Another big weekend of sport is ahead, with plenty of events kicking off worldwide, including Friday night footy and a pivotal title clash in the English Premier League.
Battle of the Bridge and new medal at stake in Friday Night Football
Friday night begins with a huge clash at the SCG, as the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants fight out another installment of the Battle of the Bridge.
The Swans sit atop the AFL ladder boasting a 4-1 record, while the Giants are struggling with only two wins to begin their season.
The Swans have dominated this fixture over the years, with 20 wins out of 31 total meetings.
Both teams come into the match with confidence after impressing in Gather Round. The Swans defeated fellow premiership contender the Gold Coast Suns by 32 points, with superstar Isaac Heeney leading the charge with 33 disposals and two goals.
The Giants recorded a much needed win against an inexperienced Tigers team, smashing them by 56 points at Barossa Park.
Since the first derby in 2012, the player voted best on field was awarded the Brett Kirk medal, which was named in honour of Swans champion Brett Kirk.
The medal was changed from the Kirk medal to the Kirk-Ward medal, to honour former GWS captain Callan Ward.
“To be honest, it’s sort of weird and surreal in a way that my name is attached to this game,” Ward said.
“Hopefully this will be our medal forever, so it’s a huge thing”.
The Swans come in as heavy favourites while GWS aim to return to wildcard finals contention.
Manchester City vs Arsenal clash at the Etihad Stadium
The English Premier League title race is in full focus this weekend, as Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
This match is set to be a blockbuster, as Arsenal have the chance to go nine points clear on top, while City can close the gap by three points.
Manchester City also have a game in hand on their rivals, after playing one less league game due to other fixture commitments.
There is extra spice added to this clash after City defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final in late March.
Arsenal are looking to rise to the occasion, as star midfielder Declan Rice spoke to the Sun about the upcoming City clash.
“I can’t wait. It’s why we play the game,” he said.
“When you’re a kid watching games and when you’re watching the Premier League, you see these big matches, these title-defining moments.”
He also spoke about the challenge of travelling to the Etihad and getting a result away from home.
“To go there and win would be a massive statement. And these boys are ready. We spoke as a group. We know what’s required,” Rice said.
The match kicks off early Monday morning for Australians, as all eyes turn to who will be crowned Premier League champions.
NBA Playoffs kickoff
To end the weekend of sport, the first round of NBA playoffs begin on Sunday morning and will continue through to the start of May.
Entering the 2026 playoff series, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the frontrunners to win the NBA title and become back-to-back champions. They would become the first successive winners since Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the 2017-18 seasons.
The Thunder topped the Western conference with ease, as MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his team to a 64-win campaign.
Close behind in the Western conference is the San Antonio Spurs, as their late season push secured them second position in the west.
They boast French star Victor Wembanyama, who set the league alight in his third season at center, averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
The Boston Celtics are also in the mix after making a late surge in the Eastern conference when Jayson Tatum returned from injury, placing them second in the east.
The lineup is stacked with other contenders, including eastern conference leaders Detroit Pistons, previous champions Denver Nuggets and a Luka Doncic-bound Lakers team.
What else is on?
More events to look forward to are Suncorp Super Netball action, round seven of the NRL season and the Supercars Championship in New Zealand.
Photo: By Harrison Smith
