Macca

Seattle have been the biggest disappointment ... they should have come out all guns blazing after blowing a SB winning chance. Just proves once again that you've got to take your chances when those chances present themselves - unless of course they get on a run and contend again. At 5 & 5 they've got some catching up to do - that's entirely possible with their run home but they still have to get it done. They may luck-out in week 17 if Arizona have nothing to play for (I'd expect the Cardinals to secure the 2 seed - they could clinch that 2 seed in week 16 at home against Green Bay) Detroit are the other big disappointment amongst other teams. Packers at 7 & 4 is about 1 win less than my expectations - however, losing 4 of 5 with a multiple MVP winning QB is unacceptable. If it becomes 5 of 6 the fans may riot Gorgo is rightfully disappointed with his Rams whilst the 49ers fans on this thread must be quite annoyed. Atlanta promise a lot and then falls away - they can get back on track but it needs to happen now. There's some really good stories too with the Panthers, Cinci, Vikes & Arizona. My smoky team to get "hot" at the right time are the Steelers ... the Giants with Eli could cause a bit of damage too (if, as expected, they now win their division)

My vote was B because I was hoping that the club might have recruited at least one ready-made top player. That doesn't mean I'm disappointed though as the rest of the trade period seems to have worked out really well (at least on the surface) To recruit any more than 4 good to excellent players in any given year is very difficult ... that's why it takes longer these days for a club to extract itself from the bottom reaches of the ladder. I prefer to look at our recruiting from the end of the 2012 season onwards ... out of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 off-seasons we look to have picked up about 9 (3 per year on average) good to excellent players ... Viney, Hogan, Salem, Brayshaw, Tyson, Vince, Garlett, vandenBerg and the now retired Cross. 15 others recruited in that time period all have a chance of becoming good players or better ... Kent, Petracca, Stretch, Lumumba, JKH, ANB, Harmes, Dawes, O-Mac, Newton, Michie, White, Max King, Frost & Hunt - a number of those 15 won't make it to good status of course but on an overall basis, it's a more than tidy return for those 3 off seasons. At a guess I'd say we may get 3-4 of those 15 to end up being at least good players (Petracca especially) so our return for those 3 off seasons could end up being 11-12 good players (or better) Add to that this year's crop and the list is starting to look like a proper AFL list capable of winning more games than it loses. And why would we not think that our recruiting in the 2015 off-season would not mirror at least the last 2 previous off-seasons? Out of Begg, Melksham, Kennedy, Oliver, Weideman, Hulett, Mitchell King & Wagner we could expect to end up with at least 3 good to excellent players. That quite conceivably brings our tally of good players brought in over 4 off-seasons to at least 14-15. Compare that with our return from '07 - '11. There's a lot to look forward to. .

They played God without asking me - The incredible human toll extracted by state-sponsored doping Just a reminder of where it can all lead - those who want to give up the fight against drugs in sport because it's all too hard need to be careful what they wish for. The above linked story applies to the East German doping program but it could equally apply to the current Russian doping program or the Chinese swimming doping program ... or indeed it could apply to a doping program which is a lot closer to home. Note: if the above link doesn't work try copying and pasting the link to google.

The Panthers have now won 15 games in a row dating back to last season. The best record in the NFC since the merger in 1970.

The Eagles coach has lost the locker room by the looks of it and I reckon the owner probably wants him out too. Detroit underperformed in the first half of the season and like Chicago, they are now starting to play well - they've got some decent weapons. If they can beat Green Bay at home next week they've got an outside chance of finishing on 9 wins ... their last 4 - @ Rams, @ New Orleans, vs 49ers, vs Chicago are all winnable. The Packers last 5 are ... @ Detroit, vs Dallas, @ Oakland, @ Arizona then vs Minnesota ... at our best we would win at least 3 to get to 10 wins but our best only happens fleetingly these days. The division winner may well come down to week 17 involving at least 2 teams and possibly 3 or even all 4 teams. Minnesota have also got a tough run home and your blokes have got some very winnable games in the run home. Chicago should win their next 2 for starters (vs 49ers, vs Washington) .

The NFC North is up for grabs ... I wouldn't even rule Detroit!

7mate are covering all 3 games tomorrow but ESPN are only doing the Panthers @ Dallas match (8.30am)

New England Arizona Giants

Week 12 games The Thanksgiving games all have a bit riding on them ... the Eagles and Dallas cannot afford to lose whilst the Packers/Bears game could be closer than people think. Packers should win but we need to continue to bring our best game. Carolina have a chance to go 11 & 0 and if they do then talk could turn to them going through the season undefeated (4 of their last 5 games are divisional match-ups) Tossing up whether to include them in my tips ... same with the Eagles. 1 point only to play for this week but weeks 13, 15 & 17 are bonus weeks (week 17 is for 3 points) Leaderboard in the comp 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 2 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest

Seattle's best is still very good but will they be able to snare a wild-card berth given their schedule? Pittsburgh at home next up won't be easy and they still have to visit Minnesota & Arizona. We can almost certainly assume that the NFC East won't produce a wild-card but there's still a number of teams in the NFC that are in the running for a wild-card berth ... those teams on 4 wins will probably have to win out but 9 wins might do it. However, there nearly always seems to be at least one team that comes from nowhere to challenge - might that team be Tampa? One of Minnesota or Green Bay will probably get one wild-card. Atlanta need a win and they need it asap. In the AFC Pittsburgh seems to be the best team that isn't leading their division ... KC's run home isn't all that difficult either. The Bills & Jets have claims but I favour the Steelers & Chiefs. One of Indi or the Texans are a chance too. I reckon Denver & Cinci will hang on and win their divisions whilst the Pats, Panthers & Arizona will win their divisions barring a huge turnaround in form. The NFC North is still undecided in my opinion whilst any number of teams could win the AFC South & the NFC East. Detroit & Chicago could both play spoiler in the NFC North. Both are capable on their day. One thing is for sure - from here on in we'll start to see elimination games for a number of teams.

The Packers certainly brought their A game today ... all round we were very good whereas in previous weeks we've been awful in all 3 phases. Stopping AP was key and once we stopped him, it was a quite academic. But it's only 1 win and only 1 loss ... both teams are 7 & 3 - there's any number of good teams that have W/L records that are worse. I'd count Seattle, Dallas, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Indi & the Ravens as good teams who for one reason or another have had average or poor returns this season. Detroit are another team who should have done a lot better. Dallas might sneak in but they'll need other teams to help them get in. The Eagles are doing their bit to help but Dallas will need the Giants to do the same - and who knows with Washington? And how about those Panthers? ... 10 & 0 is just remarkable all things considered. They've got a few tough games in their run home but they should get to 13 or 14 wins - and that will probably be enough for the 1 seed. The Panthers already hold the head to head advantage over the Packers so it's really only Arizona who could challenge them for the top seed ... and the Cardinals host the Packers in week 16.

Leaderboard in the comp 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7, Georgiou R.R. Martin 2 - Macca 1 - titan_uranus 0 - The rest GRRM makes a move whilst I doubled my score and moved into the bronze medal position (Gorgo's domain)

...and Leicester on top of the table ... who would have thought? The title race is wide open.

The regular season is all about getting enough points to get into the final 16 Vancouver have been good enough to make the playoffs in the recent past but have been abysmal once making it. To be perfectly honest, I don't take it too seriously but enjoy watching the games ... and playoff hockey is fabulous.

You've convinced me ... ah well. there's other sports. I'm more about the comp with ice hockey, NBA & MLB. I prefer to watch the stars and big match-ups. Soccer the same. The NFL as well really but I'm more team orientated with the Packers being a favourite.

ha ha ... just trying to keep the hope alive Cards Quite seriously, I have seen any number of teams in all sorts of sports get on a run ... we all have. I'd agree a team needs a good dose of talent to win the whole thing ... the best teams stand out but 16 teams do get into the playoffs. Think it was just a couple/few years ago where a stack of the lower seeded teams kept winning their playoff series' as well. Sometimes just getting in the playoffs can mean a real opportunity. At this early stage the Stanley cup will be won by one of about 8-10 teams ... the Blackhawks are also hovering and the Red Wings are thereabouts as well. I can see the Canucks perhaps scraping in but we're no real threat.

73-9? The Warriors can do it ... and 2 more wins to equal the best start by an NBA team. A great team to watch and their next 3 are vs Chicago (today) then @ Denver followed by a home game vs the Lakers. Curry is just playing gang-busters and seems unstoppable.

It's a long season and teams can suddenly come back into it with a streak of wins ... my Canucks are going the other way at the moment after having a reasonable start to the season. I always look at it in terms of wins back or wins in front ... the Maple Leafs are less than 2 wins back from a playoff spot whilst the Avs are in a similar position. String 3 or 4 wins together and the thinking changes. Having said all that the Rangers, Montreal, Dallas & St Louis are all playing really well ... the Sharks & Kings are stringing some wins together as well. It's too early to call but the half way mark does give us a much clearer picture. Washington & Pittsburgh are 2 more teams to watch out for.

The Jags have now won as many games as Indi & the Texans. It might be a case of whoever gets to 8 wins will win the AFC South ... the Colts still have to go Atlanta, Miami & Pittsburgh - even 7 & 9 might get it done.

Packers KC Colts

Week 11 games ... no fewer than 11 road teams won in week 10. Is that some sort of record or is it more utterly baffling that the usual suspects here couldn't seem to find 3 road winners amongst that lot? (apart from cfh) The good news is that there is still a total of 11 "possible" points available ... weeks 13, 15 & 17 are bonus weeks. Once again the leaderboard in the comp ... 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7 3 - Georgiou R.R. Martin 1 - titan_uranus Macca 0 - The rest .

They're not giving up on Marsh are they? I thought it was a perfect opportunity to blood Bancroft - he hasn't hit a lot of runs this summer but I thought he was more a chance because of his potential and greater upside. A few of the other younger batsmen around the country might have been considered but Shaun gets another chance to prove himself. I can understand O'Keefe getting a call up because he's been in the mix for a while and deserves a chance ... not sure we'll play 2 spinners but Lehmann has hinted that we might. The selectors might like to see how he would work in tandem with Lyon. Pattinson for his fire-power yeah ... Siddle would have to be a chance too. I wonder if they'll rest Hazlewood and play both Pattinson & Siddle? There are a series of 8-11 day breaks between the next 3 tests (including the current break) so the bowlers will be getting plenty of rest. Here's how I think we'll line up ... Burns Warner Smith Voges S Marsh M Marsh Nevill Starc Pattinson Siddle or O'Keefe depending on the look of the wicket. Lyon .

The Panthers will probably get the 1 seed in the NFC the way they are travelling ... if the Vikes can win at home next week then you might start planning for a busy January. That win by Arizona yesterday probably means they'll win the NFC West - they've now got a 3 game break which will be hard to peg back. Who knows in the East? I'm now looking at the wild-card standings for the Pack ... our game is the 8.30am game on 7mate next Monday. It's fair to say that I don't have a great deal of confidence but will Green Bay lose 4 in a row?

Packers are struggling ... we're no certainty for a playoff spot. Suddenly the rest of our schedule looks difficult. Once a team reveals it's weakness in this league, it can suddenly find itself on that losing train. The only consolation is that a number of NFC teams lost as well (Seattle, Eagles, Rams, Saints, Giants et al) Anyway, 10 road teams have won their games this week (so far) but only cfh managed to pick up the 2 points on offer - even when there's a truckload of road winners we still can't pick 'em! Tipping Comp Points Table 5 - Gorgoroth, cowboy_from_ hell 4 - JV7 3 - Georgiou R.R. Martin 1 - titan_uranus Macca 0 - The rest

Yes, you're right ... it's times like these that we sometimes look to find solutions when those solutions aren't easily obtainable anyway. Again, it's just deplorable and horrifying what has happened. .