Macca

Cats are well poised despite those who believe they will fall away ... multiple big key forwards who can take grabs & kick goals are priceless Smaller forwards will often give greater output as a consequence of those big KPF's firing. The connection is obvious to my way of thinking and often can't be measured by stats i.e. Inside 50 count is often largely irrelevant with an underperforming forward line. Basics such as playing in front, multiple leads to the hot spots, 2nd & 3rd efforts, attacking the contest with vigour, retaining possession, kicking straight and contested marking are all important factors So how do we stack up in those areas DJ? (It's a bit of a rhetorical question ? )

Good forwards stand out and we don't have them. Even a star-studded midfield would not be able to overcome a forward line such as what we've largely had since the Neitz era When we played finals under Northey, Daniher & Balme we had a number of standout forwards However, circumstances can change from year to year and a good example of that was 2018 ... T-Mac, Hogan & Weideman all fired to an extent and our smaller forwards contributed a bit as well (not a lot though)

So 14 wins guarantees a finals spot whilst 13 wins probably gets you there. A team needs to be above average and consistently good just to get to 13 or 14 wins. You've got to win 2 out of 3 ongoing We can get there if our forward line fires ... the midfield & defence can be improved upon but it's the forward line that needs to improve dramatically (as a collective) In modern footy it's easier to defend well (flooding helps enormously) but conversely, it's much harder to have a functioning forward line these days. Coaching the forward line plays a big part especially specialist coaching so Greg Stafford has the job ahead of him. I reckon he needs help from others as it's a big job for one person An example of the standard required is how Richmond play total team footy within their own forward line ... something we need to aspire to and achieve

McAvaney was a great footy commentator and is probably the best sports broadcaster we've ever had His footy commentary was exemplary with regards to his knowledge of the game and the 'gushing' I always just saw as an amusing aside. Never bothered me Even better with the Olympics and horse racing and Bruce will continue in those areas but will go out on top re the footy. Kudos

Mistakes will be made with regards to the adjudication of this new rule but mistakes are made with all adjudications. That's the sport and if you want perfection and/or consistency you won't get it But I really like the new rule in terms of what it could do for the sport as a spectacle ... and that matters to me far more than a few iffy decisions More open footy and more scoring with less congestion & stoppages is what I want to see and so do many others So hopefully this new rule helps us get to that point. Those who like footy the way it is now need to remember that they used to watch (and enjoy) the sport when it was more open with less congestion and with more scoring

The All Star Mile final field has been decided It's a crack field but would have liked to see Verry Elleegant, Colette, Kolding & Avilius included but with 2 Autumn carnivals running side by side, we don't get to see the very best all racing against each other. Still, there's at least 9 winning chances for the Moonee Valley version of the event (to be run on the 13th March) And if Streets of Avalon can get to the lead and put the brakes on, it can get into the finish Promises to be a terrific race, all the same

As it turns out the horse (Buffalo River) apparently does have a habit of taking off like that (according to a few of the pundits) Can't say I've seen it before but it is a frontrunner And it's not like Jamie Kah to ride like that anyway ... in fact, she rates them in front better than any other jockey I've seen (in recent times) You just don't expect that sort of thing to happen but it does happen from time to time e.g. Twilight Payment took off at the 4 furlong mark in the cup but still managed to hold on I'd be getting on Buffalo again but maybe not at Flemington! ?

Racing at Sha Tin today Here's a few links that can help if you're playing Expert Video Preview (Each Race) - Excellent Site Odds & Fluctuations (Available 2 or 3 days Prior to Raceday) Comprehensive Form Guide (HKJC Website) Form Guide (Racenet.Com) All The Tips - Available 9pm The Day Before Raceday (Tom Biddington & RacingPost - 2 of the Best)

Replays of the 3 Group 1's from yesterday

Didn't see that coming! 250-1 fixed odds Form was recently quite woeful although it did win the Sires Produce this time last year

Looked that way and it's a long straight. Jamie nearly always rates them well in the lead too Who knows? ... the horse just took off and when that happens the jockey either restrains them (which can backfire) or goes with it At Caulfield & Moonee Valley it wins

I wouldn't be too concerned Gorg ... I always feel very lucky when a multi salutes (they are hard to get) I had Defiant in a quinella but didn't have the 2nd horse anyway We've still got 3 live chances and if picking winners was easy, we'd be sqillionaires! Got 'Leo', Four Moves Ahead & Fabergino up so another good start ... just need to finish off well (like the Demons yesterday!) Edit: Criaderas gets up for 2nd but got going too late by the sounds of it

Need a clear head tomorrow so just the 2 glasses of Pinot here! However, good wine doesn't give you a headache so 2 more on the cards whilst watching '3 wide no cover' (on now) Got the quinella in the Snoano race so 2 good collects and double winnings on 'The Regiment' ... decent night as it turned out

Open Minded drifted to 4.50 in the end and looked the winner a fair way from home I was on Madam Superior with Ollie on board and it looked good for a while OM too good though

All our picks have shortened or are shortening ... but that's always a good sign even though the dividend is lower I got good odds with Defiant Dancer, Criaderas & Sky Lab as I got on early Buffalo River ran really well last time and just got pipped by Regardsmaree which was carrying 6kgs less. Set weights tomorrow but Buffalo is carrying 4kgs less (And J Kah is on board)

Yep The kid stays in the picture (Chandler)

Yes, the big dividend definitely needs a small wager! You wouldn't want to miss out if they all salute I reckon we'll get at least 1or 2 winners out of the 4 though, all the same I've started the weekend well with 'The Regiment' winning (just!) Couldn't resist the double winnings with Laddies. Got a few quinellas & win bets to come but am already in front

All 4 winning is showing odds of about 800-1 But Buffalo River winning with the other 3 placing will net you 30-1 3 x Value Bets along with a very strong chance in Buffalo River gives a few options Good luck to all having a punt!

2nd Value Runner (Saturday Randwick) Race 8 No.13 Sky Lab 5.50/1.80

Superman is out of my race then! Phew! Anyway, post up another if you like and I'll post up something later as well

Yes but not all the time Gorg Depends on who is doing the Best Bet tips (which is Gator most of the time - but not always as he has the odd week off)

Here are Gators tips for Flemington on Saturday And Gators Game Plan can be found under the RSN Central category on the RSN Podcast Site

No worries Got my eye on a 1 or 2 at Randwick ... the racing at Flemington is very competitive especially the last 5 races

Same as last week, we both may as well have another go if the others aren't in yet (maybe wait until tomorrow evening?) The place multi is already sitting at $5.20 (with a boost) so 2 more picks could get the odds up to 15-1 or 20-1 n.b. Last week's successful ADATR 4 Pick saluted at 12-1. The team effort paid off!

I've always maintained it's about getting people together Spent decades at local level doing the above and we assembled in some murky venues!! But it worked and the Bentleigh club would probably lift their game if they knew a couple of hundred people were rolling up I've popped into the Bentleigh club on occasions outside of game days and it would need to be better presented as you've indicated But that is entirely possible with the right sort of communications