🗞 Home Team Advantage

September 17, 2020

G'day sports fans,

Apologies this is a little later than normal, first time in 137 editions. Technology 🤨

⛳️ The US Open is playing tough, as expected.

🤔 Did you know Kevin Na holds the record for most strokes on a par-4 hole, when he shot at 16 on the ninth at the 2011 Valero Texas Open. The whole episode took an agonizing 20 minutes; a lifetime for a pro.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏉 Round Previews

🇦🇺 AFL Hub costs

⛳️ The sweet sound of a golf ball hitting ice

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

The crippling cost of keeping the AFL's interstate hubs has been revealed with the league paying the cost.

Result: North Melbourne 34 (4.10) West Coast Eagles 49 (7.7) - WCE by 15: Slow-starting Eagles leave it late to see off Roos. West Coast is up to third after a narrow win over North Melbourne on Thursday night. (match report)

Tonight's Preview: St Kilda (1.85) v GWS Giants (2.05): It’s a “win and you’re in” type scenario.

With a place in the top eight on the line, St Kilda and GWS will play out a must-win clash on Friday night.

Although the Saints would have to lose this match by more than 50 points to fall out of the eight by full-time, results elsewhere could still make a defeat catastrophic to their finals hopes.

Meanwhile, for the Giants the equation is simple: win or go home.

Brad Crouch has opened up on his future at the Crows ahead of their final game.

👋🏼 Westhoff to retire at season’s end

Port Adelaide will bid farewell to one of its most loyal club servants at the end of the season with Justin Westhoff set to retire.

Westhoff notified his teammates on Thursday morning that he would not play on next year, but reaffirming his desire to contribute to team success in 2020.

Westhoff was drafted to the club in the 2006 AFL National Draft with pick 71 and won the Gavin Wanganeen Medal as the best player under 21 in his first season.

The 33-year-old is ranked second for AFL games played for the club, currently on 280 games, and won the 2018 John Cahill Medal as best and fairest.

🏉 NRL

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed crowds of up to 50% capacity will be allowed at some venues for the Telstra Premiership finals.

Result: Rabbitohs 16-26 Bulldogs: 'Seven weeks in the making': Bulldogs stun Souths to climb off bottom (match report)

A ferocious 20-0 burst in the opening 26 minutes helped Canterbury climb off the bottom of the ladder

Round Previews

Cowboys (6.4) v Panthers (1.14): Taumalolo a chance; Koroisau, Tamou out (match preview)

  • 📈 Penrith have won their last 4 by 13+ points

Eels (1.07) v Broncos (9.0): Mahoney back; Haas and Croft out (match preview)

  • 📈 Shaun Lane has scored in his last two against Brisbane (1st - 15.0)

Sea Eagles (1.39) v Titans (3.0): Turbo charge looms; Proctor back from ban (match preview)

  • 📈 Six of Manly's last 7 matches have gone OVER total points (42.5)

Storm (1.12) v Wests Tigers (6.50) : Welch and Leilua return; Brooks banned (match preview)

  • 📈 Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm) has scored two tries in 4 of Storm's last 6 in Queensland

All the player movement ahead of the third season of the NRLW Premiership.

Previews continued

Roosters (1.08) v Sharks (8.0): Tedesco and Taukeiaho rested (match preview)

  • 📈 Brett Morris has scored a try in 6 of his last 7 in Sydney

Raiders (1.12) v Warriors (6.50): Taunoa-Brown banned, loan stars exit (match preview)

  • 📈 Five of Canberra's last 6 have gone OVER total points line (42.5)

Knights (1.31) v Dragons (3.60): Randall to hook in; Red V rookie debuts (match preview)

  • 📈 Dragons have failed to cover the line in 8 of their last 9 matches (-8.5pts)

🐴 Racing

Bowman’s spring takes hit with latest ban

Hugh Bowman’s spring carnival plans took a hit after he was suspended for 20 days for his ride on Farnan at Rosehill.

Racing NSW stewards found Bowman guilty of a “running and handling” charge at a lengthy hearing on Thursday into his ride on the Golden Slipper winner.

Bowman confirmed immediately after the decision he would lodge an appeal against the ruling.

It came on Bowman’s first day back in the saddle from a six-week ban for his role in the Hot ‘N’ Hazy fall at the end of July.

If Bowman is unable to overturn the decision he will be suspended from Sunday, September 27 and will be free to ride again on The Everest day on October 17.

George Main Stakes 2020

The 2020 ATC George Main Stakes is a Group I 3U WFA held over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse with total prizemoney of $500,000.

The ATC George Main Stakes 2019 was won by Avilius.

Racenet Write up: Verry Eleegant overcame a wide run in transit to win the Winx resuming. She's a top class mare which has scope for improvement second up and is drawn to get the gun run in transit behind the speed. The one to beat again.

Avilius Produced the best race sectionals when charging home late in the Chelmsford resuming - Won this race last year and looks right on track to be a main contender again.

Dreamforce Led all the way to win the Tramway last start and looks set to find the front comfortably here. Will take plenty of running down with the speed map in his favour.

Kolding Settled handy when third in the Tramway resuming last start and expecting him to be forward in the run again. The 2019 Epsom winner this track and distance ready to win peaking third up.

🎧 Sweet sound

Watch on Twitter

⚽️ Football

A-League Round up

  • Adrian Cegecic set to join Rangers from Sydney's youth team

  • Matti Steinmann unlikely to stay at Wellington (ESPN)

  • Nabbout and Atkinson may not join Perth due to borders (West)

  • Clubs hope to re-sign players individually, without PFA or CBA (SMH)

  • Brad Inman has agreed personal terms with ATKMB

  • WSW announced 3 year deal with Kappa

  • Glory denied reports that Castro might be deported

  • Sydney have paid players in full

  • Socceroos, Matildas kits announced

The Green Shorts are BACK!

Nike’s first-ever product made with recycled plastic bottles debuted in Sydney in 2000. Fast forward to 2020, where all of Nike’s Federation football kits are made from plastic bottles.

“Australia’s new Nike kits – which will be worn by the Socceroos throughout their qualification path to Qatar 2022 and by the Matildas at the next Women’s Asian Cup in India – have been unveiled at a time when our senior national teams are readying to reboot post-COVID,”

Watch on Twitter

Selected Premier League Previews

Arsenal v West Ham: likely score Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United

The mood around both clubs could not be much more contrasting. Arsenal enter the fixture on a high after kicking off their 2020-21 campaign with back-to-back wins, while West Ham lost to Newcastle in their league opener and have a very tough run of fixtures ahead.

  • 📈 Arsenal have lost their first home game in five of the last nine Premier League campaigns

Chelsea v Liverpool: likely score Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

After spending more than £200m on new signings this summer, Chelsea will not only be expected to compete with Liverpool but also get the better of them this season. Since winning the title last season, Liverpool have conceded 15 goals in eight league games.

  • 📈 There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 11 of Chelsea's last 13 games (Premier League).

🔁 Gareth Bale is to arrive in London today after saying goodbye to Madrid teammates.

Gareth Bale is set to be announced as a Tottenham player again today (local time).

It is believed Spurs will pay 40 per cent of Bale’s £650,000-a-week wages with Real Madrid covering the remaining 60 per cent.

Expect to see him in a Spurs shirt again around October 17th v West Ham.

🔁 Thiago will sign his contract as new Liverpool player until June 2024. The agreement is 100% completed also with the player as with Bayern Münich [€30m add ons included].

💰 World's highest paid football players in 2020

  1. Lionel Messi: US$126 million

  2. Cristiano Ronaldo: $117 million

  3. Neymar Jr: $96 million

  4. Kylian Mbappe: $42 million

  5. Mohamed Salah: $37 million

🏉 Rugby

Super Rugby AU Final (Saturday)

Brumbies (1.62) v Reds (2.20)

  • Each of the last 10 Super Rugby games between the Brumbies and Reds have been won by the home team on the day; indeed, the Brumbies have won their last seven home games on the bounce against the Queensland side.

🇺🇸 'Merica

For LeBron James, breaking NBA records has become a habit.

Adam Rank says Cam Newton is making it OK to hop aboard the Patriots bandwagon. Plus, why Allen Robinson deserves to be considered a top-five wide receiver.

🎁 Bonus

📺 Live sport

Friday

⚽️ 08:00 - Copa Libertadores Group Game - Sao Paulo v River Plate (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 08:00 - Copa Libertadores Group Game - Defensa y Justicia v Delfin SC (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀 09:00 - NBA Conference Finals - Boston Celtics v Miami Heat (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - Pittsburgh Pirates v St. Louis Cardinals (Sky Sports 3)

⚽️ 10:00 - Copa Libertadores - Independiente del Valle v Flamengo (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 10:00 - Copa Libertadores - Club Libertad v Boca Juniors (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 10:20 - NFL - Cleveland Browns v Cincinnati Bengals (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 10:40 - MLB - Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers (Sky Sports 3)

⚽️ 12:00 - Copa Libertadores - Club Guarani v Club Atletico Tigre (BeIN Sports 1)

🐴 16:40 - Group 3, Newcastle Gold Cup (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Tasman Mako v Northland (Fox Sports)

🏍 17:55 - Italian MotoGP Practice 1, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

🏉 18:00 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Penrith Panthers (Fox League)

🎾 19:00 - ATP Rome Masters, Round 3, Day 5 (ESPN 2)

🎾 19:00 - WTA Internazionali d'Italia, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 3)

🇦🇺 19:50 - AFL - St Kilda Saints v GWS Giants (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🏉 19:55 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Nine)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:35 - Tour de France, Stage 19, 166.5 km (SBS)

🏍 22:10 - Italian MotoGP Practice 2, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

Saturday

⛳️ 09:00 - US Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 09:00 - LPGA TourPortland Classic, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 09:10 - MLB - Detroit Tigers v Cleveland Indians (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 11:00 - NBA Conference Finals - Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:40 - MLB - Oakland Athletics v San Francisco Giants (Sky Sports 3)

⚽️ 12:00 - MLS - Seattle Sounders v Los Angeles FC (BeIN Sports 1)

🏉 12:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Waikato v North Harbour (Fox Sports)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 13:00 - Super Netball - West Coast Fever v Giants Netball 9Nine)

🐴 14:00 - Group 2, Tea Rose Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🇦🇺 14:10 - AFL - Essendon Bombers v Melbourne Demons (Fox Footy)

🏉 14:35 - Mitre 10 Cup - Canterbury Rugby v Taranaki (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 15:00 - J1 League - Consadole Sapporo v Gamba Osaka (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 15:00 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)

🏉 15:00 - Shute Shield - Sydney University Rugby v Randwick Rugby (7TWO)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 15:00 - Super Netball - Adelaide Thunderbirds v NSW Swifts (Nine)

🐴 15:15 - Group 1, George Main Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🐴 15:35 - Listed Race, Jim Moloney Stakes (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🚘 15:45 - The Bend Super Sprint Race 1, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 16:40 - SANFL Glenelg Tigers v Central District Bulldogs (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🐴 16:50 - Group 1, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1 or 7)

⚽️ 17:00 - J1 League - Sagan Tosu v Yokohama F. Marinos (Optus Sport 2)

🐴 17:05 - Listed RaceW H Wylie Handicap, 1,100 - Quality (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Bay of Plenty v Southland (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 17:10 - AFL - Adelaide Crows v Richmond Tigers (Fox Footy)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Wests Tigers (Fox League)

🐎 17:47 - Group 3 Pacers, Woodlands Stud Industry Driven (Sky Racing 1)

🏉 19:15 - Super Rugby AU Final - Brumbies v Reds (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 19:30 - J1 League - Shonan Bellmare v Shimizu S-Pulse (Optus Sport 2)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Carlton Blues (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🎾 20:00 - ATP Rome Masters, Quarter-Finals (ESPN 2)

🎾 20:00 - WTA Internazionali d'Italia, Quarter-Finals (BeIN Sports 3)

🏍 20:20 - WorldSSP300 Catalunya Superpole, Round 5 (Fox Sports More)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 20:30 - Tour de France, Stage 20, 36.2 km (SBS)

🚘 21:30 - DTM Nurburgring Race 1, Round 6 (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 21:30 - Premier League - Everton v West Bromwich Albion (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 21:30 - English Championship - Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City (BeIN Sports 2)

🏍 22:00 - WorldSBK Catalunya Race 1, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

🚗 22:00 - Rally cross Championship, World RX of Latvia (Fox Sports)

🏍 23:15 - WorldSSP Catalunya Race 1, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

🏉 23:30 - Challenge Cup Quarter-Final - Warrington Wolves v St Helens (Fox League)

Sunday

⛳️ 01:00 - US Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏉 02:00 - Challenge Cup Quarter-Final - Hull FC v Wigan Warriors (Fox League)

⚽️ 02:30 - Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 1)

🏍 03:00 - Czech Speedway GP, Round 6 (Fox Sports)

🎾 03:00 - WTA Internazionali d'Italia, Quarter-Finals, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 04:45 - Italian Serie A - Hellas Verona v Roma (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 05:00 - France Ligue 1 - Stade Rennais v AS Monaco (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 05:00 - Premier League -Arsenal v West Ham United (Optus Sport 1)

🎯 05:00 - World Series Finals (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 05:00 - Spanish La Liga - Celta Vigo v Valencia (BeIN Sports 2)

🏈 05:30 - NCAA - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets v UCF Knights (ESPN 1)

⛳️ 07:00 - PGA Tour Champions - Pure Insurance Championship (Fox Sports)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 08:30 (TBC) - LPGA Tour, Portland Classic, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 09:10 - MLB - Houston Astros v Arizona Diamondbacks (Sky Sports 3)

🚘 09:30 - NASCAR Bristol Night Race, Round 29 (Fox Sports More)

👊🏻 10:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card - Colby Covington v Tyron Woodley (ESPN 2)

🏀 10:30 - NBA Conference Finals - Miami Heat v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:10 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Texas Rangers (Sky Sports 3)

🏉 12:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Manawatu v Otago (Fox Sports)

🚘 12:25 - The Bend Super Sprint Race 2, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 13:00 - Super Netball - Melbourne Vixens v Queensland Firebirds (Nine)

🇦🇺 13:05 - AFL - Hawthorn Hawks v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

🏉 14:00 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v Warriors (Fox League)

🏉 14:35 - Mitre 10 Cup - Auckland Rugby v Wellington Rugby (Fox Sports)

🚘 14:55 - The Bend Super Sprint Race 3, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 15:35 - AFL - Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats (Fox Footy or 7mate)

⚽️ 16:00 - K League 1 - Incheon United v Ulsan Hyundai (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 16:00 - K League 1 - FC Seoul v Daegu FC (Optus Sport 1)

🚗 16:00 - WRC Rally of Turkey, Day 3, Round 5 (Fox Sports More)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League or Nine)

🐴 18:00 (TBC)Horse RacingListed RaceBoulder Cup (Sky Racing 1)

🏎 18:05 - San Marino MotoE Race, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺18:10 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy)

🏍 19:00 - WorldSBK Spain Superpole, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

🏍 19:00 - Italian Moto3 Race, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

🎾 20:00 - WTA Internazionali d'Italia, Semi-Final 1, Day 7 (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Urawa Red Diamonds v Kawasaki Frontale (Optus Sport 2)

🚗 20:00 - WRC Rally of Turkey, Day 3, Round 5 (Fox Sports)

🏍 20:20 - Italian Moto2 Race, Round 8 (Fox Sports)

🏍 20:30 - WorldSSP Catalunya Race 2, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

🎯 20:45 - World Series Finals - Quarter-Finals, Day 3 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 21:00 - Scottish Premiership - Hibernian v Rangers (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 21:00 - France Ligue 1 - OGC Nice v Paris Saint-Germain (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 21:00 - Premier League - Southampton v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

🏍 21:40 - World SSP300 Catalunya Race 2, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

🎾 22:00 - ATP Rome Masters, Semi-Final 1 (ESPN 2)

🏍 22:00 - Italian MotoGP Race (10 Bold or Fox Sports)

🏍 23:00 - World SBK Catalunya Race 2, Round 6 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 23:00 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 23:00 - Italian Serie A - Genoa v FC Crotone (BeIN Sports 1)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 23:30 - Tour de France, Stage 21, 122 km (SBS)