Macca

As for the post-season tipping comp, this is what we did last year ... Thought we'd go again with the same format unless there might be a better way. Post up your thoughts but we don't want to make it too complicated. For added interest we've traditionally posted up the scorelines for all the playoff games (with the SB scoreline being the relevant scoreline) Week 1 - For each winner - I point Week 2 - For each winner - 1 point Week 3 - For each winner - 2 points SB - For each winner - 3 points plus ... an extra 2 points if the actual winning score (not margin) of your winning team falls within 3 points of your team's nominated winning score. Example - Actual SB score ends up as Ravens 30 Seattle 28 If your scoreline had the Ravens winning and if the score you post up for the Ravens is anywhere from 27 - 33 points, you'll be awarded 3 points for the win plus 2 extra bonus points for getting the winning score within 3 points. n.b. Your scoreline has to have the Ravens winning to qualify for the 2 bonus points. The losing team's score in the SB is not relevant with regards to the possible bonus points available. Anyway paging ... @JV7 @Go the Biff @Macca @Gorgoroth @Dee Zephyr @Clintosaurus @layzie @Dappa Dan @DeeSpencer @Dr. Gonzo @titan_uranus @DemonDave

Except the Rabbitohs have got a super large pokies venue of their own (Star City Casino) The Panthers have got 6 venues including the 'World of Entertainment' venue. So whether these clubs have always had them, just getting into them or revisiting, it all amounts to the same thing. Read more here

Speaking of which ... (7mate (Ch73) are broadcasting all 4 wildcard games)

Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2019 JV7 Go the Biff, Gorgoroth, Macca Dee Zephyr, Clintosaurus --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2018 DeeSpencer Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth, Dappa Dan Dee Zephyr, Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Clintosaurus Go the Biff Dappa Dan --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell Clintosaurus, DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell, Macca JV7, DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan DeeSpencer Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 cowboy_from_hell pantaloons Gorgoroth Strafford Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2018 Gorgoroth Go the Biff DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Macca Clintosaurus Go the Biff, JV7, Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth, JV7 Clintosaurus Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 JV7, cowboy_from_hell Gorgoroth, Macca DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7, pantaloons Gorgoroth, Go the Biff Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboy_from_hell, Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall Medal Tally Gold Silver Bronze Gorgoroth 4 0 7 Macca 3 2 4 JV7 3 2 1 ---------------------------------------------------- cowboy_from_hell 1 3 1 Go the Biff 1 3 1 DeeSpencer 1 2 3 Clintosaurus 1 2 3 Dappa Dan 1 1 1 Strafford 1 0 0 titan_uranus 1 0 0 pantaloons 0 2 0 DemonDave 0 1 0 Dee Zephyr 0 0 2 

And we have a winner in the tipping competition - JV7 breaks through for his first win. Well played JV and fully deserved! You regained the lead after often leading earlier in the season and then sprinted away in the home stretch - too good! And well played to all the participants - the comp keeps the thread ticking over if our teams fall by the wayside and acts as a way of maintaining interest if there isn't a lot to talk about. I will post up the 'Hall of Fame' records directly. But to the victor go the spoils JV7: 2019 NFL Leading Tipster Final Scores in the Tipping Comp 16 - @JV7 13 - @Go the Biff, @Macca 12 - @Gorgoroth, @Dee Zephyr, @Clintosaurus 10 - @layzie 8 - @Dappa Dan 4 - @DeeSpencer

Seattle have done it again ... another unfathomable unforced error on the 1 yard line. This time around 'Beast-Mode' MarkII was to be enacted but they made the unbelievable delay-of-game mistake. Unforgivable really. Marsharn would be mighty peeved but their fans would be most bewildered. To go from being inside the 1 yard line (with 3 plays) back to the 5/6 yard line makes such a difference. Reminded me of when McCarthy opted for field goals from the 1 yard line in that NFC Championship game against Seattle a few years back. Chose not to back Rodgers or our defence. And yeah, I'm still filthy about it. You don't get gifted opportunities in pro sports. No risk, no reward. 36 seconds between plays isn't it? Rank Amateurs. 49ers now have home field throughout the playoffs and that is fully deserved. They have had a great season and are going to be hard to beat in the playoffs. The Ravens have a similar storyline in the AFC.

1-13 margin bets still aren't up on Laddies so I took Detroit & Carolina at the line (+12.5 & +13.5) Good luck DZ and let's hope we get a Christmas dividend up. You never know!

I'll add in the Packers 1-13 You got another one for a pic4 DZ?

For what it's worth I like the New Orleans Saints again DZ (1-13) although that option isn't up (yet) on Laddies. History tells us that in week 17 of the NFL the teams that need to win generally do win ... but all the games are divisional match-ups so the games can be close. I fancy my chances on those 1-13 margin bets.

Not much of a choice is it? The cash grab with all the ethics & morals attached (Pokies) or we probably post losses if we don't win enough games in any given year. The NT venture was never well received by a fair proportion of the supporter base but $800k per game is good coin for otherwise low drawing home game's at the MCG. And if we have a run of outs as what has previously occurred then the debt rises. However, it should be noted that despite posting a loss this season ($1.58Million) we did reduce our debt by $628k. Effectively that brings the loss down to about $930k this season without the help of either of our locked-in Blockbuster fixtures (ANZAC Eve & QB) And a reasonable result from the 2 BB games could return $2Million (combined) It should also be noted that the club has property holdings worth $8.7Million along with an investment portfolio worth $7.8Million. And our overall debt sits at about $2Million. So it's not panic stations yet but ... The profits from the Pokies & NT income was/is always going to be difficult to replace so let's hope the club has a decent plan (apart from the no-brainer plan of winning games) 5 winning seasons in a row (at least 12 wins) and we're almost certainly posting decent profit's on a regular basis but given our history, that's a very big ask.

Saints, Packers, Titans

Yeah, although the 3 you've picked are the most likely to salute and you probably couldn't go any other way JV (being the leader) The rest of us in contention need to go a bit different no matter when we put up our tips. And all 3 teams you've picked have a lot to play for where as their opponents don't have anything to play for (except pride) All 16 of the games are divisional encounters so we may well get some close finishes.

Well with just week 17 (3 points) to go up to 6 participants can still win the tipping comp (remembering that we can have multiple winners) ... podium places are still up for grabs as well. I'm tipping there will be a few 'left-field' tips this week as that's what might be required to win the 'coveted' prize. Good luck to all and thanks for playing. Have a safe and prosperous Christmas & New Year (and don't forget that we've traditionally conducted a post-season tipping comp with predicted scorelines etc - more on that later) Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 13 - JV7 12 - Gorgoroth, Dee Zephyr 10 - Go the Biff, Layzie, Macca 9 - Clintosaurus 8 - Dappa Dan 4 - DeeSpencer

Banged up teams can occasionally rally and perform well. If you do win the division you'll be facing either the 49ers or Seattle by the looks of it as I believe the Viking are locked into the 6 seed. Home field, a fired up crowd and freezing weather and you just never know. And you have won at Lambeau earlier in the season (with a banged up secondary) And after today I'm getting a little excited about the Packers playoff attributes. I reckon we need the bye in week 1 to have a chance ... new coach, new schemes and a different way of playing benefits with that extra week of planning. And Jones would benefit from a weeks rest ... he's been asked to do a lot all season. To secure that bye the Packers need to win at Detroit next week. If that happens and Seattle beat the 49ers, Green Bay will be seeded no.1. And I don't believe we're all that good either. We've had the softest schedule I can ever remember but winning is winning and we've won 3 or 4 tough games on the road. We're not out of it.

And now your Eagles look set to host a playoff game in week 1 of the postseason Unless you lose to the Eli led Giants next week

Weekend Special Monday NFL 5.00am New Orleans @ Tennessee New Orleans Win (1-13) $2.50

Ravens, Steelers, Saints

We're playing for 1 point only this week with 3 points up for grabs in Week 17 ESPN Playoff Machine Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 12 - JV7 11 - Gorgoroth, Dee Zephyr 10 - Go the Biff, Macca 9 - Layzie, Clintosaurus 8 - Dappa Dan 4 - DeeSpencer

We have a new leader in the tipping comp - JV7 has regained the leader (Schillaci always did have that extra kick nearing the finish line!) Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 12 - JV7 11 - Gorgoroth, Dee Zephyr 10 - Go the Biff, Macca 9 - Layzie, Clintosaurus 8 - Dappa Dan 4 - DeeSpencer Next week we play for 1 point and in week 17 we play for 3 points. All active participants are in a position to win outright or tie for the win ... we don't have a tie-break to decide the winner. Thus, there can be multiple winners. The tallyboard is the closest that I can ever remember too. ESPN Playoff Machine As for today's games the highlight might have been the Bills winning and therefore setting up a showdown with the Pats next week with the AFC East title up for grabs. All over for the Rams you'd imagine (unless they win their last 2 with the Vikings losing their last 2) whilst next week's Dallas/Eagles game will almost certainly decide that division as well. All the big guns secured victory in week 15 except for the costly loss by the 49ers. Still, if the 49ers win their last 2 they'll win the NFC West. But a trip to Seattle awaits (Week 17) It's all happening!

I've only got 9 Gawn, Oliver, Salem, Brayshaw, May, Lever, Harmes, Viney & Petracca Outside of the above with a need to establish themselves (or re-establish) as notable contributors to the team (on a regular basis) ... Melksham, T-Mac, Hibberd, Jetta, Jones, Fritsch, Hore, Tomlinson, Langdon, AVB. Of the rest many need time (at least a year or 2) but a few could make the quantum leap even this year ... in fact, 2 or 3 possibly/probably will establish themselves as permanent fixtures in the top 12 or 15 as part of the 22. And of course the injury factor will no doubt intervene.

That's another category DJ Clubs with ultra-talented list's that only achieved the ultimate prize once. Pies of 2010, Pies of '90? Bombers of 2000 (as you've pointed out) Saints of '66, maybe the 1980 Tigers?, Blues of '95 are another. Port Adelaide of 2004 should have added another flag given their list. We're not in the conversation though as the '88 team and 2000 team had a collective H & A record of 27 wins with 17 losses. We have clearly never been good enough since '64. Having said all that we look to be building a very good list but we are still a fair way off having a great list. And as previously stated, teams with a great list don't always win big. How about those Buffalo Bills? 4 Super Bowl appearances in a row with a fantastic team but they missed out every time. Sport can be cruel at times.

Talent and good coaching wins games - and a team needs lots of it. All the rest of it is mostly bs. And good coaching and a top-rate list requires a switched on board, a top level CEO and good admin along with a well stocked and well functioning FD. Right now, I'm not sure we've got all of the above or even any of the above. We're probably 'ok' in a number of areas. But ok doesn't win big. The Junction oval was canned left right & centre yet we played in 12 finals series over a 20 year stretch from '87 to '06 whilst residing there. No real aftermatch facilities either. Also, the Junction oval was well renowned for having the best surface going around so maybe there's a bit of a clue on what is actually required to be successful. But I'm not advocating a return to the Junction oval. What I am saying is that having first class facilities or a spot to meet after the games doesn't matter that much. That stuff doesn't matter at all if the list is devoid of talent. Prior to '87 and from '64 onwards we were devoid of real talent Post '06 we were devoid of real talent. So it's about talent, pure & simple. And we've never had enough talent to realistically challenge for a premiership or 2 ... post '64. We've seen 5 teams have terrific era's where they've had really talented list's and they've still missed out on a flag (Pies '64 - '69, Pies '70 - '73, Pies '77 - '81, Cats '89 - '95, Saints '08 - '11) So there's your answer folks ... IMO. Having said all that, it would be 'nice' to meet up with fellow Demon supporters at a designated centralised venue

And to complete the trilogy I've gone for some value again, fellas. Weekend Special Monday 01.00am France Ligue1 Bordeaux vs Strasbourg Bordeaux (Win) & +2.5 Goals Match Score $4.25

Our forward line (as a whole) was mostly dysfunctional in 2019 and we needed to change things up in that area. We've drafted a forward/ruckman (pick 3) and spent a top 10 pick on a small forward. So the FD must believe we've got some issues to address in our forward line. Again, on paper the forward line looks ok but that's not how it panned out in 2019. The delivery to the forward line was often poor as well but it would help a lot if our forwards played in front and got to the right spots. To be a top 4 team you generally need a forward line that is firing on all cylinders. And to be consistent finals team the forward line can't be anything worse than B or B+ I would give our forward line in 2019 a 'D' so there's a lot to make up, old dee.

We'll be lucky to play finals ... the list looks good on paper only. And even then that's with many on the list being over-valued anyway. 12 wins is a possibility though but that number doesn't guarantee finals. But I'm not one to get all buoyant in the off-season (in a general sense) Building up false hopes often leads to anger & disappointment. The issues we need to address ... A dysfunctional forward line without any real marking power A lack of genuine leg speed (especially from the stoppages) Dash out of defence as well as the ability to set up goals out of defence Disposal issues with regards to kicking to position Kicking for goal (yips) Clearance work that leaves a lot to be desired A/B+ talent depth at the top end and a lack of talent with regards to the last 6 or 8 picked in the 22 The ability to play as a unit (team football) 2nd & 3rd efforts aren't up to par Overall coaching that may or may not be up to scratch That's a lot of boxes to tick in one off-season. Again, despite all of the above we've still got the ability to win 10-12 games as there are any number of teams who are in a similar position to us. But it's a rarity to see a team beat all the teams they should beat unless that team is a genuine top 4 team. And we are not that team. Not yet anyway. 2020 is about gaining respectability and setting the team up for a genuine shot beyond next season. If we get a dream run with injuries we might end up playing a final or 2. But that's an optimistic call. I just can't see the team winning 14 games (which would virtually guarantee a finals berth)