Macca

And if we go to the draft with pick 3 the messiah belief system will kick into gear Like night follows day. It's what we do. Again and again and again. We haven't had a top end pick for a while so it stands to reason. Plenty of top players have been swapped for 1 top 10 pick. Of late Hogan, May, Prestia, Lynch, Sheil and a number of others. We should do the same or similar. In fact, it's what the club has started doing re Lever & May. Should we go back to Oscar & Frost instead? Yeah, we could have gone to the draft with the picks but then what? More busts? I don't like the odds with drafting. Never have. It's a poor percentage play if all the data is properly analysed. Give me proven talent any day of the week. Draft picks are overvalued anyway so how can you lose by trading picks for proven talent?

Rubbish It's a cop-out to blame the clubs. The soft option. Weak. The draft and drafting is flawed

And if your Aunty had balls she'd be your Uncle What the hell were you saying at the time? Serious question. But be careful, everything you said at the time is written in stone. Everythng. Own your words. All these if's and but's are BS. Pure BS We picked star under 18 prospects. All of them were standout juniors. All of them. The draft is flawed. It's factual, not an opinion. You've been sold a lemon Gonzo. You and 1000's of others. Wake up and quit your complaining The clubs choices were your choices. Deal with it.

The draft has failed us but the warning signs were there and are always there. The buy-in is way over the top. I've never understood it (the buy-in) It's as if people don't want to question anything they've been told. And they don't know when to quit. Have a read of the post directly above.

With the odd exception we all wanted and/or willingly accepted Scully, Morton, Toumpas, Watts, Trengove, McLean, Sylvia (RIP), Gysberts, Cook, Maric, Strauss, Blease & Tapscott. And others. The draft is flawed, always has been and always will be. We pluck these kids out of high school, bestow greatness on them and when those ridiculous expectations aren't met we lash out at anything and everything. Madness. The club, the recruiters and then the player in question gets the blame. And then we start banging on about who we should have picked instead. This place has any number of threads and posts all based on a myth.

Hang on Gonzo You and at least 95% of the supporter agreed with going all-in on the draft AND with all the choices as well The club did exactly what the supporter base wanted it do. So you can't complain now. Nor can anyone else for that matter. Be careful what you wish for was never more apt. With the odd exception we were all-in on the tanking too. Lets be honest here. And you know my views on the draft. Are you still a believer despite all the evidence to the contrary? Weideman is another top 10 pick and he could end up adding to the long list of busts. I have been an advocate of trading picks for decades now. The safe, sensible and assured way of bringing talent to the club. In fact, if the club had have gone down the trading path the years of misery wouldn't have happened. And if anyone thinks I'm talking in hindsight go back and have a search of my posting. I've been nothing but consistent. For decades.

It happened again

⁹ Well Lloyd Williams targeted the McKinnon with Latrobe last year but they come over too late to contest the races in the early part of the Spring. The McKinnon is worth $2Miilion now so we'll probably see more overseas represention in that race. As well as the Cox Plate. But from the Cox Plate onwards the distance races from 2000m upwards will be filled with overseas horses. The Moonee Valley Cup, Bendigo Cup & the Geelong Cup included. Maybe even the Herbert Power on Guineas day And I welcome the overseas contingent. We don't produce stayers in this country anymore and without the overseas horses our longer distance races would be won by inferior local horses. Hopefully that changes in the future but since the passing of Zabeel, there have not been any real replacements in terms of sires that can produce good stayers. Australian investors might have to buy big from overseas studs. Not sure how that is done though as the systems overseas are set up very well (with regards to producing stayers) The wonder mare Winx covered up the lack of depth we have with horses that can run well over the mile and further. Avilius is one of the next best but that horse is originally from overseas anyway. Mystic Journey will probably get the mile and a quarter but that would probably be it.

Avilius will be in Melbourne for the Cox Plate but the Turnbull St, Caulfield Stakes, Craven Pl & the McKinnon St will see similar fields to what we saw today. Avilius might also run in the Turnbull whilst a few of the overseas horses might contest the McKinnon. The Melbourne Cup will have any number of overseas representation and the Caulfield Cup might see 5 - 8 from overseas. Box 6 in both cups in a trifecta or a F4 might be the go but who knows? It's a bit of a hit and hope these days Wadda. 4/7/7 or 4/7/7/7 in the Tri or F4 might be my preference.

The Jockey on Harlem (Dwayne Dunn) mentioned that the horse is nearly back to its best and is looking for 2000m. Was only beaten 3 lengths today and will probably be big odds again the next time it runs. Caulfield Stakes next up? (Oct 12th 2000m WFA $1Million) It started at 70-1 today and the WFA races don't have the crack fields that they once did. Might be better off looking at some value runners in these middle distance Group 1's. In the 'Exotics' boxed perhaps. Or just each-way.

Too short to back it today though Wadda. Strange having a BM78 to finish the meeting but you're right about Harbour Views. A Blackbooker. I did well yesterday and was playing with house money today. No collects though! The punt giveth and the punt taketh away. That's racing I much prefer it when Melb & Syd are racing on the same day though. For whatever reason I don't like waiting around half an hour for the next race. Superstition kicks in. I'm a creature of habit!!

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From prep to prep some horses are just never the same. Brave Song might have needed the run or perhaps Caulfield didn't suit first up. And then we have the Black Heart Bart, Harlem & Gatting stories. Need a crystal ball sometimes! The quaddie could pay anything today. Especially if a roughie gets up in the last.

Brad Rawiller was the jockey we're referencing Wadda. He gave us the heads-up but I'm not sure any of the punters followed up. Some bookies might have even offered 150-1. Your quintessential "Turn up for the Books"

Just noticed your post above I do remember you mentioning the horse come to think of it. It wasn't a strong field but it was unwanted in the betting, all the same.

Another 100-1 shot wins a Group 1. A 9 year old to boot. Black Heart Bart salutes in the Underwood Stakes. Who would have picked that? The horse was retired a year ago, they bring it back and then this. Amazing.

And just like that Jamie Kah has a fall in the next race. The Medusa Touch. Sitting up and apparently ok but not sure if she'll be alright for her remaining mounts. Could be some concussion issues. Important thing is Jamie is ok

Jamie is very good especially with the middle distance races or further. She's a real horsewoman as opposed to just being a jockey. Like Bowman, Oliver, Walker et al. Jamie is riding Gatting in the Underwood and if the race is a truly run affair Gatting can win again. Trap for Fools, Gailo Chop & Homesman will probably ensure that the speed will be on so Jamie may well get another Group 1. And I'm on your choice of 'Brave Song' in the Testa Rossa Stakes (R8) It's first up form is excellent and it should be flying home.

I'm a great believer that great culture is built with a strict adherence to doing it the hardest way possible. Train hard, play hard and never forget to enjoy the moment. So party hard too but butter-up immediately. The bloke in charge (Goodwin) has got to get real tough with his best players. And we need to recruit some more 'best' players. We as supporters concentrate way too much on non-difference-makers. Not that we have any influence at all. We're just chatting in the pub internet style.

And fair enough too. If playing in a GF victory is one way of gaining club life membership, it's been a while between drinks prior to 2017 for the Tigers. How many players have actually played in a GF victory in the history of the sport over 160+ years? Maybe 1700 factoring in those who played in multiple flag winning sides. No sour grapes from me either. To the victors go the spoils. And Richmond are the benchmark. And if they can do it, we can do it. I'm a forever optimist with regards to the future.

Dusty put in a stellar last quarter to clinch the medal but the kid gets in the picture. What a debut and he was very influential. His disposal skills and decision making seemed to inspire his veteran teammates. It was as if they didn't want to be shown up. The Pickett debut is one hell of a story.

Well at least we know what we need to aspire to in terms of ambition (not necessarily copying their game style) 2nd & 3rd efforts are 2nd to none. GWS have been completely dismantled.

How good has this first gamer been? Inspired decision to play him. Cool as a cucumber An embarrassment of riches at Tigerland. They could win 1 or 2 more with this group.

Port Adelaide hold the record for the greatest losing margin in a GF

GWS have had no system and their forward forays have lacked any sort of purpose. What's the point of attacking via the half forward flank boundary line? Tiger defenders have had a field day. It would take a minor miracle for them to get back into the game but the Tigers can put them away as early as 5 mins into the 3rd quarter.