G'day sports fans,

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Classic quote: "I'm just a normal Aussie guy who likes a smoke and a drink. I wish they'd had a final between 2am and 4am. I might have won" - Jai Taurima, Olympic silver medalist in the long jump in Sydney.

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In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 off-the-ball punch

🏉 SBW and the Johns brothers to help Samoa

🏏 IPL suspended

🥇 Weird World Record

David Rush (USA), broke the record for the greatest distanced travelled while juggling 3 objects. He managed 563.15 metres. He was pumped!

🇦🇺 AFL

✅ Melbourne's leading goal kicker Bayley Fritsch is free to play in Saturday night's AFL clash with Sydney after overturning his one-match suspension for striking. (AFL)

🤕 Fremantle defender Joel Hamling has suffered a setback in his return from an ankle injury after a routine scan that revealed his recovery was "not quite where we wanted it". 

The key defender, who injured the deltoid ligament on his left ankle in round one, had been closing in on a return after six weeks on the sidelines but now faces an uncertain recovery period. (AFL)

👊🏻 Former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin has been suspended for five matches for his off-the-ball punch in the VFL.

Footage emerged on Monday of McCartin lashing out at Aaron Black during the match between Sydney and Geelong's reserves, with the ball nowhere near the pair.

Black avoided serious injury and was cleared of concussion, but the video shows him staggering backwards after McCartin lands a blow to the head. (AFL)

🏉 NRL

Thursday: Rabbitohs (3.30) v Storm (1.33): Mass backline changes; NAS, Jennings back in 17 (match preview). These teams met back in Round 1 with the Storm continuing their recent dominance over this head-to-head, winning 26-18 to move the Rabbitohs’ record in Melbourne to 0-17. 

• Cameron Munster has scored a try in three of Melbourne's last four matches against South Sydney.

🚨 Former NRL player Sam Burgess will plead guilty to driving with an illicit drug in his blood after being pulled over on the Hume Highway in February, a court has heard.

🤔 Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses says money isn't a factor in his current contract negotiations. (nine) - Meanwhile, Parramatta have announced banned centre Michael Jennings will leave the club effective immediately. (NRL)

🇼🇸 International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant and Samoa coach Matt Parish plans to reach out to Sonny Bill Williams and the Johns brothers, Andrew and Matthew about joining the Samoan coaching team. (NRL)

✍🏼 New Titans signing Esan Marsters could be rushed into the Gold Coast side as early as this weekend.

But with the Titans experiencing an injury crisis in the backline, he could find himself thrown straight into the team to meet Wests Tigers on Saturday night. (nine)

⚽️ Football

🏟 Matchweek 19 comes to its conclusion with an A-League double-header tonight with Brisbane Roar hosting Western United before Melbourne City travel to take on Perth Glory. (A-League)

🤕 The A-League season of midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof is almost certainly over with scans showing the Sydney FC midfielder has suffered a fractured vertebrae. (SBS)

🇮🇹 Inter Milan have ended their 11-year wait for the Serie A title. Romelu Lukaku is getting a lot fo the plaudits with his 44 goals in 63 Serie A starts, since his move from Man United.

🚨 Manchester United promises action against those who used violence in their storming of the Premier League club's Old Trafford ground, as police describe the behaviour at the protest as "atrocious".

🤝 Jose 'Money' Mourinho has found another s̶u̶c̶k̶e̶r̶ club. The Serie A club Roma have announced he will be their new head coach next season.

🏏 Cricket

❌ The Indian Premier League has been suspended amid the country's devastating COVID toll.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the decision tonight to indefinitely suspend the league after a host of players tested positive to the virus.

IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the decision, and in a statement, stressed the safety of all stakeholders involved with the competition

"The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL," the league's official statement read. (cricket)

😡 Michael Slater, who is in India as a broadcaster for the Indian Premier League, says the federal government is neglecting Australians who cannot return home because of the travel ban. (abc)

🐴 Racing

Warrnambool preview and tips for Day 2: Wednesday, May 5 — www.punters.com.au

Day 2 of the Warrnambool carnival is highlighted by the Galleywood Hurdle (3200m) and the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m).

✅ Champion jockey Hugh Bowman had a careless riding suspension reduced by three meetings on appeal.

He is now free to ride All-Star Mile winner Mugatoo in the Group 1 Doomben Cup on May 22.

🏉 Rugby

🤝 Kevin Foote will take over as interim head coach of the Melbourne Rebels for the trans-Tasman Super Rugby season to replace Dave Wessels.

The Rebels issued a statement on Tuesday announcing Foote would be elevated from his role as assistant coach.

Wessels quit as head coach last week after the Rebels finished out of the Super Rugby AU playoffs with a record of three wins and five losses.

Melbourne will host the Blues on May 15 in the first match for both clubs in the new trans-Tasman tournament. (nine)

🏟 The Super Rugby AU Final is now set with the Queensland Reds set to host the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium on May 8.

Throughout the eleven weeks of the competition, there have been plenty of standouts that have made their name as they press for the title and Wallabies selection.

Team of the Season: 1. Tom Robertson – Force, 2. Feleti Kaitu’u – Force, 3. Taniela Tupou – Reds, 4. Cadeyrn Neville – Brumbies, 5. Trevor Hosea – Rebels, 6. Rob Valetini – Brumbies, 7. Fraser McReight – Reds, 8. Harry Wilson – Reds, 9. Tate McDermott – Reds, 10.James O’Connor – Reds, 11.Andy Muirhead – Brumbies, 12. Hunter Paisami – Reds, 13. Len Ikitau – Brumbies, 14. Marika Koroibete – Rebels, 15.Tom Banks – Brumbies.

🌏 World of Sport

🥊 Paul Gallen has fired back at fight promoter Dean Lonergan who branded the NRL great a "circus fighting bum". (nine)

💉 NBA superstar LeBron James and teammate Dennis Schroder, remain as the only two players on the Los Angeles Lakers playing roster who haven't received the COVID-19 vaccination - Schroder told German TV.

🎱 Mark Selby claimed his fourth World Championship title with an 18-15 victory over Shaun Murphy.

Selby, who led 14-11 prior to the final session, is now three Crucible crowns off Stephen Hendry's record of seven.

⚾️ A one-handed crowd catch without a glove from a 97mph foul ball - without dropping his food. Let's Go!!

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📺 Live sport

TODAY

⚽️ 08:15 - Copa Libertadores - Santos v Club The Strongest (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 08:15 - Copa Libertadores - Union La Calera v Velez Sarsfield (BeIN Sports 3)

🏄🏻 09:00 - Men's Margaret River Pro, Day 4 (Fox Sports More) 

🏄🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - Women's Margaret River Pro, Day 4 (Fox Sports More) 

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Houston Astros (ESPN 2  or Sky Sports 3)

🏀 09:30 - NBA - Milwaukee Bucks v Brooklyn Nets (ESPN 1) 

⚽️ 10:30 - Copa Libertadores - Barcelona Sporting Club v Boca Juniors (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 10:30 - Copa Libertadores - Defensa y Justicia v Palmeiras (BeIN Sports 3) 

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

⚾️ 12:10 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v Baltimore Orioles (Sky Sports 3)

🎾 19:00 - ATP Madrid Masters, Round 2, Day 4 (BeIN Sports 1) 

🎾 19:00 - WTA Madrid Open, Quarter-Finals, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 2) 

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Brisbane Roar v Western United FC (Fox Sports) 

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats (ESPN 1  or SBS on Demand)

⚽️ 21:20 - A-League - Perth Glory v Melbourne City (Fox Sports) 

🏏 00:00 - Indian Premier League - Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

⚽️ 08:00 - Copa Libertadores - Racing Club de Avellaneda v Sao Paulo (BeIN Sports 3)

🏄🏻 09:00 - Men's Margaret River Pro, Day 5 (Fox Sports More) 

🏄🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - Women's Margaret River Pro, Day 5 (Fox Sports More) 

⚾️ 09:05 - MLB - Philadelphia Phillies v Milwaukee Brewers (Sky Sports 3)

⚾️ 09:40 - MLB - Chicago Cubs v Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN 2) 

⚽️ 10:00 - Copa Libertadores - Independiente Santa Fe v River Plate (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 10:00 - Copa Libertadores - SC Internacional v Club Olimpia (BeIN Sports 3) 

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v New York Knicks (ESPN 1) 

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Utah Jazz v San Antonio Spurs (Sky Sports 2)

⚾️ 11:40 - MLB - Oakland Athletics v Toronto Blue Jays (Sky Sports 3)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 13:30 - LPGA Tour, Honda LPGA Thailand, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

🎾 19:00 - ATP Madrid Masters, Round 3, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 1) 

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Melbourne Victory v Macarthur FC Bulls (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 19:10 - VFL - Geelong Cats VFL v Northern Bullants (Fox Footy) 

🏉 19:50 - NRL - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Melbourne Storm (Fox League or Nine)

🎾 21:00 - WTA Madrid Open, Semi-Final 1, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 2)