🗞 That Taylor Swift Bump

G'day sports fans,

"Travis Kelce has had a lot of big catches in his career. This would be the biggest." - Patriots Coach Bill Belichick shares his thoughts on NFL tight end Travis Kelce landing Taylor Swift!

🏉 The Brisbane Broncos have named an unchanged team for the NRL Grand Final despite the injury cloud hanging over stars Reece Walsh, Herbie Farnworth, and Payne Haas.

Farnworth limped out of Tuesday's training session due to a hamstring concern, while Walsh spent 10 minutes on the turf as his hamstrings and calves were attended to by training staff.

Haas wore a non-contact bib but completed the session without apparent restriction.

Panthers: Coach Ivan Cleary sticks with the same 17 that rolled past the Storm in the preliminary final. Jarome Luai (shoulder) and Izack Tago (pectoral) got through their returns to action unscathed, while Nathan Cleary showed no signs of being impacted by the finger injury he suffered at training.

🇦🇺Collingwood is back in the Grand Final for the second time in six years as the Magpies eye a first premiership since 2010.

Dan McStay (knee) and Taylor Adams (hamstring) will miss the decider. John Noble or Billy Frampton could be called up, and Jack Ginnivan could possibly be elevated from the sub role, depending on how Collingwood decides to replace McStay.

The Grand Final will be Brisbane's first since 2004, but the Lions have been perennial contenders in recent seasons, making September in every year since 2019. Team news: Jack Payne is a potential inclusion if he can prove his fitness after an ankle injury.

This Year:

• Round 4: Brisbane 18.8 (116) defeated Collingwood 11.17 (83) at the Gabba.

• Round 23: Collingwood 15.10 (100) lost to Brisbane 19.10 (124) at Marvel Stadium.

🇦🇺 Key Position tall Emerson Jeka is among three players delisted by Hawthorn on Tuesday.

Standing 198cm, Jeka’s axing comes as somewhat of a surprise given the club’s dearth of key options after Jacob Koschitzke’s trade request to Richmond last week.

Injury-plagued Josh Morris and Irishman Fionn O’Hara have also been told their contracts won’t be renewed for 2024.

🍻 Sydney co-captain Callum Mills has undergone shoulder surgery after injuring himself at post-season drinks and could be in doubt for the start of the next AFL season.

The Swans confirmed the gun midfielder had surgery last week, with the Seven Network reporting Mills suffered the injury while wrestling with a teammate at the traditional season-ending 'Mad Monday' celebrations. (ESPN)

🏏 Throwback: Brett Lee with a devastating bouncer, smacking Adam Parore’s helmet off in 2000. The ferocity of fast bowling!

🗣️ Australia captain Will Skelton believes speculation has been "knocked on the head" linking Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones with Japan.

A newspaper report published just hours before kick-off of Australia's Rugby World Cup clash against Wales claimed that Jones had been interviewed for the Japan job last month.

Skelton, though, said: "I think it is something that has been knocked on the head there.

"Eddie has denied it with us. We have full trust in him also. I don't think it was a distraction leading into the game.

"He is a fantastic coach with a massive rugby IQ. We are learning every day when we are working with him."

🇦🇺 Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has declared “there’s no way” Brownlow Medal voting should be taken away from the umpires after criticism erupted following Lachie Neale’s boilover victory on Monday night.

🏉 The NRL has gone for a first-time referee in Sunday’s grand final, with Adam Gee put in charge, while the two touch judges who missed a blatant Reece Walsh forward pass in Brisbane’s preliminary final win over the Warriors have been dropped from the showpiece event.

⛳️ Ryder Cup Golf: The world’s best male golfers from Europe and the United States are about to battle for the coveted Ryder Cup trophy. (Starts late Friday)

Europe are looking for redemption after they were defeated 19-9 by the USA in the Ryder Cup two years ago. The reigning champions have not won on European soil since 1993.

Since 1979, when continental Europe was included in the Ryder Cup, Europe holds an 11-9 lead over the United States, and the Americans will be eager to bag another victory.

All the 2023 Major Championship winners, Jon Rahm (Masters Tournament), Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship), Wyndham Clark (U.S. Open), and Brian Harman (The Open Championship), will be competing in the Italian capital, Rome.

🏈 Taylor Swift traveled to Kansas City to cheer on her (rumored) boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Stat: Taylor has played in more football stadiums this year (17) than Kelce will this season (12 max).

Kelce’s added over 325,000 Instagram followers in a week — more than he gained after winning last season’s Super Bowl.

⚽️ Arsenal are ready to step up their interest in England striker Ivan Toney in January—Brentford value the 27-year-old at AU$120m.

⚾️ Mike Trout was visibly emotional on Monday talking about his injuries and the Angels' disappointing season, but did say he plans to be "wearing an Angels uniform in the spring."

🏎️ Jessica Hawkins becomes first woman to test Formula 1 car since 2018. Hawkins completed 26 laps in Aston Martin's 2021 model at the Hungaroring; "It's taken me every bit of blood, sweat and tears to get here. When I first heard it might be a possibility, I could hardly believe it"

🏄🏻‍♂️🪁 The world's top kite foil athletes competed in the Formula Kite European Championships over the weekend in England for a spot in the 2024 Paris Games, where the sport will be making its Olympics debut.

TODAY

09:20 - MLB - Atlanta Braves v Chicago Cubs (ESPN)

10:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - New South Wales Blues v Tasmania Tigers (Fox Cricket)

16:05 - NPC - Southland v Bay of Plenty (Stan Sport)

18:00 - ODI Series - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

01:45 - Rugby World Cup - Uruguay v Namibia (Stan Sport)

03:00 - Spanish La Liga - Athletic Club v Getafe (Optus Sport 2)

03:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Madrid v Las Palmas (Optus Sport 1)

03:00 - Spanish La Liga - Villarreal v Girona (Optus Sport 3)

05:30 - Spanish La Liga - Cadiz CF v Rayo Vallecano (Optus Sport 2)

05:30 - Spanish La Liga - Valencia v Real Sociedad (Optus Sport 1)

11:40 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros (ESPN 2)

14:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Queensland Bulls v South Australia Redbacks (Fox Cricket)

19:30 - NBL - Melbourne United v South East Melbourne Phoenix (ESPN)