🏉 Cat Cops Big Ban

Stuck in the middle, it's Wednesday, 29 June

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Martin Gabor and Lucy Watkin are at the mic.

Today's listen time: 10 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

⚾ 9.00am - MLB - Blue Jays v Red Sox - Rogers Centre, Toronto - Foxtel, Kayo

🏏 2.30pm - Test Cricket - Sri Lanka v Australia - Galle International Stadium, Galle - Foxtel, Kayo

🎾 8.00pm - Wimbledon Day 3 - All England Club, London - Channel 9, Stan Sport

All times are in AEST

🏉 Stewart hit with 4 game ban 

Geelong’s minor premiership hopes have taken a hit in the run home to the finals.

Golden points: Star defender Tom Stewart has been banned for that high shot on Richmond’s Dion Prestia that left the Tiger concussed.

• Stewart has been apologetic from the moment it happened on Saturday and said he was ready to cop whatever punishment came his way.

• The prosecution pushed hard for a 4-game ban but Stewart's lawyer wanted 3 weeks. In the end, the AFL won.

• The whole thing has brought back the debate about the send-off rule. The AFL doesn't want to bring it in but former players and some experts reckon it’s gotta come in for hits like this one.

They said it: “To just come off one incident and be a bit reactionary isn't the way to go, we need a bit of a deep breath and see if it's a real issue or not before we support it or not.” - Swans coach John Longmire says we all need to chill.

What’s next: Stewart has a bit of time now to chill. He’ll miss games against the Kangaroos, Demons, Blues and the Power.

🏉 Draft day is finally here for 4 new clubs

With the first pick of the 2022 AFLW Draft, the Sydney Swans select…

Golden points: That’s the big question ahead of tonight’s draft. We know who is expected to go first, but the NBA showed us last week that things don’t always go to plan.

• This is gonna be one of the most important AFLW Drafts ever because we’ve got 4 new teams this year. That’s the Swans, Bombers, Power and Hawks, and they get bulk picks at the start.

• We’re looking at a state-based draft. That just means teams can only pick players who have nominated to be drafted in that state.

• But it gets a bit tricky because Montana Ham is from Victoria but has nominated NSW. That’s why the Swans are likely to pick her first.

Key click: Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s event at Marvel Stadium.

Watch it: It won’t be on TV, but you can stream it via the AFLW official app.

🎾 Kyrgios in good Nick at Wimbledon 

It just wouldn’t be Wimbledon without a Nick Kyrgios blowup. But, at least he won.

Golden points: The big-hitting Aussie beat Britain’s Paul Jubb in 5 sets and had plenty to say to the crowd and the umpire.

• He had constant talks with the chair umpire about crowd abuse, and after he won he spat in the direction of a spectator that had been heckling him (video below).

• One guy with plenty of fans is Alex de Minaur. He’s through to the 2nd round and is joined by fellow Aussies Jordan Thompson and Jason Kubler.

• Let’s keep the good times going because Ajla Tomljanović knocked out 18th seed Jil Teichmann in straight sets.

They said it: "Today, as soon as I won the match, I turned to (the heckler) ... I've been dealing with hate and negativity for a long time, so I don't feel like I owed that person anything. I’ve never, ever just gone to anyone else’s job and just blatantly spat, disrespected them." Kyrgios defended his actions.

Watch it: It’s Novak Djokovic against all of Australia again when he plays Thanasi Kokkinakis tonight. Set the dial to Channel 9 or be a bit more modern and stream it on Stan Sport.

🏏 Mitch to get a crack on Galle pitch

The Aussies will look to put Sri Lanka in a spin when the 2-Test series starts today.

Golden points: It’s not a shock to have 2 spinners on a pitch that will turn. But it is a bit surprising that they’ve picked Mitch Swepson to partner Nathan Lyon.

• That’s no knock on Swepson. But here’s the thing. He’s a wrist spinner, and teams have generally done well by picking accurate finger spinners in Galle.

• The problem is Ashton Agar is out with a side strain and veteran Jon Holland has a finger injury.

They said it: “A lot of our preparation work has been around trusting our own methods. We might go about it a little bit differently to how Sri Lanka will.” - Aussie skipper Pat Cummins is backing Swepson to get the job done.

What are the chances… Travis Head plays? He’s had a hamstring injury but is expected to play. If he doesn’t then Glenn Maxwell will play his first Test in 5 years.

Watch it: We’ll know the full team at 2.00pm (AEST). Chuck it on Foxtel and Kayo to find out, with play to start 30 minutes later.

🏀 John goes from the trade window, to the Wall

Look away if you’re scared of big numbers. Apparently, that’s a thing called arithmophobia.

Golden points: NBA free agency is just around the corner and that means mega deals are about to drop for players looking for a new contract.

• The first big move involves John Wall. This guy has got some moves but didn’t play a second for Houston last season so they could lose to get better draft picks.

• But he’s sorted out a deal to get out of there and everyone thinks he’s going to the LA Clippers where he wants to win a title.

• Then there’s Kyrie Irving. He told the Brooklyn Nets that he wanted to leave, but it turns out other teams didn’t want to deal with his off-court problems. So he's staying and he’ll still make about $40 million.

Key click: Here are some of the biggest stars who will enter free agency on Friday. You’ll want to be on social media because these deals don’t stop.

👀 Quick singles

🎾 This month’s French Open winners have taken their clay form to the grass at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal and Iga Świątek are both through to the 2nd round of the 3rd grand slam of the year.

🏉 Brisbane Lions fans can relax now that Lachie Neale has re-signed. The star midfielder was linked with a move back to Fremantle but is instead staying put until 2026.

⚾ Remember that fight we mentioned yesterday that led to a bizarre pizza delivery at the baseball? Well, the bans are in and 12 players and coaching staff have been suspended. 

🏉 There were some shock inclusions when the NRL team lists dropped yesterday. Injured Origin duo Payne Haas and Cameron Munster were both named.

🏏 England are looking for a new white-ball captain. That’s because Eoin Morgan retired from international cricket after he struggled in a recent series against the Netherlands.

🏃‍♂️ The Aussie team for the Commonwealth Games just got a whole lot stronger. There were 53 track and field athletes added to the squad yesterday for the Games in Birmingham that start next month.

🙃 Left of field...

I bet you $1 million you won’t believe this story. Actually, it’s pretty believable so the bet is now off. Sorry about that.

Golden points: YouTube sensation Jake Paul is a pretty handy boxer and an excellent trash talker. It turns out he’s also a very confident young man because he’s bet $1 million that he’ll win his next fight.

• But this isn’t any old fight against another amateur. He’s going up against Tommy Fury. Yep, you know that name. He’s Tyson Fury’s stepbrother. As in, the heavyweight champ.

• Jake and Tyson have been going at it on social media, throwing shade at each other about the size of the bet.

They said it: "The heavyweight champion of the world, a million dollars is all you want to bet? You want to go with some chump change like that, no problem." - We can’t wait for the fight at Madison Square Garden on 7 August.

Watch it: Of course Tyson Fury bit back on Twitter.

📽 The highlight reel

Sit back and enjoy all the ups and downs from Nick Kyrgios' first round win at Wimbledon.

📸 Photo finish

Don't chop onions when you see this. The Warriors are back in New Zealand after a couple of years away from home because of COVID. Things got pretty emotional.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Nicola Barr was selected by the Giants.