Macca

Port & Lions will be thereabouts in September. Conditions were poor last night and it was like watching a game in the rain (although the skills improved after half time) It's interesting that the AFL have put the worst 3 match-ups last this round. No free-to-air on Sunday arvo is highly questionable as well ... those without cable can watch the NRL or NBL on free-to-air today But next week sees the Tigers vs GWS in a return to the 3.20pm Sunday FTA slot I'm not at all surprised re the Cats ... too many skilled players to fall away but not sure they are a threat for the flag. Finals - yes

Yep, that dividend is a good one, all things considered. If 1 or 2 of the picks are of good each-way value, the place multi comes into play I must say, I've had better days at the races but there's always Sha Tin tomorrow! #AlwaysGambleResponsibly

I should have taken your lead from last week and taken all 3 in a place multi. The value was there with our 3 this week Well done, DZ!

Incredible ... hard to believe! Like the MFC winning the flag Oh, hang on ...

Fireburn gets the rails run and streets them in the Slipper ... only went around 1 horse in a race where that is a real advantage. Too good but ridden an absolute treat. Kudos to the horse & rider

I'm Thunderstruck beaten by the barrier draw ... all credit to the winner though. Scooted away and too good was Zaaki. All class Streets runs 3rd! What a grand campaigner ... $720k for the connections! Bonus dollars!

Was still a shock to see Verry Elleegant not pick up and run down Montefilia ... not that I had anything riding on it apart from a small outlay trifecta And Anamoe far too accomplished in the Guineas ... ridden forward in a small field and ridden like the best horse in the race

Yeah Dillon & Jones are very good but not exceptional against the teams with good run defence. Between the 2 of them only 67 yards against the 49ers in the divisional round playoffs I reckon the classic addition to a team that were screaming out for a terrific QB are the Bucs. And I can see why Brady wants to continue on ... an 8th ring is on the offer If Tampa were an average team, he might have retired.

Lombardo a bit rusty ... needed the run

Jodie Nelson left and that didn't effect the passing game at all ... Davante is a very good player but the overall passing yards is down to Rodgers' expertise All the rest of it is problematical though. Pass defence, run defence, running game & special teams all questionable So we do one thing sensationally well and if that area is curtailed somewhat, we are therefore then quite vulnerable I feel like I've said the above for 7 or 8 years now and not much has changed in that time ... it would help if the NFC North was a stronger division. As it stands, we get too many easy victories against mediocre opposition (over time) So a false sense of security sets in which leads to being knocked out of the playoffs by teams that do their homework on the Packers

Green Bay were only going to pay him $22Million this year but the Raiders have given him $140Million over 5 years ... which makes him the highest paid WR (ever?) He'd bought a house there a while back and I'd say the club knew he was going. Hard to match that kind of money especially when Rodgers is already taking a big slice Anyway, I'm of the opinion that Rodgers can always find his WR's ... our real issues and weaknesses aren't in that area

Davante is a big loss but does create a lot of salary cap relief & space ... 1st & 2nd round picks for Adams will probably be used on a couple of WR's anyway (effectively, on way less money) And apparently, there is loads of college talent in the WR position in the upcoming draft Still, he won't be easily replaced as the bloke is a star ... now he will be on the end of the Derek Carr passes so we'll see how that goes in that set up. Reunited from Fresno State

Yeah, the 1000m at Flemington is all about the timing of the run (because the run will almost certainly appear) ... reckon Lombardo wins. Mick Price places his horses well Just doing straight out win bets tomorrow although a trifecta in the Slipper & All Star Mile ... big pools and the dividends can pay a lot with the right combo If Coolangatta wins the Slipper, the filly could end up with a stellar career as a result

All 3 winning pays about 200-1 Pounding winning with the other 2 running a place is showing a dividend of about 25-1 - good value I like Coolangatta in the Slipper but there are any number of chances including the 3 placegetters in the Diamond (Daumier, Revolutionary Miss & Jacquinet) I'm Thunderstruck (each-way) in the All-Star Mile but it will have to get past Zaaki. Been set for the race a long way out Happy punting folks!

Best Bet Saturday R9 No.5 Paperboy (W/P) 9.50/3.00

Will post up a few of the 'America's Game' Super Bowl doco's from time to time in the off-season but in the meantime, here's the Rams win in Super Bowl LVI - Mic'd up Rams vs Bengals SB LVI Mic'd up (this link will take you to youtube)

Followed the game on delay and via 'land only ... excellent work peoples and highly amusing I remember a time not so long ago when we weren't much chop and therefore the other games were often rarely commented on But now that we're the Reigning Premiers (with a terrific win to start the season) the mood is way different. We're looking for the challengers instead of vice-versa

Huge crowds at the Cheltenham festival ... excellent racing as well and a top coverage by ITV (UK) On Sky Racing Central if you've got access ... or through the TAB site or Sky Racing site

Probably needs to take a month off. He's not doing himself (or his team) any favours right now Not an excuse but some losing coaches are often still immersed in game-day-mode and in no position to talk in a rational manner at the pressers (which are held not long after the final siren) He might want to try the Bill Belichick approach (mumble away until the journo's are bored witless) But that behavior tonight was inexcusable

Petracca Oliver Brown Langdon May Brayshaw Unlucky - ANB, Gawn, Viney & LJ. T-Mac in the backline was important as well In fact, our decimated/makeshift backline only allowed 3 goals in the 2nd half. All that talent missing yet we stood up. A sterling performance

Tremendous win, all things considered 5 backmen from the GF out and we still find a way ... too professional for them

With 4 backmen out, any sort of win will do One point does it

I'm not sure Hunt & Langdon working together gets talked about all too often Hunt had his best season last year but often gets remembered for past deeds. But judge him on his improved footy as he could improve again He's a dasher with a few flaws. And as we saw in the finals, long kicks into the forward line to a 1 on 1 wasn't such a bad ploy. Hunt can provide those types of kicks as he gets it a bit Up until round 21 last year his spot wasn't under the question ... gets injured though and couldn't get back in because Bowey excelled. That's footy As a role player, he's unique because of his pace, dash and straight-ahead style. A point of difference that is often needed

We played 7 players through the backline last year with Brayshaw periodically floating back to help out So 3 are out (Hibberd, Petty & Rivers) replaced with Joel Smith (Petty's role) & Hunt probably covers for Rivers on Langdon's side of the ground (Hunt & Langdon work well together) So we're one backman short but are we? Bowey will play more minutes you'd imagine and Brayshaw and/or Harmes & Jordon can help out occasionally across half back (if needed) Which gives the team 6 backmen with possibly 3 others to help out covering for 1 permanent backman-type So if Tomlinson plays (as well as Smith) we might have lacked some dash out of defence. A line-ball call but one had to miss out It's a well balanced side and Dunstan probably gets the sub role ... remembering that we'll need the legs to offset some players getting gassed round 1

It's either/or with retirement in my view Some don't ever want to quit so when that's the case, the mind is right at least