G'day sports fans,

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Classic quote: "There is water in every lane, so it is OK" - Ian Thorpe on drawing lane 5 for the final.

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In today's edition of Sport Journal:

📺 Tv Guide

⚡️ The Fox breaks a 71 yr old record

🎾 Barty reaches another final

🇦🇺 AFL

TEAMS: Cats drop speedster Jordan Clark again, flag Tigers Dusty Martin, Nick Vlastuin return — www.afl.com.au

Richmond and Geelong have released their teams for Friday night's blockbuster.

✍🏼 AFLW superstars Darcy Vescio and Chloe Molloy are set to pen two-year contracts at Carlton and Collingwood respectively, while Geelong’s Olivia Purcell is set to defect to Melbourne. (Fox)

🤔 Former Magpies recruiter Matt Rendell has shared his optimism on the Magpies. “They have got a mountain of issues at Collingwood, but if you look at their best 22, I know you don’t often get the best 22, I think next year it’s still capable of winning the flag.” (ZeroHanger). Meanwhile, Collingwood list manager Ned Guy has quit his role at the club and will depart the Holden Centre in June.

🙌🏼 Western Bulldogs defender Buku Khamis will make his AFL debut against Carlton on Sunday.

A refugee from South Sudan, Khamis arrived in Australia in 2006 with his family, having also spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya.

🏉 NRL

⚡️ Melbourne superstar Josh Addo-Carr snares six tries as Storm destroy Rabbitohs.

Prolific Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr has become the first man to bag six tries in a first-grade game since 1950 - and the speedster catapulted Melbourne to a 50-0 victory over South Sydney in the process.

🐇 Bennett’s Bunnies ‘got what we deserved’ as Souths have to make history to win title. (Fox)

😷 The NRL's Sydney-based clubs have been thrown back into the bio-security bubble amid NSW's COVID-19 outbreak.

Starting midday Friday, the NRL's Sydney teams will be placed under level three restrictions.

Players must remain home unless they are training, exercising, shopping for essential items or getting a takeaway meal.

The Storm and Titans will also be subject to the same measures while in Sydney for their matches over round nine.

🚨 Former Australian Rugby League player Jarryd Hayne has been jailed for five years and nine months for sexually assaulting a woman in 2018. (NRL)

🚶🏻 The rugby league world was rocked last year with news Carl Webb was in for the fight of his life after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 38.

A 33-year friendship that started at a young age was all the motivation Chris Walker needed to get back on his feet and trek a brutal 1,757 kilometres in 65 days.

Walker started his journey in Cairns on April 26 and is closing in on Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium for the Cowboys' clash with Brisbane on Saturday to walk into the packed venue alongside Webb. (NRL)

🎾 Tennis

🎉 World number one Ashleigh Barty reached the Madrid Open final by beating Spanish wildcard Paula Badosa to record her 16th consecutive win on red clay. 

Barty, 25, hit 30 winners on her way to a 6-4 6-3 victory against Badosa.

The Australian won the 2019 French Open title and did not play on the surface again - because of an 11-month absence enforced by the pandemic - until she won last month's Stuttgart Open.

She will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid final.

When asked if she will watch the other semi-final, Barty said: "I'm not quite on Spanish time. I'm Australian. Early to bed, early to rise."

⚽️ Football

🔁 Egypt forward Mohamed Salah wants to leave Liverpool, and Paris St-Germain are planning to make a bid for the 28-year-old if France striker Kylian Mbappe, 22, leaves in the summer. (Le Parisien - in French)

🙋🏻‍♂️ Mathew Leckie has thrown his hat into the ring to skipper Australia when they return to FIFA World Cup qualification action next month. (SBS)

💥 Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will be rubbing his hands together ahead of the Socceroos’ highly anticipated return to the international stage after China-based Aaron Mooy’s stunner on Wednesday.

🏏 Cricket

🛫 Australia’s cricketers and officials have left India, but they won’t be returning home yet.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision to close the borders with India and not permit anyone from returning to Australia if they had been in the COVID-stricken country means they won’t be able to return until May 15.

Instead, Australia’s crickets, coaches, match officials and commentators are en route to the Maldives, 2,800 kilometres south of India.

“Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association can confirm that Australian players, coaches, match officials and commentators have been safely transported from India and are en route to the Maldives,” a Cricket Australia statement confirmed.

As expected, Australia great Mike Hussey has remained in India after contracting COVID-19 on Wednesday. (Fox)

🐴 Racing

South Australian Derby preview and tips: Runner-by-runner guide — www.punters.com.au

Morphettville again plays host to Group One racing on Saturday with the $500k South Australian Derby over 2500m and we've assessed the chances of every runner in the race.

🐴 The English import with a French name and Brazilian pedigree claimed his first Australian victory on Thursday, winning the Listed Warrnambool Cup.

Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Le Don De Vie enjoyed a positive ride from big race jockey Mark Zahra to throttle his rivals over 2350m. (racenet)

🏉 Rugby

Two BLOCKBUSTER Grand Finals for your Saturday evening

↳ Crusaders v Chiefs LIVE from 5PM AEST

↳ Reds v Brumbies LIVE from 6:45PM AEST

As expected, the Crusaders will host the Super Rugby Aotearoa as the Chiefs overcame a slow start to the tournament to storm home and pip the Blues for second place.

In Australia it is the same two sides that contested last season’s Super Rugby AU Grand Final but this year the Reds have earned hosting rights and will look to claim their first trophy since 2011 in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium.

History is firmly on the Reds side having won both meetings this season, albeit by a combined total of four points.

This game will come down to one player, James O’Connor, quite often the subject of scorn and derision in Australian Rugby, he has had arguably his best season as a professional and his experience should help the Reds get over the line.

If you know anything about rugby in Queensland though, they won’t do it the easy way, it would not be a surprise if this game comes down to a kick in the final five minutes though so I won’t touch the line, instead I’ll back the Reds to win a close game.

😕 James O'Connor admits to 'living a lie' in emotional interview: "Lowest point was I couldn't get out of bed for weeks at a time. Couldn't face people, I used a lot of substances to get me to that place, to be able to face the world. (nine)

🦁 Lions Squad to tour South Africa announced: Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton was the most high-profile omission from a 37-man British and Irish Lions squad that will tour South Africa in July and August, with coach Warren Gatland selecting an even spread of players from the four home unions. (nine)

😷 Super Rugby teams and officials will be nervously monitoring the latest COVID-19 developments after New Zealand paused its quarantine-free travel bubble with New South Wales on Thursday.

The news is yet another curveball for Super Rugby, which is due to kick off its first ever trans-Tasman competition on May 14.

🌎 World Sport

🏈 The Denver Broncos didn’t take a quarterback early in the 2021 NFL Draft, hoping they could pull off an Aaron Rodgers trade. It now seems increasingly likely that their draft-day gamble could pay off.

💉 The NY Mets have said they will give away free tickets to anyone that gets vaccinated a the the game!

💰Rory McIlroy didn't mention his US$150m net worth from hitting a little ball around, when he has described a billion dollar golf super league as a "money grab" and has backed the PGA Tour's threat to ban rebels who sign up to the proposed circuit.

Eleven leading players, including world number one Dustin Johnson and Britain's Olympic champion Justin Rose, have reportedly been offered contracts worth AU$40-$60m up front if they sign for the Saudi Arabia-backed project.

🏎 Romain Grosjean is to drive a Mercedes on a one-off return to Formula 1 following his fiery accident at last year's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Grosjean will do a demonstration run in Lewis Hamilton's 2020 W10 at the French Grand Prix on 27 June, and a test at the same track two days later.

The Frenchman said getting back in an F1 car was "a special opportunity".

The move honours a pledge made by team boss Toto Wolff as it became clear the crash would end Grosjean's F1 career.

"I didn't want to finish on that crash," Grosjean told BBC Breakfast.

"While I was in the hospital, I read that Toto Wolff said he was happy to give me a day in the car if I could make it back.

📺 Live sport

TODAY

⚽️ 08:00 - Copa Libertadores - Atletico Junior v Fluminense FC (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 08:15 - Copa Sudamericana - Gremio v Aragua (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚾️ 08:40 - MLB - Miami Marlins v Arizona Diamondbacks (Sky Sports 3)

🏄🏻 09:00 - Men's Margaret River Pro, Day 6 (Fox Sports More) 

🏄🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - Women's Margaret River Pro, Day 6 (Fox Sports More)

🏒 09:00 - NHL - Carolina Hurricanes v Chicago Blackhawks (ESPN 2) 

🏀 09:30 - NBA - Dallas Mavericks v Brooklyn Nets (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 10:00 - Copa Libertadores - Atletico Nacional v Argentinos Juniors (BeIN Sports 3)

⚾️ 11:38 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Tampa Bay Rays (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN 1) 

🏌🏼‍♀️ 13:30 - LPGA Tour, Honda LPGA Thailand, Round 2 (Fox Sports) 

🏉 18:00 - NRL - Penrith Panthers v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League) 

🏎 19:30 - Formula 1 Spain Practice 1, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🐎 19:30 - Trotting Masters, Rowe Cup, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1) 

⚽️ 19:35 - A-League - Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix (Fox Sports) 

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

🏉 19:55 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Sydney Roosters (Fox League or Nine)

🎾 21:00 - ATP Madrid Masters, Quarter-Final, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏎 21:35 - Formula 3 Spain Qualifying, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

🏎 23:00 - Formula 1 Spain Practice 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

SATURDAY

🏄🏻 09:00 - Men's Margaret River Pro, Day 7 (Fox Sports More) 

🏄🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - Women's Margaret River Pro, Day 7 (Fox Sports More) 

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox (Sky Sports 3)

🚘 09:20 - OTR SuperSprint Practice 1, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🏀 09:30 - NBA - Chicago Bulls v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1) 

🚘 10:45 - Carrera Cup The Bend Qualifying, Round 2 (Fox Sports 

🚘 11:20 - OTR SuperSprint Practice 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⚾️ 11:45 - MLB - San Francisco Giants v San Diego Padres (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Utah Jazz v Denver Nuggets (ESPN 1) 

🏉 12:40 - NSW Cup - Canberra Raiders NSW v Newcastle Knights NSW (Fox League)

🇦🇺 13:45 - AFL - GWS Giants v Essendon Bombers (Fox Footy or 7)

🚘 13:50 - OTR SuperSprint Qualifying Race 1, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 14:10 - AFL - Gold Coast Suns v St. Kilda Saints (Fox Sports) 

🏉 15:00 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights (Fox League) 

🏉 15:00 - Shute Shield (Stan Sport)

• Sydney University Rugby v Manly Rugby

• Eastern Suburbs Rugby v Western Sydney Two Blues

• West Harbour Pirates v Northern Districts

• Eastwood Rugby v Warringah Rugby

• Gordon Rugby v Southern Districts Rugby

⛹🏻‍♀️ 15:00 - Super Netball - Giants Netball v Collingwood Magpies Netball (Nine)

🚘 15:20 - Carrera Cup The Bend Race 1, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🐴 15:50 - Group 2 - A D Hollindale Stakes, 1,800m - WFA, 3YO & Up (Sky Racing 1)

🐴 16:31 - Group 1 - SA Derby, 2,500m - SW, 3YO (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🚘 16:35 - OTR SuperSprint Race 1, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 16:35 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Collingwood Magpies (Fox Footy) 

🏉 17:05 - Super Rugby Aotearoa Final - Crusaders v Chiefs (Stan Sport)

⚽️ 17:05 - A-League - Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC (Fox Sports)

17:30 - NRL - Wests Tigers v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)

🏀 17:30 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🏎 18:35 - Formula 3 Spain Race 1, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 19:00 - J1 League - Gamba Osaka v Kawasaki Frontale (Optus Sport 2) 

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United FC (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 19:25 - AFL - Melbourne Demons v Sydney Swans (Fox Sports or 7)

19:35 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League) 

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

🏉 19:45 - Super Rugby AU Final - Reds v Brumbies (GEM or Stan Sport)

🐴 19:48 - 3YO NSW Trotters Derby, 2,300m (Sky Racing 1) 

🏎 20:00 - Formula 1 Spain Practice 3, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 20:00 - Super Netball - West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts (Nine)

🏀 20:00 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v Brisbane Bullets (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

⚽️ 21:30 - Premier League - Leeds United v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1) 

🚴🏼‍♀️ 21:50 - Giro d'Italia, Stage 1, 8.6km - ITT (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🏉 23:00 - Premiership Rugby - Northampton Saints v Gloucester Rugby (Fox Sports)

🏎 23:00 - Formula 1 Spain Qualifying, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 00:00 - Premier League - Sheffield United v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 1) 

SUNDAY

👊🏻 07:00 - UFC Fight Night Prelims (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Miami Marlins v Milwaukee Brewers (Sky Sports 3)

🏄🏻 09:00 - Men's Margaret River Pro, Day 8 (Fox Sports More) 

🏄🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - Women's Margaret River Pro, Day 8 (Fox Sports More) 

🏀 09:00 - NBA - Indiana Pacers v Washington Wizards (Sky Sports 2)

🏀 09:30 - NBA - Toronto Raptors v Memphis Grizzlies (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🚘 09:40 - OTR SuperSprint Qualifying Race 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

👊🏻 10:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card (ESPN 2) 

🚘 10:00 - OTR SuperSprint Qualifying Race 3, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⚾️ 11:07 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Los Angeles Dodgers (Sky Sports 3)

🚘 11:45 - Carrera Cup The Bend Race 2, Round 2 (Fox Sports) 

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Brooklyn Nets (ESPN 1 or Sky Sports 2)

🇦🇺 12:05 - VFL - Footscray Bulldogs v Carlton Blues (VFL7Plus)

🚘 13:00 - OTR SuperSprint Race 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 13:00 - Super Netball - Melbourne Vixens v Sunshine Coast Lightning (Nine)

🇦🇺 13:10 - AFL - Hawthorn Hawks v West Coast Eagles (Fox Footy) 

🏉 14:00 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v Warriors (Fox League) 

⚽️ 14:00 - J1 League - Yokohama F. Marinos v Vissel Kobe (Optus Sport 1) 

🚘 14:55 - Carrera Cup The Bend Race 3, Round 2 (Fox Sports) 

⛹🏻‍♀️ 15:00 - Super Netball - Queensland Firebirds v Adelaide Thunderbirds (Telstra TV)

🏀 15:00 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🇦🇺 15:20 - AFL - Western Bulldogs v Carlton Blues (Fox Sports or 7mate)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Shonan Bellmare v Oita Trinita (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Tokushima Vortis v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport 2) 

🏉 16:05 - NRL - St. George Illawarra Dragons v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League or Nine)

⚽️ 16:05 - A-League - Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar (Fox Sports) 

🚘 16:10 - OTR SuperSprint Race 3, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

🐴 16:40 - Group 1, NHK Mile Cup, 1,600m (Sky Racing 1)

🇦🇺 16:40 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v Brisbane Lions (Fox Footy) 

🏀 17:00 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 18:10 - A-League - Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory (Fox Sports) 

🏎 20:05 - Formula 3 Spain Race 3, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 21:00 - Premier League - Wolves v Brighton (Optus Sport 1) 

🚴🏼‍♀️ 21:20 - Giro d'Italia, Stage 2, 179km (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🏉 22:00 - Pro14 Rainbow Cup - Cardiff Blues v Newport Gwent Dragons (Stan Sport)

🏎 23:00 - Formula 1 Spain Race, Round 4 (Fox Sports) 

⚽️ 23:05 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Manchester United (Optus Sport 1)