G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." (Mick Malthouse).

I couldn't remember if I'd used that one before so here's another.

"You guys line up alphabetically by height," and "you guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." (Barry Hall Sydney Captain at training)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 Semi final previews

🦈 Shark bumps surfer on camera

💰 a slip of the finger nets one punter over half a mil

🏄🏻‍♂️ Brown wetsuit required for this guy

A former pro surfer has been filmed in a terrifying close up encounter with a shark at a beach on NSW far north coast.

Matt Wilkinson, who won 2016 Quicksilver Gold Coast Pro and the 2016 Ripcurl Bells Beach Pro, told NSW Surf Lifesavers he had no idea he’d been approached by the 1.5m shark while paddling on his board at Sharpes Beach in Ballina.

🇦🇺 AFL

Semi-Finals

Richmond (1.31) v St Kilda (3.50) - The last time these two sides got together was back in Round 5, a game the Saints won comfortably by 26-points over the reigning premiers at Marvel Stadium.

Stats:

• St Kilda scored 15 goals from 38 inside 50s when these sides last played, with its conversion rate of 39.5 percent equating to the club's best return on the season.

• Richmond conceded 55 points from turnovers and 38 points from stoppages when it last played St Kilda, its second-worst differentials in both categories on the entire season.

• Dustin Martin is the key man. In his nine finals since the start of 2017, his AFL Player Rating's average of 19.2 points is the best of any Richmond player throughout that period.

Geelong Cats (1.60) v Collingwood (2.35) - Collingwood will be hoping to add to their 4-3 record at the Gabba on Saturday when they take on a Geelong side reeling from last week’s 16-point loss to Port Adelaide.

The Pies had a real intensity about them last week and seemed to feed off playing in front of 30,000 plus.

• Each of the last 10 matches between the two have gone UNDER total points line (111.5)

• Geelong have covered the line in each of their last 7 at the Gabba (-6.5)

• Tom Hawkins has kicked 3+ goals in each of Geelong's three matches at the Gabba this year.

🏉 NRL

VB Hard Work Index

For the first time two players have tied at the top of the VB Hard Earned leaderboard at the end of the regular NRL season, with Manly's Jake Trbojevic and Warriors back-rower Tohu Harris the equal winners of the 2020 title.

Roosters (1.45) v Raiders (2.85): Friend, SBW back on deck; Ricky's full roster. The Roosters will be hoping for improvement following a 52-point drubbing followed by a 29-28 defeat against the Panthers.

Meanwhile, after trading blows early against the Sharks, the Raiders scored 26 unanswered points last weekend. (match report)

• 5 of the last 6 between the two, have been decided by six points or less.

• Roosters have won the first half in all of their last 5 matches against Canberra.

• Josh Morris has been the first try scorer in 3 of his last 4 matches (10.0)

Eels (2.85) v Rabbitohs (1.45): Ferguson named; Cook allays concerns. The South Sydney Rabbitohs enter their clash against the Parramatta Eels full of confidence having scored 106 points over the past fortnight. (match preview)

Queensland Maroons squad members

For the first time in State of Origin history the Titans has provided more players to Queensland than the Broncos. (NRL)

Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Fotuaika , Phillip Sami (Gold Coast Titans), Edrick Lee , Hymel Hunt, Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights), Valentine Holmes, Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys), Xavier Coates, Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Hunt, Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons), Harry Grant (Wests Tigers / Melbourne Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles).

🏉 NRLW

Warriors v Roosters: Stowers to debut; Caslick fullback shift (match preview)

After a confidence-boosting win over the Dragons in week one, the Roosters head into this match knowing a win may be enough to secure them a spot in the grand final.

Dragons v Broncos: Studdon, Sergis hobbled; All-clear for McGregor (match report) This is more than just a rematch of the 2019 grand final, the Dragons are effectively playing for their season in Saturday's match at Bankwest Stadium.

After suffering a 18-4 loss to the Roosters in their opening-round fixture St George Illawarra need a win to keep their chances alive.

⚽️ Football

Matildas on target

Matildas Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo and Caitlin Foord all scored for their respective clubs in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup.

Alanna Kennedy struck an exquisite free-kick drilled into the bottom left corner to give her side a 2-0 lead over London City Lionesses, who they went on to beat 4-0.

Chloe Logarzo also scored her first goal for her new club when she headed home in the 34th minute of Bristol City's 4-0 win over London Bees.

Foord struck in the 8th minute when she cut inside and scored with an impressive effort past the Chelsea 'keeper to make it 1-1.

However, it was Sam Kerr who had the last laugh as her side prevailed, winning 4-1.

🇪🇺 Europe

Chelsea's Olivier Giroud became France's second-highest goalscorer of all time - surpassing Michel Platini - in a friendly hammering of Ukraine. (now 9 behind Thierry Henry)

🔁 Transfer Talk

Barcelona's France forward Ousmane Dembele, 23, was not interested in joining Manchester United before the transfer window closed and is targeting a move to Juventus next summer. (Catalunya Radio, via Mirror)

🐴 Racing

Spring Champion Stakes: Classy grey Love Tap rising fast as a new fan favourite — www.racenet.com.au

It’s the Australian way to cheer for the odd one out – Many race fans have an affinity with the instantly recognisable grey galloper probably because there are so few of them. Greys make up only about three per cent of the annual foal crop of around 15,000 so the chances of getting a good one are even more remote. It’s why we remember them.

Which brings us to Love Tap.

He’s no champion – yet. But he’s unbeaten, he’s exciting and he’s grey.

Love Tap – even the name resonates – has won his only four starts impressively and is favourite to win the Group 1 $1 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Extra ‘0' delivers $621,000 windfall

The punter was looking to outlay $60 per combination on a five-horse box quinella at Newcastle last Saturday. However, after a few 🍺 , he was let‘s say, enjoying himself a bit too much.

The horses he selected were roughies with Amorita ($35), Keiai Tsubaki ($19), Dodecanese ($6.50), Mosht Up ($41) and Opinions at $151, the rank outsider in the field, so his box quinella numbers were 8,10,11,13,14.

The lucky punter strikes the quinny and then sees the result flash onto the semaphore 8-14-9, and the quinella 🤯.... a massive $1036.40.

🏉 Rugby

New Zealand (1.07) v Australia (7.50):

Last time Australia won the Bledisloe Cup (2002);

• Australia had the Ashes and the Cricket World Cup

• Vanessa Carlton was topping the Aussie music charts ("1000 miles")

• John Howard was the Prime Minister

Form: NZ have won 11 of their last 13 against Australia, (36-0) last time out.

At the venue: (Sky Stadium - Wellington), NZ have won the last 4.

Any positives? Australia have won 3 of their last 5 away from home, having won only 2 of their previous 11. And have hit 100% accuracy at the line out in 3 of their last 6.

Michael Hooper is set to make his 100th test for Australia, becoming the 12th player to do so (46 as captain).

Rugby Championship dates confirmed

All Blacks win power struggle

The All Blacks have got their wish with a revised schedule for the Rugby Championship released and the final Bledisloe Cup encounter shifted from December 12 to October 31 at ANZ Stadium.

Unhappy at the prospect of its players needing to spend Christmas in quarantine, New Zealand Rugby had threatened to abandon the tournament.

🎾 French Open

The French Open women's final will be contested between Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin and Polish teenager Iga Swiatek after two contrasting displays in their semi-finals.

Swiatek is a step away from a remarkable first Grand Slam after brushing aside Nadia Podoroska 6-2 6-1 in her French Open semi-final.

American Kenin, 21, overcame Czech seventh seed Petra Kvitova 6-4 7-5.

Pablo Carreno Busta has accused Novak Djokovic of feigning injury concerns during their French Open quarter-final on Wednesday.

Djokovic, 33, was in trouble against Carreno Busta in Wednesday's quarter-final, struggling with his neck and arm before battling through in four sets. He also called the trainer on court to work on some issue with his upper left arm.

We'll see today when Djokovic takes on Tsitsipas in the second semi-final.

First up, Nadal faces Argentine, Schwartzman in the other semi-final (23:50)

🏏 Cricket

Australia equalled a world record with its 21st straight ODI win

In the most dominant performance of a dominant series the Australian women’s cricket team racked up a world record equalling 21st straight one-day international victory to destroy New Zealand by 232 runs and break a slew of records on the way. (Fox)

'The Love Cafe' reopens

For anyone who watched Amazon's fly-on-the-wall documentary The Test, Zampa and Stoinis often bonded over their love for coffee. It re-opened this week when they met in the IPL.

IPL Match Result: Sunrisers v Kings XI - Sunrisers win by 69 runs.

David Warner knocked up a half century off 37 balls, out for (52), Jonny Bairstow 97 off 55. to post a total of 201/6

In reply: Glen Maxwell was run out for 7 from 12. Despite 77 from 37 from Nicolas Pooran, they ultimately fell well short.

🏅 Athletics

World Records Smashed

Cheptegei, 24, clocked 26 minutes 11.00 seconds to beat Kenenisa Bekele's 15-year-old time by more than six seconds.

Gidey, 22, clocked 14 minutes 6.62 seconds to better the 14mins 11.15secs set by Tirunesh Dibaba in 2008.

At the NN Valencia World Record Day, a one-off event.

Bekele's previous world record time of 26mins 17.53secs had been the longest standing men's 10,000m world record in history.

🇺🇸 USA

⚾️ MLB

Game 3 of Marlins v Braves (lead 2-0) is underway with Game 4 of the Astros (lead 2-1) v Athletics and Yankees v Rays (lead 2-1) are today.

The A's combine to hit five home runs in their 9-7 win in Game 3 over the Astros, forcing a Game 4 in the ALDS.

🏀 NBA

The Lakers plan to wear their Black Mamba jerseys for a potential NBA championship clinching Game 5 on Saturday (12:00 AEDT).

They’re 4-0 when wearing them this season.

📺 Live sport

⚾️ 06:35 - American League Divisional Series - Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics (ESPN 2)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 09:30 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Paraguay v Peru (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 09:45 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Uruguay v Chile (BeIN Sports 2)

⚾️ 10:10 - American League Divisional Series - New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 11:10 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Argentina v Ecuador (BeIN Sports 1)

🏈 11:20 - NFL - Chicago Bears v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 12:08 - National League Divisional Series - San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN 2 or Sky Sports 3)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Manawatu v Canterbury Rugby (Fox Sports)

🏍 18:55 - France MotoGP Practice 1 (Fox Sports More)

🏉 19:50 - NRL Semi-Final - Sydney Roosters v Canberra Raiders (Fox League or Nine)

🇦🇺 19:50 - AFL Semi-Final - Richmond Tigers v St Kilda Saints (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🏎 20:00 - German F1 Grand Prix Practice 1 (Fox Sports)

🐕 21:27 - Group 1 - Adelaide Cup, 515m (Sky Racing 1)

⛳️ 21:30 - European Tour, BMW PGA Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:55 - Giro d'Italia, Stage 7, 143km (Eurosport 1)

🎾 23:00 (TBC) - French Open Men's Semi-Final (Fox Sports or SBS)

🏍 23:10 - France MotoGP Practice 2, Round 10 (Fox Sports More)

Saturday

🏎 00:00 - German F1 Grand Prix Practice 2 (Fox Sports)

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals (Fox Cricket)

🎾 02:00 (TBC) - French Open Men's Semi-Final (Fox Sports or SBS)

🏉 03:30 - Super League - Wakefield Trinity v St Helens (Fox League)

🏌🏼‍♀️ 04:00 - Women's PGA Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🎯 05:00 - World Grand Prix, Round 2, Night 4 (Fox Sports More)

⚾️ 05:08 - National League Divisional Series - Miami Marlins v Atlanta Braves (ESPN 1)

🏉 05:45 - Super League - Warrington Wolves v Wigan Warriors (Fox League)

⚽️ 05:45 - English League One - Fleetwood Town v Hull City (BeIN Sports 2)

⚾️ 06:35 - American League Divisional Series - Oakland Athletics v Houston Astros (ESPN 2)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 10:10 - American League Divisional Series - Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 10:30 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Colombia v Venezuela (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 11:30 - CONMEBOL WC Qualifier - Brazil v Bolivia (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 12:00 - NBA Finals - Los Angeles Lakers v Miami Heat (ESPN 1)

🏉 12:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - North Harbour v Hawke's Bay (Fox Sports More)

🏉 12:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Taranaki v Auckland Rugby (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 12:08 - National League Divisional Series - San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN 2)

🐴 12:15 - Listed Race, Debutant Stakes (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🏉 12:30 - NRLW Premiership - Warriors Women v Sydney Roosters Women (Fox League or Nine)

🐴 13:25 - Listed Race, Weekend Hussler Stakes (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1 or 7)

🐴 13:45 - Group 2, Roman Consul Stakes (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central or 7)

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

🏉 14:35 - Mitre 10 Cup - Wellington Rugby v Otago (Fox Sports)

🏉 15:00 - Shute Shield - Eastwood Rugby v Gordon Rugby (7TWO)

🐴 15:10 - Group 1, Caulfield Stakes (7 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 15:30 - Group 2, Stan Fox Stakes (7 or Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🐴 15:42 - Listed Race, Queensland Cup (Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🐴 15:50 - Group 1, Thousand Guineas (7 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League, Shimizu S-Pulse v Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League, Consadole Sapporo v Shonan Bellmare (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 16:00 - J1 League, FC Tokyo v Gamba Osaka (Optus Sport 2)

🏉 16:00 - NRLW Premiership - St George Ill. Dragons Women v Brisbane Broncos Women (Fox League or Nine)

🐴 16:30 - Group 1, Caulfield Guineas (7 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 16:41 - Listed Race, Hill Smith Stakes, 1,800m (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 16:50 - Group 1, Spring Champion Stakes (7 or Sky Racing 1 or Sky Thoroughbred Central)

🏉 17:05 - Mitre 10 Cup - Waikato v Counties Manukau (Fox Sports)

🐴 17:10 - Group 1, Toorak Handicap (7 or Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🐴 17:45 - Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1 or 7TWO)

⚽️ 18:00J1 LeagueYokohama F. Marinos v Oita TrinitaOptus Sport 4

🐎 18:27 (TBC) - 2YO Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic C&G, 1,720m (Sky Racing 1)

🏍 18:55 - France MotoGP Practice 3, Round 10 (Fox Sports More)

🐎 19:00 (TBC) - 2YO Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic Fillies, 1,720m (Sky Racing 1)

🐎 19:23 - Group 3 Pacers, C91.3FM Radio Final (Sky Racing 1)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL Semi-Final - Geelong Cats v Collingwood Magpies (Fox Footy or 7)

🏉 19:50 - NRL Semi-Final - Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Fox League or Nine)

⛳️ 21:00 - European Tour, BMW PGA Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏎 21:00 - German F1 Grand Prix Practice 3 (Fox Sports)

🏏 21:00 - Indian Premier League Group Game - Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders (Fox Cricket)

🐎 21:02 (TBC) - Pacing Gold Grand Circuit, Victoria Cup, 2,240m (Sky Racing 1)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 21:25 - UCI Men's World Tour, Giro d'Italia, Stage 8 (Eurosport 1)

🏍 21:35 - France Moto3 Qualifying, Round 10 (Fox Sports More)

🚘 22:30 - DTM Zolder Race 1 (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 22:30 - FA Women's Super League - Tottenham Women v Manchester United Women (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 22:30 - Betfred Cup Group Stage - Cove Rangers v Hibernian (BeIN Sports 2)

Sunday

⚽️ 00:00 - UEFA Nations League - Luxembourg v Cyprus (Optus Sport 2) & Montenegro v Azerbaijan (Optus Sport 3)

🎾 00:00 (TBC) - French Open Women's Final (Fox Sports or SBS)

🏎 00:00 - German F1 Grand Prix Qualifying (Fox Sports)

🏍 00:10 - France Moto2 Qualifying (Fox Sports More)

🏏 01:00 - Indian Premier League - Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Fox Cricket)

⛳️ 02:30 - Major, Women's PGA Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 03:00 - UEFA Nations League - Liechtenstein v Gibraltar (Optus Sport 1) & Faroe Islands v Latvia (Optus Sport 2)

🏈 03:00 - NCAA College - North Carolina Tar Heels v Virginia Tech Hokies (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 05:45 - UEFA Nations League - Andorra v Malta (Optus Sport 3) & Spain v Switzerland (Optus Sport 2) & Ukraine v Germany (Optus Sport 1)

⛳️ 06:00 - PGA Tour Champions, SAS Championship (Fox Sports)

🎯 06:00 - World Grand Prix Quarter-Finals (Fox Sports More)

⚾️ 07:08 - National League Divisional SeriesAtlanta Braves v Miami Marlins (ESPN 2)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA Tour, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

👊🏻 08:00 - UFC Fight Night Prelims (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - Colorado Rapids v LA Galaxy (BeIN Sports 2)

👊🏻 11:00 - UFC Fight Night Main Card - Marlon Moraes v Cory Sandhagen (ESPN 1)

⚾️ 11:08 - National League Divisional Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Diego Padres (ESPN 2)

🏉 11:15 - Mitre 10 Cup - Northland v Southland (Fox Sports)

🏉 11:15 - Mitre 10 Cup - Tasman Mako v Bay of Plenty (Fox Sports More)

⛹🏻‍♀️ 13:00 - Super Netball Preliminary Final - Sunshine Coast Lightning v West Coast Fever (Nine)

⚽️ 13:00 - MLS - Vancouver Whitecaps v Real Salt Lake (BeIN Sports 2)

🏉14:00 - Bledisloe Cup - New Zealand v Australia (10 or Fox Sports)

🐴 16:00 (TBC) - Listed Race, Cranbourne Cup, 2,025m - HCP (Racing.com or Sky Racing 1)

🚘 18:00 - WRC Rally d'Italia, Day 4 (Fox Sports)

🏍 20:20 - France Moto3 Race, Round 10 (Fox Sports More)

🏏 21:00 - Indian Premier - Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals (Fox Cricket)

🚘 21:00 - WRC Rally d'Italia, Day 4, Round 6 (Fox Sports)

🏍 22:00 - France MotoGP Race (10 Bold or Fox Sports More)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 22:20 - UCI Paris-Tours, 213km (SBS Viceland)

⛳️ 22:30 - European Tour, BMW PGA Championship, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

🚘 22:30 - DTM Zolder Race 2, Round 7 (BeIN Sports 3)

🚴🏼‍♂️ 22:30 - Giro d'Italia, Stage 9, 207km (Eurosport 1)

⚽️ 22:30 0 FA Women's Super League 0 Brighton & Hove Albion Women v Arsenal Women (Optus Sport 1)

🏎 23:10 - German F1 Grand Prix Race (Fox Sports)

🏍 23:30 - France Moto2 Race, Round 10 (Fox Sports More)