🗞 No Australians

August 27, 2020

G'day sports fans,

Classic Joke: I think it's just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong...especially after what he achieved winning 7 Tour de France races while competing on drugs. When I'm on drugs, I can't even find my bike. - Willie Nelson

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🐯 Clinical Tigers and match stats

🐇 Rabbitohs supreme & Previews

⚽️ Grand Final Preview

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

Ferocious, clinical Tigers end Eagles' winning streak

Richmond 88 (14.4) West Coast Eagles 61 (9.7) - Tigers by 27. Richmond made a premiership statement against West Coast . The Tigers entered Thursday night's clash with the red-hot West Coast with a point to prove and it was emphatic: a 27-point win in a high-scoring show of strength. (match report)

🤕 Injuries: West Coast's Josh Kennedy and Richmond's Dylan Grimes suffer injuries on Thursday night. (AFL)

Returning Joe Daniher sparks stunning comeback

Joe Daniher has shown exactly why Essendon was unwilling to part ways with him in last year's AFL Trade Period, spearheading a thrilling comeback against Hawthorn.

With its finals hopes on the line, Essendon looked headed for a disastrous result, trailing the Hawks by 36 points at half-time, before an incredible 11-goal second half led to a 13.9. (87) to 10. 11. (71) win at the Adelaide Oval. (match report)

📈 Stats

Western Bulldogs (2.45) v Geelong Cats (1.60): Geelong have won 12 of their last 14 against Bulldogs

Port Adelaide (1.15) v Sydney Swans (6.25): Port Adelaide have won their last 3 home matches by 1-39 points (1.83)

Fremantle (2.35) v GWS Giants (1.65): The underdog has covered the line in 5 of the last 6 in this fixture (Fremantle +8.5 @ 2.0)

Melbourne (2.0) v St Kilda (1.85): Each of Melbourne's last 4 matches have gone OVER total points line (125.5). St Kilda have won 17 of the last 20 between the two.

Carlton (2.05) v Collingwood (1.83): Six of Carlton's last 7 at the Gabba have gone OVER the total points line (118.5)

Gold Coast Suns (1.55) v North Melbourne (2.45): North have defeated the Suns by double digits in their last two meetings, but that still hasn’t been enough to sway the market in their favour.

🏉 NRL

Brilliant Bunnies batter woeful Eels

A supreme South Sydney display marked a 38-0 win over the Eels.

The only negative was a hamstring injury that could sideline Latrell Mitchell for up to six weeks.

The Eels' edge defence was a rabble, repeatedly conceding breaks and half breaks, with the right-side combination of Waqa Blake and Blake Ferguson particularly vulnerable.

Early reports indicated a grade three strain, one that could keep him out until the finals.

"He's done his hamstring. We're just not sure of the seriousness of it," Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said.

"It probably won't be anything under a month, but hopefully he'll be back in a month." (match report)

Previews

Dragons (1.31) v Titans (3.50): Brittain bench boost; Taylor returns (match preview)

  • Dragons last 6 home matches have gone OVER total match points (44.5)

Roosters (1.03) v Broncos (13.0): Cordner, Tupou return; Milford out (match preview)

  • Each of Brisbane's last 6 matches have gone OVER total match points (46.5)

Warriors (2.60) v Knights (1.50): Harris-Tavita returns; Lino gets his chance (match preview)

  • Newcastle have covered the line in five of their last 7 away matches (-6pts)

Sharks (1.25) v Cowboys (4.0): Johnson and Holmes good to go (match preview)

  • Twelve on Cronulla's last 13 matches have gone OVER total match points (43.5)

Panthers (1.20) v Wests Tigers (4.50): Penrith lose key duo; Grant returns (match preview)

  • Brent Naden has scored in his last 6 home matches (2.30)

Storm (1.20) v Sea Eagles (5.0): Stars back for Melbourne; Suli out (match preview)

Raiders (1.10) v Bulldogs (7.0): Pack set to rotate; Napa back from ban (match preview)

🎾 Tennis

Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful men's doubles team in the history of tennis, are bringing the curtain down on their 22-year professional careers days ahead of the US Open.

🚴🏼‍♂️ Tour De France (starts on Saturday)

Preview: Your guide to the 2020 Tour de France contenders, sprinters and more

No Australians named in Mitchelton-Scott team

Australian-based World Tour cycling team Mitchelton-Scott will enter this weekend's Tour de France without an Australian rider for the first time in its eight-year history.

  • Luke Durbridge and Damien Howson notable exclusions

  • Team to chase stage wins rather than overall honours

Team director Matt White will fly the Australian flag for the outfit, kept alive by owner Gerry Ryan when a messy takeover bid by a mystery Spanish organisation fell through earlier this year.

🐴 Racing

Alligator Blood's owner is preparing to launch an extraordinary $6.2m statement of claim in the Supreme Court for loss of a potential slot in the $15m The Everest.

Memsie Stakes headlines Group I day of Aussie racing

All-Star Mile winners Regal Power and Mystic Journey headline the 21 entries for Melbourne’s first Group I race of the season, Saturday’s Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Both Mystic Journey and Regal Power disappointed when resuming in the Group II PB Lawrence Stakes earlier this month but still strip much fitter for Saturday’s $750,000 contest.

PB Lawrence Stakes winner Savatiano will chase her maiden Group I win.

Arcadia Queen, Cascadian, and Sircconi are among the PB Lawrence Stakes beat brigade to enter.

Peter Moody has entered three-year-old Glenfiddich for the event and recent stable acquisition Gatting, who stunned punters last spring when he won the Makybe Diva Stakes at $101.

Mr Quickie is likely to resume in the Memsie Stakes as is the Group II Alister Clark Stakes winner Nonconformist.

⚽️ Football

A-League Grand Final preview

Sydney FC (2.45) v Melbourne City (2.80) (match preview)

  • When: Sunday, August 30

  • Kick-off: 6.30pm AEST

  • Venue: Bankwest Stadium

Then there were two. It will be first versus second in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final 2020 with the established standard-bearers, Sydney FC, meeting the new pretenders, Melbourne City.

If the reigning holders, Sydney FC, can ensure the trophy stays in the Harbour City, they will become only the second club to defend a Championship title in the league's 15-year history – after Brisbane Roar in 2011 and 2012 – while Steve Corica will become the first head coach to be crowned on each of his first two seasons at the helm.

His opposite number, City's French coach Erick Mombaerts has guided his team to a long-awaited first ever Grand Final during his inaugural campaign in the dugout, breaking a streak of four Semi-Final losses in the club's nine seasons in the competition (including their time as Melbourne Heart).

The sides split their regular season series, with Sydney claiming a 2-1 win back in Round 12 before City ran out 2-0 winners four weeks ago. We are in for one heck of a decider on Sunday, 30 August.

Transfer Gossip

  • Lionel Messi's dad is already in England to discuss a two-year deal with Manchester City after the Argentina forward, 33, said he wants to leave Barcelona. (Sun)

  • Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara looks set to leave the European champions. The Bundesliga club want around £30m and Liverpool have been linked with the 29-year-old Spain midfielder. (Express)

  • Brazil defender Thiago Silva, 35, is expected to have a Chelsea medical in Milan on Thursday, despite a late attempt by Paris St-Germain to offer him a new deal. (Sky Sports)

🏉 Rugby

Michael Hooper says he opted to take up a short-term deal in Japan next year because he didn't want to jeopardise his chances of playing at the 2023 World Cup in France.

Super Rugby AU Previews

Brumbies (-19.5) v Western Force: The Brumbies have won 14 of their last 15 Super Rugby games on home turf (L1), including their last four on the bounce; they have not lost an Australian derby at home since the opening round of the 2019 season.

Rebels (-0.5) v Waratahs: The Rebels have won their last two Super Rugby games against the NSW Waratahs on the bounce, after having won only two of their first 17 encounters in the competition (L15).

🌎 International

🏀 NBA players agree to continue the playoffs, ESPN reports

After NBA teams postponed their games on Wednesday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the players have agreed to resume the playoffs. Discussions are underway about which teams will continue and the three games scheduled for August 27 will remain postponed.

Three NBA play-off games, three Major League Baseball matches, three WNBA fixtures and five Major League Soccer games were postponed after player-led actions in response to the shooting of African-American Blake and the civil unrest that has followed.

🏒 The NHL went ahead

The world has changed in just this short time that we were at the rink. ... What's happening now at 11:15 is much different than what was happening at 4:30. At the time ... those weren't things being discussed with our group." — Lightning coach John Cooper

📺 Live sport

Friday

⛳️05:00 - PGA Tour, BMW Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🎾 05:00 - ATP Western & Southern Open, Semi-Final 1, Day 6 (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 06:10 - MLB - San Diego Padres v Seattle Mariners (Sky Sports 3)

🎾 07:00 - ATP Western & Southern Open, Semi-Final 2, Day 6 (ESPN 2)

🏏 07:30 - Caribbean Premier League - Guyana Amazon Warriors v Trinbago Knight Riders (Fox Cricket)

🏀 08:30 - NBA Conference Semifinals - Toronto Raptors v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

🏀 09:00 - WNBA - Indiana Fever v Chicago Sky (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 10:10 - MLB - Milwaukee Brewers v Cincinnati Reds (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 11:00 - NBA Playoffs - Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN 1)

🏒 11:45 - NHL Conference Semifinals - Vancouver Canucks v Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN 2)

🏉 18:00 - NRL - St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans (Fox League)

🏎 19:00 - F1 Grand Prix Practice 1, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

🏉 19:05 - Super Rugby AU - Brumbies v Western Force (Fox Sports)

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

🏉 19:55 - NRL - Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Nine)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, UK Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏎 23:00 - Belgian F1 Grand Prix Practice 2, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

Saturday

⛳️ 05:00 - PGA Tour, BMW Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 05:00 - France Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Dijon FCO (BeIN Sports 1)

🎾 06:00 - ATP Western & Southern Open, Final, Day 7 (ESPN 2)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 06:30 - LPGA Tour, Arkansas Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - Montreal Impact v Toronto FC (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 11:00 (TBC) - NBA Playoffs - Portland Trail Blazers v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN 1)

🏒 12:00 - NHL Conference Semifinals - Dallas Stars v Colorado Avalanche (ESPN 2)

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

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

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

🚘 15:50 - Townsville Super Sprint Race 1, Round 6 (10 or Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 16:35 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v GWS Giants (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🐴 16:45 - Group 1, Memsie Stakes, 1,400m - WFA, 3YO & Up (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys (Fox League)

🏎 18:25 - Formula 3 Belgium Race 1, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

🏍 19:00 - WorldSBK Aragon Superpole, Round 4 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 19:00 - J1 League - Vissel Kobe v Yokohama F. Marinos (Optus Sport 2)

🏉 19:15 - Super Rugby AU - Rebels v Waratahs (Fox Sports)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers (Fox League)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Melbourne Demons v St Kilda Saints (Fox Footy)

🐎 19:48 - Harness Racing, Group 2 Trotters, Jill Mcgrath Franco Australian Trotters Cup, 2,300m (Sky Racing 1)

🏎 20:00 - Belgian F1 Grand Prix Practice 3, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Consadole Sapporo v Nagoya Grampus (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Kawasaki Frontale v Shimizu S-Pulse (Optus Sport 4)

🏍 20:20 - World SSP300 Aragon Superpole, Round 4 (Fox Sports More)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:00 - Tour de France, Stage 1 (SBS)

🏍 21:00 - World SSP300 Aragon, Last Chance Race, Round 4 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 21:00 - K League 1 - Suwon Samsung Bluewings v Busan IPark (Optus Sport 1)

⛳️ 21:30 - European Tour, UK Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏍 22:00 - World SBK Aragon Race 1, Round 4 (Fox Sports More)

🏎 23:00 - Belgian F1 Grand Prix Qualifying, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

Sunday

⛳️ 05:00 (TBC) - Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 05:00 - Ligue 1 - RC Strasbourg Alsace v OGC Nice (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 05:30 - MLS - Atlanta United v Orlando City SC (BeIN Sports 2)

⛳️ 07:00 (TBC) - LPGA Tour, Arkansas Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports More)

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Detroit Tigers v Minnesota Twins (Sky Sports 3)

⚽️ 09:30 - MLS - Philadelphia Union v DC United (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - New England Revolution v New York Red Bulls (BeIN Sports 3)

👊🏻 11:00 - UFC Fight Night - Anthony Smith v Aleksandar Rakic (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 11:00 - MLS - Colorado Rapids v Sporting Kansas City (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀11:00 (TBC) - NBA Playoffs - Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:40 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Seattle Mariners (Sky Sports 3)

⚽️ 12:30 - MLS - LA Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 12:30 - MLS - Portland Timbers v Real Salt Lake (BeIN Sports 3)

🚘 13:25 - Townsville Super Sprint Race 2, Round 6 (10 or Fox Sports)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 15:30 - Super Netball - West Coast Fever v Sunshine Coast Lightning (Telstra TV)

🇦🇺 15:35 - AFL - Carlton Blues v Collingwood Magpies (Fox Footy)

🚘 15:50 - Townsville Super Sprint Race 3, Round 6 (10 or Fox Sports)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Manly Sea Eagles (Fox League)

🏎 17:45 - Formula 3 Belgium Race 2, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 18:10 - AFL - Gold Coast Suns v North Melb. Kangaroos (Fox Footy)

⚽️ 18:30 - A-League Grand Final (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 18:30 - K League 1 - Ulsan Hyundai v FC Seoul (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 18:30 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

🏍 19:00 - World SBK Aragon Superpole Race, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 19:00 - J1 League - Yokohama FC v Cerezo Osaka (Optus Sport 1)

🏎 19:10 - Formula 2 Belgium Race 2, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 20:30 - Tour de France, Stage 2 (SBS)

🏍 20:30 - World SSP Aragon Race 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 21:00 - Ligue 1 - Stade de Reims v Lille OSC (BeIN Sports 1)

⛳️ 21:30 - European Tour, UK Championship, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🏍 22:00 - World SBK Aragon Race 2, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🏉 22:00 - Super League - Hull Kingston Rovers v St Helens (Fox Sports More)

🏏 23:00 - Twenty20 Series - England v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 23:00 - Ligue 1 - FC Metz v AS Monaco (BeIN Sports 1)

🏎 23:10 - Belgian F1 Grand Prix Race, Round 7 (Fox Sports)