G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "If a draw is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out." - George Brett (MLB player)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏅 Neale seals Brownlow

📺 Cameron Smith stitched-up

🏉 The New Lomu?

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

Lachie Neale won the Brownlow Medal in stunning fashion

The brilliant and prolific Lions midfielder blitzed the field to be crowned the 2020 season's fairest and best player, cruising to the game's highest individual accolade ahead of Port Adelaide's Travis Boak, Melbourne's Christian Petracca and St Kilda's Jack Steele.

In a record-breaking count, Neale polled 31 votes from 17 games to finish comfortably clear of Boak (21 votes) in second and Petracca and Steele (20 votes each) in joint-third.

Prelim Final Result: Port Adelaide 40 (6.4) Richmond 46 (6.10) - Tigers by 6: Tigers into another GF after outlasting Port in brutal thriller.

The Tigers roared their way to the 2017 flag and clawed their way back to the top of the mountain again in 2019.

Now, they are on the cusp of a continuing a dynasty like no other in a season like no other. (match report)

Prelim Final Result: Brisbane Lions 42 (6.6) Geelong Cats 82 (11.16) - Cats by 40: Fifth time lucky: Cats break prelim hoodoo, Lions' flag dream over (match report)

It is the first time since 2011 – when the Cats overcame Collingwood to claim the premiership – that it will be an all-Victorian Grand Final.  

🏉 NRL

Storm 30-10 Raiders: The Storm became the first team through to the NRL season decider after a Jahrome Hughes masterclass inspired a 30-10 preliminary final win over the Raiders at Suncorp Stadium. (match report)

The Storm are into the grand final for the fourth time in five years while their skipper Cameron Smith will make his eighth appearance in a decider.

Panthers 20-16 Rabbitohs: Panthers claw past Rabbitohs to break 17-year drought (match report)

Penrith's multimillion-dollar punt on the Clearys has marched them into their first grand final in 17 years, with Nathan kicking them clear of Souths on the paddock and Ivan matching wits with Wayne Bennett off it.

NRL 2020: Dally M Medal preview, Nathan Cleary the hot favourite — www.nrl.com

Nathan Cleary the hot favourite to claim Dally M Medal.

🏉 NRLW

Dragons 10-22 Warriors: Warriors coach Brad Donald praised his team's "astonishing" progress as they finished their NRLW campaign in style with a 22-10 victory win over a depleted St George Illawarra outfit at ANZ Stadium on Saturday. (match report)

Rooster 16-24 Broncos: The Broncos wrapped up the 2020 minor premiership ahead of the all-important rematch with the Roosters in eight days' time after both sides booked their spot with respective wins last week. (match report)

⚽️ Football

A-League round up

• Adelaide United - Jordan Elsey linked with Kerala but still training with Adelaide Interested in signing defender Nikola Jurkovic

• Sydney FC - Sydney teen Anton Mlinaric set for a trial at Dynamo Kyiv Adam Le Fondre landed in Mumbai ahead of loan move

• Melbourne Victory - Callum McManaman signed a two-year deal

• Macarthur FC - Alexander Jovanovic signed a two-year deal

• Brisbane Roar - Aaron Amadi-Holloway joined East Bengal after his departure Jesse Daley joined

• Western United - Training will start next week Jamshedpur wont sign Connor Pain

• Melbourne City - Ben Garuccio signed after leaving Hearts

• Western Sydney Wanderers - Mathieu Cordier left, set for trial at Salford City

• Newcastle Jets - Ownership talks with Sky Jade Capital broke down Jamshedpur have enquired about Nick Fitzgerald

• Wellington Phoenix - Matti Steinmann has agreed to join East Bengal

Everton 2-2 Liverpool: Everton were somehow on the right side of VAR, twice. First this on Vigil Van Djik by Pickford that will see the CB out for up to 8 months. It was called off-side by the officials who didn't seem to notice the assault.

Then after Jordan Henderson thought he scored the winner, VAR ruled Sadio Mane's badge on his shirt was offside and the goal was disallowed.

Man City dominated Arsenal to win 1-0.

Man United toiled for 85 minuets and then scored 3 in the final 5 mins, plus stoppage time to come out 4-1 winners.

• FT: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton - Mac Allister cancels out Zaha opener

• FT: Sheffield United 1-1 Fulham - Sharp penalty cancels out Lookman opener

Tottenham were 3-0 up with 81 mins played, only to capitulate in the final 10mins, conceding this beauty in the 9th minute, to draw 3-3 with West Ham.

🐴 Racing

Verry nice: Punter turns $60 into $280k

A nervous seven-week wait for the outcome of a $60 multi bet was well worth it for one TAB punter.

The lucky punter placed his seven-leg racing multi at odds of $4714.36 on August 29 and had to wait until Saturday for his final two legs to lob.

For the big windfall, the punter needed South Australian sprinter Gytrash to run a place in The Everest and Chris Waller’s five-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant to run a drum in the Caulfield Cup.

The mare was favourite for the Caulfield Cup and she got the job done for the punter, which resulted in a whopping payout of $282,861.60.

The punt:

• Anders to win the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on August 29

• Behemoth to win the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on August 29

• Imaging to place [finished third] in the George Main Stakes at Randwick on September 19

• Probabeel to place [won] in the TAB Epsom at Randwick on October 3

• Angel Of Truth to place [finished third] in The Metropolitan at Randwick on October 3

• Gytrash to place [finished third] in today’s TAB Everest at Randwick

• Verry Elleegant to place [won] today’s Caulfield Cup

Verry Elleegant x 6 Group 1 races.

She's a winner: Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Winx Stakes, Tancred Stakes, ATC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes

The moment a guy playing golf (there is a pitch and putt course inside the track at Ellerslie) realised he was standing in the path of the Great Northern Steeplechase field on Saturday.

🏉 Rugby

All Blacks' Eden Park dominance continues

New Zealand (10) 27: Tries: Smith, J Barrett, Savea, Cane Cons: Mo'unga 2 Pens: Mo'unga

Australia (7) 7: Tries: Koroibete Cons: O'Connor

All Blacks notch 20th straight win over Wallabies at Eden Park to go one-nil up in Bledisloe Cup.

The home side belted the Wallabies at the collision and were ferocious at the breakdown, particularly in the opening half-hour as they opened up a 10-0 lead.

Somehow the Wallabies managed to get on the board – something they failed to achieve a year earlier – when Ned Hanigan ran over the top of All Blacks prop Joe Moody and got the visitors on the front foot. Two phases later the Wallabies were over as Marika Koroibete scored.

But trans-Tasman Tests are about taking your chances and on a rare beautiful afternoon in Auckland it was the All Blacks that took them and the Wallabies that didn’t.

Plenty of young New Zealand wingers have been burdened with the expectation of being the next Jonah Lomu, but in Caleb Clarke the All Blacks have a potential superstar.

All hope isn't lost for the Wallabies. Few expected the Bledisloe Cup to still be alive at this point. But their task just got a whole lot more difficult.

🏆 European Champions Cup

Exeter beat Racing 92 31-27 to lift first Champions Cup title. The Chiefs won 31-27 against French side Racing 92 in their first European final, ten years after the club played in the English second tier. Exeter's Sam Simmonds was named European player of the year.

In the minor competition: Harry Randall scored the fastest ever try in a European final (15s), and saw Bristol win over Toulon, 32-19.

📺 Throwback

🚘 Bathurst 1000

Bathurst 1000: Shane van Gisbergen wins epic as double safety cars wreak havoc on finish

The Red Bull Holden driver was pushed to his limits in the closing stages when two crashes ensured he would have to restart the race at the death with it all on the line — twice.

But the Kiwi was cool under pressure on both occasions, holding his lead when racing resumed with just six and three laps to go, before defending his position until the finish.

The result gives him his first ever Bathurst win having come second in 2016 and 2019, while it gives co-driver Garth Tander his fourth after victories in 2000, 2009 and 2011. (FOX)

⛹🏻‍♀️ Super Netball

Melbourne Vixens win 2020 Grand Final

The Melbourne Vixens have won their first premiership since 2014 today, defeating the West Coast Fever by two points in a thrilling Grand Final.

Not even a global pandemic could stand in the way of the Melbourne Vixens claiming the title after a nailbiting grand final victory over the West Coast Fever.

After almost a century of days spent locked out of their home state due to COVID-19, the Vixens' 66-64 win at Brisbane's Nissan Arena secured their first championship since 2014 and sent retiring stars Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip out in celebratory style.

Nothing separated the combatants until a tense final quarter when the COVID-restricted crowd of 2061 witnessed the Vixens clinch the result on the back of pure grit. (SN)

🏏 Cricket

On Thursday, Anrich Nortje clocked 156kph, the fastest ball in IPL history. Now, the South Africa and Delhi Capitals fast bowler is aiming to break the speed barrier for the fastest recorded delivery in all of cricket.

Delhi Capitals' Anrich Nortje bowled the fastest ball in IPL history - 97mph - but Jos Buttler ramped it for four, only to be castled by the South African next ball!

Meanwhile, Australia quick Pat Cummins has proved again how effective he can be with the bat as he smashed an unbeaten half-century for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

Still, the paceman's effort was not enough to stop the Quinton de Kock-inspired Mumbai Indians racing to a comfortable eight-wicket win with 19 balls to spare that puts them back on top of the league.

Smith finds form but ABdV shines brightest: A welcome return to form for Steve Smith was overshadowed by another bit of brilliance from AB de Villiers who steered Bangalore home.

Steve Smith smashed a half-century to snap a run of poor form for the Rajasthan Royals but a whirlwind innings from AB de Villiers led Royal Challengers Bangalore to the win. 

With Bangalore needing 35 off the last two overs, de Villiers finished on 55 not out from just 22 balls and brought up victory by hitting Jofra Archer for a big six over midwicket as Bangalore reached 3-179 with two deliveries to spare.

🎧 Sports in your ears

Spotify’s sports podcast content has tripled in the past 18 months, solidifying the streaming service’s recent dedication to the space. There are more than 800,000 hours of sports content streamed each day.

With over 100,000 sports podcasts on Spotify, there’s been a 30% increase in listeners in the category during the pandemic.

Football have had 40,000 playlists featuring the word “football” being created in the last three months.

🤔 I'm looking to upgrade my podcast game, reply to this with what are you listening to at the moment!?!

📺 Live sport

🏈 07:05 - NFL - Miami Dolphins v New York Jets (7mate)

🏈 07:25 - NFL - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Green Bay Packers (ESPN 1)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour, The CJ Cup, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - New York Red Bulls v Orlando City SC (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 10:30 - MLS - Toronto FC v Atlanta United (BeIN Sports 3) 

11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Western Australia v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

⚽️ 11:00 - MLS - Minnesota United v Houston Dynamo (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚾️ 11:15 - National League Championship Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v Atlanta Braves (ESPN 2)

🏈 11:20 - NFL - San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams (ESPN 1) 

🏏 11:30 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Redbacks v Tasmania Tigers (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 13:00 - MLS - Portland Timbers v Los Angeles FC (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 13:30 - MLS - LA Galaxy v Vancouver Whitecaps (BeIN Sports 2) 

🏅 19:30 - Awards Ceremony - Dally M Awards (Fox League)

🎳 23:00 - International, Weber Cup, Day 1 (Fox Sports) 

Tuesday

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals (Fox Cricket)

🏊🏼‍♂️ 01:00 - International Swimming League, Day 2 (BeIN Sports 3) 

⚽️ 03:30 - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (Optus Sport 1) 

🎳 04:00 - International, Weber Cup, Night 1 (Fox Sports) 

05:45 - Italian Serie A - Hellas Verona v Genoa (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 06:00 - Premier League - Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Optus Sport 1)

🏈 08:00 - NFL - Buffalo Bills v Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN 1) 

🏈 11:15 - NFL - Dallas Cowboys v Arizona Cardinals (ESPN 1) 

🏏 11:30 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Redbacks v Tasmania Tigers (Fox Cricket)

🎾 19:00 (TBC) - ATP Kremlin Cup, Round 1, Day 2

🎾 21:00 (TBC) - ATP European Open, Round 1, Day 2

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:25 - UCI Men's World Tour, Giro d'Italia, Stage 16, 229km (Eurosport 1)

🎾 22:30 - WTA Ostrava Open, Round 1, Day 2 (BeIN Sports )

🎳 23:00 - International, Weber Cup, Day 2 (Fox Sports) 

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