rjay

2sport noun : a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other : sports in general : a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

noun 1an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment:team sports such as soccer and rugby

Ummm…no. My point on Melbourne cup day is it has less to do with racing and more to do with a party and being seen there. If you are a racing man you would agree, the day has been hijacked. As for the definition, it depends whose it is. I'm not going to get into that argument any further as I've said it is un winnable from both our sides. Now as for racing in general, it wouldn't exist as it does today without betting. Yes, people would still race but the interest in the sport for the majority is in the betting. I know some like 'Redleg' have a deeper interest but it's not the majority. Without the gambling industry racing would be more like 2 farm boys racing their horses to the gate, and even then they would probably have a beer on the result. Football is not dependant on gambling, but gambling is trying to make itself indispensable. The game can't let that happen.

Take the alcohol away and see how many show up. It's a party event even the racing people on here will agree with that and it's why a lot of serious race goers steer clear. I don't consider it a sport but I personally love riding as a past time. It's an un winnable argument from both sides is this one. As for the gambling I would be happy to see it go from the AFL, other revenue streams will be found. A bit like the end of the world when we couldn't get the smoking $'s.

Because it is true….and it isn't a sport. …and gambling in AFL is going to be a much bigger problem than drugs although there is a link between the 2. Courting the gambling industry is the biggest mistake the game has made.

Loved Jason Richardson's spin on this on SEN today. It isn't a racing problem, it's a scam. Yes it is a scam Jason and one that is rooted deep within the racing industry, an industry that only survives for gambling. No gambling no racing.

I wouldn't count soccer out just yet, my opinion is that it will be the number one sport in this country in the not to distant future. I don't want it to happen but it will take gross mismanagement for it not to take the top position. The AFL is at it's peak now, it really has nowhere to go.

He will prove to be a good get.

Agree 'Bob', but now he is not just seen as a jerk but proving it.

Agree, here's hoping he steps up. Yep, if only...

Agree with you on Hogan and Tyson. I've said here before I expect to see Tyson in the top 5 in the comp in the next few years and I can't wait for a few so called experts to eat humble pie when they understand why we traded Kelly for him. I'm really interested in how Mitchie goes, looks to have the goods but Watts and Trengove are the ones I want to see step up. If they start realising their potential (horrible word that) then we will be pushing into the top 8 contenders group and not the bottom 4 group.

He's always been very cagey about this 'Jack', his use of words has been interesting. Pointing to the fact that he wasn't told which club was in the gun as his defence. Do you think he is good at guessing?

don't believe everything you read and who knows what the drill was??? Hogan will be like Darling + more in year one, he will have an impact.

I wouldn't place a lot on the stats from this mob as future predictors. They make up new stats as they go when they can't get it right. I guess it's the nature of stats that they are about things that have happened, they bare some resemblance of things that might happen but only some. When Sydney won the flag in 2012 the stats said they shouldn't have, the stat guys then set about proving why they did win. They created new stats.

The sooner they are out the better. Unfortunately it might only happen if players get suspended, it's probably the only thing that will wake up their supporter group to demand action. Some are slowly waking up to the damage that's been caused but most have their heads …...

It's all a bit sad really, they're picking on the guy they know doesn't have the resources to fight back. Real bully boy tactics.

I think you might be more right than wrong 'Jack'.

…and Robert Shaw is?

or is it only a 'Masquerade'?

Probably a year early on the top 5 as well, more like 2016 but I stand by him being one of the top players in the comp. I rate him, he will be a gun. Good get by the club. I wouldn't be surprised by Vince stepping up in 2014 and also expect to see a big turnaround with Trengove. Jones will have some company which is a good thing.

I think Tyson will but I maybe a year early on that one. By 2015 I expect him to be in the top 5 mids in the AFL.

Maybe the question could be, 'who will be our best mid at the end of season 2014'? I think it won't be Jones and if that's the case then we are on the right path. By the way that's no disrespect to Jones who I think will play a huge part in our revival and may well be captain.

You have a good point there. …but it's not the results that have been the problem, even the ones we won it was the way we played. Just more of the same.

We will have a really good indication of round 1 during the NAB cup, the sinking feeling for me started sinking the further we got into the NAB last year and the year before and the year before that…..etc.

I think that's probably about it 'Robbie'.