Macca

Yeah I was thinking of putting up a 3/5 exacta ($12) as I've been doing quite well with that type of exotic bet in the racing off-season. Can one multi up an exacta with win bets Wadda? But I am doing a 'Deeza' and will be putting on a box6 F4 in the CF Orr Stakes ... only issue is that I narrowed it down to 8 choices then PL (in advance) kicked in! Anyway, I'm on with our 3 choices so good luck everyone!

If the AFL wanted the concept to work at a local level you'd reckon they'd be more inclined to want to get most of the locals onside. But instead of that, there seems more of a backlash to the new wiz-bang ideas. With each new innovative idea comes more scorn. It's as if they're doing it that way deliberately. Which makes me think they can really only be aiming at a younger audience (35 or under) and a possible international audience in the same demographic. Play to your audience. A percentage of those in the older brackets could jump on later (that often happens) I do like the idea of Aussie rules being played at a number of those classic arena's around the world but that would be years in the making. Also, their business model might be decades long (think China) It's one evening, probably paid for by sponsors but lets face it, the AFL is cashed up so the cost would be a drop in the ocean anyway.

I don't reckon it matters ... the concept is an attempt at a potential cash grab that may or may not happen (down the track) At Melbourne we take the NT cash and the pokies cash ... without it we'd be cactus by now. As individuals we take the cash ... and why not?

Under 35's is more the demographic

You shouldn't feel offended ... you are not the target audience. You never were. Neither am I Who are we to judge what other demographics can like and dislike? Besides which, the AFL has already got our money.

In the practice games players do get targeted ... a young Hogan had his vertabrae feactured in a game against Geelong. Missed a year because of it. Brayshaw had his head knocked about (purposely?) and missed a ton of games as a consequence. I am way more concerned about the 2 practice games yet most here probably 'Just want some footy' The practise games are becoming more meaningless every year.

Money and a jog around ... at a guess I reckon the AFL/Marvel are putting up a million for the players. 50k each for the captains & 20k for each of the players. All for 20-30 minutes of tackle-free footy Give me some of that! As an aside, I wouldn't be letting any of our top dozen players play in the JLT practice games. The risk of injury is far far worse. Another aside ... AFLW has gained an audience despite most people that I run into having zero interest in the concept. Good on AFLW I say.

Big Saturday coming up with the highlight being the star-studded field in the CF Orr Stakes. The good horses are back and the value that comes along with it all. Here are 5 of the standout races ... CF Orr Stakes Rubiton Stakes TS Carlyon Cup Breeders Classic Eskimo Prince Stakes

Best Bet Caulfield Race 9 No.4 Avilius $3.00

Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2018 Gorgoroth Go the Biff DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Macca Clintosaurus Go the Biff/ JV7/ Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth/ JV7 Clintosaurus Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 JV7/ cowboy_from_hell Gorgoroth/ Macca DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboyfhell/ Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2018 DeeSpencer Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth, Dappa Dan Dee Zephyr, Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2017 Clintosaurus Go the Biff Dappa Dan --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell Clintosaurus/ DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2015 Gorgoroth cowboy_from_hell/ Macca JV7/ DeeSpencer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan DeeSpencer Gorgoroth --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall Medal Tally Gold Silver Bronze Gorgoroth 4 0 6 Macca 3 1 4 JV7 2 2 1 ---------------------------------------------------- cowboy_from_hell 1 3 1 DeeSpencer 1 2 3 Clintosaurus 1 2 2 Go the Biff 1 2 1 Dappa Dan 1 1 1 Strafford 1 0 0 titan_uranus 1 0 0 pantaloons 0 2 0 DemonDave 0 1 0 Dee Zephyr 0 0 1 

And many who have polar opposite views now had the sane view at the start of the Jack Watts 'Journey' DZ. Starts off as eager anticipation and then either 'Can't let go' or 'Lash out' There are no winners

And the irony is that many here are calling for the club to recruit some outside run. Previously we've recruited that way (Morton, Toumpas etc) but it's definitely a case of buyer-beware. Again, we draft them out of high school which therefore means there are no guarantees.

Ha ha! Oliver attacks the ball with a manic desire yet rarely, if ever, gets crunched. There is a lot more to footy other than an ability to kick the ball well to position. In Watts' defence he does have gteat vision ... A grade vision. But you've got to have many other prerequisites to be a topliner.

Clayton Oliver is a good example ... take away his manic attack on the ball and he becomes just an average player. Not sure that stuff can be taught either although it has probably happened. Development is key but it is still up to the player themselves.

In my experience I've come across any number of sportspeople who haven't realised their potential. After a while one realises that the outcomes are largely enivitable. The pathways individuals take are self-chosen. I don't believe that Jack had enough basic skills to even have an above average career ... playing in front, contested marking and a drive to succeed are skills in themselves. Doing the extras at training and a manic attack on the ball are also basic skills.

We draft these blokes at an age where we really don't how they are going to turn as footballers or indeed how they are going to turn out as people. The trouble is that we're fed information such as "He's going to be a star" or "He comes from a good family" etc etc and because we want to believe all that we tend to believe all that. There are others (myself included) who prefer a wait-and-see approach which takes away all unrealistic expectations and the angst that can often go with those unrealistic expectations not being met. I often see people lashing out with their anger over the outcomes of drafting as if somehow the future is written in stone. Therefore, I'm neither disappointed with Watts nor am I pleased with the outcome. But that's just me, others can please themselves.

Consolation prize for you @Gorgoroth You're the winner of the post season tipping comp! Well played and good tipping. I'll post up the overall tallies sometime in the next day or so. 2nd goes to @Go the Biff & 3rd place goes to @DeeSpencer Well played gentlemen. Bad luck about the big one Gorg but Belichick, Brady & the Pats were just too good in a fairly forgettable game all round. We kept waiting for something to happen but the only real highlight was the Brady throw to Gronk. That play proved to be the most decisive play as well. Anyway, thanks to all for your participation. Final Tally - Post-Season Tipping Comp 12 - Gorgoroth 11 - Go the Biff 10 - DeeSpencer 9 - Dappa Dan 7 - JV7 6 - Clintosaurus, DemonDave 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca

If we could go back and add 4 or 5 top players to those Northey & Daniher teams we almost certainly would have won a flag or 2. And top management goes with all that. And a good culture. And you win flags then everything is viewed differently. We've never had the talent levels in my opinion. Hopefully that changes. And just on being a top player ... as a forward the front position is a prerequisite and so is the ability to take a contested mark. Basic skills 101. Without those basics a tall forward can never be a top player.

Our culture at times has been very good especially during the Barassi & Northey tenure's. Neale Daniher's time as well wasn't too bad. And we are doing quite well now. So it isn't 50 years H unless you measure things by premierships. But you are spot on about the fish rotting at the head ... we have had any number of poor managers or people in positions of authority failing at their jobs. Blaming the A-end of a problem is just an easy out. Poor management = poor culture.

A former no.1 pick still resonates - it never ends. We are what we turn out to be - preconceived notions matter not to the subject matter

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) Written by: Lennon-McCartney Recorded: 22 February; 18, 20 April; 8, 11 August 1969 Producers: George Martin, Glyn Johns, Chris Thomas Engineers: Barry Sheffield, Jeff Jarratt, Tony Clark, Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald Released: 26 September 1969 (UK), 1 October 1969 (US) John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar, organ, Moog synthesiser Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, congas Billy Preston: Hammond organ Read more here ... I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

Form Analysts Had some luck with Tony Brassel but his winners tend to be the short-priced favourites. - not a lot of value and us punters are looking for a tipster that can find a way to get the favourite beaten. So for NSW racing, I keep drawing blanks. Brad Davidson can be good but he goes too far the other way. Paul Joyce the same. Ron Dufficy is good but he has a few too many biases. So it's David Gately (Gator) for the Vic Metro & James Jordan (JJ) for all things in SA. Both tipsters aren't biased and they both offer terrific value. They will do a bit of both - find a way to get the short-priced favourite beaten but equally, they will go with the shortie when it suits. What I do is pick out their value picks and go from there. Both for straight out bets and the exotics. Gator's Saturday picks can be found on Racing.com under the banner 'Best Bets' whilst JJ's tips are listed on Saturday mornings also on Racing.com. Ben Asgari for Vic Country racing is worth a look-see with his tips (more so midweek) ... his tipping suits the exotic punters. He recognises a couple/few chances in any given race rather than having a standout pick. So if you like 2/4 or 2/5 exacta's, there is value in his tips if you can pick the eyes out it. Ben's tips can also be found on Racing.com.

Enjoy the day Gorg ... SB appearances are rare unless you're a Pats fan so to even make it that far is an achievement in itself. But it's all about the winning and I hope you do win ... and if you do win you'll have beaten a great organisation in the process. All the best.

Adds up to 25-1 or thereabouts but more like 30-1+ with the aid of the odds booster. That's good odds for a 3pick Anyway, it's all about Serie A tonight & tomorrow! Best of luck to all!

Stand corrected then DS ... I don't remember where I got those figures from. I blame the government! I did think those numbers were a quite low ... the pro bowl used to get 10-12 million which in itself is a high number (all things considered) Now down to 8 million which still seems quite high.