🗞 Offered his services

Author

Sport Journal
April 04, 2023

G'day sports fans,

"A very small crowd here today. I can count the people on one hand. Can't be more than 30" - Michael Abrahamson

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🇦🇺 North Melbourne will be without key defender Griffin Logue and Carlton without wingman Blake Acres for their Good Friday clash after the AFL Tribunal upheld their one-game bans for rough conduct.

Both players were suspended for high bumps graded by the match review officer as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact. (AFL)

🐴 Talented mare Alcohol Free has drawn barrier two in her Australian debut in Saturday's Group 1 Queen Of The Turf at Randwick (1600m).

A full field of 18 plus two emergencies accepted for the $1m contest.

With James McDonald in the saddle, Alcohol Free will look to continue momentum for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable who took out last Saturday's Australian Derby with Majorbeel.

🐴 The two runners trained by champion UK trainer William Haggas will start from either side of Australia's best horse Anamoe in Saturday's $5 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

A field of 13 runners has been declared for the weight-for-age feature which has been Australia's highest rating race in recent years.

This year horses converge on Randwick from the UK and Japan adding a genuine international flavour to the race.

🏉 Official team lists, updates and injury news for Round 6 of the season. (Fox)

🏉 Canberra have offered Jack Wighton a four-year deal worth AU$4.4 million after the star No. 6 shocked the club last week announcing he wanted to test his value on the open market.

Thursday Night Previews

🏉 Round 6 will kick off with a blockbuster as the Melbourne Storm host the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park on Thursday night. There have been some epic clashes between these two sides, however, Craig Bellamy has had the upper hand on Trent Robinson recently, with the Storm winning five of the past six head-to-head matchups. Despite that, the Roosters’ record at AAMI Park is respectable, winning four of their 10 trips to the ground.

📈 Each of Melbourne's last four night matches have gone UNDER the total match points line.

🇦🇺 Brisbane and Collingwood will face off in a Thursday night blockbuster at the Gabba. Brisbane won last season’s solitary matchup against Collingwood 98-91 at this venue, led by Lachie Neale’s 33-disposal, one-goal performance and Joe Daniher’s four-goal display.

📈 Brisbane has won each of its last eight matches at the Gabba following a loss.

👕 Matildas star Ellie Carpenter hailed the playing kits Australia will wear at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, saying they are a “true representation” of the squad.

Released on Tuesday, the patterns and green and gold colours of the Matildas’ home kit – which also includes white socks – celebrate a “diverse country and community”. 😍 That away kit!! 

⚽️ Melbourne City captain Scott Jamieson can play in tonight’s derby against Melbourne Victory despite being sent off in his side 1-1 weekend draw with the Newcastle Jets.

Jamieson’s red card for two bookable offences brought with it a one-game suspension.

However, he will serve that ban next Monday when City host Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.

🏉 Parramatta centre Waqa Blake has reportedly offered his services to Rugby Australia as the Eels look for an X-factor, according to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler.

🌎 World Sport

⛳️ The Masters 2023 Preview

The US Masters is the first major championship of the year so it's the first opportunity of 2023 for the LIV golfers to play alongside the rest of the world's elite.

Can Rory McIlroy finally conquer Augusta National and complete the career grand slam? Could the seemingly unflappable Scottie Scheffler become only the fourth man to defend the Green Jacket? Will a LIV golfer be victorious come Sunday night? Or, perhaps most shockingly if it were to happen, could Tiger Woods add a 16th major championship to his career?

Best of the Aussies: Cameron Smith ($17.0) Winner of the most recent Major (The Open) This will be just his fourth start of the year so he's likely to be undercooked and he also needs to get over his finish 12 months ago when he found Rae's Creek off the tee on the 12th when still in with a shout.

Min Woo Lee ($67.0): Potentially in the form of his life at the moment, and . Huge support in the market for the 24 yr old Aussie. (back on Dabble)

Market movers: J. Rose, Brooks Keopka, Xander Schauffele & Tony Finau.

📈 The Stats:

  • Nine of the last 11 winners had posted a top 10 across their three previous starts prior to winning – the only exceptions were Matsuyama and Garcia, who won the Dubai Desert Classic five starts previous to his win over Rose.

  • Seven of the last 11 winners had a previous top 10 at the Masters.

  • Six of last 11 winners had won earlier that season.

  • Three of the last six defending champions have missed the cut and Jordan Spieth (2nd in 2016) is the only one to finish inside the top-12 since Tiger finished third way back in 2006.

  • Easter Sunday 2021: Jordan Spieth won Texas Open, Easter Sunday 2022: Jordan Spieth won RBC Heritage. Easter Sunday 2023: is the Final Round of the Masters…

🤕 A group of former football, rugby league and rugby union players in the UK who are taking legal action claiming they suffered brain injuries playing their respective sports has grown to 378.

⚽️ Premier League matches will briefly be paused for Muslim players who have been fasting during Ramadan.

If clubs have requested a stoppage before the game, the referee will signal for a break, allowing Muslim players to eat and drink at pitchside.

🎾 Defending champion Rafael Nadal remains a doubt for the French Open after pulling out of next week's Monte Carlo Masters with an ongoing hip injury.

The Spanish world number 14 has won the tournament in Monaco 11 times but is not fit to return to action.

The 36-year-old has not played since his straight-set second-round defeat by American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Turning up at your kids' school sports day only to be destroyed by triple Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

🤼 WWE and the owners of mixed martial arts franchise UFC are to form a new £17.3bn sports entertainment brand.

The publicly traded company will see UFC owners Endeavor Group Holdings taking a 51% controlling interest, and existing WWE shareholders 49%.

⚽️ Lionel Messi is unlikely to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to extend his stay at the club, sources told ESPN.

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📺 Live Sport TV Guide

TODAY

09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Philadelphia Phillies (ESPN 2)

10:00 - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics (ESPN)

11:00 - T20 Series - New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

12:30 - NHL - Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers (ESPN 2)

19:00 - A-League Men - Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory (10 Bold or Paramount+)

00:00 - Indian Premier League - Rajasthan Royals v Punjab Kings (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

05:00 - Premier League - West Ham United v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 3)

05:00 - Premier League - Manchester United v Brentford (Optus Sport 2)

09:30 - NBA - Milwaukee Bucks v Chicago Bulls (ESPN)

09:40 - MLB - Kansas City Royals v Toronto Blue Jays (ESPN 2)

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

19:35 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Collingwood Magpies (Fox Footy or Channel 7)

19:50 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters (Fox League or Channel 9)