Macca

Primarily drafting as a way of building a premiership list can work but there again, often it doesn't if that's the only way a club decides to build a list (primarily drafting only) From our clubs perspective, in recent times we've swapped a number of top end picks for proven talent (May, Lever, Tyson (?) Clark (?)) but have used draft picks outside the first round for other experienced players (Melksham, Hibberd, Tomlinson, Ben Brown, Frost, Langdon) Again, putting aside that disastrous period* where we drafted one failed pick after another, we've drafted with much better results more recently (Viney (pick 26 F/S?), Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver, '"Scully for Hogan for May", Salem, Harmes (Rookie 2015) & Fritsch) And we await with bated breath on LJ, Kozzie, Weideman, Rivers, Rosman, Bowrie, Laurie & others So it's a mixed bag** and we are definitely on the improve but remain a work in progress Top 4? Ridgy didge? Not yet. Not sustained anyway. The forward line needs to fire consistently rjay Bottom line, recruiting should entail many aspects - Free Agents, Drafting, Traded in Proven Talent and various other top ups (the odd DFA, Academy players (?) Rookie identification etc etc) *Not that I was advocating it at the time but if we had have swapped all those failed draft picks for proven talent (prior to when Roos arrived), we wouldn't have bottomed out the way we did - isn't hindsight a wonderful thing! **I've left a few players out no doubt

Good win by Dosh - looks to have a real future. Well done! I got on Frost Flowers (at better odds) on Sunday but your pick was too far good. The Jockey (Childs) reckons that there is more in the tank too General Beau ran half a second quicker (3 lengths) in the C & G preview but times aren't everything

'Viral' gets a good pull in the weights in the Dillon Stakes (R6 No.6) ... I got $4 but it is now into 2.60 It is a very competitive race though with about 6 chances in an 8 horse field ... Never Again is out to $9 which seems overs. Savour wager!

Got 'Diamonds in the Sky' up in the first race ... double winnings with Laddies as well (gotta love that!) Very good start!

For those without cable it seems that Viceland HD (Ch031) are covering a 'live' game of the NBA every day around lunchtime (including the Heat @ Nets on right now) Live coverage of the NBL is quite frequent as well ... Brisbane vs Sydney 3pm today

Rodgers is peeved but I reckon once things settle down he'll remain a Packer LaFleur is the one that will be feeling the heat even though he gets a bit of grace considering it's his 2nd year as head ciach He made some amateurish calls under pressure but I reckon he stays on (for now) The underlying issue is structural & player personnel ... defence against the run & pass defence remains average and our running game can't be relied on. Jones should be the no.2 not the main man Fournette was the difference between the 2 sides yesterday. Each of his runs impacted We ask too much of Rodgers so it stands to reason that Aaron expects to be the main man all the time Drafting a QB (Jordan Love) in the first round of the draft last year should be looked upon as a smart insurance move by all & sundry (including Rodgers himself) And you can keep Goff! haha

Forget to mention that Coolth won that race Gorg ... $7 or $8 was available from memory A horse on the way up and knows how to get into the finish. Record 7:3-0-2 with a 4th & 5th Worth following up on ... ADATR Blackbooker

Nice card at Caulfield tomorrow with the 2 Blue Diamond Previews along with a couple of listed Stakes races on later in the day Full Fields, Odds & Form - Caulfield (Tuesday)

I'll post up the highlights from the NFL later but in the meantime this NFL Primetime upload should be available for a few hours ... nice to see Boomer front & centre again

Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 22 - Dee Zephyr 21 - Go the Biff 15 - Macca 13 - Gorgoroth, JV7 11 - Clintosaurus 6 - DeeSpencer* 3 - DemonDave* *Denotes started late in the comp Just a reminder that we play for 10 points in the SB (5 for the win & 5 for the right margin) As for the 2 out in front, who blinks first! haha In actual fact, 5 participants can still win outright with 6 combos available (Tampa 13+ anyone?)

Watched the first episode of Vienna Blood the other day - looks the goods already. Period Crime Drama set in Vienna in the late 19th Century 3 episodes (90 mins each) out with another 3 to come soon ... on SBS & SBS Demand

Live Leaderboard - Tipping Comp 19 - Dee Zephyr 18 - Go the Biff 13 - Gorgoroth, JV7 12 - Macca 11 - Clintosaurus 6 - DeeSpencer

Well done to Tampa ... they go to the SB in their home town after winning 3 games on the road in the playoffs 13 years in the wilderness. Brady comes to town and they're at the big dance

The coach calling has been below par by the Packers. But Tampa have been too good anyway despite Brady being intercepted 3 times Thus, the Packers have had their chances on offence ... but the last 3 drives yielded just 3 points. No decisive running game being the biggest issue and the defence is average

Take the 3 points and give the ball back to Brady with 2 minutes left? Don't poke the bear On that last drive GB's lack of a running game shown up again. The opposition know we had to throw it and plan accordingly Too one dimensional

GB running game not a factor ... we've reverted to kind. Jones is too small, gets hit hard, out of the game. We needed a running game on the last 2 drives 8 point game now (should be 7) 31-23 So the Packers need a TD & a 2 point conversion just to tie things up. 4:33 left in the game

And GB can't make the most of it ... twice

Brady's receivers have now dropped a few catches ... or through the hands Agreed ... tactically it was a poor percentage play going for 2

28 - 23 now but Brady & Tampa will probably get at least 2 chances to score points. And Rodgers maybe only the 1 time if Tampa eat up the clock Unless there is an error/turnover from either team that leads to a score

7 from 10 now which is a poor ratio on defence. Brady should have been intercepted (the corner didn't commit) on that last TD drive before half time after that Rodgers throw was intercepted. 2 errors within minutes 2nd fumble by Jones costly as well. They have targeted him because of his lack of size ... the ball pops out accordingly. Points conceded as a consequence. Brady knows how to take advantage like no other. 28 - 17 now but we need to curtail Brady (somehow)

Apprehensively confident* we'll get over the line Gorg but I'm always aware that in this sport 2 errors can lead to 14 points That's the beauty of the NFL ... no game is parcelled up until it's done. Steelers found that out the hard way with their errors against the Browns So if GB have zero turnovers and Rodgers is at his best we should be good enough to win. But Tampa could have a day where everything goes right for them on offence ... if that happens they probably win But for the neutrals the QB match-up is something to look forward to. 40% chance of snow with a crowd of 6500 allowed into Lambeau *Is there such a thing as apprehensively confident? haha

Here's an intricate and eye-opening article by Greg Chappell about the state of cricket in India and how we fare as a comparison 'Only Surprise is that Anyone can Compete with India at all' Footnote: The good news (!) is that we don't play India again in a Test series until October 2022 (4 Test series in India) Personally I'd rather be playing India earlier than that but we've got nearly 2 years to prepare at least

Another fine win to Streets of Avalon in the G2 Australia Stakes. Seems to improve every season Next up is the Futurity Stakes (which the horse won last year)

Tampa Bay 21 @ Green Bay 30 Buffalo 23 @ Kansas City 31

Agreed Not sure the South African tour will go ahead though with the stronger strain of the virus emanating from that country Could be played elsewhere (even in Oz)