Macca

It should be noted that all the clubs are membership based and not privately owned. They are also not-for-profit organisations. So having oodles of cash reserves is just not possible with the way the clubs are run. The biggest issue is the guaranteed money paid to the players (albeit reduced down to 70% or thereabouts - overall) If that wasn't a thing then the clubs could possibly remain dormant for quite a while. Same for the NRL. In essense, the clubs go into financial meltdown because the players are still getting paid (collectively, huge amounts) And ongoing player contracts can or could be honoured ... thus creating more financial pressure. Coaching contracts less so as that money isn't 'necessarily' guaranteed (apart from the head coach's?) As it stands, the AFL has just borrowed about half a billion with 1 very big ongoing operating expense - player salary's. There's your real reason in a nutshell DJ. By the way, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) were insured against a pandemic-like event.

And to keep this thread ticking over Wadda I'll promote up some e-Sports iRacing Motor Racing if and when it appears. Maybe the F1's as well if it's happening (or if found) For instance ... over the next 10 Wednesday's (7pm) Foxtel and 10Play (free) are showing the iRacing (V8 Supercars) with the real drivers at the controls and playing for real points. It's better than one would imagine ... the graphics are superb. 10Play is available through the network 10 website. Once there, just look for the large rectangular V8 Supercars 'Icon.' Then click away. Works best on a PC. And Happy Valley is on Wed (late) as well so the Joao & Zac show rolls on! I will just do a few win bets and a couple of small multi's with those 2 as the conduits.

Yeah the lack of a crowd has made zero difference from my point of view GtB. The crowd is generally not part of the viewing experience and our ears are trained to the race caller anyway. Let's face it, it's all about the racing, horses & jockeys and they could pipe in the crowd noise for all I care. I don't notice it anyway.

No such luck my way Wadda but you win some, you lose some. It wasn't a strong card though but I knew that going in. Hard to evaluate form when there isn't much to speak of. Zac had an average day by his own standards. But both he and Joao have ridden 198 winners between them this season ... that's form worth following in anyone's book. Still, there's always next weekend and I'll be interested to see whether 'Nature Strip' runs in the G1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on Saturday ... Waller has spruiked the horse over the longer distance but we'll see. But because the racing may stop at any time the owners are running their horses to maximum fields. Prizemoney being slashed means that every dollar is being chased.

No problem Andy It's good that the site is still up and running

Those 2 often boot home 5 or 6 winners on any given raceday and if you had advanced knowledge of which ones were going to win then you'd win enough money to buy an island in the Pacific. Which would be more than handy right now! Favourites get beaten more often than not though Wadda so it's buyer beware. I prefer the 2 leg multi with the shorties ... smaller outlay but to win more. Or just do an exacta (some prefer the quinella or trifecta)

I follow Purton & Moreira because those 2 premier jockeys are often on the best 2 horses in any given race of the 10 or 11 race card ... but not always. So I first of all evaluate which of their mounts can win and then do a series of 2/5 exacta's. Or if the odds are too short I default to the 2Pick multi. And there's usually 1 or 2 horses in any given race (not ridden by Purton & Moreira) that also can win. So you've got to do your form Wadda But 2 horses that should win tomorrow are R4 No.2 Good View Clarico (Purton) & R6 No.5 Colonel (Purton) Both are even money (or maybe 6-4) so the 2Pick multi works better ... 5-1 combined odds with a boost. Odds not up until lunchtime tomorrow so both could easily tighten in the market. I get the odds and tips from the following web sites Hong Kong Form Hong Kong Odds Hong Kong Tips

I got a few collects Wadda but went oh so close on a number of big dividend exotics. Reasonably confident about Sha Tin tomorrow but as always, luck plays a big part. The main thing is being able to have an avid interest in something ... I'm betting even smaller across more events so as to have more of a wider scope.

Relucent is out so new best bet ... Randwick Race 8 No.1 Danon Premium $4.60

I'm taking the conservative line Wadda ... buckled up for the long haul and am taking no risks. If we want to thoroughly beat this virus we have to be thorough. Each and every one of us. Find stuff that stimulates the mind rather than occupies the mind. I'm still working of course and am flat out busy. So that helps enormously but that's just me. The continuation of racing is fabulous ... more time to do the form if one is bored!

Normality within the abnormality Wadda ... contact sport would be asking for trouble but the racing & e-Sports can continue (at least for now) Really enjoyed the iRacing (V8's) on Wednesday - it was a lot of fun. And it continues for the next 10 weeks (7pm Wednesday's - Foxtel & 10Play) Here's hoping they do the same with the F1's. Cricket & Baseball can go close but the players would still encroach the 1.5 metre or 2.0 metre social distancing ruling. And the 'Hubs' idea can go completely pear-shaped with regards to other sports with just 1 positive test. An accident waiting to happen. I like our 3 picks too ... been doing ok at Sha Tin and with JJ's tips out of Morphettville. Have a lookout for James' tips later in the card ... he tipped the last 2 winners last Saturday (both 6-1 shots) Go to racing.com at about 10am Saturday's for his tips.

'Hellova Street' is in race 7 Wadda ... excellent choice though, all the same. A real good show. Best Bet: Caulfield Race 5 No.2 Relucent (Win) $3.80

Not usually a fan but at 7pm tonight on Foxtel & 10Play we're getting 'live' V8 Supercars (ESports) with the real drivers at the controls 3 races lined up tonight at Phillip Island & Monza Worth a look at least

And here are the replay's of the 3 other G1's from Randwick last Saturday ...

Well the racing continues and I'm on board. Oddly enough, the lack of crowds doesn't really make any difference. So there's some big racing coming up over the next 2 Saturday's at Randwick. My highlight from last Saturday was the commanding performance by 'Nature Strip' ... and for the first time Gator marked the horse away from his top pick (he rated the horse 4th) haha. I wasn't on Nature Strip either but nevertheless, the horse beat a crack field and did it easily. Just stay away when the horse runs first up ... 2nd up and onwards, get on.

1989 Elimination Final ... and a victory over the Pies. After our meteoric rise in '87 & '88 John Northey continued to coach the team into the finals. We were 4 - 6 top players from being a real premiership threat but the players of the day gave their all. If the link (below) doesn't work Go Here

Agreed Mergers would never work in Victoria ... 95% of the supporters care way more about their team than they do the game itself. Merging 2 teams within Victoria would be like merging the White Sox & Cubs, Yankees & Mets, City & United or the Reds with the Toffees. Or Freo & the Eagles. Anytime there is a match-up between 2 Victorian teams there's often over 140 years of history between those 2 clubs. 1877 is a better starting point rather than 1897. 200+ games to boot (each match-up) It wouldn't work and the new entities would probably have less supporters & members. Most would rather see their team die than merge. Footy is all about the passion, the colours, the theme song, the jumper and history and past greats. And not many care about the money either ... we just want our teams to win.

Jerry Jones is the GM for the Cowboys BBP ... doesn't work either. And he won't be relinquishing the role in a hurry. On the other hand Belichick is the GM for the Patriots as well as the head coach. And that does work. As for private ownership in Oz. It's just the wrong fit. Even if we had enough billionaires who might be interested, it would be more like a hobby for them rather than an entity that makes lots of money.

It's important to note that since October the players have been paid their salary up until now ... 5 monthly payments at a guess. But the club was expecting money from gate receipts, corporate, ongoing sponsorship money, NT money, MCC money, Pokies income and most importantly, the end of year dividend from the AFL (which is often $12Million plus) The membershio sales will have helped enormously but that money has slowed dramatically as well. To state that we have a cash-flow issue would be understating things. The flow would be slowing to a trickle so if there's no money, there's no money. Normally we'd have a credit line or overdraft with the promise of incoming money but again, what money? The AFL has cash reserves to hopefully bail out the clubs but that could be eaten up quite quickly as well. And are there enough cash reserves? You'd think not with the AFL asking the players to take a 79% pay cut. And will the AFL help out the clubs equally? Some of the clubs were in a precarious position before the Pandemic. Others are cashed-up. Our club would probably be in the lower tier of the middle ground. And that's not a strong position by any means.

Yeah, I had the 2000 prelim final in mind as well BBP but it's nice to have a bit of a gap and discuss or make mention of each game posted. And of course anyone can post up a game. I'm still to watch the last quarter of the (above) 1988 prelim but the game was very willing in the 3rd quarter. It looked like we came out aggressively with intent and then took advantage as the Blues tried to square up. That was an old Collingwood trick going way back. And it's always great when we beat Carlton.

Have any of the other players on big coin distanced themselves (pardon the pun) from Dangerfield's comments? Further to that we'd have at least 6 players on very good money. Have any of them spoken about taking big cuts? Dangerfield could just be the A-end of the problem. Albeit a spokesperson for others.

It feels odd (right now) to be interested in what is often perceived to be a gambling sport (only) but even as a horse racing enthusiast I'm struggling with it all Wadda And there is so much money involved with up to 250,000 people employed in the industry (in some way) And that could all stop abruptly. That number seems a tad high but the 250,000 is apparently the equivalent of 77,000 jobs. Footy would be a high number as well when considering the catering, beverages, gate people and thousands of others that are directly or indirectly effected. And we purchase memberships to go to the games. Everyone loses. So to keep people working I suppose it's ok to want the racing to continue. But the racing in the UK was closed down a few weeks ago so it may not last long here as well.

The 1988 GF is largely forgettable for most Demon supporters but just 1 week earlier the excitement of winning the Preliminary Final and thus making the GF occupied our thoughts. It's easy to forget the high's in footy sometimes but I'll never forget how good this preliminary final win over Carlton felt. So take your mind back whilst watching this replay as if the GF was still to come. Oh, and watch out for the 'Pulsar Vector' advert. That's right, the replay comes replete with ads. And if the link below doesn't work go here - 1988 Preliminary Final

The clubs have a better chance if they decide to pay the players 7cents in the dollar (or thereabouts) All other people employed will simply be let go (coaches etc) It would still be a costly exercise to pay everyone but the AFL's cash reserves (and fixed assets) can cover the clubs costs (at least in part) The players could take the clubs to court but if there's no money, there's no money. So the biggie is the player payments as the CBA agreement states that the players are 'entitled' to 28% of 'Budgeted' income (not actual income) For the duration of their existing contracts (?) So if the club comes before the individual then the clubs might decide to take their chances in the courts ... the alternative for a number of clubs is to possibly or probably go under. Or a club becomes insolvent replaced by another new club that takes up where the other one left off. So there is a way (in theory) to save even the smaller clubs in Melbourne. I know what I'd be doing if it was up to me. The Club always comes first.

And now the Northern Territory has announced a 14 day self isolation period for interstate and overseas visitors.