G'day sports fans,

Future classic quote: “To Craig, he does nothing pretty much all year. Smithy does all the coaching, (Bellamy) is getting paid lots of money to do p*ss all.” - Brandon Smith, after their Grand Final win yesterday.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 Epic comeback

🏉 Fairytale for Smith

🐴 No Crowds at Carnival

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

Tigers stun Cats in epic Grand Final comeback

Richmond defends its premiership in a history-making Grand Final at the Gabba.

Richmond has claimed back-to-back premierships, and made it three of the last four flags, after coming from behind to beat Geelong by 31 points in the historic first ever Toyota AFL Grand Final at the Gabba.

It etched the Tiger dynasty into football history as one of the most dominant sides of this century.

Dustin Martin, Richmond's inimitable, incredible midfielder, also made history by becoming the first player to win three Norm Smith Medals as the best on the ground in the 12.9 (81) to 7.8 (50) win by booting four goals from 21 disposals.

Gary Ablett's farewell did not go as hoped. The champion Cat injured his shoulder in the opening minutes immediately after Tigers defender Nick Vlastuin was concussed in a wild piece of play.

He did return after receiving treatment but struggled all night.

His hope of ending his glittering 357-game career with a third flag was dashed as the Tigers booted nine goals to two in the second half.

The under lights Gabba clash had it all: injury carnage, a remarkable recovery, a comeback, two stretchers, pitch invaders, pyrotechnics and an entertainment package that will make the debate for day Grand Finals a harder sell in 2021.

🏉 NRL

Melbourne Storm outlast Panthers to give Cameron Smith his fairy tale

The Storm simply blew an overawed Panthers outfit off the paddock for almost an hour to lead 26-0, Penrith eventually finding their feet and their way back into it for the last stanza.

As a side with 17 straight triumphs to their name, the Panthers refused to wilt.

They found themselves up against 11 men to finish when first Jahrome Hughes (71st minute), then Brandon Smith (80th minute) was given an early breather.

Nathan Cleary even set up one last frantic, fantastic crack at going to golden point, with a superb solo effort in the final minute.

Yet as with all the Storm do, Smith, 37, marshalled his men with aplomb.

Cameron Smith and Craig Bellamy have combined – with almost 100 years of rugby league royalty between them – as the oldest player and coach to win a premiership in the game's history.

🏅Clive Churchill Medal

Ryan Papenhuyzen was named the winner of the Clive Churchill Medal after a try-scoring performance in the Melbourne Storm’s victory.

State of Origin 2020: NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons announce squads - NRL

Clive Churchill Medal winner Ryan Papenhuyzen is one of several new faces in line to make their State of Origin debut after NSW and Queensland announced the final additions to their squads following the NRL grand final.

Melbourne have been rewarded for their premiership win with seven players called into the squads while six Panthers received some consolation after their grand final loss by being told they would be required for state duty.

As expected, Josh Addo-Carr and Papenhuyzen will head to the NSW camp during the week while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Brenko Lee, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Cameron Munster will be joining Queensland's squad.

For Penrith, Kurt Capewell was added to the Maroons squad while grand final teammates Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo have been named by the Blues. (Full squad lists)

🏉 NRLW

Broncos down Roosters, complete NRLW premiership three-peat

The Brisbane Broncos have successfully completed a premiership three-peat after defeating the Roosters 20-10 in the 2020 NRLW Grand Final.

The Broncos were on fire early, scoring two tries in the first 10 minutes in an early onslaught.

The Roosters hit back with two tries of their own to reduce the margin to two points at half-time before Chelsea Lenarduzzi (34th minute) and Tallisha Harden (44th minute) turned the game on its head.

Broncos forward Amber Hall took out the Karyn Murphy Medal with a stellar performance. She ran for a team-high 147 metres and crossed over for a try.

⚽️ Football

Quick hits:

☹️ Newcastle Jets attacker Bernie Ibini has joined midfielder Steven Ugarkovic in seeking to terminate his contract, saying the exit of coach Carl Robinson and a raft of player departures has left him unsettled and unhappy.

🙍🏻‍♀️ W-League: Wellington Phoenix are close to announcing the inclusion of a team in the upcoming W-League season. [ESPN]

🇳🇱 In Holland, Ajax beat VVV Venlo 13-0 over the weekend 👀

🙍🏻‍♂️🙍🏻‍♀️ The principle of equality will be built into FFA's marketing, which will be split evenly between the A-League and W-League, which clubs will be encouraged to emulate. [ESPN]

🐮 🔔 Get used to the cowbells. That was the key takeaway from a landmark afternoon for Macarthur FC, who took their biggest step towards life as an A-League club with a comfortable 6-0 win in their first pre-season fixture. [SMH]

⚽️ The last remaining unbeaten record of the Premier League season was ended as leaders Everton crashed to a 2-0 defeat against an impressive Southampton at St Mary's.

A-League going solo

A-League club owners will come to the rescue of financially struggling clubs to ensure next season will finish with 12 teams, after reaching an agreement to gain near-full control of the competition from Football Federation Australia. [SMH]

🐴 Racing

VRC makes big call on crowds for carnival

The famed Melbourne Cup carnival will be held without crowds after the Victoria Racing Club conceded on Sunday it “will not be possible to welcome spectators” because of COVID-19 restrictions.

VRC chairman Amanda Elliott said the VRC had worked closely with authorities over the last few months and had tendered a comprehensive submission to the Victorian Government detailing how the VRC could safely host small crowds within government and public health guidelines.

The club said it was “now clear that none of this is possible”. (racenet)

🔥 Written Beauty breaks Nature Strip's 1000m track record at Moonee Valley

🏏 Cricket

WBBL wrap: Strikers, Heat post commanding wins

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, all 59 matches will be held in Sydney across five venues with the players all staying in hotels at Sydney's Olympic Park.

Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown rip through Hobart; Grace Harris leads the Heat past the Scorchers at North Sydney; and then the rain arrived.

Brisbane Heat beat Perth Scorchers by seven wickets with 18 balls to spare

Reigning champions the Brisbane Heat have started WBBL|06 with an upset seven-wicket win over the much-hyped new-look Perth Scorchers. [report]

Adelaide Strikers beat Hobart Hurricanes by eight wickets with 36 balls to spare

Debutantes Darcie Brown and Laura Wolvaardt have powered the Adelaide Strikers to an eight-wicket thrashing of Hobart in their Rebel WBBL opener at Hurstville Oval.

Brown's hostile 3-13 helped humble the Hurricanes for just 84 as six batters were clean bowled by the Strikers’ disciplined bowlers. [report]

IPL

Rajasthan Royals defeat of Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians 195-5 (20 overs): H Pandya 60*; Archer 2-31

Rajasthan Royals 196-2 (18.2 overs): Stokes 107*, Samson 54*

Stokes shared 152 with Sanju Samson to get the Royals to their target of 196 with 10 balls to spare.

Rajasthan Royals won by eight wickets

Chennai Super Kings cruise to victory as Royal Challengers Bangalore miss the chance to go top

The win keeps Chennai's slim hopes of a playoff place alive but Dhoni's side still need to win their remaining two games and hope that other results go their way.

Meanwhile, RCB miss the chance to go top and stay in third.

🚴🏼‍♂️ Cycling

Jai Hindley had to settle for second place at the Giro

Hindley, a Perth native, shared the lead with Brit, Tao Geoghegan when 25-year-old won Saturday's stage 20.

This meant the pair shared the lead with before the final stage, the first such instance in the race's history.

Jai Hindley wore pink jersey in time trial, but lost the overall title to Tao Geoghegan Hart

Ineos Grenadiers' Geoghegan Hart finished 39 seconds ahead of Hindley in Sunday's 15.7km final time trial.

🏎 F1

Lewis Hamilton breaks Michael Schumacher's win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix

Hamilton passed Valtteri Bottas to take a commanding victory in the Portuguese Grand Prix and break Formula 1's all-time win record.

Hamilton dropped to third in a manic first two laps that ended with McLaren's Carlos Sainz leading, but fought back to crush Bottas' hopes.

After both Mercedes passed Sainz, Hamilton tracked Bottas before taking the lead on lap 20.

From there, Hamilton dominated to take his 92nd career Grand Prix victory.

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

Today

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

⚽️ 06:30 - MLS - Los Angeles FC v LA Galaxy (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Juventus v Hellas Verona (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v AS Monaco (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Sociedad v Huesca (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 07:25 - NFL - New England Patriots v San Francisco 49ers (ESPN 1)

🏈 07:25 - NFL - Denver Broncos v Kansas City Chiefs (7mate)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour, ZOZO Championship, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🏏 09:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Brisbane Heat Women v Melb. Renegades Women (Kayo Sports)

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

🤼‍♂️ 10:00 - WWE - Hell in a Cell (Main Event)

⚾️ 11:08 - World Series - Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN 2 0r Sky Sports 3)

🏈 11:20 - NFL - Arizona Cardinals v Seattle Seahawks (ESPN 1)

🏏 14:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Perth Scorchers Women v Hobart Hurricanes Women (Kayo Sports)

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

🎱 23:30 - Championship League Group Games (Fox Sports)

Tuesday

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab (Fox Cricket)

🏊🏼‍♂️ 01:00 - International Swimming League, Day 1 (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 04:30 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 04:30 - Super League - Salford Red Devils v St Helens (Fox League)

🎱 04:30 - Championship League Group Games (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 06:30 - German Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (BeIN Sports 3)

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

🏉 06:45 - Super League - Leeds Rhinos v Castleford Tigers (Fox League)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Burnley v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Levante v Celta Vigo (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 11:15 - NFL - Los Angeles Rams v Chicago Bears (ESPN 1)

🎾 23:00 (TBC) - ATP Erste Bank Open, Round 1, Day 2

🎱 23:30 - Championship League Group Games, Stage 2, Day 2 (Fox Sports)

If you like sports, you’ll love SPORT JOURNAL CLUB

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🏡 Visit the stables and trainer

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As well as;

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🙋🏻 Group Discounts

If you like sports, you’ll love SPORT JOURNAL CLUB

The newsletter jam-packed with sports news and funny stories is free and always will be, but if you want to take your sports to the next level join the club. Go to the “become a member” button below.

For the price of a couple of fancy coffees ☕️ you can…

🐴 Own a share in a racehorse

🗞 Receive exclusive owner-only reports

📺 Receive video content of the horses journey

🏡 Visit the stables and trainer

🧲 Attend race meetings

As well as;

🎁 Group Giveaways

💰 Group Punts

👕 Merchandise

🙋🏻 Group Discounts