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Every time I see that pr1ck Rhys Mathieson duck, I find myself hoping someone knocks that pick dog ugly melon off his shoulders!

Can't actually see where we'll lose a game

What staggers me is the fact that we lost at the last start to so many teams that missed out on making the finals - Collingwood, Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne (twice last year) when a win in one of those games would have seen us make the finals. Win 3 of those games well, which is achievable if you aspire for finals footy, and you’re in the running for a top four placing. No use crying over spilt milk I guess but you would not want to drop the “easy” ones.

This is exactly the problem with Collingwood as a club. Their recruiting, their dull & stagnant game plan, the kerfuffle over the Malthouse/Buckley "succession plan", all obscures the big picture, which is ... They have succumbed to the cult of personality. Eddie is Collingwood, and Collingwood is Eddie. For the average C'wood fan, the two cannot be separated. Any light discussion of life at C'wood without Eddie leads to angry defences such as "18 years ago he saved the club!", "17 years ago he built the Lexus/Westpac/Holden centre with his bare hands" "the rest of the world conspires to bring him down", and things similar to what you'd hear in N Korea, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, etc. His more recent track record is none too good, but to attack Eddie is to attack C'wood itself. It's an attack on society ... it's unpatriotic! The CEO of C'wood is more like a personal assistant to Eddie. Because he doesn't get to call any shots. The Dear Leader does that. Even down to recruiting. Or recall the Gubby Allen mini-scandal of a year or two back. What other president would get involved at that level? No one dares challenge, as the might of the state C'wood publicity machine naturally and automatically puts its backing behind the incumbent. All threats are squashed before they can gain momentum. All this keeps Eddie on the throne permanently. It's also a trap for the actual football-playing part of the club, as Nathan can't be removed while he has the protection of the prince. It's a beautiful thing . Long may it continue. Long live king Eddie!

Dunn is happy I imagine as his career has been extended and he’s not just playing regular games but he’s a senior player who is seen as a leader Good luck to him I say

It's all pointing in that direction DJ but next up is the George Ryder Stakes (1500m - G1) in 3 weeks and then 3 weeks after that she should run in the $4Million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 14. Then it's onto the 3 big races in Europe, all going well. The Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot over the 1600m is first on the agenda but I'm not sure of the other 2 races. We'll find out sooner or later.

We're going to beat Geelong by 10 goals.

In 2013 I drove from Brisbane to Southport oval to watch us in a practice match against Gold Coast because I was excited by the acquisition of Tom Gillies, the next Brian Lake.

Aloft did it easily ... that's 1 from 1 !

That tackle by odea....absolute hard nut

These are our winning/losing streaks as at the start of season 2018 ADELAIDE: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R8 2017) BRISBANE LIONS: Won the last 3 (Last Loss R19 2014) CARLTON: Won the last 2 (Last Loss R22 2016) COLLINGWOOD: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R12 2017) ESSENDON: Won the last 1 (Last Loss R2 2016) FREMANTLE: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R16 2016) GEELONG: Lost the last 2 (Last Win R12 2015) GOLD COAST SUNS: Won the last 4 (Last Loss R5 2014) GWS GIANTS: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R1 2016) HAWTHORN: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R20 2016) NORTH MELBOURNE: Lost the last 17 (Last Win R20 2006) PORT ADELAIDE: Won the last 2 (Last Loss R10 2016) RICHMOND: Lost the last 1 (Last Win R5 2016) ST KILDA: Won the last 2 (Last Loss R17 2016) SYDNEY: Lost the last 6 (Last Win R17 2010) WEST COAST: Won the last 1 (Last Loss R18 2016) WESTERN BULLDOGS: Won the last 1 (Last Loss R8 2016)

Bad luck with Alizee - not her day. Couldn't get going. Picked up a decent percentage of the lesser trifecta in the race so can't complain. That is an impressive win by Grunt ... Rosehill Guineas is next (possibly) Big future for the horse regardless.

Is Winx still heading to Ascot later in the year? Good luck with your selections guys

Misses the start by 4 lengths......some people put massive amounts on her like 100k in one case....you would have had a heart attack at that start!! Amazing win. The quinella paid well, 2.70. Prized Icon was always going to run 2nd.

Winx absolutely supreme although the horse didn't have much to beat ... it has come back as good as ever. Next up for Winx is the George Ryder Stakes (March 24)

It was drawn out wide but as you said, the jockey could have pushed it towards the leader early ... looked like he was looking for cover but it didn't work. Of course, we need these best bets to win so 2nd is no real consolation.

Well my confidence in the first half of the day has been well placed - at least at Flemington. No winners at randwick as of yet but backed the first four winners at Flemington and nailed the early quaddie. Twice. I love days when you are up early because the stress of losing is taken away. Top wins by Aloft and Hear the Chant, which were both great odds.

That was the only horse my mate was worried about.

I thought due to the horses ability it gave itself every chance of winning even though it probably covered more turf than any other.

I thought the horse had every chance ... the winner was too good. 'Care to Think' just didn't have the same finishing speed like it has shown previously. Something was amiss even though it didn't run badly.

18: 12.4.0. I thought it was home..... Bad luck....beaten by a random 19/1 shot. Onwards and upwards!

Unlucky, caught 3 wide the whole trip. Not a good ride by the jock. Jumped well and didn't push on to sit outside leader, tried to take it back and slot in but was caught in no mans land.

Into 2.50 now...Egg Tart drifting.. good quinella?

Lol I just realised it's in one of our races.

haha.... I hear ya Macca.....lets hope he just scraps into a place Care to Think comes into 2.80.

It had better not win!

Actually i like Egg Tart in this next race @ Randwick.......a very good place bet i think. distance a tad short, but will be running on. Had something like an eye injury last campaign the trainer has said.....(but they always say that stuff)....pretty sharp before that. Dropping back to a Grp 3 here.

Well if it was a horse, youd be on it wouldnt you!! That is outstanding work.

Before today Wadda our record was ... 15: 10 - 3 - 0 It's now ... 17: 12 - 3 - 0

My mate gets good mail ... the tips aren't frequent but they rarely miss. It was a real surprise to get 2 tips (the other tip Seattle Park goes in race 5)

I got on Hear the Chant, looks like your mates mail is not bad Macca! Tell him thanks from Ballarat!

A mate said he found it at 50/1 for the Slipper this week, but i couldnt see it anywhere. ......was your mate at the track? The owners looked pretty happy. That horse would have been a good one to get in on for some shares D77.

It was $201 for the Slipper prior to its Pierro Plate win a fortnight ago. PL kicking in as I didn't put a dollar on it at those odds. Not saying it will win but it might have been a decent cash out offer.

Phew!!! Showed some guts and hopefully it improves some more going forward.

Post race jockey said it is pretty average at getting out of the gates, but is improving. A better start sees him win well. Good chance in the Slipper. should be around 8/1

Not so easy that time but we're now 2 from 2 ! The jockey only pushed Santos late in a slowly run race. There's some improvement to come with the horse.

Heart in mouth.....2 from 2

Gee it drifted in the betting i got on at 2.50 20 mins later it was 3.50 ! Santos comes into 1.70

We Drew with Sydney in 2011.

Good one. I like Aloft, think it might be the certainty of the day actually. Good luck you lot. Edit: I think i might make Main Stage R7 and Fell Swoop R8 at Flemington my best value place bets.

Best Value: Flemington Race 7 No.4 Levendi $18.00W $5.20P No.16 Bring Me Roses $18.00 $5.20P Both horses ran well first up and although it's a very tricky race the odds are appealing. I looked outside the fancied runners and the above offer terrific value. They both seem to like the track. Good luck all!

AFTER THE HORROR by Ruby Tuesday After last week’s horror defeat at the hands of bottom of the ladder Collingwood in Alice Springs, Melbourne turned its season around last night with a heart-thumping six point victory over Brisbane at Casey Fields. The result came after selectors swung the axe in response to last week’s showing and the fact that this was yet another six day break after a fortnight on the road. The Demons were inspired by a return to form by skipper Daisy Pearce who led the charge with two goals as her team opened proceedings with a now familiar early domination that has seen the opposition kept scoreless in the first quarter for three weeks in a row. The inside 50 advantage at that stage was 11 to 3 in Melbourne’s favour. Predictably, it was the home side’s inaccuracy in front of goal that kept the second placed Lions in the hunt. By half time, the Dees led by just 11 points despite having 80% of the scoring shots and dominating most of the game’s statistics. Brisbane was not to be denied and kept coming back hard after the main break thanks to Sabrina Frederick-Traub whose banana kick for goal reduced Melbourne's lead to just six points halfway through the third quarter. Tegan Cunningham returned the compliment with a goal of her own to put the Demons in a strong position at the final break. Not long after, Cunningham suffered a nasty collision with an opponent and consequently played no further art in the game. Brisbane played its best football of the evening in the last quarter, reversing Melbourne’s forward dominance but strong defence in the end ensured that the club song would be sung on the final siren. The strength of the team was the team’s leading trio of Karen Paxman (24), Elise O'Dea and Daisy (23 each) who dominated the disposal count with Kate Hore, the heroin with the team’s only final quarter score - a goal out of a pack midway through the term. Frederick-Traub put the visitor’s back in with a chance after seeming to push her opponent out of a ruck contest near goal, but time ran out for the visitors who finished a six points in arrears as the Demons pressed home their finals prospects after a heavy week of introspection. They have a break of eight days before facing the Blues at Ikon Park in the penultimate round on Sunday week. Melbourne 2.3.15 2.6.18 3.10.28 4.10.34 Brisbane 0.0.0 1.1.7 2.2.14 4.4.28 Goals Melbourne D Pearce 2 Cunningham Hore Brisbane Frederick-Traub 3 Gibson Best Melbourne D Pearce Paxman O’Dea L Pearce Smith Hore Brisbane Frederick-Traub Lutkins Ashmore Anderson Zielke Injuries Melbourne Cunningham (head knock) Brisbane Hildebrand (head knock) Reports Nil Umpires Dore Buwalda Atkins Crowd 2,100 at Casey Fields, Cranbourne

Forget about throwing mud at the umpires the problem is simple. Kicking. It is dreadful and we are one of the worst exponents of it in the womens league. Was at the game and didn't come away upset about the umpiring but shaking my head at the kicking. In the second quarter our foot disposal was so bad I was about to bang my head on the fence rail. Having said all that we did win but the difference between mens and womens is huge.

Ok ... we're all set! Here are the 4 best bets ... Flem Race 2 No.2 Aloft (2.50) Rand Race 3 No.2 Santos (2.10) Rand Race 5 No.3 Care to Think (2.90) Rand Race 7 No.2 Alizee (2.35) Combined odds 35-1 (the 4 trebles are paying from $12 up to $17) Good luck to all !

G'day punters. Had to get a train from Bairnsdale today so had plenty of time to do my form very thoroughly. I'm reasonably confident for the first half of the day but things get harder as the day goes on, particularity at Flemington. That said not as hard as the last 3 weeks. I thinks there are some good bets, some horses that are too short and because of that some value. I'm going to add another category - lay of the day. Best bet: Aloft Best value: Frolic Bets long shot (each way): Flemington Race 5 no 14 La Belle Jude Lay of the day: can't split Santos and Alizee Good punting

Are they basing their prediction on a one way running midfield with questionable disposal? Collingwood’s backline is average and their forward line is below average.

One thing that puzzles me with the girls game is the umpiring. Are these the same umps as used in the men’s? What I have noticed is that a lot of really obvious fr es aren’t paid and then all of a sudden a soft one is plucked out of no where. It generally isn’t biased one way or the other but is just odd.

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.

I absolutely get that. From my occasional forays into Church City, a short 5 minutes of listening to 5AA is enough to harden one against those two clubs forever. (well .... for a while anyway.) I can't imagine what a steady diet would do to one's mind. Something like this, probably: However, we must look at the big picture. Provincial difficulties must be risen above and the long range, objective view be held. And that is, clearly, that a certain few clubs must never be given an inch. Must always be held in contempt if not with outright hatred. In no particular order: Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, for reasons that are too obvious to need writing here. Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney also deserve no quarter. Adelaide, Port Adelaide, as already discussed. Richmond, for being Richmond. St K, Footscray. For being contemptible losers, and Footscray even more for winning in '16 and breaking that stereotype. F***** losers. North, same reason, but without the winning part. GCS and GWS. "Vlad's folly". One for not winning enough and one for winning too much. Freo for being anonymous and taking up space. WCE and Brisbane, for beating us in the past. The f****** b******s. That's all I can think of for now. But no true supporter of Aussie Rules can go too far wrong following the above chart of who to hate. How much hate, you ask, and how to apportion? As a rule of thumb, or when in doubt, remember this: too much is not enough. GO DEMONS

A few years ago at half time I got a coffee, when I usually drink tea. It was insane. I didn’t get to sleep til 9:30 that night! I won’t be doing that again.