Macca

50/50 to play? As it stands this Omitron variant could easily play havoc with the footy season If we were heading for a squad mentality (across all the clubs) that thinking has just been fast-tracked Edit: Cummins out

@Gorgoroth @Dappa Dan @DeeSpencer @JV7 @Dee Zephyr @Go the Biff @titan_uranus @Clintosaurus @DemonDave @layzie 2 points on offer this week (Week 16 - 2 points, Week 17 - 3 Points, Week 18 - 3 Points) 2 or 3 absolute standout road chances this week - the good teams usually get it done at this stage of the season but there are other road chances And we get 2 Sunday games (AEDT) this week Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 11 - Go the Biff, 9 - Clintosaurus, JV7 8 - DemonDave, layzie, Gorgoroth 6 - Dee Zephyr, 5 - Macca 4 - titan_uranus 3 - DeeSpencer

Well on the way but we'll need a few more super productive years to be amongst the very best (all time) Didn't witness but Spencer, Ridley, Mithen, Dixon, Adams, Barassi and Big Bob did quite well (5 flags in 6 years)

Another huge factor was the ability of all our forwards to fight for the front position and maintain the front position. So important Pound for pound our forward line isn't star-studded but we were exceptionally disciplined this season past thus giving ourselves do many more scoring opportunities In previous years a lot of our forward forays amounted to not much at all

Another factor is we will be hunted ... other teams will search for weaknesses and that could happen most weeks Can't say I'm all that concerned though. More of a recognition of what can happen to premiership teams We are now building a squad rather than best 15 or best 22. Therefore, those who don't have a manic hunger could miss out And we haven't been in that unique position since (probably) the Smith days Our list (all things considered with the add-ons) needs to win 2 or 3 premierships as the opposition teams are not that great. So our excellence should prevail against the very good ... unless there is another team that somehow becomes an excellent team As for the fixture, just play the games in front of you. Every game is a challenge From a financial point of view we could have fared better but on the back of a flag, we can cash in, in other areas (sponsorship, high end membership and membership in general, coterie & merchandising etc) 2023 could be a bumper year with assured home games on Anzac eve & the QB clash

Barnburner at Lambeau Bears scoring on nearly every possession (or run back) Rodgers will need to find some more magic Edit: Bears didn't go on with it but their new QB looks the goods As an aside, everyone scored a point this week apart from Gorg & myself ... but we finish off the last 4 weeks with 10 points up for grabs (2, 2, 3 & 3)

Ravens Saints Dallas

@Gorgoroth @Dappa Dan @DeeSpencer @JV7 @Dee Zephyr @Go the Biff @titan_uranus @Clintosaurus @DemonDave @layzie Only the 1 point on offer this week as a precursor to 10 points up for grabs in the last 4 weeks ... but the 1 point on offer this week could be vital in a strategic sense. Good luck! Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 10 - Go the Biff, 8 - Clintosaurus, JV7, Gorgoroth 7 - DemonDave, layzie 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca 3 - titan_uranus, DeeSpencer

The extra week of the regular season pushes back the playoffs to a mid January start The schedule for week 1 (Wild-Card round) of the playoffs is as follows (all AEDT) Sunday Jan 16th 8.35am Sunday Jan 16th 12.15pm Monday Jan 17th 5.05am Monday Jan 17th 8.40am Monday Jan 17th 12.15pm Tuesday Jan 18th 12.15pm The rest of the playoffs are as per usual with the traditional fortnight between the Championship games & the Super Bowl And the Super Bowl is also to be played a week later - Monday 15th Feb

I thought of an idea for the tipping comp next year ... a bonus point awarded if only 1 tipster correctly picks 3 road winners in any given week Just adds a bit of interest especially if a tipster is trying to catch up or as an added incentive to tip away from the norm All year there have been any number of road winners that none of us have picked Just the 1 bonus point though ... even in the weeks where 2 or 3 points are up for grabs Just a thought

The race is well and truly on in the tipping comp. With 11 points still available (Week 14 - 1 Point, Week 15 - 2 Points, Week 16 - 2 Points, Week 17 - 3 Points & Week 18 - 3 Points) anyone can still win outright Time for some left field solutions for the backmarkers and this year, that strategy may just pay off. Or it won't! As for the frontrunners and those on the speed, do they dare to be different? No risk, no reward! We're all chasing down 'Go the Biff' but will he falter? Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 10 - Go the Biff, 8 - Clintosaurus, JV7, Gorgoroth 7 - DemonDave, layzie 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca 3 - titan_uranus, DeeSpencer

And the Patriots are (right now) the No.1 seed in the AFC. Who would have thought? Belichick gets his team into contention again Pats @ the Bills tomorrow and there is a stack riding on the result

Yes, just a bob of the head in it Dark Dream was a good thing beaten as it was held up for a run twice ... might be worth following up on in the open handicaps (as well as the winner)

Bucs Vikings Arizona

We'll need one of Harris, Head/Khawaha, Green or Carey to have a big series with the bat ... either that or have 2 of the 4 do reasonably well The other question is when we do we rotate our quicks and if that includes Cummins? Hoping to see Jhye Richardson debut soon enough And I reckon England will have already earmarked which matches Anderson & Broad will play in And as previously stated, England's top order isn't strong but if they get runs in any given test, they'll be right in the contest

Jamie Kah is back in style! Wins the Pakenham Cup on Smokin' Romans A superb ride. All class I was on Mimi's Award however I picked up a nice 2/3 win parlay earlier in the day

Most of us have got an idea about how we'll perform in the Ashes (our strength is our bowling whilst at the same time having a heavy reliance on Smith, Labuschagne & Warner with the bat. We'll need at least 1 other batsman to really stand up if we're to do well As for England's chances ... not playing in Perth is a bonus for them and the pink ball test in Adelaide will suit their seamers If their top 3 (possibly Burns, Crawley & Malan) can put together 100-120 then that can set things up for their strong middle order (Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler & Woakes) I reckon it will be a keenly contested series with Australia having a slight edge at home ... we should retain the Ashes but it won't be easy Lots of rain predicted for Brisbane and a draw there would suit England and not suit us. The 2nd test is in Adelaide under lights

@Gorgoroth @Dappa Dan @DeeSpencer @JV7 @Dee Zephyr @Go the Biff @titan_uranus @Clintosaurus @DemonDave @layzie 2 points up for grabs this week as we enter the business end of the season ... any number of road winner chances too Just be aware of the trap games! Good luck! Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 8 - Go the Biff, 6 - Clintosaurus, JV7, Gorgoroth 5 - Dee Zephyr, DemonDave, layzie, Macca 3 - titan_uranus, DeeSpencer

You have to put 2 and 2 together and if you are looking for absolute exactness, you won't get it Worldwide those aged under 12 haven't been vaccinated in great numbers (in a general sense) Those aged 13 - 15 haven't been vaccinated in great numbers either So it's almost certainly 16 and over as against the total population of those countries. The numbers won't be exact ... they can't be. But close enough? In my view, yes It's like wiki, it doesn't need to be perfect or have to be perfect The real pointers are the overflowing hospitals, those in ICU and the deaths (in the European countries & the USA) That can't be ignored no matter what the numbers tell us We're are doing well in Australia in comparison ... and there are a number of factors as to why (high vaccination rates, a more disciplined approach during lockdowns, mask wearing etc) But that's just my view ... others can have different viewpoints What's your overall view?

Google up 'Vaccination rates Worldwide' for all the info Wrecker You'll get a graph with drop-down facilities and below the graph is an 'About this data' icon that has further explanation I'm guessing the cases pertain to 12 years and over but it might be 16 years and over. Seen as more of an overview much like wiki provides

Yes, that could well be true Here in Australia I reckon the covid numbers can be managed (especially in comparison to many other countries) A more lethal variant of covid is a greater threat than the amount of unvaccinated we have (we are heading for 90% - 95% vaccinated - eventually)

30% in many European nations and 41% of Americans means there are a lot of conspiracy theorists. Too many Not that I disagree with your appraisal HT Mandates is the only solution then - but how to mandate? These people will cop token fines so more draconian measures will be needed We are seeing people give up their own career's all in the name of being an anti-vaxxer. As well as being shut out of society in terms of what they are allowed to do So do these anti-vaxxers stop their own children from being vaccinated? 30%+ in Europe up to 41% (USA)

Here in Victoria (where we have the most cases of covid) the numbers seem to be evenly spread out now in terms of municipalities & shires Even though the vaccination rates in 7 inner city municipalities here are lower than the rest (ranging from 73% - 80% as opposed to mostly 90%+ elsewhere)

What has surprised me is the amount of anti-vaxxers world wide. More so in affluent countries. And that the affluent countries aren't helping out the poorer countries with vaccine availability People have had ample time to get vaccinated and are these people not believing the actual numbers of covid cases, hospitalisations & deaths? Why would anyone dice with death? These people have got a far greater chance of dying from covid than they have from the vaccine ... especially if we get a variant of covid that is more lethal Austria are mandating vaccines from Feb 1st ... other countries will follow suit you'd imagine, DJ Low vaccination levels lead to more covid cases, more hospitalisations, more deaths and more lockdowns

So the UK & Germany have about 70% of their population double vaccinated yet both countries are still reporting in excess of 40,000 covid cases per day. 70% is nowhere near enough people vaccinated South Africa on the other hand has only 24% double vaxxed which means 45 million out of 59 million aren't vaccinated We are basically dealing with an unvaccinated country so whether it's Delta or Omicron, we could expect a big increase in covid numbers in South Africa. Their latest 7 day average is sitting at 4786 cases per day For more info go to google and type in ... 'Covid cases in (insert country) today' A graph will appear with a drop down facility to change the country of origin