Macca

Yeah, Minnesota were very impressive today and I've no idea how my blokes are gonna stop AP next week The Packers need to keep winning as that no.2 seed won't be decided until after next week's games . The Texans will need to win next week to ensure the no.1 seed - they are at Indi (who have banked a wild-card spot and can't move from the 5 seed) It's most likely that Indi will be at Baltimore in the 1st week of the playoffs . Dallas and the Giants losing today means that if the Vikes win next week then you're in the playoffs . You still have a small chance of making it if you lose but that's not likely - you really have to win the game. It will be 'game on', 'cfh' ! If Dallas win at Washington next week they will win the NFC East (and vice-versa) . Steelers losing rules them out - you sort of expect them to make it every year with Big Ben at the helm - they will be smarting but .... well done to the Bengals . Some very big games next week ... Here's the Playoff picture and the week 17 games . To do the game predictor here is the playoff machine .

The best of 'C'mon Man' for 2012 . Quality not great but good for a bit of a laugh ...

Here we go - I know we're not supposed to like this 'sport' but there are such things as 'remote controls' . You can always watch 'The Manor Reborn' or 'Border Patrol NZ' (there's some 'riveting' tele!) I've only just started watching the games as I see t20 as a bit of a 'Holiday mode' sport . You've switched off from work and just need some entertainment that doesn't require much brain power ! Anyway, the 2 Melbourne teams are flying and aren't far off securing semi-final berths (already) . Double header tonight (starting soon) with (hopefully) a big knock from Chris Gayle when the 'Thunder' bat .

Yep, I tend to agree re Atlanta and if they don't make a statement this season then there is something wrong . They finally shook off the Lions to win 31-18 (thus securing the no.1 seed) . They'll most likely face one of the Giants, Vikings, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago or the Redskins in week 2 of the playoffs . Any of those teams are capable of beating Atlanta . However, if they win their 1st playoff game that could get the 'monkey off the back' and they might get on a roll . Hope we don't get months of Tebow stories - I'm a bit over it though I do wish him well Obviously the Jags are a good fit but he's got to be able to consistently hit a target . He might have improved in that area but how would we know? Not sure he's thrown too many balls this season .

Now it's 21-16 (early in the 4th quarter) C'mon Lions !

Atlanta are flexing their muscles here . 21-3 nearing half time . Or maybe the Lions are just not a good team . They've gone backwards this year and they've got no excuses .

Like this idea ... it effectively gets rid of tanking altogether . You could hold the lottery immediately the season ends - this would allow the AFL to assess whether a team or 2 needed 'Special' assistance . Back on thread topic ... hope our club has kept the communication lines fully open with Dean Bailey . It's vitally important that any information given in relation to the 'Reports' is consistent . Working separately for a common cause is tricky unless all parties are completely on the same page . Clothier and Haddad may well have used the old 'Divide and rule' angle to make their case . Or perhaps the divide was already there (Bailey and the club) and they've just taken advantage of the situation . Hard to get the stories straight if both parties major motive is to protect their own skin . It's time to come together again with Dean . McLardy needs to be pro-active here without making it too obvious . If there is no smoking gun then we should be ok (surely after 5 and a half months they would have uncovered the smoking gun by now) . My gut feeling is that some of the stories might conflict a little - caused by the possible divide . If this comes down to Connolly's comments then we need a few things to happen . Bailey needs to explain that he treated the comments as a joke . Connolly needs to explain the comments were intended as a joke and everyone else needs to follows suit .

We chatted about it on the NFL thread in the 'Other sports' section of 'land . I could dig out a couple of links that will back it up but people who follow the NBA closely would support my comment . Yeah, the Tiges would have a few no.1 picks I'm quite happy to entertain a system where 'winning' is always the primary aim for any club . Losing to get a reward is always going to end up being a seriously flawed system . As I said, my idea is by no means perfect but it does to a large extent eliminate the 'losing' mentality . It's probably too 'left field' for many but if we never had a draft none of this tanking stuff would exist . We're always going to have a draft so maybe a completely different way of structuring it is the answer .

For years I've advocated teams needing to win to get a better placed draft pick - it's not a perfect system but it all but eliminates 'tanking' . Give the no.1 pick to the team that finishes 9th and no.2 to the 10th team and so on and so forth . Teams that are genuine 'basket cases' can be helped out arbitrarily by the Commission . A team could (in theory) give up a chance to play finals in order to finish 9th but that's the only flaw . It rewards teams who are just short of finals capabilities but so what ? Any sort of system where losing becomes a reward is fraught with danger (as we can well attest) . There has been a lottery system in the NBA since the 80's and it doesn't stop teams from tanking . Now, people may not like the system I've suggested but that's not the point - it's whatever works best . As an aside, the Commission have arbitrarily helped out Port Adelaide in a financial way (9 million over 3 years?) and that has been generally accepted by all and sundry .

One for Christmas ... Amy Grant with one of her big hits ... Macca 11.8

For all the weekend's games you can visit this site . Spurs vs Stoke could be an interesting game and the Hammers at home against Everton will be another one to watch . And here is the current table . All the big guns are settling at the top with only Liverpool and Newcastle lagging behind a little (the 'Reds' are starting to slowly work their way back into proceedings) A full fixture is being played on Boxing day . Manchester United vs Newcastle may be the main game although Stoke vs Liverpool could provide a few goals . For an interesting read ... Sir Alex Ferguson relishes Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford

Bailey would have quite possibly received the 'evidence/report' (or his part of it) at the same time as our club . It seems his Lawyer may have spoken out because of the content of what has been sent to Dean . Only guessing here by the way, but it sounds like the 'possible' accusations could involve some points which (in turn) has caused Dean's lawyer to come out on the front foot . To do so in such a public way says to me that Dean is quite ticked off . In a lot of ways we really need Bailey in our court right now . By endeavoring to clear his own name he helps our cause enormously . He is an unlikely ally but an ally all the same . He was our coach and if we go down, he probably goes down . If he is absolved of any charges then we may stand a good chance of being absolved of all charges as well .

MNF and Thursday night games are done for the season . We do get one Saturday night game this week only . SUN, DEC 23 12.30 PM Atlanta (12-2) at Detroit (4-10) ESPN MON, DEC 24 5.00 AM Cincinnati (8-6) at Pittsburgh (7-7) OneHD 5.00 AM Minnesota (8-6) at Houston (12-2) Fox3 8.05 AM Cleveland (5-9) at Denver (11-3) Fox3 8.25 AM NY Giants (8-6) at Baltimore (9-5) OneHD 12.20 PM San Francisco (10-3-1) at Seattle (9-5) OneHD & ESPN For all other games you can go to this link And here is another look at the playoff picture

From the AFL website ... It seems to me that we're still a strong chance to end up not being charged with anything . Charged with tanking ? Not yet . Not sure that would be the official charge even if we are charged . So Clothier and Haddad have come up with some 'findings' - what are they ? It's my bet these 'findings' are bits and pieces that probably won't amount to anything . 5 months of investigations has to end up with some sort of findings but they may not be as damning as people might imagine . At this stage the whole thing is still up in the air and we haven't been 'officially' charged with anything . As for Chris Connolly, it may come down to whether his off the cuff remarks are viewed as 'humourous asides' or serious comments . We may have to 'prove' humour - that's a laugh .

Lol - no 'monoccular' , I meant that both play well enough to not be dropped .I should have worded it better - fixed original post

And another proposed merger that isn't as well known is the Melbourne/Fitzroy one (twice talked about, according to wiki) . Read more here (scroll half way down the page (of the link) for the story)

Heard Jimmy Johnson talking about 'kickers' and Crosby and he likened a field goal kicker missing consistently to a golfer's putting 'yips' . McCarthy is showing a lot of support for Mason (publicly) so we'll see . Just on the Vikes ... have gone through that 'Playoff Machine' a few times (it can be found here) and even if you give Minnesota 2 more wins to finish the season, they can still somehow miss out if certain other results are factored in . Have no real idea how that works out, except maybe that the other teams in contention can improve their 'conference' record against Minnesota's 'conference' record . Quite confusing really, when you consider your blokes hold the 6 seed right now . Or maybe the 'playoff machine' has no idea what it's talking about ! Damn machines Edit : Russell Wilson would now have to come under consideration for ROTY . It might depend on whether RG3 gets back soon and also how Luck and the Colts finish off . Fairly sure the award is announced around the time of the Super Bowl (finalists are announced earlier and then the fans vote) so it may be decided by which of the 3 player's teams goes the furthest in the playoffs (assuming at least one of Indi , Seattle or the Redskins figures in the playoffs) .

Packers win the division - beauty It's been a less than spectacular year for Green Bay but we've managed to win when needed and Rodgers has had another excellent season . Not a 'supreme' season but excellent all the same . A home playoff game awaits and we're an outside chance of the 2 seed (that last game at Minnesota will be tough) . Big, consolidating wins to Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Denver and the 49ers (though San Francisco got a bit of a scare for a while there). Seattle are in hot form and next weeks game vs the 49ers should be a cracker (SNF) Huge, important wins to Minnesota , Washington and Dallas . All 3 teams have to keep winning and of course Dallas play at Washington in the final week of the season . The Vikings have 2 tough games but who could discount them when 'MVP' AP is playing so well - he is seriously good . And now for the casualties of week 15 . The Giants, Ravens, Patriots, Colts, Steelers and the Bears all lose . Only the Pats and Baltimore have clinched playoff spots . Indi should win next week to sew up a spot . New England drop to the 3 seed and it's hard to see them wrenching the 2 seed back off Denver (who should win their final 2 games) . The Giants could end up missing altogether - they are at Baltimore next week . The Bears should beat Arizona next week but then are at Detroit in the final week . The Rams bowed out today but they've had a much improved season . Anyway, confused ? I sure am It's gonna be a frantic end to the season with 10 teams vying for 5 spots (roughly) . Trying to figure out the end of season positions of the playoff teams is a bit like figuring out 3 dimensional chess - impossible ! Here is the playoff picture and for a sneak peak at next weeks games you can visit this site

Yeah CBF , many of us have varying degrees of pain . For those of us who just missed the glory years it's been especially painful . The Python blokes kinda sum it up best ...

1. What are your realistic expectations for Viney and Toumpas, or even Hogan in the VFL? Keep in mind it's their first year. Leaving Hogan aside , Viney and Toumpas to both play well enough to not come under consideration to be dropped 2. Who do you think will take it to another level? Trengove , Watts , Sylvia (surely!) , Tom McDonald , Jones and Tapscott . 3. New mature aged recruits, who needs to prove their worth? Dawes 4. Last chance, who has flown under the radar for far too long? Sylvia (he needs to play predominantly in the midfield as he did for the last part of 2012) . Could also be a case of 'He is what he is' and accepted accordingly . 5. Combination (as discussed previously) where should all this lead us on the ladder, who are the key clubs we should be beat in order to climb the ladder? 10+ wins . We need to at least have a break even win/loss ratio against the Lions (play twice), Dogs (play twice), Freo (play twice), Tigers , Blues , North , Bombers , Saints and Port . That's at least 6 wins if my maths is correct Couple that with 4 wins against GWS and GCS and that gives us a total of 10+ . It is achievable ... if we only get 8 wins it will have a air of dissatisfaction to it even though we only won 4 games last season . I don't particularly like crystal ball gazing but 14 losses just doesn't cut it whichever way you look at it .

Old dee , I reckon our improvement will rest with how much of our list are prepared to 'buy in' or get on the 'same page' as our coach . There is enough talent there to win 10+ games . I was quite sceptical about our game style last season (esp the boundary hugging bit) but I'm now starting to accept that our perceived 'negative' way of attacking was a bi-product of Neeld having to teach a lot our players 'accountable' footy . It's generally accepted that our level of accountable footy was deplorable before the new régime was appointed . Let's face it , Neeld and Bailey are polar opposites and it's no surprise (in hindsight) that many of our list last season just couldn't adjust to the ways of the new coaching staff . 15 of last years list are now gone and you'd hope that the 30 odd that have remained will now know where they stand and will (hopefully) know what is required to be part of a winning team . The recruits that we've brought in will (by and large) not have learnt too many bad habits so at least Neeld and co. won't have to re-teach them . We may end up playing a bit of an ugly style at times but that 'ugly' style is becoming more and more prevalent in today's footy and has to be accepted whether we like it or not . 10 wins is a realistic aim (especially with our draw) . Any more than that is a 'stretch' but you never know in sport .

Bill Simmons column this week takes a lighthearted view on all the current NFL QB's using 'Movie' connections . To read the full article you can visit this site ...

Here's Oscar Peterson and Buddy DeFranco with the Gershwin classic 'It Ain't Necessarily So' . Duke Ellington described Peterson as the 'Maharaja of the keyboard' . Oscar does a wonderful job in bringing great feeling to this song. Buddy is equally as good on clarinet Macca's jazz 5.4 Oscar Peterson ... "It Ain't Necessarily So" .

Here are this weekends fixtures and to view the current table you can visit this site . The game of the round is probably tonight's clash (11.45pm) between Newcastle and Manchester City . Stoke vs Everton and the London Derby between QPR and Fuham are another couple of good match-ups . Interesting article during the week about Arsenal future prospects under Arsene Wenger . Former great George Graham had some telling things to say . For the full story click on this link .

Ben Westbeech with 'So Good Today' from his 2007 album 'Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life' . Ben's 2nd album 'There's More to Life Than This' was released in 2011 . By clicking on the above links you can sample some of the music contained on these albums . Macca 11.7