🗞 Smashing Watermelons

Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury will be sweating on the Match Review after whacking Lachie Neale in the gut.

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Sport Journal
March 28, 2024

G’day Sports Fans,

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🇦🇺 Collingwood breathed new life into its shaky premiership defence with an energising 20-point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba.

Marking a return to their formidable defensive form, the Magpies secured a 14.8 (92) to 10.12 (72) win in the Grand Final rematch.

However, Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury will be sweating on the Match Review after whacking Lachie Neale in the gut.

🏉 The Panthers held off a late comeback attempt from the Roosters to secure their third win of the season and extend their winning streak against the Tri Colours to nine games in a row.

Panthers winger Sunia Turuva shined in the 22-16 victory, scoring a hat-trick and continuing his impressive try-scoring streak. Turuva has now scored 11 tries in his past eight NRL games.

Manu’s first half try was disallowed after prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was ruled to have obstructed fullback Dylan Edwards from attempting a cover tackle.

JWH and Edwards collide in the to of the picture

🏀 Melbourne United have sent the NBL championship series to a deciding game with a nail-biting 88-86 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers in enemy territory.

Trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series, United held their nerve at Hobart's MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night with Matthew Dellavedova sinking the deciding shot with 7.2 seconds on the clock.

Dellavedova, a 2016 NBA champion with Cleveland, nailed a lay-up to put Melbourne ahead 87-86.

Tasmania had a possession on the attack in the dying seconds but turned the ball over with United's Ian Clark getting to the free-throw line to seal the deal.

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🐴 The final Group 1 feature race of the Melbourne autumn headlines a huge Saturday of racing at HQ.

Won by some of the biggest names to ever grace the Australasian turf, the time-honoured Australian Cup features another star-studded field this year, as Mr Brightside attempts to turn the tables on All-Star Mile winner Pride Of Jenni, and the likes of Atishu, Cascadian and Legarto try to spoil the party.

🐴 Think It Over, has run his last race. Trainer Kerry Parker advised Racing NSW stewards on Thursday morning that following a veterinary assessment of Think It Over, the decision has been made to retire the eight-year-old gelding.

Think It Over won 14 of his 42 starts including three Group 1 races, and earned $8.5m to be 19th on the all-time list of leading prize money earners.

🐴 Sport Journal Horse - Station One is due to run in the Stawall Cup this Sunday - R7 - best priced $15.0. Group 1 winning jockey John Allen is booked to ride.

It’s a tough assignment but the word from the stable is he hasn’t missed a beat between runs, has held his condition, and if anything is getting stronger.

⚽️ The A-League is hoping to recuperate close to $1 million from broadcast production partner Global Advance, which has gone into administration and sent the competition scrambling to find a last-minute replacement.

👊🏻 UFC, together with the Western Australian Government, today announced a multiyear partnership in which UFC will return to Perth with two blockbuster events starting with UFC 305 at RAC Arena on Sunday, August 18.

UFC 305 marks the third time Perth has hosted a UFC Pay-Per-View event following the success of UFC 221 & 283.

A blockbuster grudge match between Dricus du Plessis and Isreal Adesanya is being discussed as the headliner.

"Perth, I am so excited to be coming back!" UFC CEO Dana White said. "After a record-breaking event in 2023, I can't wait to bring another massive pay-per-view to Western Australia. Perth is a world class city with some of the most passionate fight fans I've ever seen - UFC 305 is going to be incredible!"

Meanwhile Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker will fight rising star Khamzat Chimaev in the headline bout at Saudi Arabia on Saturday June 22nd (local) in a historic fight with significant title implications.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

🇦🇺 North Melbourne (5.40) v Carlton (1.15): After a bye in Round 2, Carlton will return to action against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday. The Blues entered their bye at 2-0. The Kangaroos’ defence conceded 104.8 points per match across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, and it’s been more of the same this year

  • Harry McKay has kicked 4 goals in each of Carlton's last two matches against North Melbourne.

🇦🇺 Fremantle (1.52) v Adelaide (2.55): At opposite ends of the ladder to begin Round 3, Fremantle and Adelaide will face off at Optus Stadium. Fremantle are 2-0 for the first time since 2015. Adelaide’s campaign could hardly have gotten off to a wors estart which has now seen the Crows lose eight of their last nine interstate matches.

  • Six of Fremantle's last seven home matches have gone UNDER the total match points line.

🏉 Rabbitohs (1.48) v Bulldogs (2.45): The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs could have huge ramifications for Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou after he admitted he’s in the most difficult period of his coaching career to date.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs notched their first victory of the season with an impressive display at Belmore, overpowering the Titans 32-0.

  • Stephen Crichton has scored at least one try in eight of his last nine appearances against South Sydney.

🏉 Broncos (1.90) v Cowboys (1.90): The North Queensland Cowboys have started 2024 like a house on fire scoring a whopping 110 points. The Broncos sit inside the bottom four after being thoroughly outplayed by Penrith in the grand final rematch.

  • Jeremiah Nanai has been the first try-scorer in each of North Queensland's last two matches against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

🙋🏼‍♀️ The NRLW will target the best female athletes from around the globe as the competition continues to grow in coming years, with each club to eventually field both men’s and women’s teams.

After announcing that the Bulldogs and Warriors would join an expanded 12-team women’s Telstra Premiership in 2025, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo revealed that the remaining five clubs were working towards their own teams.

We want to attract athletes from all over the world to play in the best rugby league competition that there is. - NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

🍉 Ten years after his father Alex Leapai Sr fought Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight title, Alex Leapai Jnr followed in his father’s footsteps by punching through a watermelon in the promotion for his upcoming professional boing debut vs Joe Ageli on Wednesday night.

Before leaving for Germany in 2014, Leapai Sr also punched through a poor melon at the Brisbane markets as a publicity stunt.

Credit: 9News

🇦🇺 Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones has stated he did not know of any "off-the-books testing" during his time at the club.

The AFL was engulfed in the scandal on Wednesday after Federal MP Andrew Wilkie accused the league of covering up illicit drug use by players while addressing parliament.

Wilkie told parliament that Melbourne players self-reported illicit drug use to former club doctor Zeeshan Arain before undergoing confidential and off-site illicit drug testing to essentially cover up positive results.

Speaking on LiSTNR's Footy Talk podcast, Jones expressed his surprise that players had allegedly been tested in secret — outside of the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

Jones captained the club for six seasons between 2014 and 2019.

"I can only talk from my experience, and I wasn't aware of that level of testing,"

"From where I sit and the experiences that I was aware of or what I understood of how that process took place was target testing.

"The players put their hand up to take part in (the illicit drugs policy) and if you had come through positive, you would then be targeted [for testing]."

"As far as this back door, off-the-books testing, I've never been aware of that.”

🥊 icymi: Tim Tszyu will now be defending his WBO junior middleweight title in Las Vegas this weekend against American Sebastian Fundora (who is a massive 6’ 5”) following Keith Thurman's withdrawal due to a bicep injury.

Fundora - who had previously been linked to fight Tszyu a couple of years ago - will be looking to bounce back from a devastating knockout defeat to Brian Mendoza last time out.

On the other hand, Tszyu will be hoping he can further build on his last performance which saw him dominate Mendoza over 12 rounds.

🏀 The Golden State Warriors claimed a 101-93 victory against the Orlando Magic despite the early ejection of forward Draymond Green.

Green received his fourth ejection of the season just three minutes and 36 seconds into the game after disputing a foul call on Stephen Curry.

🚴🏻‍♂️ Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert suffered a broken collarbone and several broken ribs in a heavy crash at the Dwars door Vlaanderen one-day race.

The 29-year-old will now miss upcoming classics the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold Race.

Team Visma-Lease a Bike added it is "unclear" how long he will be out for.

🏟️ Fulham FC have unveiled lavish plans for their redeveloped Riverside Stand with a host of premium match day experiences that club chairman Shahid Khan has said will be "unlike anything in football."

⚽️ Arsenal have a 10-man shortlist for a new striker this summer with RB Leipzig's Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, 20, Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, 25, and his fellow Sweden international, Newcastle's Alexander Isak, 24, among those being monitored.

🎾 icymi: World number one Novak Djokovic has split with coach Goran Ivanisevic.

Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic became Djokovic's main coach in March 2022, having worked with him alongside long-time mentor Marian Vajda since 2018.

Serb Djokovic has won a joint-record 24 Grand Slam singles titles but has made a disappointing start to 2024.

"Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago," Djokovic said on Instagram.

🎾 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner reached the Miami semi-finals by ending Tomas Machac's stunning run at the ATP Masters event.

Second seed Sinner used his explosive power and precision to win 6-4 6-2 against his 60th-ranked Czech opponent.

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TODAY

07:00 - PGA TOUR - Houston Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

07:00 - Super League - Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos (Fox League)

07:10 - MLB - Los Angeles Dodgers v St. Louis Cardinals (ESPN)

10:09 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - Arizona Wildcats v Clemson Tigers (ESPN 2)

10:35 - MLB - Texas Rangers v Chicago Cubs (ESPN)

12:39 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - North Carolina Tar Heels v Alabama Crimson Tide (ESPN 2)

16:05 - NRL - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

16:20 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Carlton Blues (Fox Footy)

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Crusaders v Chiefs (Stan Sport)

19:30 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v Adelaide Crows (Fox Footy)

19:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - NSW Waratahs v Rebels (Stan Sport)

20:00 - NRL - Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys (Fox League)

23:30 - Super League - Hull Kingston Rovers v Hull FC (Fox League)

SATURDAY

01:00 - Indian Premier League - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders (Fox Cricket)

02:00 - Super League - St Helens v Wigan Warriors (Fox League)

06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Northampton Saints v Saracens (Stan Sport)

06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers (Stan Sport)

07:00 - PGA TOUR - Houston Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

10:09 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - Marquette Golden Eagles v North Carolina State Wolfpack (ESPN AU)

10:39 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - Purdue Boilermakers v Gonzaga Bulldogs (ESPN 2)

12:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Fijian Drua v Western Force (Stan Sport)

12:39 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - Houston Cougars v Duke Blue Devils (ESPN 2)

13:00 - NBA - Sacramento Kings v Dallas Mavericks (ESPN)

13:09 - NCAA Men's Sweet 16 - Tennessee Volunteers v Creighton Bluejays (ESPN 2)

14:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Moana Pasifika v Blues (Stan Sport)

15:10 - NSW Cup - St. George Ill. Dragons NSW Cup v Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (Fox League)

16:20 - AFL - Essendon Bombers v St. Kilda Saints (Fox Footy)

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific - Highlanders v Hurricanes (Stan Sport)

17:30 - A-League Men - Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets (Paramount+)

17:30 - NRL - St. George Illawarra Dragons v Manly Sea Eagles (Fox League)

19:30 - AFL - Port Adelaide Power v Melbourne Demons (Fox Footy)

19:35 - NRL - Gold Coast Titans v Dolphins (Fox League)

19:35 - Super Rugby Pacific - Queensland Reds v Brumbies (GEM)

19:45 - A-League Men - Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners (10 Bold)

23:30 - Premier League - Newcastle United v West Ham United (Optus Sport 1)

SUNDAY

01:00 - Indian Premier League - Lucknow Super Giants v Punjab Kings (Fox Cricket)

02:00 - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 5)

02:00 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Everton (Optus Sport 4)

02:00 - Premier League - Chelsea v Burnley (Optus Sport 3)

02:00 - Premier League - Tottenham v Luton Town (Optus Sport 2)

02:00 - Premier League - Sheffield United v Fulham (Optus Sport 6)

02:00 - Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby v Bristol Bears (Stan Sport)

02:00 - Super League - Warrington Wolves v Catalans Dragons (Fox League)

02:05 - Premiership Rugby - Harlequins v Bath Rugby (Stan Sport)

04:00 - PGA TOUR - Houston Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

04:30 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Optus Sport 1)

04:30 - Super League - Salford Red Devils v Leigh Leopards (Fox League)

06:30 - NHL - Minnesota Wild v Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN 2)

07:00 - Premier League - Brentford v Manchester United (Optus Sport 1)

07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Barcelona v Las Palmas (Optus Sport 2)

09:00 - Men's NCAA Men's Elite Eight, East Region (ESPN)

11:00 - A-League Men - Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar (Paramount+)

11:00 - Super Welterweight Title - Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora (Main Event)

11:30 - Men's NCAA Men's Elite Eight, West Region (ESPN)

13:00 - AFL - Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles (Fox Footy)

15:00 - A-League Men - Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory (10 Bold)

16:00 - AFL - Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans (Fox Footy)

16:00 - NBL Championship Series - Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers (ESPN)

16:05 - NRL - Warriors v Newcastle Knights (Fox League)

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

21:00 - Indian Premier League - Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad