Macca

Too short to back it today though Wadda. Strange having a BM78 to finish the meeting but you're right about Harbour Views. A Blackbooker. I did well yesterday and was playing with house money today. No collects though! The punt giveth and the punt taketh away. That's racing I much prefer it when Melb & Syd are racing on the same day though. For whatever reason I don't like waiting around half an hour for the next race. Superstition kicks in. I'm a creature of habit!!

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From prep to prep some horses are just never the same. Brave Song might have needed the run or perhaps Caulfield didn't suit first up. And then we have the Black Heart Bart, Harlem & Gatting stories. Need a crystal ball sometimes! The quaddie could pay anything today. Especially if a roughie gets up in the last.

Brad Rawiller was the jockey we're referencing Wadda. He gave us the heads-up but I'm not sure any of the punters followed up. Some bookies might have even offered 150-1. Your quintessential "Turn up for the Books"

Just noticed your post above I do remember you mentioning the horse come to think of it. It wasn't a strong field but it was unwanted in the betting, all the same.

Another 100-1 shot wins a Group 1. A 9 year old to boot. Black Heart Bart salutes in the Underwood Stakes. Who would have picked that? The horse was retired a year ago, they bring it back and then this. Amazing.

And just like that Jamie Kah has a fall in the next race. The Medusa Touch. Sitting up and apparently ok but not sure if she'll be alright for her remaining mounts. Could be some concussion issues. Important thing is Jamie is ok

Jamie is very good especially with the middle distance races or further. She's a real horsewoman as opposed to just being a jockey. Like Bowman, Oliver, Walker et al. Jamie is riding Gatting in the Underwood and if the race is a truly run affair Gatting can win again. Trap for Fools, Gailo Chop & Homesman will probably ensure that the speed will be on so Jamie may well get another Group 1. And I'm on your choice of 'Brave Song' in the Testa Rossa Stakes (R8) It's first up form is excellent and it should be flying home.

I'm a great believer that great culture is built with a strict adherence to doing it the hardest way possible. Train hard, play hard and never forget to enjoy the moment. So party hard too but butter-up immediately. The bloke in charge (Goodwin) has got to get real tough with his best players. And we need to recruit some more 'best' players. We as supporters concentrate way too much on non-difference-makers. Not that we have any influence at all. We're just chatting in the pub internet style.

And fair enough too. If playing in a GF victory is one way of gaining club life membership, it's been a while between drinks prior to 2017 for the Tigers. How many players have actually played in a GF victory in the history of the sport over 160+ years? Maybe 1700 factoring in those who played in multiple flag winning sides. No sour grapes from me either. To the victors go the spoils. And Richmond are the benchmark. And if they can do it, we can do it. I'm a forever optimist with regards to the future.

Dusty put in a stellar last quarter to clinch the medal but the kid gets in the picture. What a debut and he was very influential. His disposal skills and decision making seemed to inspire his veteran teammates. It was as if they didn't want to be shown up. The Pickett debut is one hell of a story.

Well at least we know what we need to aspire to in terms of ambition (not necessarily copying their game style) 2nd & 3rd efforts are 2nd to none. GWS have been completely dismantled.

How good has this first gamer been? Inspired decision to play him. Cool as a cucumber An embarrassment of riches at Tigerland. They could win 1 or 2 more with this group.

Port Adelaide hold the record for the greatest losing margin in a GF

GWS have had no system and their forward forays have lacked any sort of purpose. What's the point of attacking via the half forward flank boundary line? Tiger defenders have had a field day. It would take a minor miracle for them to get back into the game but the Tigers can put them away as early as 5 mins into the 3rd quarter.

And some excellent racing at Rosehill today with any number of the favoured horses heavily supported. The Golden Pendant (Race 5) sees the WA star sprinter in 'Enticing Star' having her first run in the Eastern States. Chris Waller has the horse as his best for the day. And the Golden Rose (Race 7) has only 8 runners but it's a very good field. My best bet happens to be in the same race ... 'Bivouac' carrying the Godolphin colours trained by James Cummings. www.racenet.com Oh, and there's a Grand Final going on as well! Tigers to win but it could be a thriller. GWS are new to this sort of thing but they are an ultra-talented outfit. I reckon Tigers 1-39 is the safer option ($2.00)

And I want to be spoilt for choice Gonzo ha ha Imagine having a super great list? We've all seen super lists on numerous occasions going all the way back the great Demon teams of the 50's & 60's All things are possible and having an excess of talent and trying to fit them all into the salary cap is a fantastic problem to have. We should be so lucky And players who achieve success stick around and take pay cuts as well. Some go but then you can then win with the trades That's my template.

The stats tend to back up what we see as well ZZ. But not always. So you combine the numbers with the unmeasurables. I could be an optimist and foresee finsls next year but I'd rather be pleasantly surprised. One stat that was alarming and was a big 'tell' was our conversion rates from inside 50 entries as opposed to 2018. My quick appraisal was that our forward line became dysfuntional but the added eye test was how our midfielders were pressed and pressured when kicking into the forward line. 'Rjay' went real early when he stated that we'd been found out but by half way through the season the trend was there. Nothing that can't be addressed and fixed though. We do need to add a bunch of talented footballers if we're to be a true contender. Wouldn't hurt to have a few absolute difference makers too.

'Nature Strip' hangs on to win the Moir Stakes Miss Leonidas was mentioned strongly by one of pundits and very nearly pinched the race at 50-1. All the exotics thus paid well even though Sunlight got up for 3rd. F4 with Faatinah running 4th paid 12k. Chris Waller has set Nature Strip for the Everest but might have to gain entry via the Schillaci Stakes (unless one of the remaining slot holders nominates the horse) Not sure about the 1200m though, all the same. Still, the horse beat a crack field and now has 2 x Group 1's on the board.

Stats can be more than handy but how do measure a collective will to win, a never say die attitude, heart, general attitude, energy, ruthlessness, application & motivation. All key areas of footy or sport in general. The eyes have it FTP. I trust my own eyes as I'm sure you do as well. And decision making is almost impossible to measure correctly. Again, the eyes have it. Gut running & fitness levels? There's a lot to it.

Excellent night of racing ahead of us at the Valley. Of most interest will be the Moir Stakes (Race 7) which will be a mad scramble over the 1000m. Nature Strip is favourite but there are any number of speedsters that have drawn well The other races of note are the Scarborough Stakes (Race 5) & the JRA Stakes (Race 6) Both are good betting races. Go to Racenet.com for more details.

Hope you're right but I don't rate Weideman, T-Mac is overrated, VDB is constantly injured as is Smith, Hannan is an average footballer and KK has done nothing. May can play but has had injury concerns as well and needs to do a proper pre-season. I'd revamp the list as I believe our list is overrated anyway. Couldn't care less what Champion data says. My own eyes tells me we're not much chop. 5 & 17 is almost self-explanatory. As previously stated, 2018 is now not a template for me at all. Aberration year, we got found out and we need a change in personnel both with the playing list and in the coaching area (apart from Goodwin) The sport moves along at a rapid rate and we're now playing catch-up The latter (coaching area) is already happening whilst the former (list adjustments) is about to happen. Areas of our football such as pace, decision making and disposal skills are not AFL standard. Despite all that we can still win 9-11 games next season but we'll need to get a whole lot better in a number of areas. Which is quite possible. It's called critical analysis. The measurement I much prefer. But rather than single out any one individual, I'd rather look at everything all at once. You don't have to agree. In fact, it's much easier to just agree to disagree. It's not like any of our opinions matter anyway. The club will do what it sees fit. We are mere onlookers.

Packers have shown me enough to say that we can contend. Eagles too The NFC is up for grabs Meanwhile over in the AFC the Pats can stay there. Stay away from our conference!

There should be another name for that ... I see a 'Pick' as a throw to an opposition player But luck plays a part in sport. Eagles were the better team on the night though. It's a game of inches and we've had our fair share of luck over the years If the Packers had a decent running game we'd have probably won ... more so at Lambeau though. At Philadelphia it's tougher. Oh and congrats on 300 pages for the thread.