G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "An inch or two either side of the post and that would have been a goal." - Dave Bassett, football manager

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏟 Stadium changes

🏉 "Thank you for being part of this mission" - Abdo

📚 Can't train, I'm in the bad books

🇦🇺 AFL

🤣 An amateur reserves coach in WA created a collage showing off all the messages he received from payers bailing from training during a wet week.

👊🏻 Geelong showed Fremantle exactly what it takes to be a true finals contender, moving into top spot on the ladder in a 69-point demolition at Optus Stadium.

🏟 Richmond's date with Brisbane scheduled for the MCG tonight has been moved to Metricon Stadium.

Both clubs were informed on Thursday afternoon that the match, which has major ramifications on the top eight and also doubles as Jack Riewoldt's 300th, would be relocated.

It will be one of four games at Metricon Stadium in round 18.

The North Melbourne-Essendon clash scheduled for Marvel Stadium on Sunday has also been moved to Metricon (12.35pm AEST), and will be part of a Sunday double-header at the venue with the Greater Western Sydney and Sydney clash (6.10pm AEST) to follow in the evening

🏉 NRL

✈️ The Storm have relocated to Queensland for the third time in a year and will host the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night after Melbourne's latest looming lockdown forced the premiers to join the rest of the NRL in the Sunshine State.

Originally set down for AAMI Park, the clash between the Storm and Knights will now kick off at 7.35pm as the second game of a Saturday double-header on the Gold Coast.

The first match will be between the Raiders and Sharks at 5.35pm, moved from its original time slot of 3pm.

🏟 The North Queensland Cowboys will now host the Roosters in a Saturday afternoon game ahead of the V8 Supercars’ WD-40 Townsville SuperSprint race which will begin at the conclusion of the game.

🥇 Is Wally Lewis medal winner Tommy Turbo, the best player in the game right now? (NRL)

⚽️ Football

✍🏼 Lionel Messi is signing a new 5-year deal to stay at Barcelona.

The bad news: He's taking a 50% pay cut.

The good news: He'll still make ~$100m annually, the most in professional sports.

✍🏼 Western Sydney are close to signing Terry Antonis. (@Val61)

🌍 World Sport

⛳️ Former champion Louis Oosthuizen set the early pace on day one of The Open at Royal St George's as he posted the clubhouse lead at six under par.

The 2010 winner salvaged par on the 18th to card a bogey-free 64 as the Kent venue welcomed the return of fans, with up 32,000 set to attend each day.

That put the South African one clear of another former champion in American Jordan Spieth, the 2017 winner.

Aussies: Cam Smith -1, L. Herbert E, doing ok. However, J. Day & M. Leishman +5, not so good.

🚴🏻 Meet Lachlan Morton. He just completed the Tour de France by himself, beating the peloton to Paris by 5 days.

Morton cycled more than 185 miles each day, sleeping outside & feeding himself.

He raised over $500,000, providing bicycles to 3,000+ people in need.

Re-cap:

• 18 days (no rest)

• 5,510km (3,400 miles)

• 65,500-meters of elevation gain

• 220-hours of riding

🦵🏽 Conor McGregor says he was already injured before suffering a broken leg in the fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

“I had stress fractures in my leg going into that cage. It was debated about pulling the thing out.”

🥊 Tyson Fury's third world heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder has been rescheduled for 9 October. After Fury tested positive for Covid last week.

🚴🏻 Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar claimed back-to-back Tour de France stage wins to underline his dominance in the leader's yellow jersey.

Pogacar accelerated clear on the summit finish on stage 18 at Luz Ardiden to extend his overall lead to five minutes and 45 seconds.

🏉 Tate’s time as Wallabies recall firebrand as Rennie rings changes for France decider.

After four cameos off the bench, the 22-year-old Queensland Reds scrumhalf has been handed the No.9 jersey for the Wallabies’ series decider against France at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. (rugby)

🐴 Racing

The logistics of getting Melbourne and Caulfield Cup favourite Incentivise out of Queensland are becoming increasingly difficult with connections sweating on the outcome of a Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria.

The Toowoomba-trained phenomenon is due to return to work next week with trainer Steve Tregea saying they are watching the situation closely along with Air Horse Transport boss Chris Calthorpe.

Strict Covid-19 protocols implemented by Racing Victoria require any licensed participant who has been in affected area to isolate – as seen with Ciaron Maher, Craig Williams and Peter Moody who returned from Queensland. (racenet)

The stand-down order imposed on the Flemington stable of co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra will remain in place until a second negative Covid-19 test is received.

Late on Thursday evening the stable was told the pool track at Flemington would be made available for three hours on Friday to exercise horses.

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

07:00 - PGA Tour, Barbasol Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

08:15 - Copa Sudamericana - Santos v Independiente (BeIN Sports 2)

09:08 - MLB - New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox (ESPN 1 or Sky Sports 3)

10:30 - Copa Libertadores - Club Olimpia v SC Internacional (BeIN Sports 1)

15:30 - The Open Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

18:00 - NRL Gold Coast Titans v Parramatta Eels (Fox League)

18:00 - WTA Prague Open, Quarter-Finals, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 3)

19:00 - ATP Nordea Open, Quarter-Finals, Day 5 (BeIN Sports 2)

19:45 - ODI Series - Ireland v South Africa (Fox Cricket)

19:50 - AFL - Richmond Tigers v Brisbane Lions (Fox Footy or 7mate)

20:05 - NRL - Manly Sea Eagles v St. George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League or Nine)

20:30 - Tour de France, Stage 19 (SBS)

20:30 - ATP Hamburg European Open, Quarter-Finals (BeIN Sports 1)

23:30 - Formula 1 Great Britain Practice 1 (Fox Sports)

SATURDAY

07:00 - PGA Tour, Barbasol Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

08:00 - Men's Exhibition Match - United States v Australia (ESPN 1)

08:50 - Dunlop Super2 Townsville Practice 1 (Fox Sports)

09:05 - MLB - New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox (ESPN 2)

09:10 - MLB - Cincinnati Reds v Milwaukee Brewers (Sky Sports 3)

09:30 - Twenty20 Series - West Indies v Australia (Fox Cricket)

09:45 - Townsville SuperSprint Practice 1, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

11:00 - Summer X Games, Day 1 (ESPN 1)

11:15 - Dunlop Super2 Townsville Qualifying, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

11:40 - MLB - Oakland Athletics v Cleveland Indians (Sky Sports 3)

13:45 - AFL - GWS Giants v Sydney Swans (Fox Footy or 7)

14:00 - Test Match - Tonga v Samoa (Stan Sport)

14:55 - Townsville SuperSprint Race 1, Round 7 (Fox Sports)

15:00 - NRL - Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks (Fox League)

15:00 - Super Netball - Sunshine Coast Lightning v Giants Netball (Nine)

15:05 - Shute Shield - (Stan Sport)

• Sydney University Rugby v Randwick Rugby

• Eastern Suburbs Rugby v Newcastle Wildfires

• Eastwood Rugby v Gordon Rugby

• Southern Districts Rugby v Northern Suburbs Rugby

16:35 - AFL - Melbourne Demons v Hawthorn Hawks (Fox Footy)

16:35 - AFL - Gold Coast Suns v Western Bulldogs (Fox Sports)

17:05 - Test Match - New Zealand v Fiji (Stan Sport)

17:30 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)

17:50 - Formula 2 Great Britain Race 1 (Fox Sports)

18:30 - WTA Prague Open, Semi-Final 1 (BeIN Sports 3)

18:45 - Open Trotters G1, Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship Final (Sky Racing 1)

19:00 - The Open Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

19:22 - Group 3 Pacers, Vic Frost FFA, 1,609m (Sky Racing 1)

19:25 - AFL - St. Kilda Saints v Port Adelaide Power (Fox Footy or 7mate)

19:35 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Newcastle Knights (Fox League)

19:43 - Open Pacers G1, Golden Girl (Sky Racing 1)

20:00 - Super Netball - West Coast Fever v Queensland Firebirds (Telstra TV)

20:00 - Test Match - Australia v France (Nine or Stan Sport)

20:15 - Open Pacers G1, Sunshine Sprint (Sky Racing 1)

20:30 - Tour de France, Stage 20, 30.8km - ITT (SBS)

20:30 - WTA Prague Open, Semi-Final 2, Day 6 (BeIN Sports 3)

20:30 - Currie Cup - Griquas v Blue Bulls (Stan Sport)

21:00 - ATP Nordea Open, Semi-Final 1 (BeIN Sports 2)

21:00 - Formula 1 Great Britain Practice 2 (Fox Sports)

21:30 - ATP Hamburg European Open, Semi-Final 1 (BeIN Sports 1)

23:00 - ATP Nordea Open, Semi-Final 2 (BeIN Sports 2)

23:00 - SailGP Great Britain, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

23:30 - ATP Hamburg European Open, Semi-Final 2 (BeIN Sports 1)

23:30 - WTA Hungarian Grand Prix, Semi-Final 1 (BeIN Sports 3)

23:45 - Formula 2 Great Britain Race 2 (Fox Sports)

00:00 - Challenge Cup Final - St Helens v Castleford Tigers (Fox League)

00:00 - Test Match - Wales v Argentina (Stan Sport)

SUNDAY

07:00 - MLS - Atlanta United v New England Revolution (ESPN 1)

09:00 - MLS - New York Red Bulls v Inter Miami CF (BeIN Sports 3)

09:00 - UFC Fight Night Prelims (ESPN 2)

09:05 - MLB - Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Mets (Sky Sports 3)

10:25 - Townsville SuperSprint Qualifying Race 2 (Fox Sports)

10:30 - MLS - Nashville SC v Chicago Fire (BeIN Sports 2)

10:45 - Townsville SuperSprint Qualifying Race 3 (Fox Sports)

11:00 - MLS - Colorado Rapids v San Jose Earthquakes (BeIN Sports 3)

11:00 - Super Welterweight Title - Jermell Charlo v Brian Castano (Fox Sports More)

11:00 - NBA Finals - Phoenix Suns v Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN 1)

11:07 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Seattle Mariners (Sky Sports 3)

11:15 - Dunlop Super2 Townsville Qualifying (Fox Sports)

12:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card - Islam Makhachev v Thiago Moises (ESPN 2)

12:30 - MLS - Los Angeles FC v Real Salt Lake (BeIN Sports 2)

12:45 - SprintTownsville SuperSprint Race 2 (Fox Sports)

13:00 - Super Netball - Melbourne Vixens v Collingwood Magpies Netball (Nine)

13:10 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Essendon Bombers (Fox Footy)

13:50 - NRL - Warriors v Penrith Panthers (Fox League)

14:20 - Dunlop Super2 Townsville Race 1 (Fox Sports or 7)

15:20 - AFL - Collingwood Magpies v Carlton Blues (Fox Sports)

15:30 - Super Netball - NSW Swifts v Adelaide Thunderbirds (Telstra TV)

15:40 - Townsville SuperSprint Race 3 (Fox Sports)

16:05 - NRL - Brisbane Broncos v Wests Tigers (Fox League or Nine)

16:40 - AFL - Adelaide Crows v West Coast Eagles (Fox Footy)

18:00 - The Open Championship, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

18:15 - NRL - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

19:50 - Formula 2 Great Britain Race 3, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

21:00 - WTA Prague Open, Final (BeIN Sports 2)

21:00 - WRC Rally Estonia (Fox Sports)

21:30 - ATP Hamburg European Open, Final (BeIN Sports 1)

22:00 - ATP Nordea Open, Final (BeIN Sports 3)

22:00 - World Matchplay, Round 1 (Fox Sports More)

23:00 - Tour de France, Stage 21 (SBS)

23:30 - Twenty20 Series - England v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

23:30 - SailGP Great Britain, Round 3 (Fox Sports)