G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "I quit school in the sixth grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn't spell it." - Rocky Graziano (Boxer)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 The wait is nearly over

🏉 McGregor survives

🏌🏻‍♂️ PGA preview

🇦🇺 AFL

The wait is nearly over

After over two months in hibernation, we finally have some live AFL action to look forward to.

The season will now feature 17 rounds (including the one round already contested) in which every team will face each other once.

Thursday Night: Both the Pies and Tigers go into this match on the back of convincing Round 1 victories over the Western Bulldogs and Carlton, respectively.

The Tigers have won their last thirteen matches in succession, and are also approaching twelve months since its most recent defeat, which was against the Adelaide Crows at the Oval in Round 13 last year. (AFL.com)

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AFL grand final's 'absolutely enormous' proposal to fall on Sunday during Melbourne Cup Carnival

The AFL is flirting with the prospect of having the grand final fall on a Sunday - and possibly at night - right in between the Melbourne Cup Carnival, presenting a tantilising weekend for sport-lovers.

The proposal could see Derby Day take place on October 31, followed by the grand final on Sunday November 1, with the potential of a public holiday on November 2 to be followed by Melbourne Cup Day on November 3.

Collingwood club president hinted on radio that the idea had "been discussed in high places". (nine)

🏉 NRL

Bulldogs' Smith cops one-game ban & Benji Marshall dropped by Wests Tigers

Canterbury centre Reimis Smith has copped a one-match ban at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night for dangerous contact.

Smith was found guilty after being slapped with a grade-one charge for kneeing St George Illawarra winger Mikaele Ravalawa.

He will miss Sunday's clash with Sydney Roosters.

Wests Tigers club legend Benji Marshall has been sensationally dropped for this week's clash against the Canberra Raiders.

Coach Michael Maguire's call to dump Marshall is one of many changes to the side that suffered a last-gasp defeat to the Titans, which ended a year-long losing streak for the luckless Gold Coast club. (nine)

ALL NRL fans back in just weeks

Tens of thousands of NRL fans could flood through the gates again in less than two months as part of a bold plan to remove crowd lockouts by August.

Courier Mail chief league writer Pete Badel reported on Tuesday that Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys is aiming to allow full crowds to attend NRL games from August 1.

“I can tell you that Peter V’landys is looking to have full crowds in the six specified venues back from August 1,” he said on NRL 360. (Fox)

Dragons' board make call on McGregor

Sharks great Paul Gallen said, despite the Dragons' woes in the NRL at the moment, they should not be tempted into throwing in an inexperienced young coach to replace Paul McGregor.

McGregor is just four matches into a two-year contract, having re-signed last year, and if he had his deal terminated, the Dragons would have to pay him out approximately $1 million.

The financial aspect is the only reason McGregor wasn't axed, says Gallen.

"I think it's purely a financial decision. I don't think the Dragons have the money to get rid of him," Gallen said on Wide World of Sports' radio program.

McGregor has a 46 percent winning record (144 games, 66 wins, 78 losses) since being appointed head coach before round 11 in 2014, with just one finals appearance in 2018. (nine)

ARLC confirm NRLW competition given all clear to return in 2020

After months of uncertainty, the ARLC confirmed a four-team women’s competition would be held with the grand final played on October 25 - the same day as the NRL season decider.

“The women’s game is a very important element of Rugby League. We are very proud of our achievements in the women’s game and we should be providing it the significance it deserves,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said (Fox)

🏌🏻‍♂️ Golf

The PGA Tour is back with a bang

The fields of golf-starved stars are so strong as the US PGA Tour returns that early tournaments will feel like major championships, says Marc Leishman.

World No.15 Leishman is among 15 of the world's top 20 players, including No.1 Rory McIlroy and No.3 Brooks Koepka, preparing for Thursday's tour restart at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Forth Worth, Texas.

Australian world No.6 Adam Scott and Masters champion Tiger Woods are among few stars that will be missing.

Host broadcaster CBS announced Tuesday that select players will be mic'd up while they compete and a "confession cam" will allow for some on-course interviews.

In other news: the PGA Tour has announced they will allow spectators at next month's Memorial Tournament.

The event from July 16-19, held at Muirfield Village in Ohio, will be the first with fans in attendance since the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile: The Evian Championship - which was set to be the Ladies' Professional Golf Association's first major of the year - has been cancelled.

It was scheduled to take place between 6-9 August at the Evian Resort Golf Club in France.

🐴 Racing

⚽️ Football

Australia and New Zealand Women's World Cup bid boosted as Brazil withdraw

Australia and New Zealand are now in a three-horse race to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup after Brazil withdrew their bid. The South American giants announced on Tuesday their withdrawal after it was deemed economic support from government and private entities could not be guaranteed.

In a statement, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said economic concerns related to the Covid-19 crisis were a primary factor in the bid being withdrawn.

Brazil’s withdrawal means Australia and New Zealand are bidding to host the tournament along with Asian heavyweights Japan and another South American nation, Colombia.

The winning bid will be decided by an online meeting of the Fifa council on 25 June.

Manchester United failed in an £89m bid for Barcelona's Ansu Fati, 17, after giving up on Borussia Dortmund's England forward Jadon Sancho, 20. (Sport)

Chelsea are challenging Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund to sign Flamengo's Brazilian midfielder Gerson, 23. (Fox Sports, via Express)

Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala, 26, says it would be "very nice" to play for Barcelona. (Goal)

Bundesliga suggests home advantage a thing of the past in empty stadiums

Teams have struggled at home in the Bundesliga without the support of the home crowd.

Since the Bundesliga returned in front of empty stands, home teams have won just 21.7% of matches (10 of 46 games), down from 43.3% before the shutdown.

Similar stats have been seen in Estonia (11 home wins after 29 games) and Czech Republic (10 home wins after 32 games). (espn)

🏀 NBA

Everything to know about the NBA's 22-team restart at Walt Disney World

The NBA is back.

Last week, the league's board of governors and the players' union both approved plans -- a 22-team, eight-game wrap-up to the regular season followed by a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed and playoffs -- to resume the 2019-20 season on July 31 inside Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

ESPN experts have broken down each team's road to a restart, big bubble questions, high stakes and stats to know before basketball makes its return.

(Continue to article)

👊🏻 UFC

Fight Island location, details revealed

UFC announced Tuesday it will promote four events between July 11 and July 25 on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates capital city of Abu Dhabi.

While details of the final three cards have yet to be announced, White revealed on ESPN's "First Take" the July 11 show will be the blockbuster UFC 251 pay-per-view headlined by a trio of title bouts.

Kamaru Usman will defend his welterweight title against teammate Gilbert Burns in the main event.

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will take on Max Holloway in a rematch of their 2019 bout in the co-main event, and to finish, Petr Yan and former 145-pound king Jose Aldo will square off for the vacant bantamweight title. (CBS)

Back on Friday!