Macca

And any number of clubs are selling free access to poker machines ... and that has been going on for decades. Yes, our club is getting out of them but other clubs will stay with the cash-cow's. By comparison to all that, AFLX is quite harmless.

No surprise ... the AFL is cashed up. Tens of millions of dollars to spare. 50k per captain is a mere drop in the ocean. 250k per captain might surprise. And no, I am not a cheerleader. This is what they are going to. It is like Coca Cola, Philip Morris, CUB, the TAB or KFC coming out with a new product. Junk sells.

It's time the racing authorities put a stop to races being monopolised and a cap on the amount of horses that any trainer can have. 150 is enough but I reckon even 100 is plentiful. But this new saga might bring things to a head anyway ... fairly sure that a country in Europe (France?) allows trainers to only have 1 horse in any given race. It might be 2. And a horse like 'The Autumn Sun' should be racing against Winx. The finger can't be pointed at just 1 trainer. There's a lot to clean up DZ.

A small stable could conceal those types of activities Wadda ... in a small stable the numbers knowing what is going on might number 2 or 3 people only. But in a super-huge stable and with so many people about, the info can get out. He may well be a victim of his own success as well (as you've indicated) The shot over the starboard bow might have been when 'Trap for Fools' was denied a run in the Cox Plate. Maybe RV was trying to send a message? And the 'Tasers/Treadmill/Blinkers/Pin' operation can be connected to the 'Deception/Financial Gain' outcome. Or there might be more to this story (I suspect there is more)

Without naming names here's what I reckon might have happened. And regularly (?) The tasers (jiggers) obviously can't be used on race days but they can be used in training. So a horse is put on a treadmill with blinkers on as opposed to when it usually runs without blinkers. The taser is used on the horse whilst the horse is on the treadmill (with blinkers on) The rest of the time when the horse is trained or races (previously) it doesn't wear blinkers In an upcoming race the blinkers are put on and the horse then might think it's going to be tasered so it gets a 'move-on' in anticipation. A pin placed strategically inside a jockeys gloves can act in the same way ... pin is jabbed into the horses neck area and then tasered (again, whilst on the treadmill) On race days the concealed pin is applied in the last 200m ... and it is no coincidence that said trainers horses are renowned as strong finishers. The above is how I heard it explained today (through the media) and it's awful and it's graphic but that's the theory on what might have gone on. Makes me sick to the stomach if true and as previously stated, my sentiment lies with the horses, the families involved and the staff who knew nothing about what might have been going on. Please don't take the above as gospel though. We'll know more down the track Wadda.

Excellent article by Michael Lynch Cobalt, then Aquanita, then the Weir arrests ... racing's PR disaster

Might be a while before we find out what exactly has gone on but apparently it's business as usual and the stables' 600+ horses are still allowed to run according the RV. Racing.com, Racenet & RSN are covering the story in detail but it's still quite murky ... the 4 'jiggers' (tasers) found on the properties are going to be hard to explain away and the associated 'deception for financial gain' is another aspect that could bring about hefty punishments (both from a legal sense & from RV) I never grow attached to these sorts of personalities so I'd like to think that my view will be completely unbiased. I feel for the horses, the family's involved & the staff (who are almost certainly mostly innocent) The whole operation is quite huge so a hell of a lot of people are involved ... the care and training of 600+ horses is a massive task.

Just in case ... we should refer to said person as he or him.

Probably had no idea? Not sure on that one Wadda ... he is CEO

Deception for financial gain ... could be anything. I am surprised but not completely shocked. Midweek racing has always made me doubt certain outcomes ?

Huge story breaking re Darren Weir What's the latest?

What the numbers say is that a large percentage of Americans have no interest in the NFL. We get a false picture over here. But NFL's minority is still colossal in pure numbers.

The Pro Bowl attracted 8 Million TV viewers ... the wild-card & divisional playoff games attracted an average of 5 Million viewers per game. Only in America.

Record number of Australian Entries for World Cup Meeting (Dubai) US$6,000,000 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Group 1 | 2400m | Turf Libran (Chris Waller) US$6,000,000 Dubai Turf Group 1 | 1800m | Turf Aloisia (Ciaron Maher) Comin’ Through (Chris Waller) Eshtiraak (David Hayes) Land of Plenty (Darren Weir) Muraaqeb (David Hayes) Oohood (Tony McEvoy) Shillelagh (Chris Waller) US$2,500,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen Group 1 | 1200m | Dirt Faatinah (David Hayes) US$2,000,000 Al Quoz Sprint Group 1 | 1200m | Turf Brave Smash (Darren Weir) Faatinah (David Hayes) Illustrious Lad (Peter Gelagotis) Land of Plenty (Darren Weir) Lean Mean Machine (Chris Waller) Osborne Bulls (James Cummings) Performer (Chris Waller) Santa Ana Lane (Anthony Freedman) Strathmore (Chris Waller) Viddora (Lloyd Kennewell) Voodoo Lad (Darren Weir) US$1,500,000 Dubai Gold Cup Group 2 | 3200m | Turf Libran (Chris Waller)

There are any number of set plays and strategies that can happen from a 666 set up. The variables are endless. Moves and counter moves and teams trying to figure out what the other team is doing. We need to see it play out but there will be an impact. As for the rest of the game, we may or may not see a flow-on effect.

Managenent create a major issue for its workers and then the masses blame the A-end of the problem

Like most sports cricket is money driven so the advantage we often have in Brisbane was passed up because they can't pull a crowd. India were miles too good anyway and we were no match. They are the Superpower of cricket and that won't be changing in a hurry.

With the recent addition to the racing calendar of the 'All Star Mile' & 'The Golden Eagle', we now have 18 Group 1's (or equivalent) worth between $1.5Million & $15Million in prizemoney. By World standards that is phenomenal for a country of our size & population. Here's the top 10 $15.0Million - The Everest $8.6Million - Melbourne Cup $7.5Million - Golden Eagle $5.0Million - Cox Plate $5.0Million - Caulfield Cup $5.0Million - All Star Mile $4.0Million - QEII Stakes $3.5Million - Golden Slipper $3.0Million - Doncaster Mile $2.5Million - TJ Smith Stakes Plus, we have another 3 x $2Million races that come under the Magic Millions & Inglis banners. As well as that there are 5 other Group 1's that are worth $2Million including the Sydney Cup. Speaking of which, 'Etymology' won the Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm today and is now being set for the Sydney Cup. The horse has found a rich vein of form and is a Blackbooker. Read more here ... Etymology too strong in Australia Day Cup

What an odd scoreline in the Pro Bowl. Anyone watch it?

I reckon with this new-new 'hands in the back' interpretation we'll end up with the same issues that previously existed and they'll change it back again. Unless they stubbornly refuse to - and that's always a possibility. Do they want forwards to be able to take more marks? Thus creating more scoring opportunities and therefore more goal breaks and more advertisements? Pardon my cynicism.

The best value for each pick boosts up the odds ... it's good when what should happen, does happen. PSG have scored heavily all season and they nearly always win. So the +3.5 Goals paying $2.15 was a logical pick. So was DZ's pick with Roma ... but for some inexplicable reason they give up a 3 - 0 lead. Sheer bad luck as things like that very rarely happen. Man City, Barca & Juventus are 3 other teams that can be relied upon. Liverpool as well? Knowing we only have to come up with 1 pick does make one focus. It's my reckoning that the 1 pick can often jump out at you. I know you like the bigger multi's Wadda and than can still happen using the collective 3 picks as a base.

I must say I am excited at the prospect of what we'll see. Even if the only change we see from the new rule brings back some wing play involving those wingmen taking a bounce or 2 (a la Robbie) But I strongly suspect we'll see other aspects that eventuate as well as the unintended consequences that could happen (as you've previously pointed out) And then there's the pattern of play from all these 666 moments ... set plays, designated receivers from outside the square etc etc. It's only going to be 10% - 15% of the game (or thereabouts) but patterns could be set that teams might want to continue with. 'Whatever works' comes to the fore or could do. Because it's brand new, every team will have their own strategy and each of those strategies might be different. As the season progresses the study of the tape will become of utmost importance. Aussie rules is fast becoming a game of absolute strategy much like soccer & NFL is. Natural progression. A lot don't like change but sometimes change is needed to improve things. All sports tinker with their own rules.

And that could leave his wingman opponent standing on his own with a chance to receive the ball unopposed from a quick clearance from the bounce down. No effect on the game? There are far too many variables involved for that to be true. I would suggest there's more likely a 99% chance that the new 666 rule will have an effect on the game in some form or another. Whatever that is, is anyone's guess. The remaining 99.9% of the game is an incorrect number too ... more like 80% - 90% of the game as the 666 rule will be applied roughly 25 - 45 times per game depending on how many goals are scored. And each application of the 666 rule will take up a certain amount of game time. Applying the 666 rule for the whole game is problematic. There may be a way to do it but any solution I've seen put forward becomes impractical. If the goal is to reduce congestion on the ground then bringing the numbers down to 15 or 16 per team could be a viable alternative. But then we'd be messing with the very fabric of the game.

Brisbane as a venue is 5th in preference with a decent gap to 4th (Perth) Mainly because they can't pull a decent crowd up there for the test matches and haven't done so for quite some time.

We also previously saw a lot of forwards playing from behind using their hands. I see it as cheating and don't like it at all. But you're spot on rjay, they cleaned up the rule and now they've opened up the rule to be exploited again. What are the chances that they un-repeal the new new rule? ? Use your body, use your forearm, use your knees - but not your hands. One thing I can almost guarantee - the new rule is going to cause angst for the lack of consistency. And with grey areas such as these, you will never get consistency. The sport is difficult enough to officiate now. The other changes I'm ok with although the ruckman having to nominate themselves seems a bit overly officious.