Macca

I'll give Romo due credit ... that last TD drive was impressive. Shouldn't have had all that time though. Dallas have got a tough schedule coming up (especially in the first half of the season) and a loss today might have further accentuated that tough schedule. Yeah that was talked about as well ... however, 20 odd seconds to get within field goal range is possibly more do-able than 1 minute to score a TD. The Giants might have ran the ball in regardless with 2 goes at it. Other observations from today ... KC won an important game ... home to Denver this Thursday night. The AFC East teams all won and the Bills might be more than nuisance value Packers might have covered the loss of Nelson somewhat with Jones back and firing Mariota & the Titans have jumped out of the blocks The Rams had a big big win Arizona & San Diego had good wins at home Detroit just can't get it done away from home ... Stafford's away record in particular isn't good. Colts continue to start poorly ... against a team with good defense, it's hard to play catch-up. Looking forward to both games tomorrow ... it's a pity work continues to get in the way of my sports viewing habits Replay will have to do. The Vikes might surprise whilst the other game could be a barnburner.

If you change your mind on your tips just delete your original tips and post up your new tips ... it's more so the tips just have to be in before the games start. So, no drama on a change of mind - it's just a quick scroll back regardless to see if anyone happened to get lucky. Anyway, here's the points tally after week 1 1 - JV7 0 - Everyone else And the Giants mucked up that last 3rd down play on offense - at least Coughlin owned the decision. The question is if running the ball was the right play, why throw it? A breakdown in communication or perhaps just incompetence? It's one thing admitting an error but they must know and plan for these exact same circumstances. Just run the ball to eat up the clock - it's a no-brainer. Instead of Dallas having 1:43 to score a TD they would have only had just over a minute - a significant difference. It's not like the Giants were rushed either - they made the decision to throw the ball during Dallas' last time out.

7mate are covering the Packers @ Bears (3am), Ravens @ Broncos (6.30am) and then SNF (Giants @ Cowboys - 10.30am) Redzone is back on ESPN and ESPN is also covering SNF & MNF (double header for MNF this week) Thursday Night Football looks like it's being covered by both 7mate & ESPN Here are the 'Elo' predictions for this week and the yearly forecast for each team (with the weekly predictions you can click on 'Win percentage' or 'Points spread'. Interesting that 'Elo' can only find 4 clear favourites this week that are road teams (Packers, Seahawks, Panthers & Bengals) Miami are also 2 point favourites according to Elo. The Elo lines often differ quite markedly from the Vegas lines.

I can see the Pats heading towards the AFC Championship (again) ... unless a team or 2 from that division puts their hand up. They get the 1 or 2 seed and then it's win 2 games to get to the SB. The Colts might dominate their division but the other 2 AFC divisions are up for grabs. Didn't watch all of yesterday's game but I'm told that New England did it reasonably comfortably.

The Jack Watts discussion could be just another condemnation for the unreliable drafting system we have ... the truth is that Jack wasn't or isn't "supposed" to be a top AFL footballer (as a matter of course) Those having a high forecast of him based on his draft pick number need to start re-thinking how they view things. He was just a standout talented junior - where his football went from there was anyone's guess. Those high forecasts came about because of a belief in those who believe that all junior form is a great guide. That form is not a great guide when trying to forecast future champions and cannot be relied upon. The results across the board are far too hit and miss. The amount of standout juniors who can't cut it at league level bears out the above. And the development argument is often a futile one too - many players max out according to their own ability, drive and ambition. A coach can only do so much. Many of the failed high draft picks bear that out too. It's a system issue ... we pick these kids at too early an age to be expecting foolproof results. Jack isn't a disappointment per se - I just see him as a product of an unreliable system. The same argument could be used for Morton, McLean, Sylvia and hundreds of other high draft picks or first round draft picks that have turned out to be far less than standout AFL players. The pattern is there for all to see but none are so blind who refuse to see. Sure, Jack is highly skillful but so what .... plenty of other highly skilled footballers have struggled in the big time - they're a dime a dozen. I can understand those wanting to lash out but those doing that might as well be howling at the moon. Nothing is going to change until the system is overhauled. And the system may not change in the foreseeable future either. The good news is that our luck seems to be turning with our top end picks ... that doesn't surprise though. Whenever there is a 'Hit and Miss' aspect outcomes can become cyclical as a matter of course. Richmond and other teams went through the same sort of process before we did. Again, I'm not making excuses for Watts - he is what he is and is almost certainly never going to be the player that people wanted him to be. The disappointment comes because many assumed Jack was going to become an A grader - I never assume when it comes to drafting. Drafting is not all luck and it's not a total lottery either ... but drafting does have a lot of flaws.

Colts Packers Panthers

Just a shout out to you blokes about the tipping comp ... no need to reply Also, if you're reading this ... DemonDave, daisycutter, old dee, Strafford, bananas, Arrow, Norm Smith's Curse, Beelzebub et al ... feel free to join in if you like Here are the rules again (posted on the previous page) ... Rules of the 'Demonland' NFL tipping competition ... (the same as last year except a couple more bonus weeks have been added) * All participants get 3 picks only in any given week (but .. they must all be 'road' teams) * Anyone who correctly tips all 3 winners from their 3 picks receives 1 point (any number of people can win a point in any given week) * Bonus points are up for grabs in weeks 2, 5, 8, 10, 13 & 15 (2 points to all winners) whilst week 17 carries 3 points to any given winner. * No margins or correct scores are required - just the straight winners. * If you miss a week or come into the comp later on, there is no penalty. You just simply miss the chance to win points for that week or weeks. You can join in the comp at any time. * Your tips must be in before the start of Monday's games (AEST) ... or before the Friday game if you include that game. All 3 tips must be included in your post (editing your tips is strictly forbidden ) * The person (or persons) with the most points at the end of the regular season wins. For those out there who just read this thread, feel free to join in the comp. It's just a bit of fun and we could do with a few more people on the thread anyway. Last year's notable point scorers (regular season) ... 8 - Dappa Dan 7 - Georgiou R. R. Martin 4 - Gorgoroth 3 - JV7, Go the Biff, Macca The season kicks on Friday (our time) - Pittsburgh @ New England. Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca 2014 Dappa Dan Georgiou R.R Martin Gorgoroth Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboy_from_hell/ Macca 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca

Regular Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 cowboy_from_hell/ pantaloons/ Gorgoroth Strafford Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 Dappa Dan Georgiou R.R Martin Gorgoroth ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Season Tipping Competition Year Winner Runners up 3rd place 2013 titan_uranus DemonDave cowboy_from_hell/ Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 JV7/ pantaloons Gorgoroth/ Go the Biff Macca ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rules of the 'Demonland' NFL tipping competition ... (the same as last year except a couple more bonus weeks have been added) * All participants get 3 picks only in any given week (but .. they must all be 'road' teams) * Anyone who correctly tips all 3 winners from their 3 picks receives 1 point (any number of people can win a point in any given week) * Bonus points are up for grabs in weeks 2, 5, 8, 10, 13 & 15 (2 points to all winners) whilst week 17 carries 3 points to any given winner. * No margins or correct scores are required - just the straight winners. * If you miss a week or come into the comp later on, there is no penalty. You just simply miss the chance to win points for that week or weeks. You can join in the comp at any time. * Your tips must be in before the start of Monday's games (AEST) ... or before the Friday game if you include that game. All 3 tips must be included in your post (editing your tips is strictly forbidden ) * The person (or persons) with the most points at the end of the regular season wins. For those out there who just read this thread, feel free to join in the comp. It's just a bit of fun and we could do with a few more people on the thread anyway. Last year's notable point scorers (regular season) ... 8 - Dappa Dan 7 - Georgiou R. R. Martin 4 - Gorgoroth 3 - JV7, Go the Biff, Macca So get your tips in Ladies & Gents ... the season kicks off next Friday (our time) - Pittsburgh @ New England.

If we can get enough starters (say 6 - 8+) I don't see why not I'll post up the rules again in another post Dappa ... along with our 'Honour Board!' Yeah mate, I'm in as long as it's not too time consuming.

Motives, repercussions, rewards and consequences aside, it all comes under the one banner ... 'Clubs not doing everything to win.' The competition ends up being compromised - AFL approved. Fixing it requires a zero tolerance attitude - but governance is not a strong point with the AFL ... it's all about the money for that lot.

So we have to win an extra game or 2 now to guard against manipulation by other teams - that's different. Why should we have to adjust for corruption?

So where do you stand? You get one opinion - you're either for it or you're against it.

Some areas of unfairness are there and those issues need to be addressed too. Fix all the issues and don't allow another unfair aspect in just because it's not fair elsewhere. The 22 round season isn't fair nor is the fact that some teams don't have a home ground advantage - I'm against that too. But to allow another unfair aspect to be added just because it's not perfect elsewhere isn't logical to me. And this issue can be fixed, make no mistake about that. The AFL have chosen this path - and it's the wrong path. They've once again let the coaches rule the roost. Here's a scenario for you to contemplate ... We're inside the 8 on percentage and the team behind us can only pass us with a whopping victory We win our last game The team behind us achieves that whopping victory on the back of smashing a team that has decided to lay down for the day. We therefore miss the finals. You're comfortable with that? By the way, I'm not and the above scenario does not have to be my team for me to have that thought process.

AFL sanctioned corruption - and they're being quite open about it. We have one comp and one prize ... that's it. The comp shouldn't be allowed to be compromised but it is being compromised right before our very eyes. So for over 100 years this sort of thing never happened (certainly not to these extreme lengths) and now its somehow ok? I'm all for progressive thinking but this sort of thing has it's very own category. Many other sports around the world have high levels of corruption - why do we have to join the party?

I reckon they'll beat the Tigers now ... resting players works in an endurance sport like ours. Always has really. Many of the flags that that we won were achieved with a weeks rest x 2 ... in the old final 4 days, the 2nd semi was played in week 2 of the finals and the GF was played in week 4 ... of course, that "rest" was quite within the rules. What North & Freo are doing is against the rules in my eyes - that 'bringing the game into disrepute rule" was never more apt. So why don't the AFL apply that rule - possibly because it suits them to not do so. They must know that what North & Freo are doing is at least not in the spirit of the game. What we watched last night was fake - it was a contrived outcome - we may as well have been watching the WWE. Again the comparisons with soccer - the circumstances surrounding soccer and footy are vastly different. Mourinho was asked about the last game of the EPL season last year (when they had already sewn up the title) and he said that he would be picking his best team to protect the integrity of the sport. So it's not the same ... besides which there's traditions and different cultures to take into account ... it's not one size fits all - it's much more complex than what you're making out. How would you feel if it was our club missing out on a finals berth on the back of another club resting half their players? Would you feel differently then? Be honest.

So if Freo can "rest" players why can't Port? I wonder what the answer from the AFL would be if they asked? To my way of thinking, the act itself should be knocked on the head - regardless of the reward, consequences or circumstances. Even the teams that tanked didn't go anywhere near this far - Freo resting 11 players is just outrageous. It's an easy fix too - the AFL can just hand down a heavy fine (say, 2 mil) or take away premiership points if they believe a team isn't playing up to its merits. No appeal, the decision is final. Zero tolerance. Problem solved in many or most ways. The trouble is that people don't like draconian measures - I do (when it suits) Let's not forget that the AFL can basically do what it likes - they don't really answer to anyone. The cynic in me thinks that the AFL doesn't mind this sort of controversy - front page headlines yesterday and what do they say ... "Any publicity is good publicity"

Brady free to play in the season opener ... Mike & Tony on PTI devote nearly the whole of the following episode discussing the matter ... Pardon the Interruption 3/9/15

What Freo & North are doing has been done on a number of occasions in the last 5-6 years From memory Freo have done it at least twice before, the Saints rested 9 one time against the Hawks and might have done it a 2nd time, Geelong did against the Gold Coast and the Swans did it last year. There's possibly a couple more instances as well. This is the brave new world of professional sports that footy has entered into and whilst it seems to happen in other sports without too much incident, I'm not at all sure that it's suited to our sport. The circumstances and outcomes are often quite different too (in other sports) Where it will get very awkward is if another team or other teams are definitely advantaged or disadvantaged by such a practice. As it stands, as Grapeviney mentions above, the Crows stand to lose a home final by North not going all out for a win ... and that's a significant price to pay considering how even those sides from 5th to 8th are. It's my belief that the AFL should knock it on the head but they won't ... they'll wait for such an awkward situation to arise and then act in hindsight. They denied that tanking ever existed even when the practice of tanking was completely out of control (no fewer than 9 priority picks were handed out over a 3 year stretch from '03 - '05) Tanking is more associated with teams trying to gain a better placed draft pick ... however tanking and whatever this practice might be called is an integrity of the sport issue. .

Here's a free book that is out in the public domain ... Mark Twain ... 'Following the Equator - A Journey Around the World.' Mark Twain visited Australia as part of his travels around the world in the late 19th century and wrote about & visited many towns, cities & places (including Melbourne, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Horsham, Bendigo, Ballarat, Tasmania et al) He was engaged in his own speaking circuit per se because of the financial difficulties that he was facing at the time (he'd lost most of his money in a failed business venture) ... all the same, it must have been quite a treat for the locals (especially in the country towns) In the book he also made many observations about our history, culture and somewhat chequered past up until that point .. the Australian part of the book is from chapters 9 through to chapter 29 but the whole book is a thoroughly enjoyable read (and he absolutely pulls no punches too) Anyway, here's the book in text form and also, here's the book in audio form (read by John Greenman) .

New England Baltimore Indianapolis Denver (?) Dallas Packers Carolina Seattle Reckon I'll get at least 3 wrong and the Colts & Pats are my only lead-pipe locks.

I'll have go as well in time JV7 but I reckon you're close to the mark ... not sure on my Packers but not just because of the Nelson injury (we should be able to cover for him to a reasonable extent) ...much will depend on how hungry the group is after bombing out the way we did against the Seahawks. There's always a few teams that come out of nowhere and this year will probably be no different ... other fancied teams drop away inexplicably. I'm intrigued with what Rex will do with Buffalo whilst the Panthers and your team in your division will make it tough for the Saints. The Ravens are another team to watch and who knows what will happen with Denver & Peyton. As usual, the NFC East will an interesting division to watch as will the NFC West. Depending on how much the Vikings improve, the NFC North could be a real bunfight between all 4 teams.

Harper Lee's long lost manuscript of "Go Set a Watchman" was discovered in 2011 and the book form was finally published just last month (July, 2015) The book was a follow on about the events of "To Kill a Mockingbird" twenty years on except Harper Lee wrote 'Go Set a Watchman' before she ever wrote 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Upon reviewing 'Go Set a Watchman', Harper was commissioned to re-write the book by her publishers ... it was retitled 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and of course, the rest is history. Anyway, here's the first chapter (in text form) of 'Go Set a Watchman' and on this same link you can listen to the first chapter (read by Reese Witherspoon) .

Whatever they do with the stadiums is probably best left for another thread dl ... the crux of my argument is improving the way we draft young players - the connection to Jimmy Toumpas is therefore relevant. I'd raise the draft age amongst other things but I've already expressed those views previously on this thread. I'm just happy that we've given him a 2 year deal so that he and the club can get on with the business. He's got a fair way to go but as I've said previously, there are a number of max'd out others that should be let go before him. And that now looks like happening. Depending on how one views things, he's either got a lot of upside or varying degrees of upside. Those who want to write him off completely should direct their comments at Roos & Goodwin et al ...

They could do both ... at the same time. They might buy Etihad but there's ways of buying an asset without spending all their reserves, all at once. And what if they decide to not buy out Etihad right now? What would they then spend the billions of dollars on? Stick it in the bank? .

The AFL just signed on for a 2.508 billion dollar deal with their broadcast partners You don't believe they could heavily subsidise a feeder comp with multiple millions of dollars? ... to me, it's a no-brainer. Let's not forget that only about 80 players are drafted each year so my idea of actually paying the top juniors before they are drafted wouldn't be that costly. Most or all the other under 20 players could be paid a match fee so as to keep them aligned with the sport ... soccer is a real threat anyway but my pathway approach doesn't necessarily make it any easier for soccer. I see an under 20 Australia-wide competition as one that many fans of sport would embrace ... cable or free-to-air could broadcast the games and certain rules could be put in place so as to make the games aesthetically pleasing. Align all the teams with an AFL team and there would even more support for such a concept. And Wyl, I don't dislike you ... I just took offence at you painting me in the wrong light re the drafting debate. By the way, the AFL are looking at the way drafting works but whether they act or not is another question. They'd be fearful of other sports, I agree with you on that point but there's a way around things if the right decisions are made.