🗞 Bumps and tackles

November 22, 2020

G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "The third umpires should be changed as often as nappies and for the same reason." - Navjot Singh Sidhu

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 Best of 2020

🏏 Smith not afraid

💪🏼 Tyson looking jacked at 54

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan reveals full financial toll of COVID-19 stoppage in 2020 season

The AFL has avoided a catastrophic financial result after the mid-season stoppage, with CEO Gillon McLachlan revealing the full fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league initially feared that it could lose up to $1 billion when the season was put on hold indefinitely after Round 1 in March, but has emerged with losses of less than $100 million according to the league boss.

After being able to complete the modified 17-game season as well as a full finals series, with fans in many venues in Queensland, the AFL was able to avoid the full brunt of the financial blow brought about by the coronavirus.

"I think the industry's done an amazing job and I want to thank everyone who made a commitment to get us there," McLachlan said.

After enduring a tough 2020 season, the AFL is expected to return to its normal 22-game schedule for the 2021 season.

The wrecking balls of the AFL unleash the hardest hits of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

🏉 NRL

NRL.com takes a look back at the best finishes from the 2020 Telstra Premiership season

'No prouder moment': Players lauded for sacrifices to ensure game continued

Up to 250 days of severe biosecurity restrictions ended for players after Origin III.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton has never been prouder of the game's players than this season as they endured more than six months of uncertainty and severe biosecurity restrictions to ensure all 180 matches were played as scheduled.

After entering team bubbles on May 3, the last players were finally able to enjoy the same freedoms as the rest of the community following Wednesday night's State of Origin series decider between NSW and Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

Gold Coast signing David Fifita admitted it was very difficult to leave the Broncos. Still, he ultimately had to do what was best for his family in inking a $3.5 million deal with the Titans. (Fox)

🏏 Cricket

Australia welcome Indian bouncer barrage to Smith

Assistant coach Andrew McDonald says Australia's star batter has thrived against short-ball tactics in the past.

Australia are unfazed by the potential of an Indian short-ball assault against Steve Smith this summer, with assistant coach Andrew McDonald pointing to the most recent meeting between the sides as proof the star batter can combat the strategy.

Smith, the world's top-ranked Test batter, has shown some signs of fallibility against short-pitched pace bowling in the past 18 months; he was concussed by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord's last year, while Kiwi speedster Neil Wagner had him dismissed four times with short balls last summer. (Cricket)

"It's no dramas for me. I just play the game and sum up the conditions, how they're trying to get me out and being able to counter that," Smith told News Corp last week.

"If teams are trying to get me out like that it's probably a big benefit for the team because it takes a lot out of people’s bodies if you continually bowl short.

WBBL: Blockbuster semi-finals locked in

The Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder secured the final two spots in the WBBL|06 semi-finals in an entertaining conclusion to the regular season. (Cricket)

📈 Ellyse Perry became the 2nd batter to score 3,000 runs in the Women’s Big Bash League over the weekend. Beth Mooney became the first batter to pass the milestone

Chappell is not amused

Former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has urged the selectors to hand Will Pucovski a Baggy Green in the first Test against India this summer.

Pucovski has thrust his name into the selection mix after a prolific start to the Sheffield Shield season, with two double-centuries for Victoria.

The precocious 22-year-old's run of form comes as David Warner's incumbent partner, Joe Burns, has struggled to start the domestic season.

Chappell was left scratching his head after the selectors had involved Warner in the selection process of his opening partner, but said the case for Pucovski was as strong as ever. (nine)

⚽️ Football

🗞 News: The winner of the FFA Cup will be allocated 1/2 a spot to qualify for the Asian Champions League, which is part of the unbundling deal between FFA & the clubs.

This means we could see an NPL club in the Asian Champions League

@DailyOZFootball

Premier League

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his excellent scoring form with two goals as Everton returned to winning ways in an absorbing encounter with Fulham (3-2).

Many believe Tottenham Hotspur are title contenders following their 'very impressive' 2-0 victory over Manchester City.

Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-0, to go second. An own goal by Federico Fernandez and a Tammy Abraham strike secured a fifth successive victory in all competitions.

Bruno Fernandes' twice-taken second-half penalty was enough to give Manchester United their first Premier League victory of the season at Old Trafford over a battling West Brom outfit. (1-0)

Leeds 0-0 Arsenal - Pepe brings his head down on Alioski and referee gives red card after watching replay. Leeds miss a host of chances.

Leicester will go top with win, Liverpool could go level on points with first-placed Spurs (now underway)

🐴 Racing

Inspirational: Pike does it again in Railway

Champion jockey Willie Pike won his third straight Railway Stakes when Inspirational Girl stormed home to claim the Group 1 feature at Ascot.

Pike lifted the heavily-backed $2.60 favourite out of trouble on the turn, scything his way through the field to get her into the clear.

She let down with a powerful turn of foot to win comfortably by 1¾ lengths. Too Close The Sun ($6) was a brave second ahead of the $101 roughie, Uni Time.

Inspirational Girl also gave owner Bob Peters and co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams their third straight victories in WA’s oldest Group 1.

They teamed up with Pike and Regal Power (2019) and Galaxy Star (2018). (racenet)

🥇World Record

Harlem Globetrotters net new world record.

The farthest behind-the-back basketball shot is 13.86 m (45 ft 6 in) and was achieved by Rochelle “Wham” Middleton.  

Middleton broke teammate William “Bull” Bullard’s previous record of 12.97 m (42 ft 6.5 in), which was previously broken during Guinness World Records Day 2019. 

The team once again joined in celebrating Guinness World Records Day and managed to break three records, bringing their total to 24 official Guinness World Records titles. 

🎾 Tennis

ATP Finals

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were knocked out of the ATP Finals as Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem set up a title decider. (live now)

💍 Aussie Tennis Player and world no. 65 - Storm Sanders got engaged over the weekend. I tell you this solely because she will become Storm Hunter, which is probably the best name in sports.

New Aus Open start date firms with organisers locked in ‘urgent’ talks with Vic govt

The Australian Open could be pushed back by several weeks to enable tennis stars into the country. 

Tennis Australia CEO and tournament boss Craig Tiley said they were hoping to announce the start date as soon as possible, to give players certainty on when they should travel and when fans can buy tickets for the two-week event.

With quarantine requirements - such as two weeks’ quarantine on arrival for international travellers - making it unlikely for the tournament to begin on January 18, The Age reported early February now looms as the likely start date, potentially Monday, February 1.

🏉 Rugby

'A losing draw': Wallabies didn't learn from Wellington

Australia 15-15 Argentina (5 pens Hodge), (5 pens Sanchez)

Wallabies were held to a frustrating, tryless draw on a nervy Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie lamented his side's inability to close out the result, where he said the Pumas "never looked like scoring a try".

“I’m really frustrated, really disappointed,” Rennie told reporters following the draw.

“At 15-6 we had control of the game, we had chances to pin them in the corners. We had a fair bit of success from kicking; looks like we got bored of it. Played and overplayed and turned the ball over and brought them back into the game.

“Disappointing, we should have closed that out. We’ve really got ourselves to blame.”

"I feel like I've let the country down," Hodge, who also missed a long-range penalty in the 83rd minute against the All Blacks last month.

The draw saw both nations collect two points, which sees the Wallabies and Pumas join the All Blacks on six points, who lead on points differential.

Autumn Nations Cup

Wing Jonny May scored a superb solo try as England claimed an emphatic and entertaining 18-7 Autumn Nations Cup victory against Ireland at Twickenham.

Wales laboured to a 18-0 win over Georgia.

France edged Scotland 22-17.

If France beat Italy and England see off Wales, the pair will meet in the final at Twickenham.

🇺🇸 USA

Tiger and Charlie Woods Are Playing In The PNC Father-Son Challenge Next Month

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be playing with Charlie in our first official tournament together,” Woods said.

“It’s been great watching him progress as a junior golfer, and it will be incredible playing as a team together in the PNC Championship.”

This year's tournament will also feature former FedExCup champion Justin Thomas and his father Mike for the first time, with Bernhard Langer and his son Jason also in the field to defend their title.

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

🎯 06:00 - PDC Grand Slam Quarter-Final, Night 7 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 06:15 - Premier League - Liverpool v Leicester City (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Napoli v Milan (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Lille OSC v FC Lorient (BeIN Sports 3) 

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Deportivo Alaves v Valencia (BeIN Sports 2) 

🏈 08:25 - NFL Regular Season - Indianapolis Colts v Green Bay Packers (ESPN 1) 

🏈 08:25 - NFL Regular Season - Minnesota Vikings v Dallas Cowboys (7mate)

🤼‍♂️ 11:00 - WWE Survivor Series (Main Event)

⚽️ 11:30 - MLS Knockout Round - Minnesota United v Colorado Rapids (ESPN 2) 

🏈 12:20 - NFL Regular Season - Las Vegas Raiders v Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN 1) 

⚽️ 14:00 - MLS Knockout Round - Portland Timbers v FC Dallas (ESPN 2) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 18:00 - WNBL Regular Season - Southside Flyers v UC Capitals (Kayo Sports)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 20:00 - WNBL Regular Season - Sydney Uni. Flames v Perth Lynx (Kayo Sports)

TUESDAY

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League Regular Season - Odisha FC v Hyderabad FC (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 04:30 - Premier League - Burnley v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 1) 

🎯 06:00 - PDC Grand Slam Semi-Finals, Night 8 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southampton (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Athletic Club Bilbao v Real Betis (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏈 12:15 - NFL Regular Season - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Los Angeles Rams (ESPN 1)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 18:00 - WNBL Regular Season - Melbourne Boomers v Adelaide Lightning (Kayo Sports)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 20:00 - WNBL Regular Season - Bendigo Spirit v Townsville Fire (Kayo Sports)

🚘 20:30 - Motorsport Supercars Pro Eseries, Round 5 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 21:00 - AFC Champions League Group - Beijing Guoan v Melbourne Victory (Fox Sports More)