Macca

Boards are often full of well-to-do-people who have nearly always done very well for themselves in the private sector or in public life. But they need to work well as a collective providing they know what their objective is and whether they have a chance of achieving that objective. As others have pointed out, we've often fallen short at board level but so have a number of other clubs (periodically) The 6 Pillars that are needed for our club emanate from the board ... and right now, if we were to grade our 6 pillars then it's hard to mark any one of those pillar's higher than 6.5 out of 10. And they are all around that mark. We're a bit beige. Maybe Gawn can go to an 8 and lift the others? He's just starting out but we need some strong leadership but that leadership has to be right across the board (so to speak) The home base arrives as a consequence.

All things happen for a reason ... McLean bleating about the tanking ultimately served a decent purpose. We were completely stagnant and going even further backwards in 2012/13 and the massive changes that happened once PJ arrived might not have happened unless we reached rock-bottom. The investigation saw to that. And massive change often only happens when the proverbial hits the fan (big time) But we're still behind a number of clubs with regards to professionalism & having a ruthless winning culture (IMO) The answer is to have top people filling the 6 Pillars required ... Pres, Footy Manager, Coach, Captain, CEO & Chief Recruiter. A top list of players therefore follows as a matter of course. And then you win (hopefully, win big)

Geez ya don't have to be dead to be stiff, Wadda That's a heartbreaker Might take your lead and go the place & win multis tomorrow at Sha Tin. Just a series of small outlays to win a bit. Moreira & Purton are sure to feature

2 winners so far but both have come from the ADATR team. Put the feet up and let my teamates come through with goods As previously stated, Go Santa! .

Well done lads! Got the early double for a very nice 3 figure collect! Come on Santa!

I had Ranier on top along with DZ's pick (Sikorsky) as well. A bit of luck today and we might come out on top. Fingers crossed Wadda! At work today so you blokes might want to give a bit of commentary on proceedings!

Best Bet (Saturday) Morphettville Race 8 No.1 Santa Ana Lane (Place) $2.45

Still a Hayes horse and in fact the horse has won 3 races since the gear change (so to speak) It's racing well and savaging the finishing line these days. A decent G3 horse and I was confident it could win Saturday. It's a striking looking animal and now has prizemoney in excess of $1.2Million. The Goodwood is coming up on Saturday Wadda ... a top field being assembled by the looks of it.

Had a similar day on Saturday Wadda but backed a few winners today to make up for it. And I'm with you with regards to Russian Camelot ... looks a real good stayer in the making. If not already. There were a number of impressive winners at Caulfield on Saturday ... had backed a few of them previously and probably should have stuck with them. News Girl, Shot of Irish & Oasis Girl especially! But I was on So Si Bon at least ... oh the irony!

Best Bet Caulfield Race 4 No.3 Something Silver (Win) $6

You're full of winners today Wadda. The Sunday Specialist I'm reliably told! Multiple nicknames never hurt anyone! Demons Rock indeed ... that's a good start to the day and Zac is 2 from 2. But watch for Moreira in the middle of the meeting ... races 6, 7 & 8.

The odds for all the races are tight to begin with Wadda ... better to wait around until the race you're betting on comes around. Especially the last few races where the odds will drift quite a bit ... and what I'm talking about is not necessarily relatable to racing anywhere else. It's just perculiar to HK racing. I bet there every Sunday and that's the trend. So it's best to wait and if your pick does tighten then that can be looked upon as a good thing as the market often tells the true story I had 'Demon Rocks' picked out as well but not because of any sort of omen bet but because it looks the winner. Currently $4 which might in fact be overs for this particular race. Horses for courses haha

Laddies don't put up the races in Sha Tin until tomorrow Wadda ... and the odds aren't up until 12noon sometimes Go to Racenet.com and then click on Sunday then Sha Tin. Mig Energy is in Race 5 but it has drawn barrier 14. Former Australian galloper. But that race is a wide open affair with any number of chances ... exotics (?) I've done the form for Sha Tin and my best bet is R6 No.4 - Excel Delight (Moreira) ... currently $3.50 on one of the HK betting markets but bound to shorten.

The players get 28% of 'Budgeted' income (or thereabouts) ... not actual income. And the money is guaranteed. The only way for that to change is for the players to give some leeway or ... not pay them and let the whole thing play out in the courts. It's highly unlikely that the latter option would happen but some of the clubs may go to the wall unless they start getting some real income in. As it stands, the clubs are forking out at least a half a million dollars and up to a million dollars per month - ongoing. Coaching staff salaries & FD costs included. As well as Admin costs, CEO salary etc etc. And they are going broke in the process as the income has slowed to a trickle. Ongoing contracts are guaranteed as well. So we pay the players & coaches but the clubs go broke. It's any wonder that they want to play the games asap. But take away the guaranteed salaries and there's no such haste. A money decision disguised as a goodwill measure. But why wouldn't the AFL take out some sort of insurance or have an 'Act of God' clause. Why wouldn't they protect themselves? Looking ahead they will but that ship has sailed for now and now the AFL has had to take out a $600Million loan. Which will need to be paid back. And the next broadcast rights contract may not be as lucrative as previous broadcast rights. So considering the league and clubs are not-for-profit organisations, it seems a bit odd that extreme amounts of outgoing monies are 'Guaranteed'.

I've got a very nice Giclee print of Dali's 'Christ of Saint John of the Cross' Quite a striking portrayal. And 'Money Heist' looks very interesting DZ ... there's some more decent lockdown viewing! There's a lot of great European Drama about ... I especially liked 'The Bridge' (Bron/Broen) A joint Swedish/Danish production. Modern day 'Noir' But I've come across about 20 drama series out of Europe that are worth looking at.

Ancestry has come into $2 for the place but I reckon it's a very good chance to win ... so much so that I'm on the horse @ 8.50 (Wed early odds) Likes the wet too. And James Jordan has picked Garner & Away Game. The latter choice will almost certainly lead and you can just see the horse scooting away on the turn with that light weight. Garner is a good horse. JJ has also selected November Dreaming (R5 No.13) & Toffee Tongue (R7 No.9) Those 4 saluting will pay very well in a multi ... worth a coffee outlay! Expresso please! I picked all 4 choices myself on Wed night so I'm all in on JJ's 4 selections. Jungle Edge in the last (?) ... it's at least a place chance on an (expected) heavy track. Good luck Wadda & Salvador!

Best Bet (Sat) Sandown Race 7 No.1 Ancestry (Place) $2.60

The racing will continue on into the Spring albeit with reduced prizemoney Wadda. Unless there is an outbreak of the virus. But they'll still be racing for good money even with the reduced prizemoney. Not sure about the internationals but again, is anyone in Australia the least bit concerned that it might be locals only? As much as I like the Internationals competing, we'd just be going back to the way it was (still as popular too) I see Queensland racing put a stop to their winter carnival stakes races a month back then changed their mind a week later. So the show goes on. Speaking of the racing calendar, Morphettville, Gold Coast, Doomben & Eagle Farm take over for the next 2 months in terms of stakes races but the fields in Melb & Syd could remain quite strong as well. The owners need to keep racing their horses for the prizemoney (just in case it all comes to a halt) Next week we've got the G2 Hollindale Stakes from the Gold Coast as well as 2 x G1's from Morphettville (Sangster Stakes & Australasian Oaks) Australian Group Races

Terrific thread Picket ... Paul was one of my favourites as well because he kept getting the ball and his disposal was excellent considering his size. He kept burrowing in all day and averaged over 22 disposals for his entire career (according to AFL Tables) 85% were kicks to position though. Was upset when he went to St Kilda and never knew the reason why until now (Ian Ridley being removed being the catalyst reason)

From a personal point of view Wadda, 2 out of 3 ain't bad ? Sweated up a bit before the race did Dadoozdart. Didn't finish off as a consequence (?) And I'm in the habit of taking the first 2 choices (as they are sequentially run) as we've historicall got the first 2 legs up (on occasions) And Laddies will give a 2nd odds boost with the extra runner (or the reduced runner) if you wait till the next day. In other words put the tri bet on Thurs/Fri and then the early double on Sat. That's how I do it anyway. Odds boost is a priority though ... in terms of percentages.

Got 14-1 on the early double lads (thanks to DZ) And if Daddoozart salutes it's party time (virtual)

Best Bet (Saturday) Flemington Race 4 No.9 Good Idea (Place) $3.50

Didn't Big Carl belt 5 or 6 Collingwood players in his last game for us? (Round 22 1980) The headband & the handkerchief were his trademarks. Not to be messed with was Ditterich. A nasty piece of work and of course, a very good player. Laurie Fowler regarded him as his best coach.

Could be that the 2Pick (double) works best Wadda ... but the place odds need to represent a bit of value Also, another way is to look for on pace horses that have drawm well, in good form and the race being a sprint (1000m / 1200m) Again, the odds are all important.

Our club often has 10 players or so on the injured list and some players often play injured (Brayshaw, Jones, T-Mac, Viney et al) Having a list of only 35 players when 22 have to play is cutting things way too fine. Soccer lists are quite extensive (counting all those that are loaned out) yet only a maximum of 14 play in a game. There are other examples including a sport like baseball where the MLB clubs have numerous players to call on.