Macca

That's been our doing where as most of the blockbusters previously were handed out without too much fuss. We are a long way behind despite PJ's terrific work in that area. Collingwood especially have been given a dream run for decades. It's not crying poor either ... more so stating the bleeding obvious.

No it won't change DJ ... in a general sense the compromised draw is based on how many supporters a club has and by default, how many of those eyes will tune into prime-time TV. It's a commercial decision but ultimately, it disadvantages the smaller clubs (specifically the 4 smaller Victorian clubs) It hasn't helped that we've been a poorly performed team for decades and there is a correlation there but the Saints, Doggies & North have copped it even when they've performed well. Same deal for us prior to 2007. So any compensation handed out to disadvantaged clubs is fully deserved (if parity is sought)

Yep ... and for the past 2 decades we've been 'drawn' to play many of our home games against low drawing interstate teams as well as travelling 6 - 7 times against interstate opposition. Every season for season after season. It's any wonder we have been forced to sell off home games to the NT. Not sure doing that was necessarily our choice either Cards. It was a case of have-to (IMO) to balance the books Meanwhile, the big clubs clean up with their version of 'Hand-outs'

So we let them know ... and be loud about it too Gonzo. That's what I do. Every chance I get!

The AFL have borrowed $600Million to help out the clubs ... some clubs will get more than others according to their financial position (IMO) The previously advantaged clubs (see post #42) can't really complain either ... unless they're prepared to reverse that adavantage for the next couple of decades.

The bigger clubs are advantaged money-wise. More blockbusters, more free-to-air prime-time games and therefore greater exposure for their sponsors. And that happens every single season. All the clubs aren't on an equal footing to begin with with the compromised draw. Reverse all that for the next 25 years and we're all squared off.

Best Bet (Saturday) Caulfield R5 No.7 Gododdin (Win) $4.60

Thanks for the heads up Wadda! We might end up like Europe where it's just 1 long season (early May to late October over there ... Sept through to late June over here - including Morphettville, Doomben & Eagle Farm) The jumps season in Europe is effectively the forerunner (March/April soft tracks) so it's 8 months all up. Our jumps season could fill July & August when the tracks are soft. Just a thought. Listening to Peter Le Grand (Chairman MRC) this arvo on SEN I got the impression that late November for the Caulfield Guineas/Cup carnival over 2 weeks might become a permanent fixture. The Wednesday Caulfield meeting inbetween as well (?) Add in the 3 or 4 G1 races in Perth over December along with the QLD summer carnival (which would include the Magic Millions) and then it's only a month off until the Autumn. Trainers would adjust ... maybe the best horses would run every 4 weeks instead of the 2 week back-up. As a punter the mooted changes to the Caulfield fixture's has high appeal. Group racing rivals the Demons & Test cricket these days. As for Xmas day, put some sport on I say! Especially now where we've been starved of sport for 3 or 4 months. The MVRC might be looking at running the Manikato Stakes day the week before Cox Plate day. And NSW racing will be eyeing off a few dates ... late Nov to match Caulfield? Chasing the good weather makes sense for both States. Lets face it, it's a fairly crammed schedule anyway when factoring in that the Turnbull Stakes Day & the Epsom Hcp/Metro Hcp are held just a week or 2 before the traditional Caulfield dates. 9 weeks of wall-to-wall Group 1 racing spread over the 2 main States instead of 6 weeks might make more appeal for the horse racing enthusiasts (with a few G1 & G2 races in September as a precurser) Sandown having it's own date before Caulfield might lift the profile of that race day too ... of course, Sandown does come under the auspices of the MRC so there's perhaps an ulterior motive as well ?

Caulfield 2 week carnival moved to late November (probable) So what lead up do we have for the Cox Plate & Flemington Carnival? Sydney might cash in ... for instance the Metro Hcp (2400m) might be moved with a few other races to mid October. Maybe that whole race day which is formerly held 2 weeks before the Caul Cup (?)

6 races down at Sha Tin and Purton & Moreira share the spoils ... 3 winners each! 122 winners each for the season. Zac reckons 145 will get it done. Maybe.

Best Bet Randwick Race 6 No.10 Miss Einstein (Win) $4.00

Not if the word cheat was used Gonzo If the word wasn't used (proof positive) then I will have a different opinion All the articles I've come across mentions the word cheat. e.g Barassi referenced the word 'chest' in that clip you posted up.

Lets agree to disagree I'm not trying to change your mind nor are you ever going to see it my way.

The umpire element is not irrelevent at all. In fact it plays a huge part. Resentment followed as well as the ongoing lack of support (IMO)

It can't be presumed that Don Blew was a cheat even though that was the alleged accusation It could be presumed that Don Blew was a fair and unbiased umpire, a family man with children at school and holding down a job outside football etc etc. And the most powerful figure in football labels him a cheat. These days those accusations would be seen as bullying etc. Norm made a mistake, he wasn't perfect, no one is. And I reckon he would have regretted the words that he said. Lets face it, the chain of events that followed wouldn't have taken the same path if Norm had said nothing.

With the GF date possibly being set for Oct 31, what should racing do with their dates? Maybe change some of the Saturday dates to Sunday? The Melbourne Cup on the Tuesday wouldn't be changed you'd imagine so Derby day on the Sunday? Short back-up for the Hotham Hcp winner and/or the Derby winner if the Cup is the goal. Cox Plate on the Sunday to avoid the Saturday twilight AFL prelim final and the Friday evening Prelim final? Caulfield Cup could go ahead on the Sat arvo as the Saturday AFL Elimination final is on the Sat evening. And Guineas day would be up against the footy as well as the first week of the footy finals now goes Thurs Eve, Fri Eve, Sat Arvo & Sat Eve. Maybe the Sunday for the Guineas as well? They could move everything back a month but then there would be no real build up for the Melbourne Cup. And the VRC should be working with their NSW counterparts.

All the clubs are the pretty much the same with regards to voting rights and the influence of our votes. Certain types are recommended to the Board by the Board and those types are nearly always voted in. To make a real difference requires a coup, takeover, the board stepping down or an agreed changeover. So we've got voting rights as individuals but it's token. You want to change all that, good luck. At suburban level, it's vastly different. Often all the positions are up for grabs (every single season) As previously stated, we're in the lap of the gods. It's not giving up either, just a dose of realism.

As members we get to have a say but it's kind of token. We're in the lap of the gods really We have to hope that those involved are smart enough to know what to do and bring other smart people on board. Who then continually make excellent appointments in all areas of the club. We're just mere onlookers. There's been coups and takeovers at various other clubs but that doesn't always work. We ourselves have seen a bit of that but we often end up with more of the same. Here's hoping for a winning season though ... 9 & 8 or better in a reduced season?

Yeah thanks Gonzo That was fabulous. And you're right, it looked as though he had never ending issues with the Board. Something had to give and it did. And once the chord was severed, that was it. But talent is talent and the zones weren't necessarily going to offer up stars aplenty and they didn't. So even if the sacking didn't happen how would we have been able to build and maintain a great list? Norm might have been able to swing something you'd imagine. Get the zones changed or raid the interstate clubs ... but without Board support? Big ask.

History tells us that the merger was more a takeover of the Hawks. Which I wouldn't have wanted either. In an ideal World we'd still have South & Fitzroy playing out of Melbourne. And some suburban venues such as Carlton, Footscray and a redeveloped Junction Oval. Maybe even Moorabbin. Big crowds at footy venues isn't the be all and end all (IMO) I really liked the PJ & Roos combo and if they'd stayed on the other Pillars might have ended up as valuable as those 2. Or improved to that sort of level. You need standard setter's. But I don't believe we've got anyone that is incompetent in important positions at the club but there's not many standouts. Kind of reflects the current board. Home base will help of course but we need top people in charge in all the important positions.

Smith was exceptional ... to have all that success without a working Committee (Board) was phenomenal. Still reckon the zones put an end to things but as has been pointed out in previous posts above, we didn't put enough work into the zones anyway. The Metro area included a few inner South East suburbs such as Prahran & Malvern. Then another pocket which included suburbs such as Murrumbeena & Ormond and another pocket which included the not-fully-developed Edithvale & Aspendale suburbs. Not strong footy suburbs at the time. Our Country zone (Goulburn Valley League) wasn't all that productive either. But again, how much work did we put into these zones? Previously we brought in any number of top talent's from all over Country Victoria.

I'm the same ... 2012 through to the end of 2014 we were bereft of talent. We were hopeful back then but deep down there wasn't a lot of substance on the list or within the FD. Roos first year where we went 4 & 18 confirmed a lot of things. And Roos delisting or trading out 30+ players over 3 off-seasons also confirmed a lot of things. Last season was unacceptable.

With respect Ernest our financial position worsened last season ($1.5Million loss) despite being heavily invested in Pokies & NT money. And those 2 income streams are being scaled back moving forward. On top of that the virus is effecting the financial viability of all clubs so we'd be better placed if we were in a strong financial position. And we lost 17 games last season and lost our way (again) Our former captain (Nathan Jones) described the year as the toughest he'd been through. Even worse than 2012/13? I'd like to share your optimism but I'm circumspect about it all. Any sort of success this season would be viewed as a bonus (IMO)

Defamation it is then. Although a person can go to jail for up to 3 years (in this Country) with regards to extreme cases of defamation. Calling an umpire a cheat on live TV might not seem to all that harmful to some but Don Blew had other ideas. And good on him for sticking up for himself. Again, Smith settled out of court after Don Blew sued him for defamation. An extreme case of defamation? I reckon maybe but such is the disdain for footy umpires in general, most would disagree with my thoughts Fact is the board were probably never going to back Smith re his slanderous comments and the rest is history. And I stand by my assertion that Smith in some ways brought about his own downfall. But again, great coach. On the surface of it the Board should never have sacked him but they might have wanted to disassociate themselves from him and his actions and comments. Why else would they sack him?

Very good point Gonzo ... doomed to making the same mistakes over and over again because of inherent thinking. Not being able to adapt is one thing but refusing to adapt is another. What North did in the 70's with regards to recruiting is something that we could have easily done if we had the willpower and the forward thinking. We get self satisfied with a taste of winning and then fall away. That's the pattern through the years. Happened again last season.