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it will be strange indeed if the afl ever stop clubs owning pokies (only to be sold to someone else) if they don't at the same time sever all support for and acceptance of money from the (growing) sports gambling industry for the latter they could actually have some impact but on the former they would just transfer it to some other owner i don't gamble nor support the gambling industry but i don't see how divesting of poker machines is any more than plain old window dressing

They 'analyse' 13 teams that can make the 8; with 8 teams could make the top 4. On the other side, they only have 6 teams that can make the bottom six, so lock in Saints, Freo, Brisbane, Carlton, GCS and North. But only Carlton, GCS and North can finish bottom. I distributed their predictions and their ladder looks like: Adelaide 1 2 3 GWS 1 2 3 4 Ricmond 1 2 3 4 5 Geelong 1 2 3 4 5 6 Essendon 2 3 4 5 6 7 Port 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Swans 3 4 5 6 Melbourne 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hawthorn 6 7 8 9 10 W Bulldogs 7 8 9 10 11 12 Collingwood 8 9 10 11 12 WCE 8 9 10 11 12 Saints 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Freo 12 13 14 15 16 Brisbane 12 13 14 15 16 Carlton 15 16 17 18 GCS 15 16 17 18 North 15 16 17 18

Agree. I personally think our midfield has been lacking one or two players that can really pack a punch moving the ball forward. I always thought Salem was slated as a future midfielder when we recruited him. I like his toughness, compeditiveness and his class with his disposal. Reminds me a bit of Jimmy Bartell in his prime. As much as I understand the need for players with quality foot skills down back, I've often thought Salem was wasted down there and he looked like he didn't really enjoy or was fully suited to the fully defense mindset down back. Besides, we have medium sized backline players to burn these days. We really do need players that can deliver well and find targets inside 50 as so often we have dominated time in forward half, only to miss targets and waste opportunities for quality shots on goal. I also think the club has taken a conservative approach, holding back some younger players from having big midfield time/roles too early in their career when they were physically and psychologically less developed. I think it's now time to throw guys like Salem, Brayshaw and Harmes in there and have them bust it up a bit and hopefully take some opposition midfields to pieces.

Apparently they have also offered jobs to Barnaby Joyce & Bronwyn Bishop to be in charge of political correctness and travel arrangements. Bomber Thompson now in charge of recruiting his first recruit is Stephen Dank, Chopper Reid was offerd a job but failed to attend the interview, Pol Pot and Adolf Hitler are expected to sign on when contracts can be exchanged. "We are looking for leaders in their field and no stone will be unturned, Attila the Hun and Idi Amin are also in our sights." Bomber said. -FMD

The other one is dead to me, so it's 1 really...

The idea that so soon after such a massive scandal that brought the sport into disrepute, threatened to ruin 3 seasons, was found by the head WORLD anti- doping body to have been against the rules of world sport, that [censored] off, frustrated and bored the fans to no end and that may still have a large amount to play out with regard to the health of the players involved and their families long term, (let alone the impact on the integrity of the competition during the period doping players were aloud to play)... the idea that so soon after all of this the AFL would even consider letting Hird have ANY official role within the sport is beyond astounding, the fact it is a coaching position is just beyond stupid! What an immoral farce this league has become.

The way Viney just walked away afterwards was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. Even greater than the time I dropped a beer on concrete and it bounced back up into my hand. (This is the only video I could find of the walk away)

Thriller! Maggots tried and failed to stuff us

should never be able to coach again , or involved in afl. he has done enough damage and been found guilty

What a joke....

they are trying (maliciously) to somehow just link it (social damage) to afl club owned pokies. ...big fat LOL number of mentions in press and repeated on radio. media happy to just bait the afl rather than any attempt at rational analysis

And this was the champion Data predictions for 2017 made in March 2017... with actual finishing spots (deviation from predicted)... So Champion data... Predicted two teams finishing spots accurately (Port 5th & Brissie last) for the 16 teams they failed to predict accurately their average error was 3.875 spots on ladder out They failed to predict the rise of Essendon (+8), Richmond (+7) and Geelong (+6) They failed to predict the fall of Doggies (-7) and Collingwood (-6) FULL SIMULATION RESULTS (via Champion Data) 1. GWS Giants - 17.1 wins - 99.2% chance of finals - 4th (-3) 2. Sydney Swans - 14.5 - 89.5% - 6th (-4) 3. Western Bulldogs - 14.4 - 89.3% - 10th (-7) 4. Adelaide Crows - 14.2 - 86% - 1st (-3) 5. Port Adelaide - 13.8 - 82.7% - 5th (0) 6. West Coast Eagles - 13.3 - 75.6% - 8th (-2) 7. Collingwood - 12.4 - 61.5% - 13th (-6) 8. Geelong Cats - 12.4 - 61.1% - 2nd (+6) 9. Hawthorn - 11.6 - 46.6% - 12th (-3) 10. Richmond - 10.4 - 25.4% - 3rd (+7) 11. Fremantle - 10.3 - 25% - 14th (-3) 12. Melbourne - 10.2 - 23.1% - 9th (+3) 13. St Kilda - 9.7 - 17.1% - 11th (+2) 14. Gold Coast Suns - 8.9 - 8.9% - 17th (-3) 15. Essendon - 8.2 - 5.2% - 7th (+8) 16. North Melbourne - 7.6 - 3.1% - 15th (+1) 17. Carlton - 5.5 - 0.2% - 16th (+1) 18. Brisbane Lions - 3.6 - 0% - 18th (0)

All I got from this was that Champion Data's love affair with Collingwood continues.

Like this?

Booked her in for some tatts @rjay?

Thankfully... i am they...

I think it is like a 12 angry men scenario (but in reverse ie in the film it was the good guy holding out). There is one jurist holding out and refusing to acknowledge the obvious. TMacs younger brother is going to be a very good player. That is plain to see. The jurist holding out will soon get past their confirmation bias and so the jury is due back any minute. Nothing like his brother? Well apart from the fact they have almost identical career trajectories (even drafted at the same number), both about the same weight and height, both debuted at at a young age and are both key position defenders (until mid of last year obviously) you're right he is nothing like his brother. As evidenced by the Player Statistics Comparison at the same age shows. Not. Player Statistics Comparison Oscar McDonald Name Tom McDonald Melbourne Demons Team Melbourne Demons Defender Position Defender, Forward 37 Career Games 126 North Ballarat Rebels Origin North Ballarat March 18, 1996 Date of Birth September 18, 1992 21yr 11mth Age Turned 21 in 2013 196cm Height 194cm 100kg Weight 100kg 2014 National Draft Last Drafted In 2010 National Draft Round 3, Pick #53 Last Draft Position Round 3, Pick #53 Melbourne Demons Last Drafted By Melbourne Demons 2017 Stats for Season 2013 20 Games 17 9.6 Kicks Per Game 8.3 5.8 Handballs Per Game 7.9 15.4 Disposals Per Game 16.2 5.4 Marks Per Game 4.2 0 Goals Per Game 0 0 Behinds Per Game 0.1 1.6 Tackles Per Game 2.0 0 Hitouts Per Game 0.2 0.9 Inside 50s Per Game 0.5 0 Goal Assists Per Game 0.1 0.7 Frees For Per Game 0.4 0.8 Frees Against Per Game 0.7 5.0 Contested Possessions Per Game 4.9 10.3 Uncontested Possessions Per Game 10.9 12.2 Effective Disposals Per Game 12.5 79.2% Disposal Efficiency % Per Game 77.2% 2.0 Clangers Per Game 1.9 0.5 Contested Marks Per Game 0.5 0 Marks Inside 50 Per Game 0 0.4 Clearances Per Game 0.3 2.7 Rebound 50s Per Game 3.9 8.0 One Percenters Per Game 7.7 0 Bounces Per Game 1.0 92.2 Time On Ground % Per Game

Good choice D77 ... Alizee won well at its last start and the extra distance suits - she won at Group 1 level in the Spring over 1600m & also won at Group 2 level over this distance (1400m) in the same time period. Primed for this one. My choice (Care to Think) has drifted in the betting (out to 2.90) but its opening price was very skinny, all the same. Her finishing speed in the last 200 is eye-catching. Out of the 3 best bets I like Santos as the best of the best! As always, it will be interesting to see which horse @binman comes up with to complete the quartet.

I'm making Alizee my "Best". Will nominate a couple of roughies after further studying.

Great to win but frustrating to watch. Need to take marks. Umpiring in the last 5 minutes was puzzling.

Crystal Dreamer always gives a good run.

The West isn't renown for observing conventional protocols Somewhat ironic the Chemist is now in Windyville eh ? Hard to get a really decent coffee over there... perhaps Jimmy can 'fix' the brew !!

Good pick up Wadda ... in fact, the horse (Fell Swoop) has run at Group 1 or Group 2 level in its last 16 starts (if we include The Everest as a Group 1 Race) 12 of those 16 starts have been at Group 1 level. The horse has had no respite from top company (until tomorrow) The only horse that (somewhat) rivals Fell Swoop for Group appearances is the 2 (Secret Agenda) but it hasn't raced in 41 weeks. I'm going to take a trifecta in the race as I reckon it might pay well for the right combo. My mate who follows Ellerton likes Crystal Dreamer so I'll include that in my top 3. Weir has 2 of the other runners as well

Damn gag ruined.

Flemington Race 8 Fell Swoop is one that is dropping back from group level. Had 3 group runs in the spring, including The Everest and on his best form would brain these. Goes alright 1st up paying 4.20.....not baaaad....

He may only ever be a solid B class player, but no team has ever been stocked from top to bottom with A graders. Having a core of solid B class players is a requirement for a successful team.

Hird and Adolf to collaborate on something similar to The Hanger. Maybe call it The Chamber.

The AFL are the betting agencies puppet.

Very funny dc, but nothing beats the real thing. This is a genuine ad for the Department of Finance.

it doesn't have to be an overt, conscious, conspiratorial thing. ht. self preservation is a wonderful motivator look on the flip side, imagine if one were a climate cynic in the bom. do you think their career prospects were rosy or threatened? just my devil's advocate 2c

Yes its a good point Macca, there is our best bets and there is always few other good ones that always deserve a mention.

God bless this years fixture. 2 games at the Gabba and me being not only a Gabba/German Club/Piney Hotel member but also live less than 2 kms from the ground. Yiiiihaaaaaaa!

I like the 3 bets bets (so far) ... they are all short odds but just as it is with the footy club, it's all about the winning. $11 (combined) represents excellent value We've got a bit to work with in regards to a few other horses we might fancy as welI. I also don't mind Nomithaj (Race 1 Flem) & Tshahitsi (Race 6 Flem) and also, the aforementioned Dixie Blossoms & Cliff's Edge.

this doesn't compute. no true genius would ever become a politician. it would be oxymoronic

Oh crap ive jinxed it now! Yep your right D77, better put it on regardless. Should be a good weekends racing and no footy distractions, well Melbourne ones anyway.

I know my 14yo niece has been working out in the gym so she can improve her strength to do what 'Dusty' does. Kids definitely pick up on what they see...

Done deal Wadda. That one will go on regardless of additional selections. Now that it's been posted we don't want to feel the dreaded "PL".

I accept what you’re saying. Putting our recruitment prior to Taylor, Viney etc to one side, which was plainly horrible and need not be discussed/reflected upon, I (like virtually all others here) have absolute confidence in our recruitment approach and the development of our players now. I seem to recall that ANB was considered a top 25 pick coming into the draft, as was Oscar McDonald. That they are now both hitting their strides shouldn’t be such a surprise. It is hard to predict the trajectory of players though. I could not believe Hunt’s transformation in one season into a virtually elite half back flanker. I had thought JKH would turn into a really good player, yet he seems to be on borrowed time. Stretch is another player who intrigues me - he was clearly in front of ANB, he’s super professional, he’s a really neat and tidy player whom I expect diligently follows the coaches instructions to the letter, and yet he’s struggling to find relevance/a permanent role in the team. Charlie Spargo and Joel Smith are the ones I’m really watching this year. Love Melksham’s transformation, although I always had high hopes for him, Hibberd and Vince - thought each of them represented an astute use of picks in the 20s. Long gone are the days of picking dour, high possession, meat and three veg midfielders from the VFL, which is a relief. The club now nails high end picks and also its ‘left field’ ones.

I think what was implied is that he wasn't expected to be rushed into the side as an 18yo and be one of the saviors of the team.

On the face of it, Pies fans will say they were missing some important players. Deep down though, they'll be worried. It's the same old game play with the same old players. Bucks is too stubborn to change.

Well ... that was a big quarter for all of us who were brought up with feelings of contempt for the Magpie enemy.

"one things for sure, Essendon will finish higher than last year" how the F is that certain? guess it is good if they are being over hyped. they already have longish term injuries to 3 players. if Merrett/Hurley or Daniher go down they are fooked man I hate the bombers

The Essendon thing is all part of the narrative being spun by the AFL and media. Will be completed when they win this year's flag. After that Goddard's movie gets made. Enough to make anyone puke.

All of us here have them that high. No? They are everyone's "second" team after all.

I will be watching that game with my brother in the Aussie Bar, Bangla Rd Phuket. Give us a wave so i can see you on TV .

I worked in a very large international law firm in London in 2004 and 2005. The hours were immense. Yet ... For the whole of 2004, I had my parents record every game throughout the season, air courier the VHS cassette to me at a cost of 70 bucks a game, and I’d then pick up the VHS cassette from the mail room every Thursday evening (in respect of the game recorded the weekend just gone), go home, and start watching the game ‘live’ at about 10.00pm each Thursday night. Relevantly, I filtered my email messages during the week so I didn’t ever know the result prior to watching the game. We had a good year that year. It was worth it. Cost me a fair bit of dough though.