Finding a long-term replacement for retiring legend David Neitz sealed Melbourne’s decision to make key forward Jack Watts the No.1 pick at this year’s AFL national draft.

Australia’s Mike Hussey averages 203 in his four Test matches at Adelaide Oval so it’s no surprise he loves the place.

New Zealand’s last recognised pair of Brendon McCullum and captain Daniel Vettori have the task ahead of them on Saturday if they are to scale the peak of a first innings 500 that has been so vital for combatants in previous Adelaide Oval Tests.

The naming of Rick Rickert after round nine takes the Breakers tally to three Player of the Week awards this season. Rickert was given the nod after averaging a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds per game in the team’s wins over Cairns and Townsville.

An article in The Advertiser by Rebecca Wilson has caused quite a storm in Adelaide having labelled the Reds ACL defeat as “humiliating” and leaving “soccer in crisis.” Rather, the Reds ACL journey should be seen as an opportunity for the game to grow and does not represent its death knell.

Sydney FC boss John Kosmina hopes a two-week break will help improve his club’s injury woes, while the media and opposing coaches will hope it lightens up the volatile mentor.

Well, so much for that. Gamba Osaka underlined the gulf in class between the A-League and J-League on Wednesday night with a performance in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final that was as comprehensive and crushing as Operation Urgent Fury, the US invasion of Grenada in 1983.

Nagoya is a central-Japanese city of 2.2 million people. Think it would be easy to find a bar televising the Asian Champions League final, being played just a couple of hours down the road in Osaka? Think again.

Going into the fifth day of the Third Test match, some mischievous people (read, the media) were suggesting that a repeat of Adelaide 2006 could occur: with the game seemingly headed for a draw, the side batting third completely collapses, leaving a short and sharp run chase for victory.

“Diving” is again in the A-League spotlight after Friday night’s controversial incident during Melbourne’s win over Adelaide.

Queensland replaced Central Coast in fourth place in the A-League tonight after further damaging Newcastle’s title defence with another away win.

Since Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and consummate tourist Brendon Julian took Australia to the top of world cricket in 1995, Australia has generally had the best bowling attack in the world. Typically this meant Warne, McGrath and two of Gillespie, Kasprowicz and Lee, who between them have 1800 Test wickets and counting.

AFL heavyweights Collingwood and Carlton are big winners in the 2009 draw featuring three timeslots to be trialled with one eye on the league’s future expansion plans.

Central Coast bounced back to form and claimed local honours with a 1-0 A-League win over Newcastle in a low-key F3 derby at Bluetongue Stadium last night.

Shaun Burgoyne says pace rather than power will give Australia the advantage over Ireland in Friday night’s International Rules clash at Subiaco Oval.

Sydney coach Paul Roos says there’ll be “no animosity” between the Swans and Ryan O’Keefe who today agreed to play on with the AFL club after failing to organise a trade.

Wollongong condemned Adelaide to a fourth straight away defeat with a comeback 105-95 NBL victory at Wollongong Entertainment Centre tonight.

Sachin Tendulkar’s fellow batting heavyweight Ricky Ponting can see how much the looming Test runs world record has affected the Little Master, and will be all the more generous in his praise when the milestone is reached.

The Melbourne Tigers have cruised to a 119-91 NBL win over the Adelaide 36ers at the State Netball and Hockey Centre tonight. The Tigers jumped to an early 16 point lead and were never challenged.

Sydney Spirit guard Derrick Low defied his bigger opponents to lead a last-quarter charge and inspire his team to a 101-86 NBL win over the Perth Wildcats at Sydney’s State Sports Centre tonight.