Macca

Reducing rotations won't necessarily cause fatigue-like low skills As previously stated, players would pace themselves if the rotations were dramatically reduced and coaches would be forced to adjust their style so as the players weren't taxed too much. We'd effectively just go back to the way it once was. Again, if the AFL were on top of the situation the mess that we often see wouldn't exist. But they (the AFL) have let the coaches ruin the sport and now they don't know how to fix it. And too many here argue in a micro sense with their own club at the forefront of their thinking. Their thinking is therefore clouded. This is a macro discussion, or at least it should be. To be honest, I put all thoughts of the MFC aside when addressing the congestion issue. I'm for drastic change but I'm probably on my own in that sense.

Back in the day we used to get more of a wide angled view of footy without the needless close-ups. With all the congestion, there's no need for a wide-angled view because the ball often stays in one part of the ground for a prolonged period of time. So we get a close up view of way too much congestion. It's any wonder people are switching off.

Depends on your definition of fatigued. Players throughout the history of the game paced themselves. With rotations, players can go flat out knowing they are going to get rest. I can't remember ever seeing a game where even a small percentage of players were unable to complete basic football tasks right up to the final siren. Before the advent of the explosion in rotations, the naturally fit skilled players played out of the middle and on the wings and the rest played forward or back and were often burst players. Nowadays nearly every player is required to be an endurance athlete. It's a completely different sport but it is losing its appeal as a TV sport ... 108 million eyes down to 90 million in a 4 year stretch where as Rugby League has gone from 80 million to 98 million. The information is easy to find too ... try google to confirm (NRL trumps AFL in TV ratings war) And the AFL are duly quite concerned. 666 and the raft of changes last season and the further talk this season (reduced half time? etc) is designed to make the sport more attractive to TV viewers. Footy has to be entertaining long term, not just a contest. They need to at least maintain the Broadcast rights income but realistically, that money needs to be substantially higher to help grow the game. Going backwards just can't be part of the agenda. By contrast attendances are up and so are membership numbers. It's a much better sport live than it ever was. Rugby League is built for TV on the other hand and one could argue that that's where the disenfranchised AFL fans have gone to. It's where I've gone and I know more than a few who have done the same. An 18 million cross-over in the space of 4 years? Quite possibly. If not, it's quite a coincidence.

Dermie on SEN today said that the players of his era were just as fit as Bob Murphy's era except that they started running out of steam close to half time. He went on to say that if the players of his era were afforded the same amount of rest (because of rotations) then they'd have been on equal footing. Someone else here once mentioned that players were getting short rest time at all the stoppages. It all helps in a mini endurance sport (AFL) Youtube up 1976 Collingwood vs Melbourne and check out the pace of the game 44 years ago ... its frantic. There's a classic 2.30 video which is fascinating viewing (I was there btw) So less rotations can convert to less rest and (hopefully) less congestion and therefore less rest at the stoppages because there are fewer of them. But as you've correctly pointed out Gonzo, the coaches are not going to abandon their defensive tactics. That's here to stay. But we can make it hard for them to implement those defensive tactics by taking away the tools required. Dramatically decrease rotations and 16 per side for starters. Do that and it might become clearer on what to do next.

The real issue is the rotations DS but the games now are more suited to 16 a side anyway. My solution (which may not even work because who knows?) is 16 a side and 10 - 20 rotations per team per game The league showed great foresight in the mid 1960's with the Waverley ground. At first it was deemed as oversized but eventually it became the perfect sized ground for footy. So we can learn from the past but modern methods with regards to fitness levels has meant that 18 a side is just too many players on the ground. Combined with the defensive coaching (flooding, stoppage numbers, forward press, zones etc etc) High scoring games is not necessarily my wish either ... more so open, fast, attacking, free-flowing positional football (which, by default, leads to higher scores anyway) Who doesn't want that compared to the congested mess that we see too often these days.

All good points rjay but I don't reckon they will be reducing the rotations in a hurry ... the OH&S people would step in. And they'd probably win out too. Thus my call for 14 or 15 a side. 16 a side will still see the coaches throwing all their players on the ball when it suits. And with a probable expanded bench with 16 a side the players might end up with the same amount or greater reserves of energy The rotation numbers is the real issue though but we now live in an OH&S world rjay.

16 a side would enhance wing play rather than see it diminished Do people here honestly believe that the coaches would leave the wings vacant? And I've been calling for 16 a side for at least 5 years now ... music to my ears. But 16 a side won't fix the congestion outright. 14 or 15 a side is a better solution.

My comment about 3rd world was never directed at you even though I was talking to you! Social media can often obscure context I am 100% with you re masks ... and the Italians are heavy smokers Bad lungs & coronavirus (bad news)

Sport and other non essential activities can be shut down (as it is in Italy) but what do you do about trains, buses, workplaces etc etc. By the way ht, Italy and the other countries in Europe are not 3rd world so we should be taking measures that those countries are taking - but way sooner.

Yes, full scale prevention methods should be enacted immediately. Why wait? Who cares about sport being cancelled for a few months anyway. We'll find other ways to keep ourselves amused. And I'm a sports nut and would never class myself as an alarmist.

Best Bet Rosehill Race 5 No.5 Probabeel $3.10

Yes the 3 x 2pic combined with the 3pic can work well Wadda. Might try it next weekend but that could involve having an exacta in each of the individual races instead of the 3 extra doubles that could be part of the 3pic strategy. That 2pic/3pic also happens to be the favoured strategy of Gator when it involves the short-priced favourites. Makes sense but you've got to get 2 of the 3 home to make a profit. My strategy always involves getting back some collects Wadda (however small if it works out that way) So individual exactas is my preference. For instance, I also collected 3 exactas from our 3 race strategy ... but I didn't put on the 3 doubles (should have?) One also doesn't want to invest too heavily in just a few races so either/or is probably best. But if they're group races where the best are running around then it can be worth the risk. By the way, all our picks tightened in the market so the good odds (as a combo) didn't last much past 12noon on Friday. Still, it's always nice to land a 30-1 shot!

Really unlucky DZ ... been that sort of day. Lots of the favoured horses winning but with multi's, there's nearly always one that puts you out. Yours was the right strategy though. My exactas the same ... either 1st & 3rd or a low dividend because of the 2 fancied runners finishing 1 & 2. Still, that's racing but you always need a bit of luck. I have lost count of the amount of times when I have won with sheer luck at play! Often the margin of a nose is the difference.

I watched the racing from Dubai late Saturday DZ as there were 7 Group races as well as a 2 Group 1's but ... no crowd (Coronavirus) The races went ahead without any patrons and that trend is going to spread elsewhere. The Indian Wells tennis tournament has just been called off and all it will take is 1 player to contract the virus (in the AFL) for the competition to be compromised. Empty stadiums or no play at all. Ditto for any other sport.

@Dee Zephyr @Wadda We Sing JJ with his Adelaide Cup day tips on the racing channel right now ... reckons it's a favourites day so multi up?

The Adelaide Cup is a wide open affair but 'Home by Midnight' is racing really well ... apart from its latest win it has recently run a couple of eye-catching 2nd's at Caulfield this prep. Sure to be running on as it has run a couple of 2nd's at the 2 miles. It's in my exacta combo along with a few others.

I reckon the MC will play him early ... probably round 1. Jackson isn"t going to be thrown to the wolves either (as practiced by previous regime's) He'll be surrounded by a more seasoned team and the bloke can be played in any number of positions ... relief ruck, wing, in the middle and deep forward. A floating utility is his skill set (or will be) And he's not going to be brought into a situation where he's to be relied on to play a standout role (from the get-go) The opposite could be said with Pickett but he might force the selectors hand as well. Having said all that (injuries aside) Luke might only play 12-14 games in his first season. He'll hit a wall or 2 and will need rest and recovery. The sport is now exceptionally demanding with all the 2-way running that is required. And if we hold him back, well and good. Either way, the kid looks a real talent.

We're back in town fella's! (Just like the mighty Demons!) Winners are grinners and I've got a grin from ear to ear! A very nice 3 figure dividend.

So was I Wadda but in an exacta ... I hope they race Bivouac on as that was a special win. The TJ Smith is next you'd imagine for the Colt.

And another ADATR blackbooker* salutes in the Newmarket. Bivouac did it easily too. Spaced them! Hands & heels was all it took. The 3yo's continue to shine running the quinella with Loving Gaby finishing 2nd from a brave Gytrash. *We have no official list but we remember the goodin's

What would JJ know! haha

Best Bet Flemington Race 5 No.10 Wild Planet (Win) $2.90

Sorry for editing your post the way I have dworship but read on and you'll understand why ... The forward line plays a huge part and last year as a collective they (the forwards) were for the most part dysfunctional. The worst I can remember and I go back a ways. We changed the forward line coach mid season. There was very little movement, no real multiple leads (at pace), they often refused to play in front (a pre-requisite for a forward) and the kicking for goal was woeful. Plus, very little defensive pressure, no chasing with intent ... again, as a collective we were sub par up forward. As a consequence our midfield was deliberately pressed even harder by the opposition as the opposition knew that our forward line wasn't functioning. They took advantage. Petracca put in but that's it apart from Fritsch later on. But it could be argued that the opposition were happy to concede possession to Petracca as he was often played as a high half forward ... his subsequent possessions mirrored the possessions obtained by our midfielders ... i.e. kicking the ball towards a dysfunctional forward line. Our midfield (and Petracca) were therefore reduced to booting the ball inside 50 without any purpose. That's how I saw it and I often stand behind the goals when viewing games 'live' So, in effect, our midfield was rendered inconsequential as a result of a non functioning forward line. Therefore neither Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Viney et al impacted games to any great extent. Gawn as well as his hit outs to advantage often ultimately eventuated with the ball coming back sailing over his head.

Needs to improve his vision and decision making as well as his actual disposal. He's not a natural in any of the above areas but those skills can be taught ... but learning all that requires a total buy-in by the individual. His asset is his pace (obviously) but being quick will only take you so far. But to be fair, we have a number of players who are deficient in the base skills (AFL standard) Less so than in previous years but nonetheless, the list still needs a fair bit of improvement.

Sharks & Alligators ... and Chicago 'Cub' wins the last! Omen bet for sure.