Macca

Because they play in front and are very good at playing for free kicks (as we should be) And the AFL allows players to play for free kicks ... Spargo does it. Not an umpiring issue ... cause & effect Most free kicks (when the ball is in dispute) will go to the player in front ... just think about how hard it is to win a free kick playing from behind By contrast, Richmond play on the edge, are very aggressive at the player with the ball and are happy to give away professional free kicks. Result: Free kick differential the other way to the Bulldogs Besides all that, there are 1000's of footy acts that influence games which includes poor decision making, clangers & turnovers as well as all the rest of it

The real issue is that most won't realise that the sport is impossible to umpire properly ... and it's even more difficult these days with all the congestion and with so many players on the ball So using that as a starting point the end point by the tin-foil hat brigade and the crazed conspiracy theorists is that the umpires hate us and are cheats A gigantic shark is leaped and otherwise intelligent people end up joining in as the confirmation bias is enormous. It all starts at a young age and stays with us for our entire lives Unless you make a change So take 10 steps back, change your thinking and show respect. Don't be a bad loser and stop blaming umpires

Been reported that umpire Stevic left a message (with the relevant people) soon after the game that the contact was only light The defence will be jumping all over that you'd imagine. Not that it should matter as the act itself (and the intent) should be regarded as the most important aspect

An argument can definitely be made for Hunt but who goes out might depend on which team we're playing Can't see us going back to Hibberd and Bowie stays for mine. So Smith out for Hunt the only change Either that or no change and we stay tall down back But we need a bit of dash out of the backline ... Hunt had worked well with Langdon before being injured Bowie to work with Rivers & Brayshaw gives us some dash on both sides of the ground Salem often as the distributor to either half-back/Wing I'm more looking at how we want to play our style rather than being overly concerned with the opposition forward line (we've got May, Lever & Petty to mind the stay-at-home tall forwards) To be honest, the other teams need to be concerned about our collective backline. When we're all synced up, it's hard to find avenues through our backline (average score against - 65 points)

There's a lot more to it DN but we're winning out in one of the fundamentals of footy Our zoning, positioning, 2-way running, formations, pressure acts, 1%ers, tackling and all sorts of other aspects are very good as well And we consistently kick the footy to the right spots to give ourselves greater opportunities. And we're highly disciplined. There's a lot to like to a point where if we bring that type of total football, it's then up to the opposition to stifle us So I'm not concerned about other teams per se, more so wanting our team to bring our best

The biggest standout feature of our rise is how so many of our players now play in front of their opponents. And how we fight for the front position All over the ground but especially our forwards We're giving ourselves so many more opportunities to win the ball. Ball falls short we're in front and a large majority of frees are paid to the player playing the ball (think about how hard it is to win a free kick playing from behind) But free kicks are only a small part of the sport when factoring in the 1000's of football acts in any game of footy. Where we are winning out is when the ball is in dispute, we are playing in front. It is a huge advantage and can't be downplayed And our backman read the play so well that they are often playing in front by default So do all that and then break even or win the clearances and you're half way home By contrast, the Lions were caught out playing from behind too much so they paid the penalty As complicated as the game can be these days it's also a simple game as well

Mark Zahra out for the Spring as well now as he attended the same get-together (it's been discovered) Latest story is that all 5 jockeys might get an extra month for not being honest about it all. The Stewards have a history of being heavy handed for these types of things so why would anyone take them on? Strange goings-on

At local & country level that sort of behavior is not tolerated. Players get sent off for umpire abuse and then have to front a tribunal later on John Bourke got 10 years for pushing & tripping an umpire in a reserves game at VFL level Deisel Williams got 9 weeks for a slight shove Make no mistake, if they can prove intent in a deliberate way, he'll cop a lengthy sentence It's related to the 10 week ban for the Collingwood player for having a $10 bet. Zero tolerance for good reasoning

If that happened at local or country football level it's at least a year. Perhaps even 5 years or longer. It's just not on at any level Deliberate aggressive intent to a point where the umpire had to get out of the way to avoid greater contact They'll either come down on him like a ton of bricks or he'll get around 6 weeks And it were Oliver, I'd be equally as damning

Play well in a qualifying final with the team winning ... means so much more. The appraisals in the OP bear witness That player becomes a difference-maker and with it, a confident, extroverted winner Get enough of those types and you win - big! We went in as the superior team and we played up to expectations. In a qualifying final! (back in the day, the 2nd semi was the equivalent - sorta/kinda) It's been a while but we are primed & ready. Stage fright was 2018

What we now know about Brayshaw is that he is the ultimate team player He's a natural onballer/link player/released player who is needed to shore up a wing in a defensive role. And he does it without any fanfare But tonight was different ... suddenly his wing became an avenue of attack and Gus was front and centre. Kudos We had many good players tonight but a few who have previously copped flak shone through ... notably ANB, Viney & Gus. Rivers was back to his better form as well. Looked assured all night

Yep, and not unexpected either Big occasion player as he possesses an important quality - Class. In his element tonight His deft touches, knock ons & release possessions were immense. High IQ player. His wing was often the attacking aspect tonight I had him as one of our best players tonight along with Max, ANB, Clarry, Viney, Petracca & Salem Gawn was B.O.G ... the man is an absolute warrior. What a player & leader!!

We are men on a mission! Focused, frantic, frenetic, fabulous, fan-bloody-tastic!!! Where's the single-malt!!

Gus Brayshaw ... defensive wingman extraordinaire! Been good tonight

Excellent result Gorg I got the exacta twice and a big percentage of the trifecta ... needed Inspirational Girl to get into the finish for a bigger pay day Beau got the 1400m alright and hit the line like a good horse. So 1200m up to 1400m. The mile might be a tad too far but I wouldn't rule that distance out

Yep, the big boy is a star of the turf. Behemoth too good and Prebble rode it like it was the best horse in the race. Prebble picks ip $30k with a sling ... Jamie looks on forlornly!! That's racing! Beau was very brave with Tofane 3rd in a truly run race. The first 3 - all class

Ha ha! Ended up taking a wide exacta in the Memsie Stakes ... could pay ok with the right combo Good luck to all today!

Thinking about it all, the transgression seems out of character for Jamie Kah Quietly spoken, level headed, grounded and a real sensible type Then again, they probably just got on the drink and we all know where that can lead!

Jamie will bounce back as will the others ... everyone needs a wake-up call every now and again

Yes, the Victorian stewards handed down the penalty this morning. The 4 were already in isolation for 2 weeks as well as being fined $5k+ by the Government Still, Ollie & JMac served hefty suspensions for gambling related offences so big penalties come with the territory sometimes

The 4 aforementioned jockeys out for the entire Spring! Not surprising given how the stewards normally operate. A tad harsh but it was a blatant disregard of the rules with a lot at stake Prebble onto Behemoth & John Allen will ride Ayrton. And just to highlight what Jamie is missing out on ... 5% of the winnings (Jockey's share) in the Memsie St is worth $30k. Plus the 'sling'. And that's just 1 race! Ouch!

Grand achievement by Clarry! A ball magnet and super creative And he received at least 6 coaches votes in 12 games ... that can convert to being in the best 3 players on the ground on each of those 12 games 3 x 10, 3 x 9, 1 x 8, 3 x 7 & 2 x 6 If the umps see things in a similar way he will go close to winning the Brownlow The other thing in his favour is that we won 17.5 games and he dominated in 2 of the 4 losses as well as in the draw against the Hawks 27+ Brownlow votes is my prediction and that should be enough to win

Agreed re the big boy! But who gets on for the ride? Beau hasn't won beyond 1200m save for a BM64 win at Sandown over 1300m Tofane has stellar G1 form and Inspirational Girl rounds out my top 3 with her excellent G1 form

Certainly is ... racing.com are covering the story and all 4 jockeys (Jamie, Melham, Ethan Brown & Celine Gaudray) are out for the mandatory 14 days on the advice of the Chief Health Officer Another month on top of that and heavy fines? Could be more judging by the reaction of Giles Thompson. Not a happy camper! Whoever gets to ride Behemoth & Ayrton just got lucky!!

Fifty Stars rarely runs a bad race and has still got a bit of speed & kick. Streets has to go in. More so both those 2 for the multiples Colette likes it soft and J Cummings has bypassed the Winx Stakes for this race (may not get the conditions to suit though) Streets & Red Can Man should vie for the lead according to the speed maps. Both are very honest types