Macca

@La Dee-vina Comedia Ch7 are in the business of making money and it's all about the ratings and the advertising dollars It's up to the AFL to get the best deal for their sport. It was just a few years ago that Ch7 took CA to court over the quality of the sport (specifically the BIg Bash) So when you're forking out $Billions you want bang for your buck If the sport was hugely watchable for the neutrals, it's a different conversation So when considering that DAZN are an English firm, I can see them either opting out or brokering a different deal (if possible) Some contracts are not watertight so watch this space ... DAZN have already dumped the French & Belgium leagues

Foxtel/Kayo bought the rights to Saturday's, it wasn't necessarily ch7 dropping out As for Thursday night games, that's been a success As for DAZN, if they can opt out of AFL, they probably will What we might be left with is anyone's guess but another streaming service is on the cards (and the consequences of such a move) The biggie for me is if the NRL on Ch9 can continually beat the footy on Ch7 ... no one likes coming 2nd As previously stated numerous times, it's all about the neutral eyes, not the rusted on types

'Down Cemetary Road' looks the goods, HT ... the 2 lead actresses are favourites of mine too Also, 'Pluribus' is superb and well worth a look, especially so (or more so) if you like the genre (Dystopian Sci-fi, Dark Comedy, Psychological Drama) Vince Gilligan writes and directs a number of episodes (formerly X-Files, Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul)

Yeah, I've arranged a late start on Friday so will get all or most the first 2 games in live ... and Joe Burrow is back for the Bengals so the Cinci/Ravens match should be a good one as well It's the best line-up of games we've seen on Thanksgiving for quite a while Everything is on the line for 5 of the 6 teams engaged And then we get the 8 & 3 Bears @ the 8 & 3 Eagles at 7.00am Saturday morning A Feast of Football with another 11 games to come on Monday

Bleacher Report NFL Power Rankings Week 13

@Gorgoroth @Clintosaurus @Go the Biff @Dr. Gonzo @titan_uranus @ElDiablo14 @BDA @layzie @Dee Zephyr Leaderboard Tipping Comp 27 - Clintosaurus, Macca 25 - layzie 24 - Go the Biff 23 - BDA 20 - Gorgoroth, titan_uranus 19 - Dee Zephyr 18 - ElDiablo14 13 - Dr. Gonzo We Play for Double Points this week - Good luck!

Leaderboard Tipping Comp 27 - Clintosaurus, Macca 25 - layzie 24 - Go the Biff 23 - BDA 20 - Gorgoroth, titan_uranus 19 - Dee Zephyr 18 - ElDiablo14 13 - Dr. Gonzo

@Gorgoroth Rams/Tampa game was over early, there again, I thought the same with the Eagles/Dallas game Stafford has to be red hot favourite for the MVP. 29 TD's & only 2 Int Goff is 21 & 4 so both teams have done well out of the swap

How 'bout them Cowboys! It looked all over at 21-0 in the Eagles favour

Tips @titan_uranus @Dr. Gonzo

Patriots, Seahawks, Jags

Watched hundreds of tests from go to whoa but that is the strangest test I've ever witnessed It was as if the players were in t20 mode throughout Still, out of it all, we witnessed one of the great test centuries of all time by Travis Head and some brilliant bowling by Mitch Starc I had us down and out after day one but in the end the Aussies won by 8 wickets! In 2 days! Go figure!

Bleacher Report Power Rankings

It wasn't that long ago that we were inviting teams to bomb it into our forward line ... with May, Petty & Lever taking mark after mark or spoiling to good effect (along with players like Salem, Bowey & Rivers taking possession & rebounding on the counter) Of course, we kept bombing it in often just looking for a forward line stoppage when it was obvious that that tactic was becoming obsolete It's a tough gig being a key forward these days as all the teams plan their defensive strategies* for the long kick forward. And progressing the ball forward with efficiency has always been an option which the Pies enacted to good effect in 2023 Right now, the list is still a bit top heavy with regards to tall forwards (due to contracts?) *A good example being GWS in round 1 of 2025. We went in too top heavy up forward and GWS just waltzed the ball out of their backline. Lost that game at the selection table

We've got too many tall forwards on the list ... a couple/few are surplus to needs and will spend most, if not all of their time at Casey The game has changed dramatically and the long bomb is fast becoming a thing of the past ... so what is needed are small/medium type forwards who can create space and mids who can hit the scoreboard (see Brisbane) So drafting 2 non talls forwards was the right move Mihocek & JVR will be our mainstays and there won't be a 3rd. In fact, if we play a 2nd ruck, JVR could miss out and we go with medium/smalls (predominantly)

Latrelle is 182cm not 170cm as has been widely reported If he improves his marking capabilities, he could become a medium sized forward along with terrific ground skills Much like his cousin, quite versatile. The quintessential project player We live in hope

A rugged customer with good skills & awareness, rebounding from defence What's not to like!!

IIRC, Kozzie was a real bolter and right up until draft day, wasn't rated in the top 25. Many here and in the media called the pick a reach. Got it horribly wrong But with Latrelle, whilst starting out as a pick in the mid to late 20's, he ended up being touted as a top 15 pick Anyway, Taylor knows more than most so if we're ever going to trust anyone, it's JT By the way, I wouldn't be calling Kolt or Laurie a bust just yet. Laurie has been starved of opportunities whilst Kolt was drafted as a mid/forward and is yet to receive quality minutes in the midfield All our new additions need time to develop (3-4 years, not some tiny sample size)

So Scotland are through to the WC after an absence of 28 years! Wales & Ireland through to playoffs

@Gorgoroth @Clintosaurus @Go the Biff @Dr. Gonzo @titan_uranus @ElDiablo14 @BDA @layzie @Dee Zephyr Leaderboard Tipping Comp 24 - Clintosaurus, layzie, Macca 23 - Go the Biff 22 - BDA 19 - Dee Zephyr, Gorgoroth 17 - ElDiablo14, titan_uranus 13 - Dr. Gonzo

Leaderboard Tipping Comp 24 - Clintosaurus, layzie, Macca 23 - Go the Biff 22 - BDA 19 - Dee Zephyr, Gorgoroth 17 - ElDiablo14, titan_uranus 13 - Dr. Gonzo

According to the stats, Australia holds every highest wicket partnership in Tests vs England (1st through to 10th) Meanwhile, with Hazlewood & Cummins both out of the 1st test, the Aussies are going to have to bat well to keep England at bay And if Weatherald doesn't get the nod to open, here's how our batting order might look ... Khawaja Labuschagne Green Smith Head Webster Carey Starc Lyon Boland Doggett If Weatherald plays, Webster might miss out with Green to bat at no.6 I favour the latter combination but Webster hasn't done a lot wrong