Macca

Best Bet (Saturday) Moonee Valley R8 No.1 Jungle Edge (Win) $4.60

The 1st Group 1 of the new season is coming up at Randwick on Saturday but there are 6 Stakes races in all across Melbourne & Sydney ... all of them good betting races. Moonee Valley R6 McKenzie St. Moonee Valley R8 Carlyon St. Randwick R4 Silver Shadow St. Randwick R5 Show County Quality Randwick R6 Toy Show Quality Randwick R7 Winx St (Group 1)

I'd forgotten about the playoff tips DZ ... to be honest I'm just catching up with the overseas sports. I see Vancouver made the playoffs ... my cousin lives there and is a big fan. So I lean towards them a bit but not with any great passion. They might reach the last 8 with a bit of luck. But the last 8 will see some excellent match-ups anyway. Islanders, Vegas, Avs & Bruins are almost certainly going to feature. Tampa as well by the looks of it.

Horrific crash in the MotoGP ... no one seriously hurt thank goodness but Valentino Rossi can count his lucky stars. The vision can be viewed online with a quick search. Jack Miller the Aussie leads the race with 18 laps to go and hopefully he can hold on and win.

How 'bout those Demons!

Showmanship showed a bit ... dominant in the end for sure. Pikey in the last in Melbourne insread of Ascot! Viridine just too good whilst Savatiano stood out for those who weren't looking (yours truly included) An even day with a few winners ... North Pacific looks one to follow out of the races up in Sydney.

You left out 'or Tomlinson' on the wing rjay. I haven't seen much in Tomlinson either and that was the thrust of my argument. So either/or without any great expectations Again, our best 15 players need to perform and neither Tomlinson or T-Mac are best 15. We've probably got about 15 who could fill the last 7 spots. It might only be 5 spots if 17 are assured of a game. I've just gone with 15 as a roundabout figure.

We need our best 14 or 15 players playing well and the rest could play to specific roles rather than be looked upon as possible standouts. For instance AVB could play because of the physicality and aggression that he brings or Jones plays because of his experience. T-Mac could play in the hope that he rediscovers his best form whilst fulfilling a role as a utility. But none of the last 6 or 7 players picked will be difference makers so fulfilling a role therefore can kick in instead. And despite Goodwin saying that we're going to pick our best side I believe that players do have to be managed with all these short breaks. Gawn may not come up but if he does then it might be T-Mac or Tomlinson for the wing position. Both can probably do ok without any large expectations attached. Either/or. Viney plays if fit but I reckon we'll see a more even spread of minutes for all our midfielders ... some might rest forward or back or on the bench. Brayshaw rediscovering his form means the selectors would be loathe to put him back on a wing The bloke we need to get playing well again is Harmes. A tagging role and/or more midfield minutes. A run-with role?

Well in 3 or 4 years time we might have an absolute gun midfield which could allow us to play Oliver on a half back flank. Imagine a Brisbane Lions type midfield circa early 2000's. Great lists win big and in my decades of support we've never had a 'great' list. So Oliver playing as a distributor/sweeper across half back is dependant on the team being a great one.

I'm commenting on what my eyes see and what has often happened. Historically and what is likely to happen with regards to where our players play. I haven't actually looked at the line up of the team that closely. The ins & outs are noted though and how we've used our principle on-ballers up until now is plain to see. What is unknown is how we will share the ruck duties ... they'd have a plan but what was that Mike Tyson quote?

See post above Wyl

Jones can play as a half forward but he is nearing the end. Replacements aren't all that flash either so I'd still play him. But he needs to lift. T-Mac probably had to come in once Gawn was ruled out but Tom is horribly out of form. It's not over for him though but again, he needs to find his best form. The ruck duties look like being shared instead of the Pruess option. That's fair enough. I'rm reasonably happy with the selected team (all things considered) but we've got 5 blokes who are ideally suited for the clearances and centre bounce downs. That's 1 too many for my eyes thus my push for Viney to the forward line. Way down the track Oliver could be a star at half back ... but he's a ball magnet on the ball right now. Brayshaw feeds off him but for whatever reason, we've gone away from that.

Excellent point Wyl ... you have to wonder why we'd ever set players for roles away from what they're best suited for. I can understand such moves if they were entirely necessary but those types of moves are often unnecessary. To be fair, a few moves have benefitted the team such as T-Mac to the forward line but lets face it, his role as a defender was questionable anyway. Petracca on a forward flank? Harmes on a back flank? Brayshaw on a wing? Would have better to rotate the 4 onballers whilst using Viney up forward. So off to the bench for 1 of the aforementioned 4 and/or occasional stints for 1 of the 4 as a high half forward. And you don't want your best players on the bench for extended periods of time such as what we've done with Brayshaw and (sometimes) Harmes. For the record, for team balance, I would have played Viney as a forward pocket from 2018 onwards. As valuable as he's often been when playing on the ball that decision ends up effecting team balance.

Draft revisionists are everywhere though MC. Endeavouring to put high school age junior footballers in a numbered order of how good they are going to be 5 years down the track is crystal ball gazing at best. But we're told otherwise. Of course we've been a disappointment from an overall perspective but we were just dreadfully unlucky with our draft choices. And if Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver and the like had have been abject failures we'd be banging on about the draft (again) Petracca & Brayshaw were standout juniors much like Scully & Trengove were. And Oliver won the Morrish medal which has often been seen as a millstone. Last year's failures were put down to 'off season surgeries' (by many) and now it's the coach who is in the gun. I see our failures as an overall problem ... from the Board all the way down to the last player on the list. And our list is not all that talented either especially when it comes to disposal skills and decision making skills. A new coach isn't going to fix that in a hurry. We need an injection of 6 top players if we're going to be a true contender. A team generally needs at least 5 or 6 years as a true contender in order to be able to win 1 or maybe 2 flags. We could jump up and fluke one but I don't like the odds on that happening. I'd rather see the club build a great list of players and go from there.

We need to win at least 1 of the next 2 but both teams that we're playing are undermanned so we really should win both. And if we want to play finals we can't drop too many more games. Of course all those involved at the club need to take it one match at a time. And it's entirely possible for us to lose today and then beat Collingwood. But we have to be at least 5 & 6 before the last 6 games are played. And then we'd need to win 5 of those last 6 games to have a realistic chance to play finals. The 17 game season reminds me of the NFL where a team generally needs to win 10 of 16 to be 'virtually' assured of a playoff spot.

Didn't get a chance to watch the Tiges/Port game but listened to a fair bit of it. Sounded like it was a cracker of a match. But how would have our team have measured up against either team?

In 2013 the club asked for and received a grant of $1.4Million from the AFL ... not long after Mark Neeld was sacked. It was rumoured at the time that we did have a cash-flow issue in 2013 and we did post a loss of $1.7Million that season (the only loss between the years 2008 - 2018. But I believe that Goodwin doesn't need the team to make the finals to keep hold of his position. 7 - 9 wins will see him survive especially if we see W/L tallies of 5 & 6, 7 & 8 etc as the season progresses. Every time we get a win the call for Goodwin's head dies down dramatically. Anyway, we have far bigger issues than just the coach. We have deep-seated cultural problems which runs right through the club from the Board down. And the players can't be let off the hook again either. They play on their own terms and have done for years.

I read somewhere that the NBA have instigated 'virtual' spectators DZ but I haven't seen any vision yet. Worked well apparently. Maybe Ice Hockey can go the same way! No tips but in other news a TAB account (for those who have one) are showing all(?) NBA & MLB games live on their app (free) ... not sure about the NHL & NFL. I'm more of a neutral with the Ice Hockey but I do like the match-ups between the long established teams (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Rangers, Chicago, Detroit & Pittsburgh.

I couldn't really find a best bet DZ but I've got Brimarvi Vehero in a multi or 2 ... Morphettville Race 3 No.4 $2.60 James Jordan has it as one of his best bets as well. Good luck to anyone having a punt tomorrow. The racing has been a godsend during this time. A terrific distraction.

Joe might have got word that the AFL knew about our salary cap breaches and got in first.

It only seems a short time ago when I was talking up the chances of 'Sunlight' in the Magic Millions 2yo classic (it won) ... but today the mare was sold for $4.2Million at the Magic Millions sales for broodmares. That went quick! So how many foals can a mare produce? 6 or 7? 8? ... that's at least $500k per foal without the stud fees. Big money. The connections have done extra well after paying $300k for the horse (with winnings of over $6.5Million) Sunlight will always remain a favourite of mine.

And our argument that numerous others tanked during the tanking era served us no favours The investigation was about the MFC and we were on our own (save for many other clubs clamming up so as not to draw attention to themselves) For instance, we heard nothing from the widespread tanking Carlton when we were investigated. So there is no fairness and if Hawthorn do happen to be investigated (not likely) they will be on their own. But again, what are the chances?

So what if he is a bit accentric. Doesn't make him wrong. The accusation of eccentricity could be thrown about everywhere. And that includes you and I alongside numerous others on this very site We post and read away here for 30+ hours every week ... isn't that a bit strange? Or nornal? Who are we to cast aspersions. The truth is that many of us are 'unconventional' Gut feel LDcV .. is Scott telling the truth? I lean towards yes but what do you think? Do you believe him or more importantly, do you want to believe him?

Not at all surprised but the story will probably go away because the AFL will make it go away. And they won't have to lift a finger to make it go away either. With the backing of the media & general footy public. One big happy family and it gets kept that way. Look at the systemic cheating that went on at Essendon ... 80% of the footy public didn't want to know about it and simultaeously clammed up and went into denial. And it was the much despised Essendon. And that included 80% of the prominent posters right here on this site. No comment at all from any of them. The silence was deafening Footy rules and footy must win out. The same people often complain bitterly when it suits but they protect footy like it's their children. There is no absolute honesty and never will be. Tony Liberatore was told to shut up or else over the widespread tanking that went on at Carlton. So he shut up. Don Scott will be portrayed as an eccentric old fool. It's already hapoening on this very thread. But what he is saying could well be true and if so, a proper investigation should follow. But what are the chances?

Brisbane's intensity and 2nd & 3rd efforts outmatched us ... until the last quarter We left our run too late and our kicking for goal was an issue today as well. A game we should have won.