🏏 Get Ready For The Mac Attack

Long weekends rule, it's Thursday, April 14

🔊 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 this weekend

🏀 Thursday, 9.00am - NBA Play-In Tournament - Hawks v Hornets - State Farm Arena, Atlanta - Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 Thursday, 6.00pm - Super W Semi-Final - Waratahs v Reds - Eric Tweedale Stadium, Sydney - Stan Sport

🏉 Friday, 7.40pm - AFL - Eagles v Swans - Optus Stadium, Perth - Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo

🏐 Saturday, 7.00pm - Super Netball - Giants v Magpies - Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney - Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 Saturday, 7.35pm - NRL - Storm v Sharks - AAMI Park, Melbourne - Foxtel, Kayo

⚽ Sunday, 12.30am - FA Cup - Manchester City v Liverpool - Wembley Stadium, London - Paramount+

⚽ Sunday, 5.05pm - A-League Men - Adelaide v Perth - Coopers Stadium, Adelaide - Paramount+

🏉 Monday, 3.20pm - AFL - Hawks v Cats - MCG, Melbourne - Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🏏 Big Mac gets a happy deal 

Old McDonald may have had a farm, but Andrew McDonald has a new job that makes him one of the most powerful sportspeople in the country.

Golden points: McDonald has gone from interim to full-time coach of the Australian men's cricket team after he signed a 4-year deal yesterday.

• We already know he can get the job done. He was in charge for the Test series win in Pakistan last month. That win is one of the reasons he got the gig. 

• McDonald replaces Justin Langer who resigned in February because he wasn’t happy with the short-term deal he was offered.

• It’s fair to say McDonald has a strong CV. He’s coached in England, India and in domestic leagues at home, and he’s also been an assistant for the Aussie team since 2019.

They said it: “Andrew has already shown he is an outstanding head coach and the vision he outlined for the role during the appointment process was both impressive and exciting, making him our clear choice.” - Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley was never in doubt.

What’s next: There’s not much time to celebrate because the Aussies have a hectic schedule coming up. There’s a T20 World Cup on home soil, an ODI World Cup in India, a Test tour to India and an Ashes campaign in England.

🏉 Lumumba wants Collingwood to do better 

The Magpies would like to focus on tonight’s game against the Lions. But they have other important things to deal with right now.

Golden points: 3 former players have decided to cut ties with Collingwood because they think the club has failed to deal with issues of racism.

• Héritier Lumumba, Leon Davis and Andrew Krakouer are the players are not happy with how the club has acted after the Do Better report was released last year.

• The report outlined systemic racism at the club and had a number of steps in place to help them address it. Eddie McGuire called it a “proud day” at the time and stepped down as president a few days later.

• But Lumumba says nothing has been done to fix things and that he’s still hurting from the abuse he received when he was there. 

They said it: “We remain committed to, and hopeful of, a genuine outcome for any and all players who have been subject to racism at our club.” - Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson wants the players to stay involved.

🏉 Penrith's future is a family affair 

It’s not quite the same as a buy one get one free special, but the Panthers have signed one Cleary and kept another in a deal that makes them a premiership threat for years to come.

Golden points: They’re still celebrating in Sydney’s west after Penrith re-signed coach Ivan Cleary and his son Nathan until the end of the 2027 season.

• Hold up, weren’t these guys already signed? They were, but there’s no harm in extending contracts when you’re dealing with hot property.

• This is a huge win for the Panthers. They are the defending premiers thanks a lot to Nathan who was man of the match in last year’s grand final. Ivan is already the club’s most-capped coach.

They said it: “I came here as a 14-year-old kid after following dad around. It’s home for me now. It means everything to me. To stay for longer now and be part of this community is really special.” - Nathan wants to be a Panther for life. 

🏉 Footy fans this is for you!

Don't Forget Your Tips! is a weekly podcast for footy fans who are keen to get an edge in their footy tipping comp. DFYT! will give you some facts, figures and maybe even a few omens that'll help you out with your AFL and NRL footy tips every week of the footy seasons. Episodes are around 12-minutes long and drop 6am every Thursday. Our resident tipster The Squid tipped a perfect 8/8 in the NRL last week, so he's pretty chuffed to say the least! Listen on Apple, Spotify and your favourite podcast app. Enjoy! 

⚽ Defending champs not in Real's league 

Getting up at 5.00am on a Wednesday isn’t much fun. But if it means you get to watch fabulous football at its finest, then sign us up.

The score: Chelsea defeated Real Madrid 3-2 but lost 5-4 on aggregate.

Golden points: Don’t panic if that sentence confuses you. It’s actually quite simple. We’re talking about the UEFA Champions League, and when it gets to the finals, both teams get to host a match.

• The biggest game was Real Madrid against Chelsea. The Spanish giants have won the most Champions League titles and showed why with a 3-1 win in London in the first leg.

• That meant Chelsea needed a miracle yesterday in Madrid. After 75 minutes, it was on. They were up 3-0 and ahead 4-3 on aggregate.

• But the hosts equalised thanks to a ridiculous cross and then scored the winner when the game went to extra-time. 

Watch it: Here are the highlights from Madrid, including that outrageous pass by Luka Modrić.

🏉 Super start to the long weekend 

It’s not technically a State of Origin showdown, but tonight’s Super W game between NSW and Queensland is just as intense.

Golden points: Can we interest you in a mid-week interstate semi-final? If that sounds appealing then you’ll be all over the Super W tonight.

• The Waratahs probably thought they wouldn’t be in this game. They’ve won all 4 Super W titles and hadn’t lost until the Fijiana Drua beat them a few weeks ago.

• That means the Drua are in the final waiting to play the winner of this one.

• History isn’t on Queensland’s side. They’ve never beaten NSW and were smashed 46-0 on Saturday. 

Watch it: Tonight’s game is at Eric Tweedale Stadium in Sydney. It kicks off at 6.00pm (AEST). If you can’t get there, it’s on Stan Sport.

👀 Quick singles

🏏 Keep an eye out for a young South African cricketer called Dewald Brevis. The 18yo hit 29 runs off an over in the IPL this morning and is tipped to have a huge future. 

🏐 The Magpies have won their first game of the Super Netball season, and it’s one they won’t forget soon. Collingwood was missing its 2 best shooters because of COVID but they still found a way to beat the Lightning.

🏉 Star Wallaby Taniela Tupou could miss the 2nd Test against England later this year. That’s because his partner is expected to give birth in early July, and he wants to be there for the big moment. 

⚽ There’s a new Rodman in town after Trinity scored her first international football goal for the USA. She’s the daughter of former NBA star Dennis and looks to have a bright future following the 9-0 win over Uzbekistan. 

🏉 It’s one of the sport’s most iconic images, but AFLW star Tayla Harris says she still cops abuse for it every day. Harris talks about the trolling in an upcoming documentary on Amazon Prime called Kick Like Tayla. 

⚽ There were shocking scenes at a football match in Brazil when a coach attacked a lineswoman. The coach headbutted her as the teams came off for half-time and is now out of work after he was quickly sacked by the club. 

🙃 Left of field…

If you love basketball then you would’ve been glued to both games of the NBA Play-In Tournament yesterday. In a weird way, that sentence also works if you don’t love the sport.

Golden points: We’ve seen some games interrupted in Australia lately by fans. Well, it’s no different in the USA.

• During the game between the Timberwolves and the Clippers, a protestor ran onto the court and tried to glue her wrist to the court.

• The glue just wasn’t strong enough so security was able to take her away pretty quickly. 

• It turns out she was protesting animal rights abuse at a chicken farm that belongs to Minnesota’s owner.

Watch it: There are 2 more games today starting at 9.00am (AEST) on Foxtel and Kayo. Not sure if there’ll be any more protestors. If you missed it yesterday, here’s what happened.

📽 The highlight reel

You don't want to play the Nets in the NBA playoffs when Kyrie Irving is in this sort of form. He didn't miss a shot in the first half yesterday and hit this clutch buzzer-beater.

📸 Photo finish

7-time Formula 1 winner Lewis Hamilton found some time to do a little surfing during his time in Melbourne for the Australian GP. He says his Mercedes teammate George Russell still has some work to do out on the waves. 

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

McDonald played 4 Tests for Australia in 2009.

🐰 Happy Easter! 

Eat as much chocolate as you physically can this week and then sit back and watch all the sport you can handle. That's what we'll be doing. Have a great weekend. We'll be back on Tuesday.