Macca

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.

You've started a big plunge Gorg ... Cashed Up is into $6.00.

In the end your choice looked a no-brainer Wadda, but what a horse Alligator Blood is! Did it easy but the connections have said that it may not run in the All Star Mile due to the horse possibly coming to the end of it's campaign - but this horse doesn't know when to quit. It's an absolute beauty! But I reckon they will run it in the All Star Mile ... and probably win too. It's a winner. There's talk of the horse running in the Everest or the Cox Plate in the Spring. And the connections knocked back a recent offer of $3.3Million (it's a gelding)

How about the horse racing industry? "He ran good" is often used as well as "She done well" etc etc. In fact, the horse racing industry leads the field (no pun intended) with the misuse of nouns & verbs. Jockeys & trainers alike.

I agree in part rjay but even though I'm a super-fan of State footy I can't really see a future for the concept. I went to the 2008 game and once that Mexican wave happened in that game I knew it was doomed. And it was a close finish too ... no dog in the fight see. As stated in an earlier post it needs a worthy cause for starters but that's not enough. It was on the nose from about the mid 80's onwards coinciding with the sport becoming more professional and with the advent of the interstate teams. For whatever reason the clubs don't want it and therefore the fans don't want it (we're extremely tribal to our teams etc etc) The signs were there in the 70's too as the big clubs back then didn't really want to risk their players (thus the 2 players per club rule?) Injuries are the biggest fear for fans alike. No such thinking up North though as State of Origin is arguably bigger than the NRL Grand Final ... the thinking is completely different. A stark difference ... like chalk & cheese. And that makes me quite envious because even though I'm quite critical of the way AFL is played these days I desperately want it to be the clear No.1 sport in this Country. Anyway, it was great to cheer home my team tonight and yes, I really am a Vic fan. All the way back to when Ross Dillon was CHF for the Vics in the late 60's.

Well I loved it and I'd love it if footy was played as it was tonight Instead of that we usually get scramble ball with 30 players on the ball = an unholy mess. Garbage to my eyes. Many ex players don't care for it either. And I rarely watch it so can't be accused of not putting my money where my mouth is. But tonight was footy as it should be played. I reckon people are so used to watching footy in such a congested style that they've forgotten how skilful the game can be.

All Stars? That mob needs a new name (minus the Stars bit) Victoria is the superior football state (by far) and that fact was one of the reasons State footy died out. We (the Vics) even used to try and even the score by restricting the rep numbers to 2 per team. And we'd still brain 'em. And Demon players have a proud history in State footy (esp Flower, Hardeman, Wells & Alves from the 70's) Only Jetta tonight though. If the game had have happened last year we might have had 5 or 6 representatives.

Each to their own Cards There is no legislation on what anyone can like or dislike (sports, politics, religion, whatever) Vics 15 points in front - go Victoria!

Footy fans engaging in a Mexican wave ... says it all really, doesn't it. They haven't got a dog in the fight but you've got to wonder why the 'wavers' bothered to go to the game. It's simple Cards, if you don't like it, don't watch. It's what I do. All sports are the same, the higher the skills, the less perceived intensity. Soccer can be like that and many League State of Origin games can look a bit tame because of the skills. And what about the high scoring NFL encounters?

I'm not wrong ... this is the type of footy that I prefer to watch. Fast, highly skilled, open football and not congested. As the sport once was. Clean ball movement with very few unforced errors. What's not to like? I'm also a big fan of Ice Hockey, Soccer, NFL, Rugby League, Union, Baseball, NBA and nearly every Olympic sport. Each to their own hey?

Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying tonight's game and if others prefer to watch 'scramble-ball', go right ahead. Ha ha!

They look fair dinkum to me ... the sport is basically keepings-off these days so what on earth do you expect if the most highly skilled players are all involved. A much much better version of keepings-off. Stands to reason You put 2 low skilled teams against each other and you're going to see an ugly mess. Looks more intense but it's a ruse.

There's plenty of intensity ... the skill level means less congestion and more open footy And State footy has always been like that. Lower skills = congestion, packs etc.

It's a fantastic standard and a great showcase tonight. Here's how you sell the sport to new eyes. I really envy what they do up North with the State of Origin Rugby League. It might work in the pre-season (demand-wise) if the game was for a worthy cause. And there's plenty of worthy causes so that part of the equation is do-able at least. But Aussie Rules fans are way too rusted on to their teams only. Worthy cause, players being always available, as part of the pre-season and then embraced by the fans ongoing - big ask but I'd love to see it. We could at least play these high standard games every now and again (every 3 or 4 years)

Best Bet Randwick Race 6 No.1 Flit (Win) $3.80

It is boring monoccular ... the advanced scapegoat (Oscar) cops it by default. Ingerson, Hughes, Campbell, Shanahan would all cop it at various times. Blame the last thing visible? Meanwhile, a dysfunctional forward line* is often the real cause of a team being broken down by the opposition (albeit recognised later on) And the forward line only ever seems to get the blame as a group. It's what we do. *70's & early to mid 80's - Demons dysfunctional forward line (main issue)