G'day sports fans,

🧹 Some Housekeeping: I'm taking my first week off in 18months. Sport Journal will return 12th April. It'll give me time to go through the survey feedback. Thanks again to everyone that took the time.

I'll do my best to get a members mail out tomorrow.

Classic quote: "Winning is everything. The only ones who remember you when you come second are your wife and your dog." - F1, Damon Hill

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🐣 Bumper weekend of Sport

📺 Tv guide (to avoid talking to the in-laws)

🤔 Choice of Real Madrid or Barcelona

🇦🇺 AFL

🦁 Ice-cool Lions young gun drills post-siren winner: After being cruelly denied a win last week, Zac Bailey made sure the Brisbane Lions didn't miss out on the chocolates.

Zac Bailey has lived every young footballer's dream, kicking a goal after the siren to help Brisbane defeat Collingwood at Marvel Stadium by one point and revive its flagging season.

With his team trailing by five points and the clock winding down, Bailey marked a deftly weighted Daniel Rich kick 50m from goal.

The young midfielder moved in as the siren sounded and flushed the kick straight between the posts to lift the Lions to a 11.7 (73) to 11.6 (72) victory.

😴 Swans rest Franklin for blockbuster Tigers clash (nine)

🤝 Sydney co-captain Josh Kennedy is heading towards a one-year contract extension in a further boost to the Swans' impressive start to the season.

🤝 Essendon midfielder Brayden Ham is set to be rewarded with a fresh deal less than six months after being held in contract limbo by the club.

The 21-year-old played 10 matches in his second AFL campaign last year, and despite interest from rival clubs, signed a one-year deal at Tullamarine two months after the completion of the season. (AFL)

🏉 NRL

Kikau, Luai star as Panthers bury Manly at Lottoland

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns was flabbergasted at the body language of the Manly Sea Eagles as the Penrith Panthers destroyed the hosts in a 46-6 thumping last night. (nine)

It was Manly's worst ever defeat at the stadium.

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs: Lachlan Lewis recalled to face unchanged Bunnies (match preview)

• Alex Johnston has scored a try in each of his last three appearances against Canterbury.(1st 6.0)

Storm v Broncos: Papenhuyzen back; Haas, Lodge big ins for Brisbane (match preview)

• Ben Te'o has scored in his last 3 against the Storm in Melbourne

Sharks v Cowboys: Graham named to play; Clifford, Marsters dropped (match preview)

• Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored at least one try in each of Cronulla's last three matches as a favourite.

Titans v Raiders: Kelly named; Hudson, Lui boost pack (match preview)

• Phillip Sami has scored a try in 5 of his last 6 matches

Knights v Dragons: Best out, Green in; Clune, Wiliame called up (match preview)

• Mikaele Ravalawa has scored a try in his last 5 away games.

Roosters v Warriors: Radley returns, Suaalii named; Club debut for Montoya (match preview)

• James Tedesco has scored at least one try in eight of his last nine appearances.

Wests Tigers v Eels: Perfect derby lead-up; Matterson, Cartwright named (match preview)

• Blake Ferguson has scored a try in Eels last 5 matches as favourite.

⚽️ Football

💰 Manchester City are keen on bringing both Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, 33, and Borussia Dortmund's 20-year-old Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland to Etihad Stadium in the summer. (Sun)

🗣 Alou Kuol is said to be closing in on a deal to join Bundesliga club Stuttgart FC. (@RobbieSlater17)

📈 50% - Players who wear gloves in the Premier League make half as many tackles on average than those who don't. Soft.

💰 Agent, Mino Raiola is in Madrid after leaving Barcelona on a private flight. There is also the Haaland’s father with him.

After meeting with Barcelona president Laporta, Raiola will talk today also with Real Madrid about Haaland deal.

❌ Just wanted to show you AU$100m man Timo Werner miss for Germany.

🏏 Cricket

☔️ Rain spoils trans-Tasman decider in Auckland: Just 17 legal deliveries were bowled in the third and final T20 between Australia and New Zealand in Auckland.

The series ended tied at 1-1, after Australia claimed a six-wicket win in the opening match before New Zealand hit back with a thrilling final-ball victory in the second.

❌ Hazlewood withdraws from IPL, targets Shield final: Australia quick considering the hectic international schedule across 2021 and beyond as he pulls out of stint with Chennai. (Cricket)

😊 Lyon 'excited' by Smith's captaincy ambition: Test spinner backs incumbent Paine to continue but adds he would also support star batsman's return to the top job (Cricket)

👴🏼 The changing of the guard at South Australia continues with seam-bowling spearhead Chadd Sayers announcing today he will retire after next week's final Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in Melbourne. (Cricket)

🐴 Racing

🙏🏼 Trainer Jamie Richards remains optimistic champion mare Melody Belle will be given the all-clear to line up in the Group 1 $1.5 million Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Melody Belle is being closely monitored by veterinarians after she was found to “tied up” after trackwork on Wednesday morning. This is essentially a build-up of lactic acid in the hind legs.

“It’s not ideal for this to happen in the week of a big race,” Richards said.

💰 Racing NSW has introduced a radical new two-mile race that is set to clash with the Melbourne Cup in the spring.

The Harbour Cup (3200m) will be held at Rosehill on October 30 - Golden Eagle day in Sydney, Derby day in Melbourne - and will carry a purse of $5 million. (Punters)

✅ Apparently Today's popular pick is American Grin in Race 2 at Ascot.

🏉 Rugby

Waratahs v Brumbies: The Brumbies have won 10 of their last 11 Super Rugby games against the NSW Waratahs (L1), including their last seven on the bounce; they defeated the Waratahs by 51 points in their most recent meeting (61-10 – February 2021), their biggest winning margin over a fellow Australian team in Super Rugby history.

Rebels v Reds: The Queensland Reds are undefeated in their last four Super Rugby games against the Rebels (W3, D1); they defeated the Rebels by two points in their most recent meeting (23-21 – February 2021), the closest winning margin in a game in the history of this fixture.

🌏 World Sport

🛶 An Australian Olympic kayaker and his brother have been found guilty of attempting to smuggle A$200m of cocaine into the country.

Nathan Baggaley and Dru Baggaley will be sentenced later this month. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Dru and another man were arrested in 2018 after a dramatic police chase at sea that also involved the navy and air force.

Nathan purchased the boat used in the incident.

*when I saw the picture I really thought he tried to paddle it into the country.

🏎 McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo has backed changes being made to Australia's Formula 1 circuit in an attempt to improve racing.

Seven of the 16 corners at Melbourne's Albert Park track are being modified for this year's race, which has been rescheduled for 19-21 November.

The biggest change is the removal of the chicane at Turn Nine and Turn 10.

"It'll make the racing closer, I'm pretty confident of that," said Ricciardo.

⚾️ Baseball is back. After a 60-game season in 2020, this year there's the complete 162-game schedule.

👊🏻 Usman Nurmagomedov says he wants to "follow in the footsteps" of his cousin Khabib before his Bellator debut

When he was 18, Usman recalls a time when Abdulmanap took him to compete in a combat sambo tournament, where he ended up fighting a remarkable 15 times in one day.

🍻 Enjoy your weekend

📺 Live sport

⛳️ 07:00 - PGA Tour, Texas Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🏄🏻‍♀️ 07:00 - Women's Newcastle Pro, Day 2 (Fox Sports More)

🏄🏻‍♂️ 07:00 - Men's Newcastle Pro, Day 2 (Fox Sports More)

⚾️ 07:10 - MLB - Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles DodgersESPN 2

⛳️ 10:00 - ANA Inspiration, Round 1, Part 2 (Fox Sports)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Miami Masters, Quarter-Finals (BeIN Sports 1)

⚾️ 10:09 - MLB - Washington Nationals v New York Mets (ESPN 2 or Sky Sports 3)

🏀 10:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Charlotte Hornets (ESPN 1)

🎾 11:30 - WTA Miami Open - Bianca Andreescu v Maria Sakkari (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 13:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 13:07 - MLB - Oakland Athletics v Houston Astros (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 13:10 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v San Francisco Giants (MLB.TV or Sky Sports 3)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Canterbury Bulldogs v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Fox League)

🇦🇺 16:20 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy)

🏉 17:05 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Crusaders v Highlanders (Stan Sport)

🏀 17:30 - NBL - Melbourne United v Cairns Taipans (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 18:05 - A-League - Macarthur FC Bulls v Perth Glory (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:00 - ODI Series - South Africa v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

🏉 19:45 - Super Rugby AU - Waratahs v Brumbies (Stan Sport)

🇦🇺 19:50 - AFL - Adelaide Crows v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

🏉 20:05 - NRL - Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Nine)

⚽️ 21:00 - J1 League - Cerezo Osaka v Sagan Tosu (Optus Sport)

⚽️ 22:30 - English League One - Doncaster Rovers v Charlton Athletic (BeIN Sports 2)

🏉 22:45 - Super League - Warrington Wolves v Leigh Centurions (Fox League)

🏍 23:40 - GP Practice 1 (Fox Sports)

SATURDAY

⛳️ 07:00 - PGA Tour, Texas Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏄🏻‍♂️ 07:00 - Men's Newcastle Pro, Day 3 (Fox Sports More)

🏄🏻‍♀️ 07:00 - Women's Newcastle Pro, Day 3 (Fox Sports More)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 09:00 - NCAA Women's National Semi-Final - Stanford Cardinal v South Carolina Gamecocks (ESPN 2)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Miami Masters, Semi-Final 2 (BeIN Sports 1)

⛳️ 10:00 - ANA Inspiration, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 10:10 - MLB - Miami Marlins v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 1 or Sky Sports 3)

🏀 10:30 - NBA - New York Knicks v Dallas Mavericks (Sky Sports 2)

🚘 10:40 - TCR Australia Race 1, Round 3 (7mate)

🚘 12:25 - TCR Australia Race 2, Round 3 (7mate)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 12:30 - NCAA Women's National Semi-Final - Connecticut Huskies v Arizona Wildcats (ESPN 2)

🏀 13:00 - NBA - Portland Trail Blazers v Milwaukee BucksESPN 1 or Sky Sports 2

🇦🇺 13:05 - AFLW Qualifying Final - Melbourne Demons Women v Fremantle Dockers Women (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 13:10 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v San Francisco Giants (Sky Sports 3)

🇦🇺 13:45 - AFL Regular SeasonRichmond Tigers v Sydney SwansFox Footy

🐴 13:55 - Group 2, Tulloch Stakes, 2,000m - SW, 3YO C&GSky Racing 1 or 7

🐴 14:35 - Group 2, Emancipation Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

⚽️ 15:00 - J1 League - Yokohama F. Marinos v Shonan Bellmare (Optus Sport)

🇦🇺 15:10 - AFLW Qualifying Final - Collingwood Magpies Women v North Melb. Women (Fox Sports)

🐴 15:55 - Group 1, Vinery Stud Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League - Avispa Fukuoka v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport)

🏉 16:00 - Top League - Suntory Sungoliath v Kubota Spears (Stan Sport)

🐴 16:35 - Group 1, Tancred Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🇦🇺 16:35 - AFL - Essendon Bombers v St Kilda Saints (Fox Footy)

🏉 17:05 - Super Rugby Aotearoa - Blues v Hurricanes (Stan Sport)

🏉 17:15 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v North Queensland Cowboys (Fox League)

🏀 17:30 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Brisbane Bullets (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers (Fox Sports)

🐴 19:40 - Group 2, Karrakatta Plate (Sky Racing 1)

🏉 19:45 - Super Rugby AU - Rebels v Reds (GEM or Stan Sport)

🏉 19:45 - NRL - Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders (Fox League)

🏀 20:00 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v Illawarra Hawks (ESPN 1 or SBS on Demand)

🇦🇺 20:10 - AFL - West Coast Eagles v Port Adelaide PowerFox Footy

⚽️ 21:30 - Italian Serie A - Milan v Sampdoria (BeIN Sports 1)

🏉 22:15 - Super League - Salford Red Devils v Hull FC (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 22:30 - Premier League - Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 22:30 - English Championship - Huddersfield Town v Brentford (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 23:00 - Spanish La Liga - Granada v Villarreal (BeIN Sports 2)

🏉 23:05 - Super League - Salford Red Devils v Hull FC (Fox League)

🏍 23:15 - Qatar Moto GP Practice 3 (Fox Sports)

SUNDAY

🏄🏻‍♀️ 07:00 - Women's Newcastle Pro, Day 4 (Fox Sports)

🏄🏻‍♂️ 07:00 - Men's Newcastle Pro, Day 4 (Fox Sports)

🏀 07:14 - NCAA Men's Semi-Final - Baylor Bears v Houston Cougars (ESPN 1)

⛳️ 08:00 - ANA Inspiration, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 08:10 - MLB - Miami Marlins v Tampa Bay Rays (Sky Sports 3)

🏏 09:00 - Women's ODI Series - New Zealand v Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏏 10:00 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - New South Wales Blues v Queensland Bulls (Fox Sports)

🏀 10:00 - NBA - Miami Heat v Cleveland Cavaliers (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🚘 10:12 - TCR Australia Race 3, Round 3 (7mate)

🏀 10:34 - NCAA Men's Semi-Final - Gonzaga Bulldogs v UCLA Bruins (ESPN 1)

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Utah Jazz v Orlando Magic (ESPN 2)

⚾️ 11:10 - MLB - Seattle Mariners v San Francisco Giants (Sky Sports 3)

🚘 11:15 - Bathurst 6 Hour Race (7mate)

⚽️ 15:00 - J1 League - Shimizu S-Pulse v Tokushima Vortis (Optus Sport)

🏉 15:00 - Top League - Kobelco Steelers v Panasonic Wild Knights (Stan Sport)

🏀 15:00 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v New Zealand Breakers (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🇦🇺 15:20 - AFL - Carlton Blues v Fremantle Dockers (Fox Footy)

🐎 15:49 - Open Pacers G1, Riverina Championships Mares (Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 16:00 - W-League Semi-Final - Brisbane Roar Women v Melbourne Victory Women (ABC, Fox Sports More)

🏉 16:05 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons (Fox League or Nine)

🐴 16:40 - Group 1, Osaka Hai (Sky Racing 2)

🏀 17:00 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v Melbourne United (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🐎 17:09 - Open Pacers G1, Riverina Championships (Sky Racing 1)

🇦🇺 18:10 - AFL - GWS Giants v Melbourne Demons (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🏉 18:15 - NRL - Sydney Roosters v Warriors (Fox League)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC (Fox Sports)

🚙 20:00 - Extreme E, Desert X Prix, Round 1 (Fox Sports More)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 20:30 - Tour of Flanders (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

⚽️ 21:00 - Premier League - Southampton v Burnley (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 21:30 - FA Women's Super League - Chelsea Women v Birmingham City Women (Optus Sport)

🏉 21:30 - Champions Cup Round of 16 - Racing Metro 92 v Edinburgh Rugby (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 22:00 - Spanish La Liga - Deportivo Alaves v Celta Vigo (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 23:05 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

MONDAY

🏄🏻‍♂️ 07:00 - Men's Newcastle Pro (Fox Sports)

🏄🏻‍♀️ 07:00 - Women's Newcastle Pro (Fox Sports)

⛳️ 08:00 - ANA Inspiration, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🏀 08:00 - NBA - Boston Celtics v Charlotte Hornets (ESPN 1)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 08:00 - Women's NCAA Tournament - NCAA Women's Championship Game (ESPN 2)

🏀 09:00 - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v Memphis Grizzlies (SBS on Demand or SBS Viceland)

🏀 09:30 - NBA - Atlanta Hawks v Golden State Warriors (Sky Sports 2)

🏏 10:00 - Sheffield Shield Group Game - New South Wales Blues v Queensland Bulls (Fox Cricket)

⚾️ 10:37 - MLB - Los Angeles Angels v Chicago White Sox (ESPN 2 or Sky Sports 3)

🏒 11:00 - NHL - Calgary Flames v Toronto Maple Leafs (ESPN 1)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Orlando Magic (Sky Sports 2)

🏃🏼‍♀️ 12:15 - Stawell Gift, Women's Stawell Gift 120m Semi-Final (7)

🏃🏽 12:54 - Stawell Gift, Men's Stawell Gift 120m Semi-Final (7)

🏉 13:35 - NSW Cup - Western Suburbs Magpies v Parramatta Eels NSW (Fox League)

🏃🏼‍♀️13:50 - Stawell Gift, Women's Stawell Gift 120m Final (7)

🏃🏽14:20 - Stawell Gift, Men's Stawell Gift 120m Final (7)

⚽️ 15:00 - W-League Semi-Final - Sydney FC Women v Canberra United Women (ABC, Fox Sports)

🇦🇺 15:20 - AFL - Geelong Cats v Hawthorn Hawks (Fox Footy)

🏉 16:00 - NRL - Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels (Fox League)

⚽️ 17:05 - A-League - Newcastle Jets v Western United FC (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 19:10 - A-League - Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne City (Fox Sports)

🎾 20:00 - ATP Andalucia Open, Round 1 (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 21:30 - English Championship - Middlesbrough v Watford (BeIN Sports 1)