Macca

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.

I still believe the 3pick will deliver collects ... and where it's different to the horses is that the contests are 2 horse races (pardon the pun!) Finding 1 winner each shouldn't be too difficult and the collective odds can still be quite good. And we can add-on as we see fit. And it's not like it costs much ... it's more opportunity lost rather than opportunity cost. But winning is winning DZ and no likes losing.

I had 'Anderlecht' as my back-up choice and they duly saluted as well. So went very close but no cigar

The contentious one could well be the new 'Hands in the Back' interpretation. A player playing from from behind can currently use his body or forearm to hold his ground but the use of the hands could easily open up a can of worms What's a push and what isn't a push? Another grey area created to add to the long list of grey areas. And what's to stop the player in front lurching forward once he feels the hands on his back? Don't like that new rule. The great unknown is the 'Traditional playing positions at Centre bounces' ... I like the new rule because it at least could reduce congestion (in part) We don't see true wingmen anymore so that position could be resurrected somewhat. The forward forays from the centre bounces might become more direct therefore bringing the high marking KPF's into the game more. The policing of the rule will be easy enough but we'll see infractions from forgetful players. The rest of the rule changes seem quite logical though ... we have a sport without offside so the coaches can and have redesigned the game. That's their right as they are charged with winning at the sport. So the AFL trying to bring about some order to the sport should be applauded. Whether it works or not is anyone's guess.

Time to reload as the Neo's dipped out

As for the over-the-top injury concerns ... AFLX is virtually tackle-free. And it is all over in 3 hours. I drove past Gosch's earlier last week and we were conducting simulated match practice of sorts. I saw numerous bodies around the ball, packs flying for marks and various players contesting the ball (the traffic was heavy) My first thought was - someone could easily do an ACL here or at least incur a soft tissue injury. But we are going to play 2 practice matches in the pre-season and the risk of injury then reaches the same levels as they do in the season proper games.

And you might be right too ... but you might be wrong. What happens then? My opinion is the same for a lot of these unknowns - wait and see what happens. I'm the same with judging new or young footballers. I've yet to come across anyone who gets it mostly right with these sorts of things. The truth is that most who judge too early are prone to getting it wrong. As for the format - whether I like it or not is immaterial. What matters is whether the format has a big enough appeal amongst others to gain an audience. And that may or may not happen. My personal opinion on whether I like it or not amounts to zilch. It's not about me.