Macca

A conservative view could be that finishing 9th or 10th gives a chance for a team to play 2 finals And right now, I'd take 2 finals in a heartbeat for the Demons (I'd say a 25%* chance of finishing 9th or 10th) Normally, the aim is often solely the Premiership but with a final 10, different goals are created And under the old system, finishing 7th or 8th was no great shakes anyway. So it's really 4 teams making up the numbers (Doggies outlier premiership aside) A team being a possibility of playing 2 finals adds experience to the group for future years (as 2018 did when we played 3 finals) Aiming for 9th or 10th might not seem all that ambitious, but it's a stepping stone at least, and it gives supporters hope *Currently $3.75 with the bookies to finish top 10 (gamble responsibly)

I've got much the same team but with one less tall back ... so T-Mac out for Salem (if fit) I'd find room for Heath as I reckon King will prefer a proper back-up ruckman ... which means Max and the big blonde can spend a bit of time forward. Jeffo out as he would then be surplus to needs If Mihocek is fit he plays which means both ruckman can drift back or more bench time. Culley can push forward as an alternate Others here have included 3 tall forwards in their teams but I can't see that happening. We need a more mobile forward line and more defensive pressure up forward With the possession* game extending all the way into the forward line more regularly, a more medium-sized forward line is therefore required *We're seeing less and less long kicks into the forward and that trend will probably continue ... so teams run it into the F50 or handpass or short pass it into the F50

We don't want any sort of noise though, bub However ... I doubt that Steven would have been a high priority for selection especially if we want to build a backline for the future (and there's plenty of candidates for the 3 tall backs required) If anything, the decision has now been made easier (not picking him) Remembering that he was told to look elsewhere in the off-season, so that doesn't mean he'd be assured of selection anyway. In fact, my reading of that is that he's playing in the 2's unless we get a rash of injuries The watertight contract means the money is assured, but playing seniors? And with the longer contracts being handed out League-wide, there are going to be plenty of veterans still contracted when their use-by date is expiring. That's pro-sports

Yep, the footy public isn't easily fooled. However, it could garner a large audience despite not being a fair-dinkum match To me the timing is right and a large percentage of footy fans just love their footy no matter how it's packaged. They can't get enough of it So it's about how the masses react, not what certain individuals might think Those aged under the age of 30 hold the key

That almost makes it official ... it's a 'Friendly' Not that I have an issue with an exhibition of the best plying their wares. But hopefully, we'll get to see way less congestion and the players playing in their positions (that's a big ask!) And if the match draws a large TV & Streaming audience, so be it

Interesting that 4 of his first 5 points centered around experienced players (Windsor was the other) Kozzie, Disco, Checkers & Langdon all need to perform well if we're to win games ... along with at least another dozen others that have been around long enough now to have reasonable expectations attached to their output As for the youngsters, (and that includes Windsor & Kolt) we need to be patient. Players need at least 3 years in the AFL system these days such is the gap between AFL & Under 18 footy. But I'd say more like 4 years Some make the transition quite quickly, but they are often the standout A graders (usually mids)

I would not be surprised if the match rates well but if that does happen, then what? I reckon there will be more questions asked in the aftermath, rather than beforehand

Ha! The match will probably get a decent TV & Streaming audience first time up, and the match is sold out, so there is a level of interest Ultimately though, the Aussie Rules Origin will be compared to Rugby League Origin and that's a no-contest in terms of integrity, passion, intensity and competitiveness But eyeballs on is also a huge factor and I'm often surprised at what people watch for entertainment

Care factor close to zero. However, It's the right time as the footy fanatics are itching for any kind of football But as previously stated, a lot has to go right. To me the biggest factor is whether the players are fair-dinkum or not ... otherwise, it's just an exhibition game I'll be tuning into the Winter Olympics

Getting hold of fill-in players won't be an issue as there would still be hundreds of players still wanting to ultimately get a chance at AFL level Am I right in saying that our very own Robbie Flower (RIP) was knocked back a couple of times but just kept persevering. Might have been just the once But getting an audience for the games is the biggest issue for the VFL (attending or watching via streaming as the games won't be on Ch7) And the future for the VFL will involve the 6 interstate teams you'd reckon 2 Divisions? With so many teams (22+), your suggestion has real merit, DJ

The VFL doesn't get a decent TV or streaming audience these days, old dee. That's why Ch7 dropped off The powers that be at the AFL would be way more concerned with the costs of running the comp. After all, with regards to the AFL, it's about the $$$'s I compared the VFL to the Sheffield Shield, as that comp (the Shield) would cost a small fortune to run (every year) The Shield might be run better but the stands are empty and I wouldn't imagine many would be watching via streaming (I do watch, occasionally) But CA has India to pay the bills ... it has previously been noted that CA receives $5Million - $8Million for every while ball game played involving Australia & India. That's why we play India every year in the shortened form (in effect, India pays CA to run the Sheffield Shield) Thank you, India One of the biggest costs for the VFL would be all the airfares, accommodation, Doctors, Physio's and all rest of it because we have 5 Northern State teams & a Tassie team involved in the VFL ... and those 6 teams are entrenched in VFL for the foreseeable future. It is what it is But I'm not sure why we have 4 teams having a bye in the first round of the VFL when there's an even number of teams involved (22) Makes no sense but we're talking about the AFL where they can't even manage to call the opening round in the AFL, Round 1 (?)

Champions League Final Round Highlights (All 18 Games) Champions League Table The Top 8 teams receive a bye whilst the teams placed 9th to 24th go the 2 leg knock-out round (The 8 winners to play the top 8 in the next 2-leg knock-out round) 5 of the top 8 and 6 of the top 12 placed teams derive from the EPL

Fantastic match! Not sure anything will ever top the Borg/McEnroe Wimbledon final in 1980 but nevertheless, a memorable match with twists and turns, left, right and centre Now for Novak vs Sinner which could be an epic if Djokovic can somehow stay with Jannik for 5 sets

Beware the injured athlete! Great match! Zverev just couldn't quite finish it off As for Alcaraz, he's already a champion with another 12-15 years ahead. Ditto with Sinner

Super Bowl XLIX (2015) New England / Seattle Mik'd Up (2nd Half)

The VFL is much like the Sheffield Shield in cricket. Absolutely necessary but heavily subsidised ($$$'s) And no longer any room on FTA TV for either competition. Not enough people want to watch it ODI's in cricket went the same way once t20 became the preferred choice There's just too much other big-time sport to watch (or attend) these days Tennis has record numbers as does the F1's. Then there's the big 4 USA sports and the various soccer competitions

Small Faces with a couple

In the lead up to the SB, I'll post up a few 'Mic'd Up' extended highlights of previous SB's Starting off with NE / Atlanta from 2017 (Super Bowl LI) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6EXrewbmzkY&pp=ygUVbWljJ2QgdXAgc3VwZXIgYm93bCBM2AYx0gcJCXwKAYcqIYzv

Our very own 'Diamond Jim' Tilbrook played as a punter for the Portland Storm in 1974 in the short-lived 'World Football League' He was later 'considered' by the New York Jets!

Yep, a Divisional rival vs no one's 'other' favourite team (NE) It's like watching Coll vs Ess on Anzac day! But either Darnold or Maye will be SB Champs ... who would have thought? And I know it's 10 years ago, but I'd still be dirty if I was a Seattle fan on the back of somehow losing that SB back then The opposition (N.E) did not want Seattle to hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, so what do Seattle do?!!

And we've got some Australian representation in the SB with Michael Dickson as Seattle's punter (and holder) A 29yo, originally from Sydney and as a teenager, was in the Swans academy He is the highest paid* punter in the NFL and has previously held the record for the highest average punt distance *Currently in his 1st year of a 4 year contract at Seattle worth $16.2Million (overall)

Seattle are listed as -5.0 point favourites but I'd have the number at -3.5 Seattle's D can be awesome and that strength should get them over the line But you never know in this sport, as teams can score a TD in all sorts of different ways ... there's a reasonable amount of luck (or bad luck) involved

Ha ha! Lame? I reckon it's a terrific match-up ... a re-match of the 2015 SB In 2015 we saw that famous finish where Seattle decided not to hand off to Beast-Mode, 1 or 2 yards shy of the TD zone! What's the bet that story will be re-visited in the next 2 weeks??!

Makes you wonder why the Vikes got rid of Darnold, after a 14 & 3 record last season

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