Macca

Goodwood has been great from a punting perspective. 'Too Darn Hot' duly saluted and I had a late flutter on 'Deirdre' at terrific odds in the Mares Group 1 (Nassua Stakes) RacingPost tipped the Japanese runner and for good reason - was way overs. I'll post up the 2 replays later on but I don't think Frankie saw 'Deirdre' coming! (took the rails run) To view go to the results page on Tab.com

At the start of the day I would have taken 284 (batting first therefore not having to bat last - in theory) I questioned a number of the selections especially around our late middle order and the 3 quicks we chose. But if it works, it works. But it hasn't worked yet as we need to restrict England to 320 or less. Even them getting to 340 only really evens things up. Batting 2nd a team would ideally prefer to be 80+ in front on the 1st innings. So right now, England have to get themselves into a strong position. They'd be really annoyed that they let us off the hook ... this conversation would have been way different if we'd only made 150 or so.

Smith is elite ... great grit shown by Siddle & Lyon. Was surprised to see the scoreline as when I nodded off we were 8 - 130 so a fantastic recovery The bowling has a score to defend so you never know. All things being reasonable England will have to bat last on this wicket and that might be tricky. Might take turn later on Wadda (?)

It's like clockwork the way it happens. Need to post more when the poms are batting! Anyway, it's down to Smith now you'd imagine. Needs support of course but he's the one who can make a big score.

Anderson out with a calf injury by the looks of it (gone for a scan) And there was talk of England playing an extra quick with Jofra Archer and they could certainly do with the extra bowler now. A matter of keeping them out there now whilst perhaps targeting Moeen Ali and/or Ben Stokes. At 3 - 98 the game is interestingly poised. We need one of these 2 (Smith or Head) to make a big hundred. If that happens we're right in this Steve. *Mozz factor deactivated (these in-match posts often bring about almost immediate change in the game circumstances)

Stradivarius proved too strong at the weights in the Goodwood Cup raced overnight. A masterful ride by Frankie Dettori all the same. Here's the replay ...

Glorious 'Goodwood' starts up on Tuesday ... a 5 day festival of racing much like the Royal Ascot Carnival. 3 big Group 1's to look out for ... 'Stradivarius' is up against Cross Counter & Dee ex Bee in the 2 mile Goodwood Cup on Tuesday On Wednesday 'Too Darn Hot' will start close to even money favourite in the Sussex St. (Mile) And on Thursday 'Hermosa' (9-4) will prove hard to beat in the Nassau Stakes (2000m for F & M) Frankie Dettori will almost certainly be riding Stradivarius & Too Darn Hot whilst Ryan Moore will probably saddle up on Hermosa.

Weekend Special MLB Monday 3.05am Philadelphia vs Atlanta Philadelphia Win -1.5 $2.35

Enable just finds a way to win ... often doesn't win by much but never-the-less, she wins! That will-to-win might just land her another 'Arc' too DZ. The other talking point from our point of view are the comparisons with Winx. But as stated previously, I prefer to celebrate all the greats as a collective. They're all great. Here's the race from last night again ...

Tonight's stage distance has been slashed due to landslides. 59k only although the last 35 kilometres is a category 1 climb covering close to 2ks in elevation. There'll be lots of attacks and they'll come early you'd imagine.

Worked out alright for Bernal but he was on the attack and the rules fell in favour of the aggressive rider (or riders) So no complaints from me. Mother nature intervened. All to ride for later tonight though and they're still in the Alps with a category 2 climb as well as 2 category 1 climbs. Including a gruelling one with a summit finish. Not a lot separates the top 5 in the general classification so the tour is still up for grabs Meanwhile, the Demons have started well and we're kicking straight!

In other news the connections of the placegetters still haven't been paid prizemoney from the 'Andrew Ramsden Stakes' run back on the 25th May. Steel Prince & Surprise Baby had a battle down the straight with Steel Prince winning narrowly. The winner gets an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.

Shame about 'Sea of Class' Tim ... looked a real horse for the future. But Enable is the new wonder mare although 'Almond Eye' has claims to that title as well. Enable is running in a Group 1 late Saturday at Royal Ascot (King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes) Up against Crystal Ocean & Anthony Van Dyck but she should have those 2 covered. Defoe could get into the finish as well. 'Enable' is currently showing 4-7 so the odds are prohibitive. The exacta might pay better or maybe the trifecta. Go to www.racingpost.com for more details.

Accuracy at goal comes with good kicking actions. The biomechanics. The set up, the address, the hands, the balance, the approach, the lining up, the concentration, the ball drop, the execution and the follow through. And there's other bits and pieces as well. And then lots & lots of practice. We've got any number of players who fail in a number of the above areas. So the problem needs to be addressed at the source of the problem. Not the A-end. The poor execution is a symptom. A very bad symptom. So we need skills coaches in specific areas. At least 2 and maybe even 3. For a professional sport we still see amateur standards with regards to the skills. How good are our players on their opposite side? Both by hand and by foot. I'd give us a collective 2/10. As for our preferred side ... 6/10. And I'm being generous. And our overhead marking skills aren't good either - especially in the forward line. 4/10 How do you win a flag with those ratings? The answer is you don't. Our endeavour, energy, effort, ball winning skills, hard ball gets, clearances & contested work is quite good. But we continually butcher the ball when we do get it.

I'm always hopeful but the one thing I do know is that we are mere onlookers. All the chat in the world isn't really going to change how the club goes about it. So we live in hope. Norm Smith had it all figured out ... have an abundance and excess of talent and stay ahead of every other club in terms of innovation and forward thinking. Other clubs followed his doctrine. The man was a genius but the method was quite basic in a lot of respects. Now, it's ultra competitive but the same principles apply. There's just more clubs trying to be the best of the best. My reckoning is that in a perfect world we'd have a number of very good players not being able to get a regular game. Hard to lose in that scenario. It's why I have a few regulars now as back-up next year. It's nothing personal, I just want a great list.

By and large I find the site to be very good. You'll get pushback early but the longer you're here, the less so. There's a weird sort of internet pecking order at play but it's certainly not representative of how things are in the face to face world. It's why I often try to talk with people but I'm as guilty as anyone else in talking at people. Using someone's user name in a post tends to calm the waters SK. Or just agreeing to disagree early if you know where an argument is heading. You usually know early on if someone is rusted on with their thoughts. What amazes me is how different we all are. For a mob of people who all follow the one team, that observation stands out. e.g ... we have an NFL thread here where at least a dozen contributors all barrack for different teams (with the odd exception - 49ers) Yet we're all Demon fans at the same time.

The same sorts of comments were on the game-day thread here. Still there in fact. Makes you wonder about the levels of maturity but you can't educate these people. Anyway, I reported a couple of posts where the crass language was used so I hope the appropriate measures are now taken. I urge others to do the same. Just go back to the last few pages of the game-day thread to see the evidence. It's shameful.

I didn't Just clarifying that I'd keep Hunt as well but he doesn't necessarily get a game. Our depth has never been great, certainly in the recent past so to have a 5 or 6 reasonable players all fighting for limited opportunities in the seniors is the ideal scenario. Right now our depth consists of various C & D graders. To my way of thinking best 22 should mean that every one of those 22 players is a good or top player. Our supporters have seen it but not with our team. The Lions of the early 2000's, various Hawthorn teams, the Cats ('07 - '11) Bombers mid 80's, Blues '79 - '82 etc all had an excess of talent. That has to be the aim and the goal of the club thus my call to bring in 2 quality forwards to plug in and play (KPF & Small Forward)

My comments were in relation to who actually plays in the forward line with a full list (with quality added) Hunt goes to being a back-up if we had a top-rate forward line. Or plays elsewhere within the team as a utility type. Perhaps starts from the interchange. It has to be remembered that the club will want to add as much quality to the list as is possible. You can never have enough good players (all things considered) If you were the coach you'd be demanding some quality players to add to what we've got. He won't be sitting back hoping for the best.

Hannan jogs around too much ... no urgency. Lockhart gets another year. Weideman has been a major disappointment whilst T-Mac hasn't been much better. Agree on Spargo & Garlett. Hunt is too hot and cold and doesn't play in front. Could be way better if he puts his mind to it. But out of the 6 possies I've only got 4 in from the present list (Petracca, Melksham, T-Mac & Fritsch) No room for he's ok or he's alright types. I want a gun forward line.

These things are selective ... schoolyard type rules. It's who you know and who's on the nose or on the outer. You'll never see fairness or consistency. Gain any advantage you can get is the only way to win the fight.

Our forwards also won't adhere to the fundamentals either although with a change of personnel, we were much better yesterday Playing in front, making space, defensive pressure, multiple leads and leading patterns, marking ability, the forwards playing as a team and other factors have been sadly lacking. And we can't kick straight for goal. It is the worst performed forward line I have seen at the club (all things considered) and I'd be surprised if we don't see a line up that looks more like this next season ... HF : Petracca KPF (Rec) Melksham F : Fritsch T.Mac Small Fwd (Rec) Weideman as a back up 2nd or 3rd forward whilst Hannan, Lockhart, Spargo & Garlett have it all in front of them. That's if all 4 in fact remain on the list.

As for Brayshaw, one of many who hasn't reached the heights of last year. I'm not one to single out individuals in a team sport ... so our forward line letting us down badly this season I see as the main problem Looked at another way ... lets just say our forward line was functioning 'well' this season. We'd have a lot more wins on the board and would be pushing for finals. But easier said than done ... we lost Hogan and the other teams have done their homework on us. But the yips in front of goal? That's entirely on us. We've blown at least 4 winnable games through poor kicking for goal. 5 & 12 should read as 9 & 8. And then this conversation is way different. On nearly all the threads. We've shot ourselves in the foot (no pun intended)

Yes, Alaphilippe faltered a bit last night And with 3 tough mountain stages to come (Thurs, Fri & Sat) it's all ahead of him No real help from.his team forthcoming either ... he's done well to be going so well this far in though

Not necessarily but it's not like Danny Frawley has any relevance. Another dinosaur. Dermie's comments are a bit off the mark though ... we're not so much downhill skiers, more like whatever the phrase is for shooting ourselves in the foot. That's it Rangie ... 'We shoot ourselves in the foot' We don't beat up on the easybeats and then cave-in against good opposition (like we used to do) We simply keep finding ways to lose through our own ineptness. Especially with regards to our general field kicking and our shooting for goal. Our endeavour, energy, effort, hard-ball gets, clearances & contested work isn't too bad. But with ball in hand we butcher it.