Cup (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1) 

🐴 16:45 - Non Listed, The Gong (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 17:05 - WNBL Regular Season - Townsville Fire v Bendigo Spirit (ABC or Fox Sports More)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Semi-Final - Tasman Mako v Bay of Plenty (Fox Sports)

🐴 17:09 - Listed Race, Placid Ark Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

⚽️ 18:00 - J1 League - Cerezo Osaka v Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Optus Sport 2) 

🐴 18:20 - Group 2WA Guineas, 1,600m - SW, 3YO (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🐎 18:33 - 3YO Breeders Crown Trotting C&G Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

🐴 19:00 - Listed Race, Jungle Mist Classic (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🐎 19:03 - 3YO Breeders Crown Trotting Fillies Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

🏏 19:05 - Women's Big Bash League - Sydney Sixers Women v Melb. Renegades Women (7mate or Fox Cricket)

🐎 19:32 - 2YO Breeders Crown Trotting C&G Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 19:35 - WNBL Regular Season - Southside Flyers v Perth Lynx (Kayo Sports)

🐴 19:40 - Group 1Railway Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🏉 19:45 - Tri Nations - Argentina v Australia (10 or Fox Sports) 

🐎 20:05 - 2YO Breeders Crown C&G Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

🐴 20:20 - Listed Race, Carbine Club of WA Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🐎 20:23 - Group 3 Pacers - Sterling Graphic Design Kevin Robinson FFA, 2,300m (Sky Racing 1)

🐎 20:40 - 3YO Breeders Crown Fillies Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, Joburg Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🐎 21:10 - 3YO Breeders Crown C&G Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 21:35 - WNBL Regular Season - Sydney Uni. Flames v UC Capitals (Kayo Sports)

🐎 21:40 - 2YO Breeders Crown Fillies Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

🐎 22:07 - 2YO Breeders Crown Trotting Fillies Final, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

⚽️ 23:30 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 23:30 - English Championship - Bournemouth v Reading (BeIN Sports 2) 

🏍 23:35 - Portugal Moto3 Qualifying, Round 15 (Fox Sports)

SUNDAY

⚽️ 00:00 - Spanish La Liga - Levante v Elche (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏊🏼‍♀️ 00:00 - International Swimming League, Final, Day 1 (BeIN Sports 3) 

🎾 01:00 - ATP World Tour Finals - Semi-Final, Day 7 (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League - NorthEast United v Mumbai City (Kayo Sports)

🏍 01:10 - Portugal MotoGP Qualifying 1, Round 15 (Fox Sports) 

🏉 01:30 - Super Rugby Unlocked - Cheetahs v Griquas (Fox Sports) 

01:35 - Portugal MotoGP Qualifying 2, Round 15 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 02:00 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 02:00 - English Championship - Millwall v Cardiff City (BeIN Sports 2) 

🏉 02:00 - Autumn Nations Cup - England v Ireland (BeIN Sports 3)

🏉 02:00 - Premiership Rugby - Leicester Tigers v Gloucester Rugby (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 02:15 - Spanish La Liga - Villarreal v Real Madrid (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 04:00 - Italian Serie A - Spezia Calcio v Atalanta (BeIN Sports 2) 

🏉 04:00 - Super Rugby Unlocked - Sharks v Stormers (Fox Sports) 

🏈 04:00 - NCAA Regular Season - Florida State Seminoles v Clemson Tigers (ESPN 1)

🏉 04:15 - Autumn Nations Cup - Wales v Georgia (BeIN Sports 3) 

⚽️ 04:30 - Premier League - Tottenham v Manchester City (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 04:30 - Spanish La Liga - Sevilla v Celta Vigo (BeIN Sports 1)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 05:00 - LPGA Pelican Women's Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports More) 

⛳️ 05:00 - PGA Tour, RSM Classic, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🎯 06:00 - PDC Grand Slam, Round 2, Night 6 (Fox Sports) 

🥊 06:00 - Welterweight Title - Conor Benn v Sebastian Formella (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 06:30 - German Bundesliga - Hertha Berlin v Borussia Dortmund (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Juventus v Cagliari Calcio (BeIN Sports 2) 

🎾 07:00 - ATP World Tour Finals - Semi-Final, Day 7 (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Barcelona (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏈 07:30 - NCAA Regular Season - Northwestern Wildcats v Wisconsin Badgers (ESPN 1)

🏏 09:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Sydney Thunder Women v Hobart Hurricanes Women (Kayo Sports)

🏏 10:20 - Women's Big Bash League - Perth Scorchers Women v Adelaide Strikers Women (7mate or Fox Cricket) 

🏈 11:30 - NCAA Regular Season - Oklahoma Sooners v Oklahoma State Cowboys (ESPN 1)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 13:05 - WNBL Regular Season - Bendigo Spirit v Townsville Fire (Fox Sports More)

🏏 13:45 - Women's Big Bash League - Melbourne Stars Women v Sydney Sixers Women (Fox Cricket)

👊🏻 14:00 - UFC 255 Main Card - Deiveson Figueiredo v Alex Perez (Main Event)

🏏 14:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Melb. Renegades Women v Brisbane Heat Women (Kayo Sports)

🏈 14:30 - NCAA Regular Season - Utah Utes v USC Trojans (ESPN 1)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 15:05 - WNBL Regular Season - Melbourne Boomers v Adelaide Lightning (ABC or Fox Sports More)

🐴 16:35 - Listed Race, Kilmore Cup, 1,600m - HCP (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 18:00 - J1 League - Urawa Red Diamonds v Gamba Osaka (Optus Sport 1)

🐴 18:35 (TBC) - Group 1, Mile Championship, 1,600m (Sky Racing 2)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, Joburg Open, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🏍 22:00 - Portugal Moto3 Race, Round 15 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 22:30 - Italian Serie A - Fiorentina v Benevento Calcio (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 23:00 - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Aberdeen (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 23:00 - Premier League - Fulham v Everton (Optus Sport 1) 

🏍 23:20 - Portugal Moto2 Race, Round 15 (Fox Sports)