G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "Any time Carlton scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points they almost always win." - Lou Richards

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 Dusty Dominates

🏉 Warriors pull off a coup

🐴 Contingency plan on table for wet Slipper day

🇦🇺 AFL

Dusty dominates in Tiger triumph

Richmond opened the 2021 season with a gritty win over a gallant Carlton.

The Tigers, who stretched their round one winning streak over the Blues to a remarkable eight matches, were never at their best in the 15.15 (105) to 11.14 (80) slog.

But good enough was more than enough as they outlasted a tiring opponent in the dying stages.

🙋🏻‍♂️ With Anthony Scott and Lachlan McNeil handed debuts for the Bulldogs' season opener, Johannisen has been squeezed out of the team for tonight's clash against Collingwood. (AFL)

🤔 It's been 144 days since Richmond lifted the 2020 premiership. Here's what's happened since if you've been living under a rock. (new, man on the mark rule, quarters return to 20mins, introduction of a medical substitute).

🏉 NRL

Super Sivo stars as Storm sunk in Bankwest rain

The brilliance of Maika Sivo was the difference in a stunning exhibition of wet-weather football won 16-12 by the Eels over Melbourne at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.

🤕 Jason Taumaolo suffered a broken hand at training on Thursday. The club are expecting him to be out for a month. (NRL)

✍🏼 The Warriors may have found their replacement for rugby-bound Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

They've pulled doff a bit of a coup by signing exciting young Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh to a three-year deal from next season. (NRL)

🤝 Des Hasler will remain the Manly coach until at least 2023 after reaching an agreement with the club on a new deal.

🐴 Racing

Contingency plan on table for wet Slipper day — www.racenet.com.au

Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel says while contingency plans are being discussed it is hard to make firm decisions regarding the weather ahead of Saturday’s big Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill.

🤕 Spinal surgery ends champion jockey’s brilliant career: Nearly two years after Brown’s shocking fall in the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Champion Jockey Corey Brown, 44, feels he is still in the prime of his career but the delicate operation he will undergo next Wednesday means he can never ride again. (racenet)

📺 They call him ‘Aussie Tom’. Get to know jockey @TomMarquand

🏏 Cricket

Warner hundred drives NSW to tight win over Tasmania

NSW's experienced opener scored his fifth domestic 50-over hundred as the Blues stumble late to beat the Tigers (Cricket).

David Warner's first century in 14 months saw New South Wales cement their status as the Marsh One-Day Cup's team to beat in a three-wicket win over Tasmania, whose rough day was soured further by an injury to star batter Ben McDermott.

Warner struck a 115-ball 108 to reach triple figures for the first time in any format since January last year, ensuring the Blues remain undefeated in the 50-over competition following the top-of-the-table clash in Hobart.

🌏 Leading Big Bash figures remain split on the merit of introducing an overseas player draft ahead of next season's competition, as Cricket Australia restarts its push for a major overhaul of international recruitment.

CA believes an overseas player draft, plans for which were abandoned last year due to the pandemic but are now firmly back on the table, would help attract the best possible international talent next summer.

🤝 All-rounder Ellyse Perry has joined Birmingham Phoenix the 'Hundred' competition. The 30-year-old has won five Twenty20 World Cups and was named player of the decade by the International Cricket Council in December.

⚽️ Football

Tonight: Western Sydney Wanderers (2.20) v Perth Glory (2.95): A Perth side that once briefly looked unstoppable is now staring down the barrel of a four match winless run. A light bulb has gone off for the Wanderers and they are starting to look like a much more cohesive side.

🦵🏽 Melbourne Victory forward Marco Rojas will miss two months due to a broken leg. (TheAge)

🔁 Juventus are prepared to sell Argentina forward Paulo Dybala with Tottenham and Chelsea both offered the chance to sign the 27-year-old. (Star)

⚽️ Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have now scored 111 hat-tricks between them since 2000. Insane numbers.

• Ronaldo: 57 in 1,022 games.

• Messi: 54 in 908 games.

🏉 Rugby

TEAMS: Daugunu OUT while the Rebels go big for Tahs clash | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au — www.rugby.com.au

We are at the halfway mark of the Super Rugby AU regular season this weekend, with Round Five kicking off at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

🙌🏼 Round 5 of Super Rugby AU sees a traditional powerhouse fighting for their future, two clubs on the rise and a new title favourite back at home.

In Friday night’s opening clash, Melbourne Rebels play host to the NSW Waratahs in what shapes a do-or-die clash for Rob Penney’s visitors.

Furthermore, Friday night’s clash marks Melbourne’s first home game in over 600 days and a 8,000-strong crowd is expected to spur the Rebels on.

🇦🇺 ➡️ 🇳🇿 Brad Thorn says the Queensland Reds are willing to become the Queenstown Reds to ensure they play New Zealand sides later this year. (rugby)

🌏 World of Sport

📺 I think I recommend it before, but 'Last Chance U's first basketball season is a must watch (Netflix)

🏑 Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin has quit four months out from Tokyo Olympics: Paul Gaudoin steps down from the position ahead of the release of findings and recommendations from an independent review into bullying claims within the team. (abc)

🚙 'A force of nature for women': Top Gear presenter Sabine Schmitz dies: Former racing driver Sabine Schmitz, the "Queen of the Nürburgring" who was also a presenter of the popular Top Gear TV show, dies at the age of 51. (abc)

🤦🏻‍♂️ Literally no one wants to keep their olympic job. Tokyo Olympics' creative chief has resigned after suggesting that a female comedian could appear as an "Olympig", in the latest setback for the Games.

Hiroshi Sasaki said plus-size entertainer Naomi Watanabe could wear pig ears at the opening ceremony.

This is after the main man resigned last month after saying women talk too much.

🐯 Tiger Woods has returned to his South Florida home to continue recovery from the serious leg injuries he suffered in a one-vehicle crash in Southern California on Feb. 23.

📺 Weekend live sport highlights

TODAY

⛳️ 05:00 - PGA Tour, The Honda Classic, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 07:00 - UEFA Europa League R16 - Milan v Manchester United (Optus Sport 1)

🎾 11:00 - ATP Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Quarter-Finals (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 13:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Charlotte Hornets (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

🇦🇺 17:10 - AFLW - Gold Coast Suns Women v Carlton Blues Women (Fox Sports)

🏉 18:00 - NRL - Warriors v Newcastle Knights (Fox League)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory (Fox Sports)

🏉 19:45 - Super Rugby AU - Rebels v Waratahs (Stan Sport)

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

🏉 20:05 - NRL - Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Nine)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, Kenya Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🎾 21:00 - WTA St. Petersburg Trophy, Quarter-Finals (BeIN Sports 2)

🐴 21:00 - Group 2, Sunline Stakes, 1,600m (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 21:30 - Group 1, William Reid Stakes, 1,200m (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 22:00 - UEFA Champions Lge Draw, Quarter & Semi-Finals (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 23:00 - UEFA Europa League Draw, Quarter & Semi-Finals (Optus Sport 2)

SATURDAY

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

🏏 11:00 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Queensland Bulls v Victoria (Fox Cricket)

🏉 12:40 - NSW Cup - Mounties v Penrith Panthers NSW (Fox League)

🇦🇺 13:10 - AFLW - Geelong Cats Women v GWS Giants Women (Fox Sports or 7mate)

🇦🇺 13:45 - AFL - Melbourne Demons v Fremantle Dockers (Fox Footy)

🐴 14:25 - Group 1, Ranvet Stakes, 2,000m (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🏉 15:00 - NRL - Canterbury Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers (Fox League)

🐴 15:05 - Group 1, Rosehill Guineas (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🇦🇺 15:10 - AFLW - Collingwood Magpies Women v St Kilda Saints Women (Fox Sports)

🚙 15:35 - Carrera Cup Sandown Race 1, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🐴 15:45 - Group 1, George Ryder Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🐴 16:30 - Group 1, Golden Slipper Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🇦🇺 16:35 - AFL - Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats (Fox Footy)

⚽️ 16:35 - W-League - Sydney FC Women v Melbourne Victory Women (Fox Sports)

🚙 16:45 - Sandown Super Sprint Race 1, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

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

⚽️ 17:05 - A-League - Macarthur FC Bulls v Western United FC (Fox Sports More)

🇦🇺 17:10 - AFLW - Brisbane Lions Women v North Melb. Kangaroos Women (Fox Sports)

🐴 17:10 - Group 1, The Galaxy, 1,100m (Sky Racing 1 or 7TWO)

🏉 17:30 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Fox League)

🐎 19:00 - 3YO Home Grown Classic Final Trotting (Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 19:25 - AFL - Essendon Bombers v Hawthorn Hawks (Fox Footy)

🏉 19:35 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v St George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League)

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

🇦🇺 19:45 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (Fox Sports or 7)

🐎 20:20 - Group 3 Pacers, Garrards JE Binskin FFA (Sky Racing 1)

🎾22:00 - WTA St. Petersburg Trophy, Semi-Final 1 (BeIN Sports 1)

🐎 22:30 - 3YO Home Grown Classic Final Trotting Fillies (Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 23:15 - FA Cup Quarter-Final - Bournemouth v Southampton (ESPN 1)

SUNDAY

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)

🏉 07:00 - Six Nations - France v Wales (BeIN Sports 3)

🎾 10:00 - WTA Monterrey Open, Semi-Final 2, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 1)

🥊 12:00 - Welterweight Title - Vergil Ortiz v Maurice Hooker (DAZN)

🇦🇺 12:40 - AFLW - Richmond Tigers Women v West Coast Eagles Women (Fox Footy or 7mate)

👊🏻 13:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card - Derek Brunson v Kevin Holland (ESPN 2)

🇦🇺 13:10 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Port Adelaide Power (Fox Sports)

🏉 13:35 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Blues v Crusaders (Stan Sport)

🎾 14:00 - ATP Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Final (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 15:00 - NBL - Melbourne United v Illawarra Hawks (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🇦🇺 15:20 - AFL - GWS Giants v St Kilda Saints (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🚙 15:20 - Carrera Cup Sandown Race 3 (Fox Sports)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters (Fox League or Nine)

⚽️ 16:05 - W-League - Adelaide United Women v W. Syd. Wanderers Women (Kayo Sports)

⚽️ 16:05 - A-League - Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 16:10 - AFLW - Adelaide Crows Women v Western Bulldogs Women (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 18:10 - AFLW - Fremantle Dockers Women v Melbourne Demons Women (Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 18:10 - AFL - West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

🏉 18:15 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v Canberra Raiders (Fox League)

⚽️ 18:40 - A-League - Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United (Fox Sports)

🐴 19:40 - Group 1, Hong Kong Derby, 2,000m (Sky Racing 1)