🗞 He's so big!

G'day sports fans,

📈 Soccer Stat: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored in every minute. They are the only two players in history to have scored a goal in every single minute (1-90) of a game.

🐴 Saturday’s $5 million Cox Plate promises to be a mouth-watering clash as the final field and barriers have been released for the 2040-metre weight-for-age race at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley racecourse.

Often referred to as the ‘best two minutes in sport’, the Cox Plate is Australia’s greatest weight-for-age race.

The 2023 edition is set to be an epic battle, with 10 of the country’s best horses engaged, as well as two highly-regarded internationals.

Current favourite Romantic Warrior has drawn nicely in barrier 7, but cult hero Alligator Blood (barrier 5) and the UK visitor Victoria Road (6) were the winners of Tuesday morning’s draw.

2023 COX PLATE FINAL FIELD AND BARRIERS

Saddlecloth - Horse’s Name - Jockey - Weight - Barrier

• 1. ROMANTIC WARRIOR – James McDonald – 59kg (7)

• 2. ZAAKI – Damian Lane – 59kg (12)

• 3. MR BRIGHTSIDE – Craig Williams – 59kg (2)

• 4. ALLIGATOR BLOOD – Tim Clark – 59kg (5)

• 5. GOLD TRIP – Mark Zahra – 59kg (8)

• 6. MY OBERON – Jamie Mott – 59kg (4)

• 7. PINSTRIPED – Ben Allen – 59kg (11)

• 8. FANGIRL – Zac Purton – 57kg (9)

• 9. DUAIS – Damien Oliver – 57kg (1)

• 10. VICTORIA ROAD – Blake Shinn – 56.5kg (6)

• 11. MILITARIZE – Zac Lloyd (a) – 49.5kg (3)

• 12. KING COLORADO – Michael Dee – 49.5kg (10)

🏉 Backrower Corey Waddell has left the Bulldogs and returned to the Sea Eagles on a one-year deal until the end of 2024.

Waddell played 36 games for the Sea Eagles in 2019-20 before running out 59 times for Canterbury over the past three years.

The Bulldogs have had a major retention win by locking in fan favourite Jacob Kiraz on a three-year extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027.

Given Kiraz was due to come off contract at the end of 2024, the 21-year-old could’ve tested his value on the open market from November 1.

🏉 New Sydney Roosters recruit Dominic Young is expected to make a full recovery after being taken to hospital in the UK with a sinus infection that spread to his brain.

Young flew back to England earlier this month to take part in the three-Test series against Tonga when he complained of headaches.

Reports are he has been responding well to antibiotics, and is expected to make a full recovery.

🇦🇺 Three men charged over an alleged attack on former Kangaroos captain Jack Ziebell just hours after his final match have been named in court.

Ibrahim Behluli, 21, Abdul Karim, 29, and Masihullah Rawani, 27, were scheduled to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday but the case was administratively adjourned and they were excused from appearing.

According to the North Melbourne Football Club, Mr Ziebell was celebrating his retirement at The Osborne Rooftop & Bar with teammates and staff when he was allegedly set upon in an “unprovoked attack”.

They have each been charged with committing affray by using unlawful violence, while Mr Behluli is facing additional charges of intentionally causing injury to Mr Ziebell and unlawful assault by kicking.

The trio will return to court at a later date.

⚽️ Matildas captain Sam Kerr has continued to be recognised for her on-field performances by being nominated for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award, in aaditon to making the Women’s Ballon D’Or Shortlist.

Kerr’s year included being part of a Matildas squad that reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and she also helped Chelsea win the English Super League title and the FA Cup.

🚘 James Courtney will leave Tickford Racing at the end of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship, the team has announced.

In a statement, Tickford said Courtney has “mutually agreed to explore new opportunities”, paving the way to a move elsewhere in 2024.

That is set to be Blanchard Racing Team, which will expand to two cars next season.

🐴 Gai Waterhouse believes Alligator Blood has “come of age” this season, as the star galloper attempts to claim his first Cox Plate and third consecutive Group 1 this Saturday.

The seven-year-old just had a light hit-out at The Valley on Tuesday morning, having done more serious work last Saturday, but reports from Jordan Childs, who stepped in for race day rider Tim Clark, were extremely positive.

“He’s absolutely come of age, he’s so big – when you see him, his rump is like a dining room table,” she said.

“He’s got terrific lung capacity as well, he’s just a wonderful horse.”

🏀 Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have agreed to a three-year, US$186 million extension that will keep the former MVP in Milwaukee through the 2027-28 season.

🏏 Quinton de Kock hit a stunning 174 as South Africa trounced Bangladesh by 149 runs on the back of another blistering batting display in Mumbai.

De Kock's century, his third of this World Cup and the highest score of the tournament so far, set the Proteas on their way to a commanding 382-5.

Heinrich Klaasen backed up his century against England with a similarly destructive 90 from 49 balls.

In reply, Bangladesh were 233 all out, despite Mahmudullah's defiant century.

⚽️ Arsenal remain interested in trying to sign Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz, 25, from Aston Villa having previously had several bids rejected.

🏈 After missing three kicks in the team’s 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Rams have officially released kicker Brett Maher. Multiple reports Tuesday indicated that the Rams would be moving on from Maher, who missed two field goals and an extra point in the Week 7 loss.

💰 Former A-League boss Danny Townsend has been unveiled as the new chief executive of SRL Sports Investments, a Saudi Arabia-based company funded by the Middle East nation’s multibillion-dollar Public Investment Fund.

In his new role with a company that calls itself the “emerging leader of sports investments in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region”, Townsend will lead SRJ’s “strategic direction” and play an “important role in driving the organisation’s growth in the local and global sports investment sector”.

❤️ Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, an acclaimed West End theatre and film producer, has died at the age of 78.

He had been on the board at Everton since 1989, taking over as chairman at Goodison Park in 2004.

🏉 World Rugby has announced a new competition starting in 2026 as part of a "significant overhaul" of the men's international calendar.

The tournament will be made up of 24 teams, split into a first and second division, with 12 teams in each and promotion and relegation from 2030.

The top division will include the 10 sides from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, plus two unnamed others.

The World Cup will also be expanded to 24 teams from 2027.

The new competition will be played in July and November, replacing the current international windows.

"Agreement on the men's and women's global calendars and their content is the most significant development in the sport since the game went professional," - said World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.

TODAY

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Benfica v Real Sociedad (Stan Sport)

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - SC Braga v Real Madrid (Stan Sport)

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Sevilla v Arsenal (Stan Sport)

10:30 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)

11:07 - National League Championship Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Arizona Diamondbacks (ESPN 2)

13:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Phoenix Suns (ESPN)

14:00 - NHL - Vegas Golden Knights v Philadelphia Flyers (ESPN 2 )

19:30 - Cricket World Cup - Australia v Netherlands (Channel 9, Fox Cricket, GEM)

19:30 - Test Series - Australia v South Africa (Fox Sports)

THURSDAY

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Newcastle United v Borussia Dortmund (Stan Sport)

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Paris Saint-Germain v Milan (Stan Sport)

06:00 - UEFA Champions Lge - Celtic v Atletico Madrid (Stan Sport)

10:00 - NBA - New York Knicks v Boston Celtics (ESPN)

10:30 - NHL - New Jersey Devils v Washington Capitals (ESPN 2)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Victoria v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - Tasmania Tigers v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

11:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Redbacks v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)

12:30 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks (ESPN)

17:30 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v Adelaide 36ers (ESPN)

19:30 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans (ESPN)

19:30 - Cricket World Cup - England v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

22:00 - AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying - Australia v Iran (Paramount+ or Channel 10)