G'day sports fans,

3 World Record attendances held in Australia:

• AFL - 121,696, MCG - AFL Grand Final: Carlton v Collingwood (1970)

• Rugby League - 107,558, Stadium Australia - NRL Grand Final: Melbourne v St George-Illawarra (1999)

• Athletics - 112,524, Stadium Australia - Sydney Olympics (2000)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 Who needs to do what to play finals

🎾 De Minaur through to last 8

🏟 The 'Taj Mahal' of the sports industry

...and much more!

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL 2020: Top eight race, finals, ladder predictor, after Round 16 — www.foxsports.com.au

With two and a bit rounds left, 14 teams can still play finals.

Results

Adelaide Crows 59 (8.11) GWS Giants 47 (7.5) - Crows by 12: Adelaide makes it two in a row, putting a massive dent in Giants' top-eight plans (match report) 📺 YouTube

Carlton 57 (8.9) Sydney Swans 52 (8.4) - Blues by 5: Carlton fights back from seven goals down to defeat Sydney (match report) 📺 YouTube

Match preview (Today): Brisbane Lions (1.31) v Gold Coast Suns (3.50): Defeating their state rival will be crucial for the Lions, who can move two wins inside the top four. Gold Coast proved with their last performance, it won’t be throwing in the towel despite its elimination from top-eight contention. 

• 7 of Gold Coasts last 8 away matches have gone OVER total match points (119.5)

• Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions) has kicked 1+ goals in 5 of his last 6 at the Gabba (1.78)

🏉 NRL

Round 18 Team News - Johnson back, Ponga & Papenhuyzen out — www.nrl.com

There's a host of key changes heading into Round 18 of the Telstra Premiership with Shaun Johnson, Alex Glenn and Isaah Yeo among the key ins, but two of the game's premier fullbacks won't be involved. Robbie Farah and Brett Kimmorley join Zac Bailey to analyse all the key changes.

Match Preview: Wests Tigers (3.25) v Rabbitohs (1.35): Tigers stick firm; Gagai returns. (match preview)

• 7 of West Tigers last 8 matches have gone OVER total match points (43.5)

• Campbell Graham (Rabbitohs) has scored in his last 4 matches (1st Try @13.0)

Dean Young players urge interrim coach to accept assistant's role - NRL — www.nrl.com

Young gives strong endorsement of Griffin after missing job.

⛳️ Golf

Dustin Johnson clinches FedEx Cup title with Tour Championship win

Tour Championship final-round leaderboard: (US unless stated)-21 D Johnson; -18 X Schauffele, J Thomas; -17 J Rahm (Spa); -14 S Scheffler; -13 C Morikawa; -12 T Hatton (Eng); -11 R McIlroy (NI), P Reed, S Munoz (Col)

The American, 36, held a five-stroke lead heading into the final round at East Lake and carded a two-under 68 to claim the $15m FedEx Cup jackpot.

It is a first FedEx Cup title for Johnson, who squandered a chance to win on the final round four years ago.

Compatriots Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele each carded a final-round 66 to finish tied for second on 18 under.

🏆 All eyes now turn to the brilliantly named Winged Foot, New York and the US Open. An early shout for Morikawa (21.0) from me. We'll have a full preview next week.

⚽️ Football

🔁 Premier League transfers:

Ethan Ampadu [Chelsea to Sheffield United] Loan

Jayden Bogle [Derby - Sheffield United] Undisclosed

Ryan Fraser [Bournemouth - Newcastle] Free

Max Lowe [Derby - Sheffield United] Undisclosed

Pipa [Espanyol - Huddersfield] Undisclosed

Callum Wilson [Bournemouth - Newcastle] £20m

James Rodriguez [Real Madrid - Everton] £20m - signed for Carlo Ancelotti for the 3rd time (Madrid 14/15, Bayern Munich 17/18, Everton 20/21) - He became the second youngest Colombian to make his professional debut at the age of just 14 years and five months.

Socceroos ‘special talent’ Hrustic opens up on looming Bundesliga move | The World Game — theworldgame.sbs.com.au

Socceroos winger Ajdin Hrustic says he’s "open for the next step", as he closes in on a move to either Eintracht Frankfurt or FC Koln in Germany’s Bundesliga.

Transfer Gossip

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane's ability to overhaul his squad relies on Manchester Unitedacting on their interest in 31-year-old Wales forward Gareth Bale. (Marca - in Spanish)

Barcelona are interested in bringing Bayern Munich's Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara, 29 - a target for Liverpool - back to the club. (Bild - in German)

🎾 Tennis

Alex De Minaur beats Vasek Pospisil at US Open to reach first Grand Slam quarter-final

Australia's Alex de Minaur has beaten Canada's Vasek Pospisil in the fourth round of the US Open, reaching his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

De Minaur, 21, came back from 2-6 down in the opening set tie-break to win in straight sets, 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-2.

It was an impressive performance from the Aussie 'Demon', lasting two hours and 19 minutes.

Interviewer Q. You were talking about what you're best at, being solid, really making guys work. I think you take a certain pride in doing that, making guys do something special to beat you. I'm just curious if there is a root to that? Is that something that goes back to your junior days? Where did that come from?

Alex de Minaur: Well, if I could definitely blast people off the court, then trust me, I would rather do that. This running thing gets tiring, that's for sure (smiling).

Look, I've got to deal with what God gave me. He didn't give me the best physique, I'm not as strong or as tall as other people so I have to find ways to win. That's the way I win.

Of course I take pride and I want that to be known, I want that to be my brand of tennis. And I want people in the locker room to know that if they're going to beat me, they're going to have to go through me. 📖 (full interview)

Grand Slam history is made as three mums move into the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka & Tsventana Pironkova, have all made it through the the US Open quarter-finals.

Ashleigh Barty: French Open champion pulls out of 2020 tournament over coronavirus

World number one Ashleigh Barty has decided not to defend her French Open tennis title this year, pulling out of the tournament because of coronavirus.

The Australian said last year's event at Roland Garros had been "the most special tournament of my career so this is not a decision I have made lightly".

Barty cited the health risks, and the inability to train effectively with her coach in recent months and explained that she had been unable to reunite with her Melbourne-based coach because of the state border closures imposed.

A total of 11,500 fans will be able to attend each day of the two-week tournament at Roland Garros from 27 September, split into three zones around the venue's three courts.

🏏 Cricket

Australia win by 5 wickets, with three balls to spare

Australia win the third and final T20 to not only take some consolation but also retain their number one world ranking.

England win series 2-1

England 145-6: Bairstow 55.

Australia 146-5 (19.4 overs) Marsh 39, Finch 39. Australia slip from 70-1 to 100-5

🚴🏼‍♂️ Tour de France

He may have beaten Aussie Caleb Ewen to the stage win, but this is why we all love sport.

Sean Bennett told the reporter he thought he would be more emotional after winning a TDF stage, but that it hadn't hit him yet...then it hit him. 😢

Today's stage: Stage 11: Chatelaillon-Plage - Poitiers, 167.5km. Not much for the bunch to contend with in terms of climbing today and it is one of the last opportunities for the sprinters.

Rider to watch: Caleb Ewan (Aus/Lotto Soudal)

Imola 2020 | The 16-member Australian Team for the 2020 UCI cycling Road World Championships has been confirmed and is headlined by Rohan Dennis, Amanda Spratt, Michael Matthews & Richie Porte. Full Team 

🇺🇸 USA

🏀 Kawhi Leonard's middle finger block helped the Clippers take Game 3 over the Nuggets. The late block by Leonard soared to meme status as the Clippers took a 2-1 series lead after defeating the Nuggets 113-107 in Game 3.

The 'Taj Mahal' of the sports industry

The world's most expensive stadium is ready to go - SoFi stadium - is the new home of the LA Rams & LA Chargers NFL teams.

Cost: US$5Billion

Capacity: 70,000 (expandable to 100,000)

Events: It is scheduled to host Wrestle Mania 37 in 2021 and the Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. During the 2028 Summer Olympics, the stadium is expected to host the opening and closing ceremonies, soccer, and archery.

📺 Live sport

Wednesday

🏏 07:30 - Caribbean Premier League Semi-Final - Guyana Amazon Warriors v St. Lucia Zouks (Fox Cricket) 

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Oakland Athletics v Houston Astros (Sky Sports 3)

🏀 08:30 - NBA Conference Semifinals - Milwaukee Bucks v Miami Heat (ESPN 1)

🎾 09:00 - US Open Women's Quarter-Final, Day 9 (ESPN 2 or SBS)

🎾 11:00 - US Open Men's Quarter-Final, Day 9 (ESPN 2 or SBS)

🏀 11:00 - NBA Conference Semi finals - Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:45 - MLB - San Francisco Giants v Seattle Mariners (Sky Sports 3)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 17:00 - Super Netball - Giants Netball v Collingwood Magpies Netball (Telstra TV)

🇦🇺 19:10 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 19:30 - Super Netball - Adelaide Thunderbirds v Queensland Firebirds (Telstra TV)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Shimizu S-Pulse (Optus Sport 3) 

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Kashiwa Reysol v Gamba Osaka (Optus Sport 2) 

⚽️ 20:30 - J1 League - Cerezo Osaka v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport 5) 

⚽️ 20:30 - J1 League - Nagoya Grampus v Yokohama F. Marinos (Optus Sport 4)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:30 - Tour de France, Stage 11, 167.5 km (SBS)

Thursday

🎾 04:00 - US Open Men's Quarter-Final, Day 10 (ESPN 2 or SBS)

🏉 04:45 - Premiership Rugby - London Irish v Harlequins (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Cleveland Indians v Kansas City Royals (Sky Sports 3)

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

🎾 09:00 - US Open Women's Quarter-Final, Day 10 (ESPN 2 or SBS)

🏀 10:00 - WNBA - Atlanta Dream v Chicago Sky (SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - Minnesota United v FC Dallas (BeIN Sports 1) 

🎾 11:00 - US Open Men's Quarter-Final, Day 10 (ESPN 2 or SBS)

⚽️ 11:00 - MLS - Colorado Rapids v Houston Dynamo (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀 11:00 - NBA Conference Semi finals - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:45 - MLB - San Francisco Giants v Seattle Mariners (Sky Sports 3)

⛳️ 12:00 - Asian Tour, Shinhan Donghae Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

🇦🇺 19:10 - AFL - St Kilda Saints v West Coast Eagles (Fox Footy or 7mate)

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

⛳️ 20:00 - European Tour, Portugal Masters, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🎾 20:00 - WTA Istanbul Championship, Round 2, Day 3 (BeIN Sports 3)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:30 - Tour de France, Stage 12, 218 km (SBS)

⛳️ 23:00 - European Tour, Portugal Masters, Round 1 (Fox Sports) 

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