G'day sports fans,

Classic Melbourne Cup: Stable jockey Roy Higgins gets a Bart Cummings clip

It was never a good idea to try and put one over the great man across his career, and a stable jockey found that out the hard way.

Years before he won a 12th Melbourne Cup with Viewed, Roy Higgins jokingly attempted to claim the trainer’s success as his own.

“You won 11 Melbourne Cups, I won two for you by that much,” Higgins told the master trainer (Cummings), as he held two fingers just a couple of inches apart. 

“If it wasn’t for me, you would only have won nine.”

Not having any of that, Cummings quickly fired back: “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have won any.”

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🐴 Melbourne Cup preview

🇦🇺 All the trade news

🏎 Ricciardo podium finish

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

✍🏼 Zac Williams pens deal

Zac Williams has signed a lucrative six-year deal with the Carlton Blues reportedly worth nearly $900,000 a season.

Carlton made an offer on the former Giants star two days ago and GWS elected not to match the offer.

"Based on the player's age and the contract offer, the AFL advised the GWS Giants Football Club the club would be eligible for a Round One compensation selection, which would be number 10 on the current provisional draft selection order," the AFL said in a statement confirming the move.

✍🏼 St Kilda have lodged paperwork to nab Adelaide Crows midfielder Brad Crouch.

Crouch nominated the Saints as his preferred landing destination with the club to launch its bid for the star onballer.

The two sides discussed a trade but were unable to reach an agreement. The Saints’ offer for Crouch is between $700-$800,000 a season, according to Jay Clark and Reece Homfray. However, Fox Footy’s Tom Morris says the deal is closer to $600,000 a season over four years.

Adelaide had been hopeful of landing pick two as compensation for losing Crouch, but those dreams were dashed on Sunday.

🏉 NRL

State of Origin 2020

For the first time in its fabled 40-year history, the Ampol State of Origin series is taking place at the end of the season due to the effects of COVID-19.

Origin has long been renowned as the toughest form of rugby league, but the intensity is set to go to new heights with the three matches taking place in consecutive weeks.

NSW are aiming for three straight series wins under coach Brad Fittler. Given Queensland's eight-year reign from 2006-13, the Blues have no shortage of motivation to stage their own dynasty.

The Maroons have old master Wayne Bennett back at the helm, with Kevin Walters relinquishing the clipboard following a four-year stint after being appointed coach of the Brisbane Broncos. (NRL)

Locations and kick-off times

• Game one: Wednesday, 4 November, 8.10pm at Adelaide Oval

• Game two: Wednesday, 11 November, 8.10pm at ANZ Stadium, Sydney

• Game three: Wednesday, 18 November, 8.10pm at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

🗞 We'll have a full preview of Game 1 on Wednesday

Women's State of Origin

The women's State of Origin clash will take place at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Friday, 13 November with kick-off set for 7.45pm.

The Blues have won the past four interstate fixtures.

State of Origin 2020, simply the best, fan vote, who had the best Origin debut of all time? — www.nrl.com

It takes a special talent to be able to make a mark the very first time you set foot on the Origin stage and this top 10 looks at the best debuts ever in the interstate clashes.

✍🏼 Signings

Averillo extends Dogs tenure to 2023. Averillo played in 13 NRL matches, scoring three tries and kicking 12 goals on the way to earning the club's Rookie of the Year award for 2020.

Panthers sign Matt Eisenhuth - The 28-year-old has returned to Panthers until at least the end of 2022 following five seasons and 70 NRL games with Wests Tigers.

Robert Jennings back to Penrith - signed a one-year deal. The 24-year-old local junior returns to the club after two seasons with South Sydney and two more at the Wests Tigers.

⚽️ Football

🔁 A-League done deals

• Jacob Butterfield joined Melbourne Victory on a one-year deal

• Michael Ruhs joined Macarthur FC

• Liam Rose joined Macarthur FC

• Yaya Dukuly joined Adelaide United on a scholarship deal

• Clayton Lewis joined Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal

• James Mcgarry joined Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal

• Jake Mcging joined Macarthur FC

• ben folami joined Melbourne Victory on loan from ipswich town

• Gabriel Popovic joined Australian owned Xanthi FC

• Daniel Bouman joined Central Coast Mariners on a one-year deal

• Joshua Laws joined Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal

Premier League

Sheff United 0-1 Man City: Kyle Walker marked his 100th Premier League appearance for Manchester City with a goal against his former club as Pep Guardiola's side beat Sheffield United.

Burnley 0-3 Chelsea: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said he is "really excited" by Hakim Ziyech after the new arrival grabbed a goal and an assist in a comfortable victory over winless Burnley at Turf Moor.

West Ham 1-2 Liverpool: Substitute Diogo Jota scored for the third straight game as Liverpool came from behind to beat in-form West Ham and go top of the Premier League table.

FT: Newcastle 2-1 Everton - Wilson converts penalty and pokes in second, Calvert-Lewin stabs in late

FT: Aston Villa 3-4 Southampton - Vestergaard header, two Ward-Prowse free-kicks, Ings from 20 yards

FT: Man Utd 0-1: Arsenal - Pogba fouls Bellerin for Aubameyang to score from spot

6:15am - Tottenham v Brighton.

🐴 Racing

The race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup, is almost upon us again.

While this year’s race will be like no other with crowd, on the track it’ll be the same exciting story; a field of 24 international and local horses racing over 3200m.

Here are the key things you need to know ahead of the 160th running of the great race.

Prize Money: A whopping $8 million. $4.4 million shared between the winning owner, trainer and jockey. The horse does not get the money as horses have no need to barter for goods and services.

Last year: Danny O’Brien-trained Vow And Declare held off the international challenge to win a thrilling edition of the race.

Drama after the race as final placings were changed after the first protest in the race since 1991 was upheld. Irish stayer Master Of Reality crossed the line second. Still, he was bumped down to fourth, and Il Paradiso moved up to third behind second-placed Prince of Arran.

Barrier Draw: The barrier draw couldn’t have gone much worse for race favourite Tiger Moth, who drew gate number 23 — the second widest gate. No horse has won from that barrier since Van der Hum did it in 1976.

Second favourite, Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, fared better drawing barrier 14 while anther of the most fancied runners Anthony Van Dyk drew beautifully in gate 3. Tiger Moth drifted in betting following the draw, the trio are now virtually equal favourites between $8-$10 in the markets.

Most Successful Barriers

• Barrier 5 – 8 wins, last in 2013

• Barrier 11 – 7 wins, last in 2010

• Barrier 10 – 6 wins, last 2014

I threw a dart and landed on;

11. Finche $17.0 (barrier 6)

Jockey: James McDonald (54.5kg)

Trainer: Chris Waller

Anyone have a real fancy for it? reply to this!

• Hit the Play now button below

• Add your email address (so we can contact you when you win) 😉

• Add your first name

• Hit Next

• Select the winner fo the 2020 Melbourne Cup

• Select the winning distance

• Don’t forget to hit submit

You’ll get a copy of your entry in an email.

🏏 Cricket

WBBL wrap: Stars storm home as rain stays away

The final fixture of a jam-packed day of WBBL action saw the Melbourne Stars Finally complete a match, as they joined the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers as Sunday's big winners. (Cricket.com.au)

• Melbourne Stars defeat Hobart Hurricanes by eigt wickets

• Sydney Sixers defeat Melbourne Renegades by eight wickets

• Sydney Thunder defeat Brisbane Heat by 14 runs

Sheffield Shield

Whiteman, Bancroft ton up to escape Tigers trap

WA openers hold firm with centuries each and build a lead and put their side into a position to push for an outright win on final day (Cricket)

Match report: Stumps: Western Australia lead Tasmania by 102 runs with 10 wickets remaining.

Head start for Test selection as Redbacks fight back

South Australia captain Travis Head dug in with a gritty century after Victoria eventually declared following record-breaking opening stand

Match report: Stumps: South Australia trail Victoria by 192 runs with 8 wickets remaining

Marnus slayer's double-act gives India a small clue

Marnus Labuschagne torched NSW for a century in the first innings but in the space of six balls veteran seamer Trent Copeland has managed to dismiss him twice

Match report: Stumps: New South Wales need 135 runs to win

🏉 Rugby

'We're hurting a lot'

Wallabies 5 (Lolesio try) defeated by All Blacks 43 (Mo'unga 2, Tu'inukuafe, Coles, Ioane, J Barrett tries; Mo'unga 5 con; 1 pen).

The result meant the Bledisloe Cup remains on New Zealand soil for an 18th consecutive year.

No-one feasted more on the Wallabies’ mistakes more than All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo’unga, who scored a first-half double to set-up the victory.

The All Blacks’ four-try first-half rout brought back memories of 2017 at the same venue, when they lead the Wallabies 40-6 at half time, and had the 2020 All Blacks not bombed another three tries they could well have got to that margin again.

After calls for youth to be given a chance. On Saturday, Rennie put out one of the Wallabies’ least experienced backlines this century, with only three of the back seven boasting more than five Tests of experience.

Rennie’s men were gallant in the second-half. 

They scored almost immediately after the main break, with Lolesio storming onto a lovely ball from Nic White to crash over after Jordan Petaia broke away downfield from a lovely set-piece play one phase earlier.

Six Nations 2020: England win title after France beat Ireland

England won the Six Nations after France beat Ireland on a thrilling final day of the delayed tournament.

Eddie Jones' side had claimed a bonus-point win against Italy earlier on Saturday but faced a tense wait as both teams in the day's final fixture attempted to take the title.

England's first title since 2017 was confirmed by France's 35-27 victory.

Ireland, who would have taken the crown if they had beaten France by six points or more, led 10-7 at one point.

The hosts took control to win in Paris but needed a bonus point and a winning margin of 31 points or more to claim the Six Nations themselves.

But they were unable to win by a large enough margin as England took the title on points difference.

Earlier in the day, Scotland beat Wales 14-11, in Wales, for the first time in 18 years.

Next up: The newly formed Nations Cup featuring England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Fiji, and Georgia - kicks-off on 13th November.

🏎 F1

Hamilton wins Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Mercedes win record seventh constructors' title

Win number 93 of his career for Lewis Hamilton.

It's a Mercedes one-two with Valtteri Bottas getting second and Daniel Ricciardo takes third.

Renault's podium last month in Germany was their first in nine years, now they've got two in a month.

Verstappen out after tyre failure, then Russell crashes out under safety car.

Daniel Ricciardo: "Holyyyyy... mac and cheese balls. Another podium!

📺 Live sport

⚽️ 06:15 - Premier League - Tottenham v Brighton (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Sampdoria v Genoa (BeIN Sports 1) 

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

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Valencia v Getafe (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:30 - MLS - Columbus Crew v Philadelphia Union (ESPN 2) 

🏈 08:25 - NFL - Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers (ESPN 1) 

🏈 08:25 - NFL - Chicago Bears v New Orleans Saints (7mate)

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

🏏 11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Western Australia v Tasmania Tigers (Kayo Sports)

⚽️ 11:00 - MLS - New York City FC v New York Red Bulls (BeIN Sports 3) 

🏏 11:30 - Sheffield Shield - New South Wales Blues v Queensland Bulls (Fox Cricket)

🏈 12:20 - NFL Regular Season - Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys (ESPN 1) 

🐴 20:46 - Group 1 - Hume Cup, 600m (Sky Racing 1)

🎾 21:00 - ATP Paris Masters, Round 1, Day 1 (ESPN 2) 

🎱 23:45 - Champion of Champions, Group Stage, Day 1 (Fox Sports) 

TUESDAY

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Fox Cricket)

🏊🏼‍♂️ 02:00 - International Swimming League (BeIN Sports 3) 

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

🎱 05:45 - Champion of Champions, Group Stage, Night 1 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 06:30 - German Bundesliga - TSG Hoffenheim v FC Union Berlin (BeIN Sports 3)

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

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Leeds United v Leicester City (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Villarreal v Real Valladolid (BeIN Sports 2) 

🐴 11:20 - Listed Race, Desirable Stakes (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 12:00 - Non Listed, Schweppervescence Plate (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🏈 12:15 - NFL - New York Giants v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN 1) 

🐴 13:20 - Listed Race, TAB Trophy Stakes (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🏏 14:30 - Women's Big Bash League - Hobart Hurricanes Women v Melb. Renegades Women (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 15:00 - J1 League - Yokohama F. Marinos v Kashima Antlers (Optus Sport 1) 

🐴 15:00 - Group 1, Melbourne Cup (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Kawasaki Frontale v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport 3) 

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Cerezo Osaka v Gamba Osaka (Optus Sport 2)

🐴 16:00 - Listed Race, Furphy Plate (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 16:40 - Group 3 - HKJC Stakes (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1) 

🐴 17:15 - Listed Race, MSS Security Sprint (10 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🏏 19:05 - Women's Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers Women v Melbourne Stars Women (Fox Cricket)

🐴 20:10 - Listed Race, Burgess Queen Stakes (Sky Racing 1) 

🚘 20:30 - Supercars Pro Eseries, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🎾 21:00 - ATP Paris Masters, Rounds 1&2 (ESPN 2) 

🎱 23:45 - Champion of Champions, Group Stage (Fox Sports) 

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