Macca

None of this stuff is going to have any impact on the club or it's supporters. It might fire Jack up but any player should be fired up about missing out. The talk shouldn't be exclusive to Jack - it should include all players from all the clubs.

Yeah, you're right. I worded that last bit wrong. I'm happy to keep the system we have (drafting) but we should recognise it's flaws. And not just from a MFC point of view. However, I do believe that all the clubs might end up with zones/academies in the future which would by default, make drafting less important.

To me Watts is just another footballer on the list ... I never had the same expectations of Jack because I don't believe in the draft like many choose to do. He's just not that good a player nor is he a failure either. Judging a player according to his draft pick number is a no win situation for a top end pick ... he's supposed to be 'great' and if he isn't, there's hell to pay. Jack was a 16/17 year old 'prospect' playing schoolboy footy when the no.1 pick was bestowed on him ... and we did that, not Jack himself. He just joins a long long list of top end end draft picks who didn't turn out to be champion footballers. The issue is the system itself.

For those without cable TV, you can listen to the tests from India here ... the ABC are providing coverage but not through their normal radio outlets. The link should work through your phone (if it's compliant)

As dc said, his target audience are his own supporters. Trump is literally preaching to the converted ... and again, it works and it's working. He doesn't have to win over the left because in his eyes, they don't really matter. The left aren't going to buy into his policies so why bother? It's very different to what we've seen previously where most new leaders do try and bring all the people together ... I reckon Trump knows that that is a waste of time & effort so he'd rather strengthen his own base. Watching his rally in Florida made me think that more people might jump on board with him (a percentage of those who don't lean strongly to the left but aren't exactly far-right either) It's not normal politics - neither side is listening to the outrage coming from the other side ... the divide is quite stark and it will probably remain that way for quite some time. .

Here's a quick write-up of 2 more of the 9 movies up for best picture at the Oscars. 3 to go after this post and I'm still to see 2 of the movies up for best film (Lion & Fences) ... looking forward to seeing both of course. January/February are movie months and why not? - there's not a great deal of sport happening. Anyway, here goes (spoiler free) Moonlight A extremely touching movie that will stay with you long after you've seen it ... the film is a coming-of-age type movie but not in the traditional sense. Again, tough to watch at times but very rewarding. The cinematography is superb. The movie is about identity, discovery, is devastating in parts whilst telling a simple story extraordinarily well. Moving & sad at times, this film is one of the best of the year. 8.5/10 If you've seen the movie, here's a podcast featuring the director Barry Jenkins and actress Naomie Harris (contains spoilers) Hidden Figures A feel-good movie with (at times) rather awkward & somewhat sinister undertones. NASA features as the backdrop with the space-race as the theme. The story of 3 women who excel against the odds ... and given the time that the movie is set in (the early 60's) these 3 women excelled in a rather surprising way. A 'hidden treasure', this film will both surprise & entertain. 8/10 Again, if you've seen this movie, here's another podcast featuring the director Theodore Melfi (contains spoilers) Whilst I'm here, a catchy jazz track from "Hidden Figures" ... featuring Pharrell Williams ... .

Just having a bit of fun Wrecker ... none of us should ever be locked into a way of thinking because events happen and things change to a point where our minds are made up for us. We buy-in and buy-out in sport all the time and politics is no different. The dilemma for the Republicans is would they be better off without Trump? Their policies are represented by Trump (by and large) and I don't necessarily see another Republican president being much different in terms of policy except ... in style, delivery, bluntness, charisma, political correctness & the ability to appeal to the other side of politics (and his own side) A mixed bag of course but the last factor is very important in terms being able to govern unimpeded. The mid-terms will be upon us before we know it and the Republicans should be at least able to improve their position in the senate (only 9 Republican senate seats are up for re-election where as at least 23 Democrat senate seats are on the line) ... or they could lose ground if the electorate wants change.

It's worth noting that 40 of Nixon's aides were indicted or went to jail. That might explain the disconnect that we're starting to see.

Egomaniac bully, glass jaw & absolute train-wreck = Trump Thanks for confirming Wrecker.

Speculation is free ... getting that speculation wrong is par for the course though Here's one ...Trump's core support whilst not overly huge is as strong as I've seen. Where as the support for the Democrats & Hillary before the election was more a 'default' support. It lacked real passion. Fast forward to now and it's about governing and whether Trump can do it and whether he's allowed to do what he wants. Stay tuned - same time, same multitude of channels. .

There has to be a moment where Trump absolutely crosses a line that is an impeachable offence (and that may or may not occur) The Russian stuff is not going away but there needs to be proof-positive of wrongdoing. And it has to be linked back to Trump. Nixon resigned before certain impeachment but it took an age & the Democrats stood by Bill Clinton in the senate when he was in the throes of being impeached. It's important to note that 67 of the 100 senators would need to vote to impeach. But somehow I reckon he may either survive his way through or something odd/weird/strange happens that ends his presidency. A 2nd term is unlikely but this is America we're talking about LH!

Trump has hit upon a way of winning that's never been seen before ... at least, I've never seen anything like it. And that cannot be downplayed. The support he has is unwavering but there's a cut-off point where it swings completely the other way. With not much in between. His issue is how to govern unimpeded with so much hostility about. I reckon we're just going to see more of the same until a pivotal moment is reached. What that moment might be is anyone's guess though. The rally in Florida was all too predictable ...designed to galvanise his support base and again, it's working. But he ultimately needs to govern well and that's where I see him failing. I'd be open to changing my mind if all the Republican senators & congressmen were right behind him.

Yep, they should have already changed tack and there were many saying that they lost sight of their core values a number of years ago. Are they listening? Hillary's campaign message was "Don't vote for Trump" and it failed spectacularly. But Trump's main concern for now is the Republican party ... the senate majority is not a large one and if he wants policy to flow unimpeded, he needs to butter them up. Even 2 votes the other way can blocks bills and in some cases a 60/40 vote is required (supreme court judge appointments etc etc)

The issues going forward for Trump is going to be can he and his administration govern and make laws unimpeded? The red-tape, bureaucracy, protocols and such-like are going to create barriers that he & his administration may not be able to overcome. In a short space of time we've already seen his security advisor (Flynn) removed and the muslim ban lifted ... the wall and whether it will ever get built is another obstacle and there will be numerous other issues that may incur stumbling blocks. Winning an election & remaining popular is one thing but being able to govern effectively once that win happens is another entirely different matter. In order to govern effectively he's going to have to play the game and build up good relationships with as many large groups & bodies as possible (his own party, the Democrats (especially in the senate), the media, the FBI, CIA, NSA etc etc) Luckily he's got the majority of Republicans on his side (for now) but he won't want to cross-swords with too many from the GOP. The mid-terms (2018) brings about a full election in the House of representatives and whilst the margin is quite substantial right now, an electorate ready for change can soon swing that margin about.

Somehow I don't believe that's going to happen. More to the point is that Trump's M.O. is working ... he's not trying to win everyone over. He's got his potential target audience and he is simply playing to them. It quite literally is like a reality TV show where a maximum rating can be achieved and if that rating is gained, the win is attained. Looking at it all with a conventional mind is out the window ... that thinking doesn't necessarily apply.

I must pay that outstanding parking fine. So, what did you make of the Presser diets? I made some comments a ways back (post #220) but I'm reasonably convinced that the presser won't harm him and might end up helping him ... him taking on so many media types has an appeal all on it's own. I'm playing devil's advocate of course because I'd rather see the end of him (anyone of Pence, McCain, Cruz or even McConnell would do me)

Is your friend in the secret service?

Perhaps people here can create another thread or take your conversations to the other threads that are not pertaining to Trump. All things not appropriate to Trump are being yapped about here. Hey, the Trump press conference on Thursday was a huge story - anyone got anything to add? Good or bad - I'm not fussed.

The article is misleading, mischievous & disingenuous ... don't get sucked in. Many of the words attributed to Goodwin are wrong. .

What Goodwin actually said was ... The 'Fearless Football' comment seems to be only an interpretation from the article's author ... Michael Gleeson. My reading of Goodwin's comments are that he hasn't said anything over the top and most of it could be interpreted as 'Coach-speak'. There is quite literally nothing to see here apart from a few words that any coach might say. The journalist (Gleeson) has taken license with what Goodwin has said and made it look like Goodwin has said something completely different. The article's title is misleading and so is the content of the article. Gleeson is no footy guru either - he's just another no-nothing journalist like most of the rest of them. Here is the link to the article again ... Melbourne aiming to be fearless under Simon Goodwin

The Trump presser today was an absolute eye-opener. But 'unhinged' is the new 'That's our President' He was relishing the moment and so too his fans. It's all part of his M.O. Even those with unconventional minds can't figure it out. The media are going to come at him harder & harder but all that seems to do is fuel the bloke. It's just as well he abstains from alcohol though - can you imagine what he'd be like if he was a drinker? I can totally understand those with far-right views - that's their right and I share some of those views and then some. But it's hard to comprehend how these same people can be happy with this bloke as their leader. I guess they're 'all-in' just so they don't dare give any ammunition to the other side. Anyway, true to his word, @wrecker maintains that Trump is going to be an absolute train-wreck

Diets, I won't quote your (lengthy) post but never the less, I did enjoy the rant. And yes, there's a lot of unknown known unknowns.

I wasn't specifically talking about Australia if you read my post correctly diets - it was Biff who made the reference to Australia. I'm merely endeavoring to promote a balanced view. You're better off talking to those on the opposite side of the argument. However, if checks and balances need to be amp'd up, so be it. Again, more so from a bigger picture point of view. .

It's the tone & language I'm referencing. What you and others want, can be achieved with sensible policy without whipping people up into a frenzy. Otherwise, a lot of anger & hate can be misdirected into the wrong areas. The aggressive talk isn't actually needed ... there's executive orders, a large majority in congress and a workable majority in the senate. A lot can be achieved and enacted as a matter of course. That book that I linked up highlights that thinking ... just present all the facts and data without any overemotional or overly dramatic rhetoric. .

Change will happen based on how the public views the issue ... what can't be denied is that more and more people from various countries are voting in right wing governments with variable degrees of right wing policies. The concern for me is that the correction may be going too far to the right ... but it will balance itself out over time. The rise of nationalism & patriotism is a bi-product of those far right views and that can be dangerous. The violence can end up being shifted rather than eradicated.