🗞 Trading Places

G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: “Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” - Joe Theismann, NFL Player

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🇦🇺 Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes is adamant West Coast will eventually trade the No.1 pick in this year's AFL draft, despite the club rejecting several offers to date.

After finishing at the bottom of the ladder with only three wins in 2023, the Eagles possess the prized pick in next month's national draft.

Victorian young gun Harley Reid is widely expected to be taken first overall.

During the trade window, North Melbourne, which currently owns picks No.2 and No.3, were knocked back in a bid for West Coast's No.1 pick.

🏉 The Melbourne Storm has slammed a report suggesting the club is willing to release superstar fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen from the final two years of his contract.

“Paps is a Melbourne Storm person, he is loved by his teammates, coaches and staff and adored by Storm members and fans across the country and we look forward to seeing him on the track when he resumes training in December.” - Melbourne Storm.

🐴 A massive crowd will be in attendance this Saturday at The Valley for one of the biggest days on the Spring Racing Calendar, Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day.

The $5 million staying test headlines the 10-race program and we could be set for another all-time classic with Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, Alligator Blood, Gold Trip, and multiple Group 1 winner Mr Brightside taking their place.

Imperatriz is out for back-to-back Group 1’s in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes, while the Crystal Mile and the Moonee Valley Vase shape as fascinating races.

🏉 Eddie Jones’ tenure as Wallabies coach appears to be all but finished as Australia’s mass clean out continues in the fallout of the World Cup failure.

The unmitigated disaster that was the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign, which ended at the group stages for the first time, has seen the drama erupt around the under-fire coach.

Although most of the staff were only contracted until the end of the World Cup, the list of exits has still included assistant coaches Jason Ryles, Brett Hodgson, Dan Palmer, Neil Hatley, Pierre-Henry Broncan and Berrick Barnes, while Brad Davis quit on the eve of the tournament.

A report calls the move not to re-sign staff brought in by Jones, including team psychologists, “shows a line in the sand is being drawn”.

It also says that Jones has clauses in his contract which would allow him to exit if Rugby Australia fails to secure private investment funding and a centralised model, but that there are also clauses in the governing body’s favour that would avoid the game needing to pay out the full term.

⚽️ Sam Kerr hit the scoreboard in her first match in Perth in five years as the Matildas prevailed in a "frustrating" Olympic qualifier against Iran.

A capacity crowd turned out at Perth's HBF Park to watch Australia in action for the first time on home soil since their World Cup heroics in August, and were treated to a 2-0 win with goals to Kerr and Ellie Carpenter.

🏉 Canterbury Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has hit back at rumours that the club is looking to offload winger Josh Addo-Carr.

The rumour mill erupted on Wednesday after the Eels had reportedly launched a bid to snag the superstar if the winger was released by Canterbury.

However, on Thursday, the Eels were joined by the Tigers, Dragons and Knights whose hats were thrown in the ring for Addo-Carr.

“I don’t know who started these rumours. I don’t know why they started these rumours. I don’t know why people delve into these rumours, it’s got me beat,” he told 9News Sydney.

🏊🏼 Australia's first confirmed athlete for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been named, with open water swimmer Chelsea Gubecka thrilled to be heading to her second Olympics, even as questions remain over the event's River Seine location.

🇦🇺 Former Carlton and Melbourne tall Oscar McDonald is in the sights of Fremantle ahead of next Wednesday’s delisted free agent period opening.

The 27-year-old had a medical in the west last week, reports AFL Media, with the Dockers keen to add key defensive depth after the loss of Joel Hamling.

⚽️ Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules.

The 23-year-old will not be eligible to play again until August and will be unavailable to feature at Euro 2024 next summer should Italy qualify.

Tonali only joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July for AU$100m.

🏉 The Rugby World Cup’s two most successful nations will face off in the final for the second time with New Zealand and South Africa both chasing a fourth William Webb Ellis Cup.

Between them they have won six of the nine previous tournaments and have split the last four editions, so the pedigree is there and based on the pre-tournament odds, it is not a surprise to see these two featured in the last game.

South Africa have the versatility and the nous to trouble New Zealand, having defeated them 35-7 in a warm up match in August and their results in this tournament showed they can play a low scoring, defensive brand of rugby or utilise a wide-open expansive game plan.

But it is just so hard to back against New Zealand in this situation, after losing the tournament opener to hosts France, they have been borderline unstoppable.

• 👉🏻 New Zealand to Win by 1-12 Points @ $2.75

🏏 England's World Cup is all but over after a shambolic eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.

The defending champions are not mathematically out but now must win all of their remaining games, including against unbeaten hosts India on Sunday, and hope an unlikely set of results go their way.

⚽️ Manchester United are planning to ask David de Gea to return on a short-term deal - four months after letting the former Spain goalkeeper, 32, leave at the end of his contract.

🏀 After what was heading to be a quiet debut for Victor Wembanyama – the most anticipated NBA debut in recent memory – the prodigal No. 1 draft pick burst to life in the fourth quarter with nine of his 15 points.

But it wasn’t enough as Luka Doncic’s triple-double (33 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) spoiled the party to see the Dallas Mavericks defeat the San Antonio Spurs 126-119 in the team’s season opener on Thursday (all times AEDT).

Wembanyama had been stuck in foul trouble for most of match, limiting the 19-year old’s time on the court to just 23 minutes in total.

TODAY

10:30 - NBA Regular Season - Milwaukee Bucks v Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN 2)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Victoria v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Tasmania Tigers v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

11:00 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - South Australia Redbacks v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)

11:15 - NFL Regular Season - Buffalo Bills v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN)

13:00 - NBA Regular Season - Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns (ESPN 2)

19:30 - NBL Regular Season - Tasmania JackJumpers v Melbourne United(ESPN)

19:30 - World Cup Group Match - Pakistan v South Africa (Fox Cricket)

19:45 - A-League Men Regular Season - Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC (Paramount+)

21:30 - NBL Regular Season - Perth Wildcats v Brisbane Bullets (ESPN)

SATURDAY

05:45 - Premiership Rugby Regular Season - Gloucester Rugby v Saracens (Stan Sport)

06:00 - Rugby World Cup Bronze Final - Argentina v England (Stan Sport)

06:00 - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

06:00 - Spanish La Liga - Girona v Celta Vigo (Optus Sport 2)

10:30 - NBA Regular Season - Boston Celtics v Miami Heat (ESPN 2)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Victoria v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Tasmania Tigers v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

11:00 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - South Australia Redbacks v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)

11:03 - World Series - Texas Rangers v Arizona Diamondbacks (ESPN)

13:00 - NBA Regular Season - Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors (ESPN 2)

14:05 - Gold Coast 500 - Gold Coast 500 Top 10 Shootout, Round 11 (7mate, Fox Sports)

15:30 - A-League Men Regular Season - Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory (Paramount+)

16:00 - World Cup Group Match - Australia v New Zealand (Channel 9, Fox Cricket, or GEM)

16:45- Gold Coast 500 - Gold Coast 500 Race 1, Round 11 (7mate, Fox Sports)

17:30 - NBL Regular Season - South East Melbourne Phoenix v New Zealand Breakers (ESPN)

19:30 - World Cup Group Match - Netherlands v Bangladesh (Fox Sports)

19:45 - A-League Men Regular Season - Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United FC (Paramount+ or 10 Bold)

20:00 - NBL Regular Season - Cairns Taipans v Sydney Kings (ESPN)

20:10 - Men's Pacific Championships Group Game - Australia v New Zealand (Fox League or Channel 9)

22:30 - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford (Optus Sport 1)

SUNDAY

00:30 - Rugby League Test Match - England v Tonga (Fox League)

00:30 - Premiership Rugby Regular Season - Bristol Bears v Harlequins (Stan Sport)

00:30 - World Cup Group Match - Netherlands v Bangladesh (Fox Cricket)

01:00 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Burnley (Optus Sport 4)

01:00 - Premier League - Arsenal v Sheffield United (Optus Sport 3)

01:00 - Premiership Rugby Regular Season - Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks (Stan Sport)

01:05 - Premiership Rugby Regular Season - Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers (Stan Sport)

01:15 - Spanish La Liga - Barcelona v Real Madrid (Optus Sport 2)

03:30 - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)

06:00 - Rugby World Cup Final - New Zealand v South Africa (GEM or Stan Sport)

10:00 - NBA Regular Season - New Orleans Pelicans v New York Knicks (ESPN 2)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Victoria v New South Wales Blues (Kayo Sports)

10:30 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - Tasmania Tigers v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

11:00 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - South Australia Redbacks v Western Australia (Kayo Sports)

11:03 - World Series - Texas Rangers v Arizona Diamondbacks (ESPN)

12:35 - Gold Coast 500 - Gold Coast 500 Top 10 Shootout, Round 11 (Channel 7, Fox Sports)

14:00 - NBL Regular Season - Melbourne United v Illawarra Hawks (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

15:00 - A-League Men Regular Season - Central Coast Mariners v Macarthur FC Bulls (10 Bold or Paramount+)

15:15 - Gold Coast 500 - Gold Coast 500 Race 2, Round 11 (Channel 7, Fox Sports)

16:00 - NBL Regular Season - Brisbane Bullets v Tasmania JackJumpers (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

16:00 - Netball Test Series - Australia v South Africa (Fox Sports)

16:00 - Men's Pacific Championships Group Game - Papua New Guinea v Fiji (Fox League, or 9)

17:00 - A-League Men Regular Season - Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets (Paramount+)

18:10 - AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying - Australia v Philippines (Channel 10 or Paramount+)

19:00 - A-League Men Regular Season - Adelaide United v Melbourne City (10 Bold or Paramount+)

19:30 - World Cup Group Match - India v England (Fox Cricket, or GEM)