G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "Injuries above the neck don't count." - Coach John Kennedy.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

👴🏼 Never say never for Cameron Smith and the Maroons

🏔 Everest barrier draw

👟 Ricciardo nearly forgot to do his shoey

..and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

'Hadn't been with a woman in months': Jesse Hogan fined for WA COVID breach

Fremantle Dockers star Jess Hogan has been fined $8000 after breaching WA's quarantine rules upon his return to Perth at the end of the AFL home and away season.

Hogan plead guilty to the biosecurity breach which came just hours after the forward had returned home from the AFL hub in Queensland when he invited a woman to stay the night at his home on day one of his 14-day quarantine period.

His lawyer, Terry Dobson, said Hogan's breach was "a lapse in judgement" brought on by the fact he "hadn't been with any females in months".

Lynden's done: Cult hero retires after 198 games at two clubs

Lynden Dunn has called time after 198 games with Collingwood and Melbourne across 16 years in the AFL.

The 33-year-old, who was drafted by the Demons with pick No.15 in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, joined the Pies at the end of the 2016 season.

He was a regular in Collingwood's back six during the 2018 season, but cruelly missed out on what would have been his first finals series after rupturing his ACL.

After being delisted by the Pies at the end of 2019, he was given a rookie lifeline in March this year.

He managed two games this year and kicked only his second goal for the club in a win over Adelaide in round 11. (AFL)

Taylor Adams has a first ever All-Australian blazer and a first ever Copeland Trophy to show for his 2020 season

Collingwood star Taylor Adams has celebrated a career-best season by claiming his first ever Copeland Trophy as the club's best and fairest on Tuesday night.

Adams, who had already capped his stellar year with a maiden AFL All-Australian blazer in September, blitzed the field to poll 100 votes and finish well clear of captain Scott Pendlebury in second and defender Jack Crisp in third. (AFL)

🏉 NRL

Queensland selector Billy Slater refuses to rule out Cameron Smith Origin return

The 37-year-old veteran retired from Origin in 2018, stating that he no longer could give his full commitment to the Maroons cause.

Just weeks ago, Broncos coach Kevin Walters fanned the flames of a second coming when he announced that the "rumours about Cameron Smith, they're not rumours."

"He's still playing in the NRL, he's got the No.9 on his back for the Melbourne Storm and he could have a No.9 on his back for the Maroons in November," Walters said at the time.

Now, his former teammate and current member of the Maroons' selection panel has added fuel to the fire.

"You never say never," Slater told WWOS Radio on 2GB.

📱 Latrell Mitchell with Rabbitohs every step of the way

Apparently Latrell Mitchell is sending his replacement Corey Allen tips (we assume about the matches not how to make his legendary Pavlova) (nine)

NRL preliminary finals team lists: Storm cop massive boost as Munster, Finucane return

Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster will return in Friday's preliminary final against the Raiders as the Storm push for a grand final berth.

Meanwhile, teammate Dale Finucane has been named in the extended squad with the hope of making his long awaited return from a calf injury. (Full Squads)

🚴🏼‍♂️ Giro D'Italia

Giro d'Italia: Mitchelton-Scott & Jumbo-Visma withdraw after positive Covid results

The Jumbo-Visma and Mitchelton-Scott teams have withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia after six positive results in the latest round of Covid-19 testing.

General classification contender Steven Kruijswijk, who rides for Jumbo, tested positive as did four staff members of the Australian Mitchelton-Scott team.

Mitchelton-Scott's British rider Simon Yates, another pre-race favourite, tested positive before stage eight as well as 4 other members of the team.

Out of 571 tests, 6 new positive test.

There are nearly two weeks remaining of this delayed Grand Tour, but the first rest day of coronavirus testing proves Covid 19 is now in the race 'bubble'.

Stage 10: Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed his first victory in more than a year, winning solo from the breakaway after 177 breathless kilometres of racing on the opening day of the second week. (CN)

⚽️ Football

New A-League season set to begin during Christmas holidays

The next A-League season is set to begin in the peak of the summer holiday season, with clubs working towards a proposed December 27 kick-off.

Plans are for a condensed 26-round regular season that will begin after Christmas and finish with a grand final played before June 30.

While the draw is yet to be finalised, the proposed format will likely include a number of midweek matches to fit 26 rounds plus finals into just six months.

Club sources suggested the need for a shortened season relates to the competition's broadcast (Deal runs December to July with Foxtel) and the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics which are set to begin in July 2021. (SMH)

A-League wrap up

• Western Sydney in advanced talks with Newcastle coach Carl Robinson

• Joshua Brindell-South joined Brisbane

• Scott Neville extended Brisbane contract, loaned to East Bengal

• Newcastle talks with Sky Jade Capital broke down

• Jacob Burns left Perth Glory

Thanks to @A-LeagueHub

Current Free Agent Best XI

📅 The Socceroos are set to end a year on the sidelines with a blockbuster international friendly against the USA next month.

According to Washington Post journalist Steven Goff, US star Sergino Dest – a 19-year-old fullback who recently joined Barcelona – revealed the USA team is planning to face Australia in London during the upcoming international window which runs from 11 – 19 November. (Fox)

🐴 Racing

The richest show on turf is back. 

The $15 million The Everest will take place on Saturday for its fourth running, with the 1200-metre sprint on at Randwick Racecourse.

The barrier draw for the event took place on Tuesday night and saw one of the race’s pre-draw favourites, Libertini, allocated the outside barrier.

Owners for short-odds Classique Legend were pleased with drawing Barrier 4, while other favourites Nature Strip and Gytrash had favourable draws with Barriers 5 and 7 respectively.

‘She’s been a superstar’: tearful Dettori pays tribute to retired Enable

• Failed Arc hat-trick bid becomes mare’s final race

• Dettori: ‘She’s done so brilliant for all of us and I love her’

• Record: 19 runs, 15 wins (AU$19.4m)

• Major wins included: Cheshire Oaks (2017), Epsom Oaks (2017), Irish Oaks (2017), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (2017, 2019, 2020), Yorkshire Oaks (2017, 2019), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2017, 2018), September Stakes (2018, 2020), Breeders' Cup Turf (2018), Eclipse Stakes (2019)

🏉 Rugby

Brisbane set to be Wallaroos home

Ballymore's long wait for an upgrade is a step closer after a $15 million pre-election state government promise that would see Brisbane rugby's heartland become the home of the Wallaroos.

The Australian women's rugby team would join the Queensland Reds at the $30 million National Rugby Training Centre to give the once-proud venue new life after years of decay.

The venue could host multiple sports if Brisbane's 2032 Olympic bid is successful and also bolster Australia's 2027 Rugby World Cup hosting hopes and act as a training base for the Wallabies or touring Test nations. (Rugby.com)

How Dave Rennie’s Wallabies moved on from Cheika-ball at the Cake Tin — www.theroar.com.au

Australia may not have won the battle on the scoreboard, with Reece Hodge’s long-range penalty goal at the death bouncing back off a post, but Dave Rennie will be happy that his charges came out so well in so many of the individual contests around the field in Bledisloe 1. They won the majority of […]

🏏 Cricket

Neser, Agar achieve rare Shield feat

They say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place. That adage didn't hold true in Adelaide on Monday.

It had been 10 years since a player had made a century and taken a five-wicket haul in the same Sheffield Shield match.

As Michael Neser (QLD) took 5/32 and scored 121 off 168 balls in the first innings, Aston Agar (WA) was smashing 114* and delivered 5/103.

Dual leggies spin Queensland to last-gasp Shield win

Leggies Mitchell Swepson and Marnus Labuschagne spin their way through Tasmania's lower order in nail-biting Marsh Sheffield Shield finish

Queensland won by an innings and 59 runs

WA complete thrilling win to beat Redbacks

Across at Karen Rolton Oval, WA complete thrilling win to beat Redbacks

A dogged effort from the hosts wasn't enough to prevent Western Australia from recording a gutsy victory

WA won by 205 runs

🏎 F1

Daniel Ricciardo's third place in Sunday's Eifel Grand Prix was a long time in the making for Renault.

It has been over two years since Ricciardo, who left Red Bull to join Renault at the end of 2018, stepped on to a Formula 1 podium.

So long, in fact, that the Australian forgot all about his trademark 'shoey' as he was caught up in the jubilation of his first podium for Renault - and the first for the French team since their return to F1 in 2016.

Ricciardo has vaulted up to fourth in the drivers' championship, and while Renault are still fifth in the constructors', they are only six points off third-placed Racing Point and clearly now have a faster car.

🇺🇸 USA

NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers beat Miami Heat with LeBron James MVP

The Los Angeles Lakers ended a decade-long wait for a 17th NBA title as they beat the Miami Heat 106-93 to seal a 4-2 series victory.

The Finals' most valuable player (MVP) LeBron James posted a triple double - scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists - with both Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo adding 19 points. 

Victory ties the Lakers with the Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships.

"It means a lot to represent this franchise," said James.

"I told [Lakers president] Jeanie [Buss] when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs.

"We just want our respect. Rob [Pelinka] wants his respect, coach [Frank] Vogel wants his respect, our organisation wants its respect, Lakers nation wants its respect.

"And I want my respect too."

James becomes the first player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP with three different teams (Lakers, Cavaliers and Heat). Now with four MVPs to his name, he trails only Michael Jordan, who won six.

Before this season the Lakers' had failed to reach the play-offs for six consecutive years and their long-awaited success comes after a campaign like no other. 

The NBA played 172 games over three months in the bubble and had ZERO positive coronavirus tests.

⚾️ MLB

Tampa Bay Rays lead 2-0, Tampa Bay Rays fielder Manuel Margot hits both a home run and made a stunning diving catch over a wall in their win at the Houston Astros in Game 2. (Game 3 starting at 7am)

📺 Live sport

Today

⚽️ 07:00 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Bolivia v Argentina (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚾️ 07:07 - American League Championship Series - Houston Astros v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 08:00 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Ecuador v Uruguay (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 09:00 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Venezuela v Paraguay (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 11:00 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Peru v Brazil (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚾️ 11:08 (TBC) - National League Championship Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v Atlanta Braves (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 11:30 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Chile v Colombia (BeIN Sports 2) 

🐴 16:00 (TBC) - Listed Race - Neds Village Stakes, 1,200m - HCP (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 18:15 (TBC) - Group 1 - Caulfield Cup Barrier Draw, 2,400m - HCP (Racing.com)

21:00 - ATP St. Petersburg Open, Round 2 (ESPN 2) 

⚽️ 21:00 - J1 League - Kashiwa Reysol v Urawa Red Diamonds (Optus Sport 2) 

⚽️ 21:00 - J1 League - FC Tokyo v Shimizu S-Pulse (Optus Sport 3) 

⚽️ 21:00 - J1 League - Gamba Osaka v Yokohama F. Marinos (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 21:30 - J1 League - Nagoya Grampus v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport 4) 

🎱 22:45 - English Open, Round 2 (Eurosport 1)

Thursday

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Delhi Capitals v Rajasthan Royals (Fox Cricket)

 ⚽️ 03:00 - UEFA Nations League - Finland v Republic of Ireland (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 03:00 - UEFA Nations League - Lithuania v Albania (Optus Sport 2) 

🎱 04:45 - English Open, Round 2 (Eurosport 1)

⚽️ 05:45 - UEFA Nations League - Italy v Netherlands (Optus Sport 2) 

⚽️ 05:45 - UEFA Nations League - Poland v Bosnia and Herzegovina (Optus Sport 4)

⚽️ 05:45 - UEFA Nations League - England v Denmark (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 05:45 - UEFA Nations League - Iceland v Belgium (Optus Sport 6) 

⚽️ 05:45UEFA Nations League - Croatia v France (Optus Sport 3) 

⚽️ 05:45UEFA Nations League - Portugal v Sweden (Optus Sport 5)

⚾️ 07:07 (TBC) - American League Championship Series - Houston Astros v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 1)

🚘 09:30 - Bathurst 1000 Practice 1, Round 10 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 10:30 - MLS - Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 10:30 - MLS - FC Cincinnati v Columbus Crew (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 11:00 - MLS - Inter Miami CF v Atlanta United (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚾️ 11:08 (TBC) - National League Championship Series - Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN 1)

🚘 11:20 - Dunlop Super2/Super3 Practice 1 (Fox Sports)

🚘 12:45 - Bathurst 1000 Practice 2, Round 10 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 13:00 - MLS Regular Season - Seattle Sounders v Colorado Rapids (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 13:00 - MLS - Vancouver Whitecaps v Los Angeles FC (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 13:30 - MLS - LA Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes (BeIN Sports 3) 

🚘 15:05 - Dunlop Super2/Super3 Practice 2 (Fox Sports) 

🚘 16:00 - Bathurst 1000 Practice 3 (Fox Sports) 

🎾 21:00 - ATP St. Petersburg Open, Round 2, Day 4 (ESPN 2) 

⛳️ 22:30 - European Tour, Scottish Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

🎱 22:45 - English Open, Round 3 (Eurosport 1)