There is no shortage of sport to watch, though. This will be a good weekend to give NRL a go – the two best teams from the regular season will battle it out for the minor premiership, when Melbourne Storm take on the Cronulla Sharks at AAMI Park.

The AFL national women's league kicks off in February next year and Saturday night will offer fans a chance to see some of its most talented players in action, at the all-stars match between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. Entry is free at the Whitten Oval in Footscray.

Thursday was the first day of the new season and the spring races are coming. A ballot exemption for the Cox Plate is up for grabs when a quality field clashes in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

FRIDAY

7.50pm - EJ Whitten Legends Game – Victoria v All Stars, Etihad Stadium

SATURDAY

Racing

10.55am – Cox Plate Qualifier Race Day – Moonee Valley Racing Club

TAC Cup

11.30am - Second elimination final - Oakleigh Chargers v Calder Cannons, Box Hill City Oval

2pm - Second qualifying final - Geelong Falcons v North Ballarat Rebels, Box Hill City Oval

VFL

2pm - First qualifying final - Casey Scorpions v Footscray Bulldogs, Casey Fields, Cranbourne

2pm - Second qualifying final - Collingwood v Williamstown, IKON Park, Carlton

2.40pm - First elimination final - Geelong v Essendon, North Port Oval, Port Melbourne

National Premier League Victoria (women)

4pm - Grand final - Calder United v Geelong Galaxy United, ABD Stadium, Broadmeadows Valley Park

National Premier League Victoria (men)

6.30pm - Semi final 1 - Heidelberg United FC v South Melbourne FC, Olympic Village

South East Australian Basketball League

7pm - East conference final (men) - Bendigo Braves v Nunawading Spectres, Bendigo Stadium

7pm - East conference final (women) - Dandenong Rangers v Nunawading Spectres, Dandenong Stadium

7pm - South conference final (women) - Kilsyth Cobras v Launceston Tornadoes, Kilsyth Stadium

Big V State Championship Basketball

7pm - Grand final series game two (men) - Corio Bay Stingrays v Ringwood Hawks, Geelong Basketball-Netball Centre, Hawks lead 1-0 in best of three series

7pm - Grand final series game two (women) - Hume City Broncos v Ringwood Hawks, Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium, Broncos lead 1-0 in best of three series

Women's AFL

7.10pm – Women's all-stars match – Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Whitten Oval, Footscray

National Rugby League

7.30pm - Round 25 - Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks, AAMI Park, Melbourne

SUNDAY

TAC Cup

11.30am - First elimination final - Sandringham Dragons v Eastern Rangers, IKON Park, Carlton

2pm - First qualifying final - Dandenong Stingrays v Murray Bushrangers, IKON Park, Carlton

National Rugby Championship

1pm - Round 2 - Melbourne Rising v Queensland Country, Harlequin Rugby Ground, Ashwood

Big V State Championship Basketball

2pm - Grand final series game three (men) (If required) - Corio Bay Stingrays v Ringwood Hawks, Geelong Basketball-Netball Centre.

2pm - Grand final series game three (women) (if required) - Hume City Broncos v Ringwood Hawks, Broadmeadows Basketball Stadium.

VFL

2.40pm - Second elimination final - Port Melbourne v Sandringham, North Port Oval, Port Melbourne

National Premier League Victoria (men)

3pm - Semi final 2 - Bentleigh Greens v Oakleigh Cannons, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham