G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "We actually got the winning goal three minutes from the end but then they scored." - Ben Cousins, (West Coast Eagles)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 A full weekend of AFL

🏉 Broncos blow an 18pt lead

💰 Private equity to pour in to RA

🇦🇺 AFL

Richmond and Collingwood play out draw

A 10-goal slugfest that saw both sides enjoy periods of domination.

Some took to social media stating they were feeling robbed after the low-scoring thriller brought into question the length of quarters. Other were simply delighted to have it back!

Tigers speedster Shai Bolton had a chance to win the match in a frantic final few minutes, but his kick on the run from 50m dropped short.

The teams finished locked on 5.6 (36) apiece in what was only the second draw of their long and illustrious history - the first in 103 years.

Collingwood had kicked the first four goals of the match to shock the reigning premiers in a stunning first-quarter blitz.

But they managed just one after quarter-time as Tom Lynch (three goals) helped Richmond grind their way back into the contest.

Jack Riewoldt and comeback kid Jack Higgins also had late chances to snatch victory for the Tigers but could not convert their set shots late in the final term. (AFL)

👕 SJ Tipping game: As you might expect, no one picked a draw in the first game. Looking at tonight's game, 29% of you fancy Geelong to win 10-19 ($5.40), and 55% think it'll be over 135.5pts ($1.90).

An incredible mural of Adam Goodes has been painted on the wall of a building on the corner of Foveaux St and Crown St in Surry Hills, Sydney. According to 9News article it was done by Hamish McBride, Laura Paige, Megan Hales, Jacqueline Butterworth and Kailin Hegel 👏🏻

AFL locks in new broadcast rights deal with Seven

There has been an extension of two years agreed, for seasons 2023 and 2024 as the AFL confronts a markedly changed financial environment in the wake of the coronavirus.

Seven will receive a 19 per cent saving and a net benefit of $87 million over the remainder of the current deal through to the end of 2022 before the extended rights deal kicks in. (AFL)

🏉 NRL

Broncos let slip an 18-0 lead

DCE and Turbo star as Manly fight back to beat Brisbane 20-18.

The weekend's fixtures:

Friday - Eels v Panthers: (Preview) Brown, Cleary back from bans. 2 unbeaten sides go head-to-head. The Eels notched their 4th win in dramatic fashion against Manly. For the Panthers, a 26-0 drubbing of the Warriors would have added to their confidence after they drew with Newcastle the week prior.

Saturday:

Rabbitohs v Titans: (Preview) Souths get double boost; Roberts doubtful. After breaking an almost year-long win drought, the Titans travel to NSW to meet a Rabbitohs team also sitting on a 1-3 record.

Knights v Storm: (Preview) Hughes out; Mann named. If they're not already considered heavyweights this year, Newcastle can all but confirm their status as top-four contenders by beating Melbourne on Saturday.

Wests Tigers v Raiders: (Preview) Benji dropped; Wighton on light duties. Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire declared he was "sick and tired of the ups and downs" The Raiders also have a point to prove after being soundly beaten by Newcastle last Sunday.

Sunday:

Bulldogs v Roosters: (Preview) Tedesco back; Dogs have winning feeling. The reigning Dally M Medallist is back for this clash against the Bulldogs as the premiers look to continue their post-layoff surge.

Dragons v Sharks: (Preview) Townsend, Fifita return; Tariq sidelined. Aside from rescuing their season, St George Illawarra will have plenty of reason to perform given the passion involved with a local derby against Cronulla.

🐴 Racing

How to play: It’s FREE to play, have a go at picking the winner in the 2 feature races, win Sport Journal merch. simple. It’s free to enter and a bit of fun.

How to play: 

• Click HERE to open the form

• Enter your email and name (so we can contact you when you win)

• Pick a horse in Race 7 Eagle Farm > hit next

• Pick a horse in Race 9 Eagle Farm > hit next

• Have a guess at the combined winning distance of the 2 races > make sure you hit submit

You don’t need to be an expert, just pick a horse from each race.

If we have a good number of players, we’ll look to branch out into other sports that as they restart.

Play HERE

⚽️ Football

MLS 'World Cup' starts in July

MLS will return to action July 8 - August 11th, with a World Cup-style tournament.

All 26 teams in the league will participate in the “MLS is Back Tournament” at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

With 3 games a day (11pm, 10am & 12:30pm AEST), teams will compete for CONCAF Champions League places and $1.1million in prize money. (MLS)

EPL Transfer Gossip:

Chelsea face competition from Real Madrid to sign Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, 21. (Sun)

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign Chelsea and France striker Olivier Giroud, 33. (Express)

Barcelona threaten Arsenal plans for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu (TribalFootball)

Grant Brebner named Victory's interim-interim boss

Grant Brebner will become Melbourne Victory’s third Head Coach of the 2019/20 A-League season after being named as interim boss of the club on Thursday. 

Previously elevated to an assistant’s role after Carlos Salvachúa took over as interim boss following the sacking of Marco Kurz in January, the Spaniard’s decision to resign and return home to Europe as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic means the two-time Championship winner will now be in charge for Victory’s five remaining games.

Victory W-League Head Coach Jeff Hopkins will be temporarily assigned to the men’s program to serve as Brebner’s assistant. (ftbl)

🏉 Rugby

Private equity giant in talks with Rugby Australia

The global private equity giant that bought a $4 billion stake in the UFC is in talks with Rugby Australia to make a game-changing investment in the embattled football code.

The SMH reports, investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is in early talks with Rugby Australia, in collaboration with the Melbourne Rebels, about taking a stake in the sport worth "hundreds of millions of dollars".

Incoming Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan confirmed the firm's interest and said while Test rugby and the grassroots game were off limits, Super Rugby was ripe for a shake-up.

RA has no broadcast partner or competition format locked in for 2021, making it a potentially attractive investment for an external party.

The competition is also at a low ebb with fans, giving RA and a partner the opportunity to start again with a fan-centred model that could claw back eyeballs and interest. (SMH)

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Ticket sales in Auckland, Dunedin top 50,000 for reopening weekend

Sales for the Blues v Hurricanes match at Eden Park on Sunday (1:35pm AEST) topped 34,000 on Thursday afternoon, with Beauden Barrett tipped to make his Blues debut from fullback. While in the south, the Highlanders reported 16,000 tickets sold for Saturday’s (5.05pm) opener against the Chiefs. (nzherald)

🌎 International

🥊 Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed on a two-fight deal

Britain's rival champions have been holding talks over an undisputed world heavyweight title fight and have thrashed out initial terms for two blockbuster battles.

"It's fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights" - says promotor Eddie Hearn

"We're making great progress."

"There is still a lot to overcome. We are looking at venues and dates." (Sky)

🎾 Roger Federer has announced he won't play tennis until 2021 due to a knee injury

The 20-time Grand Slam champion needed an extra operation on his right knee and plans to be back in 2021. (BBC)

🎽 Impossible Games

The action was behind closed doors. Organisers had to adapt events around health measures, with smaller fields in Oslo augmented by athletes in other locations via video link, and seldom-seen events being added to the programme to inject interest.

Two-time 400m hurdles world champion Karsten Warholm breaking the 300m hurdles world record - 33.78 seconds, was still a sight to see.

This has been a special and important occasion because it's athletics back at the highest level. It's been slightly different without a normal crowd but the athletes had a platform to do their best and they certainly gave it their all. - Steve Cram (BBC)

See you Monday!

📺 Live sport

Friday

⚽️ 06:00 - La Liga - Sevilla v Real Betis (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏌🏻‍♂️ 06:00 - PGA - Charles Schwab Challenge, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

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

🇦🇺 19:50 - AFL - Geelong Cats v Hawthorn Hawks (Fox Footy or 7mate) 

🏉 19:55 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers (Fox League or Nine) 

🐎 21:20 - Harness Racing, 2YO Pacers G12YO Pearl Classic Final, 2,130m (Sky Racing 1)

Saturday

🐴 03:40 - Group 1, Irish 2000 Guineas, 1,609m (Sky Racing 1) 

🏌🏻‍♂️ 06:00 - PGA Tour - Charles Schwab Challenge, Round 2 (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 13:45 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Fremantle Dockers (Fox Footy) 

🏉 15:00 - NRL - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League) 

🐴 15:22 - Group 2, The Roses, 1,800m - SW, 3YO Fillies (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central or 7)

🐴 16:35 - Group 2, Dane Ripper Quality, 1,400m - F&M, WFA (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central or 7)

🇦🇺 16:35 - AFL - Carlton Blues v Melbourne Demons (Fox Footy) 

🏉 17:05 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Highlanders v Chiefs (Fox Sports)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm (Fox League) 

🐎 19:22 - Group 3 Pacers, Woodlands Stud Golden Mile FFA, 1,609m (Sky Racing 1)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders (Fox League) 

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Port Adelaide Power v Adelaide Crows (Fox Footy or 7mate)

⚽️ 20:00 - K League 1 - Suwon Samsung Bluewings v Gangwon FC (Optus Sport 1)

Sunday

⚽️ 06:00 - La Liga - RCD Mallorca v Barcelona

👊🏻 08:00 - UFC Fight Night Prelims (ESPN 1) 

👊🏻 11:00 - UFC Fight Night - Jessica Eye v Cynthia Calvillo (ESPN 1)

🇦🇺 13:05 - AFL - GWS Giants v North Melb. Kangaroos (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🏉 13:35 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Blues v Hurricanes (Fox Sports)

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

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Canterbury Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters (Fox League or Nine)

🇦🇺 18:05 - AFL - St Kilda Saints v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy) 

🏉 18:30 - NRL - St George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League) 

⚽️ 20:00 - K League 1 - Gwangju FC v Busan IPark (Optus Sport 1)