G'day sports fans,

Classic Quote: Last year we were all sizzle and no steak...but now we are off like a brides nightie - Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 AFL 10-week season

⚽️ ePremier League with pro players

🏉 Former Captains request changes at RA

🇦🇺 AFL

‘Open the doors’: Dangerfield pushes for Jordan-type media access to rebuild the AFL

AFL Players Association President Patrick Dangerfield has urged the AFL to take a more ‘authoritarian’ approach to clubs and demand unprecedented media access to AFL clubs and players.

Dangerfield made the comments this morning after viewing ‘The Last Dance’ on Monday, a 10-part documentary offering intimate access to Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls championship-winning team.

With the AFL set to keep the majority of the 18 clubs afloat in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Dangerfield suggested headquarters could demand media access be taken to new levels to draw fans back to the game.

"I think there’s an opportunity to open the doors and to really show fans a side of their teams or a side of their players that they haven’t seen before.” (Fox)

Dangerfield was busy, he also said he is open to playing 16 home-and-away rounds over 10 weeks to make sure the season is completed, but admits it is not an ideal option.

Key points:

• Patrick Dangerfield says a condensed 10-week competition may end up as the AFL's only option to get the 2020 season completed

• Shortened quarters of 16 minutes plus time-on is an idea the AFL will have to consider for each round to help protect the recovery of players

• Dangerfield is warming to the idea of quarantine hubs as a way to restart the season

• The AFL Players’ Association will conduct another giant survey next week to gather feedback from the 840-strong cohort of players on a variety of issues impacting players in the coming weeks and months (ABC)

🏉 NRL

'I've loved every single minute' of toughest job in Australian sport

It's recognised as one of the toughest roles in Australian sport but Todd Greenberg relished the challenge of being NRL CEO over the past four years, overseeing one of the biggest transition periods in rugby league history.

When Greenberg was appointed CEO in March 2016, the ARL Commission chairman at the time, John Grant said “I reckon it's the toughest corporate job in Australia”.

His successor as chairman, Peter V’landys, holds a similar view of the role - in the statement issued on Monday to announce Greenberg’s departure, he said "The role of chief executive of the NRL is one of the most challenging and difficult roles in Australian sport, with a diversity of passionate stakeholders”.

Greenberg said he always relished the challenge of the CEO's role.

"Despite the variety of challenges and pressures I have loved every single minute of the journey,” he said.

"Our growth over the last four years has been extraordinary and I am very proud of my contribution to the game. (NRL.com)

The Guardian have done a piece stating that Todd Greenberg's cards were marked once Peter V’landys landed in rugby league (Guardian)

Watch a Classic Grand Final

One of the Greatest Grand Finals ever, the story behind it all, the hype, the two great indigenous captains who were near or at the end of their awesome careers battling it out.

The passion between the two Queensland clubs was such an awesome game to watch!

Players' wellbeing a priority more than ever

Exercise for a least 30 minutes a day, limit caffeine intake and nap for up to 45 minutes between 2-4pm of an afternoon.

They're just some of the tips former North Sydney Bears star Greg Florimo is sending to all squads at the foundation club despite their competitions mostly cancelled or on hold in 2020.

Florimo's role as wellbeing, education and community manager turned critical in late March when the coronavirus pandemic took over.

"There's all sorts of anxiety out there at the moment. Not just the common thought of will I catch this virus but also will I maintain my way of life.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has stressed one of the main reasons the NRL is so determined to restart the Telstra Premiership is because of concerns surrounding the competition break's impact on the mental health of players and staff. (NRL.com)

⚽️ Football

ePremier League Invitational

Premier League footballers will be putting their EA SPORTS FIFA 20 skills to the test in the inaugural ePremier League Invitational tournament.

A host of familiar faces are going head to head as they represent their club in a knockout tournament from their homes to find out who will play in the final, which will be shown live on Sky Sports on Saturday 25 April (BST).

The prize fund for the ePremier League Invitational tournament is being donated to the #PlayersTogether initiative.

Among the players competing in the tournament are Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Lys Mousset (Sheffield United) and Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Where to watch: Premier League YouTube | Facebook | Twitter 

Players demand a plan

Increasingly anxious and frustrated A-League players are demanding Australian football powerbrokers deliver clarity over the competition's future.

An FFA assessment of the A-League's status during the coronavirus pandemic is set to be finalised today, though it's unclear when the assessment's recommendations will be made public.

Host broadcaster Foxtel's commitment to the competition is also increasingly uncertain, word is they may look to walk away from their $57-million-a-year broadcast deal with FFA.

"To let it drag on to this point is a little bit ridiculous to be honest with you," Jets Captain Boogaard told AAP.

"If the likes of FFA, club owners and everyone involved can't come together and, I suppose, be grown ups and sit at a table with each other and come to a decision about - not only the end of this season and what the next few months look like but the professional game in this country for the next few decades - it doesn't give you great confidence."

Boogaard is one of approximately 130 players whose contracts expire on May 31. (FTBL)

Pescara football club adopts Italian boy's shirt design

🏉 Rugby

11 Wallabies captains have written an extraordinary letter to Rugby Australia calling for drastic action

Eleven Wallabies captains have written an extraordinary letter to Rugby Australia outlining their concerns over how the game has been administered in recent years.

The skippers who have voiced their anxiety are George Gregan, Nick Farr-Jones, George Smith, Stirling Mortlock, Michael Lynagh, Simon Poidevin, Phil Kearns, Stephen Moore, Jason Little, Rod McCall and Nathan Sharpe.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, their letter reads: “As Wallaby captains we feel privileged to have represented our country and led our respective teams into battle, facing difficult situations together.

“We lost some but we won many. Win or lose, every time we pulled on the gold jersey we were driven by the desire to earn the respect of Australian supporters across the country and around the world. We wanted them to be proud of Australian rugby and what Australian rugby stood for.

It goes on to request;

• A new vision, leadership and a plan for the future.

• urgent steps to create a much-needed, sustainable, commercial rugby business.

Read the full letter (here)

🇺🇸 'Merica

🎾 Spikeball

Spikeball, (or round net) features elements from other sports such as Volleyball and 4-Square.

2 teams of 2 people, positioned at 4 points around the net.

From here, one player serves the ball across the net to an opposing team member.

The opposing team then has 3 hits to return the ball to the net (like volleyball).

After the serve, there are no boundaries of play. Participants are free to run, set, and spike the ball from anywhere around the net.

Play continues until a team fails to return the ball or the ball hits a rim piece, at which point the point ends, and the other team receives 1 point.

In America it's regularly shown on ESPN.

Alex Rodriguez & J. Lo are making moves to buy the Mets

The former MLB All-Star and his multitalented fiancé have retained JPMorgan Chase to raise capital for a potential bid on the New York Mets, according to a report from Variety.

An interest in the franchise by Rodriguez was first reported by the New York Post in February, after billionaire hedge fund manager Steve Cohen walked away from a $2.6 billion deal for 80 percent of the team.

Forward this to your favourite cousin and we'll be back on Friday!