Diamond_Jim

Funnily enough the elite Praetorian Guard generally had 100 men per century. It was a cushy job and they were always well rewarded by "wise" emperors. Just ask Nero.

I did know that but another fun fact.. The Roman Century which was the fundamental unit of the Roman empire's army generally had only about 60 men. Perhaps that's reflective of our forward line and of course the Romans generally won because they fought as a team and were experts at outflanking the opposition

Download a speed test app (they're free) to whatever you are using to watch (STB or TV) and check the speed. You're looking for a speed of 20 or greater. I suspect as Daisycutter mentions you are having intermittent short drop outs on your wi fi and thus the buffering. You won't get the buffering on replays or streaming movies etc as they are loading your cache with the show often five minutes in advance. Live sport is about 20 seconds of cache at most so you will notice any drop out. The good thing is that this is relatively easily fixed with a new router and a mesh satellite near your TV https://www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/computers-tablets/mesh-routers I have one of the more expensive Orbi systems which is great but I see JB Hi Fi has a good deal on an Eero system for $480. This includes the router and two satellites. (Without boring you Mesh involves the router and the satellites continually "talking" to each other whereas extenders are simply the router to the extender. Think spider webs which are much stronger than a single strand) PS: Layzie makes some good points. I use an Apple TV box and they are great

Do you have NBN fibre to the premises OD. If you have fibre to the node NBN will now upgrade you for free with a relatively short waiting time (1-2 months). This combined with making sure you have a good wifi distribution at home will see the ring disappear. The best system of wi fi extension these days is "Mesh". Those F1 timeslots make following that sport challenging

Yes except that Tasmania wouldn't have got a look in at that time

Agree Mr Mumbai however everyone knows that the AFL is only a "good news" organisation. Out of interest had North taken the money and gone to the Gold Coast where would the team be located to even the numbers or would we be without Freo?

For those who thought inviting Tasmania to join the AFL was an intricate political game it's nothing by comparison to what the NRL will have to deal with if PNG asks to add a team. China influence anyone. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/why-png-s-nrl-bid-is-about-to-become-a-hot-topic-in-canberra-again-20240131-p5f1fy.html Marape will become the first PNG Prime Minister to address Australian parliament next Thursday. He is expected to raise the issue of funding for the bid from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which will be crucial if the NRL is to be persuaded to invest in the rugby league-mad nation. A $600 million investment over 10 years has been widely reported but is yet to be confirmed by the Labor government. While PNG’s enthusiasm for the game and potential as a talent nursery is obvious so, too, is the logistical challenge of having a team playing in Port Moresby. There are also longer-term queries around recruitment and player development. Violent riots that engulfed Port Moresby in early January, in which 22 people were killed, resulted in Marape declaring a state of emergency and intense criticism of his position.

Get ready for Hubbl in a couple of weeks (launch date 14 Feb) Not sure it delivers any benefit but it's the new Foxtel service to deliver Kayo and Binge. In reality it's designed to get you to put all your other subscriptions through it (Netflix, Disney etc). Bundling or "stacking" as it's often called is the new approach to maximising their $$$ returns. Other than one bill a month for all your streaming services it's unclear that it delivers much more. Perhaps a discount but no signs of that. The streaming industry is clearly in a state of flux with way too many players https://www.mediaweek.com.au/foxtels-hubbl-launch-binge-and-kayo-sports-accounts-moving-to-new-platform-in-february/

I could get mildly excited based on that review. Could he be the Will Ashcroft of 2024?

Foxtel just released its pricing for the traditional "box" set up as from 1 Feb 2024. It's a monthly charge of $70 plus $30 for the sports package. Some online posters are suggesting that Foxtel are setting up for another Kayo rise in 2025. Would you pay $50 per month for Sports via Kayo (4K .. 2 screens.. no password sharing {Netflix mode}) This comment was made by the Foxtel CEO on subscribers via the traditional box set up. Patrick Delaney, boss of Foxtel, in December to shareholders: "We haven't been running it for subscriber numbers for a long time. It, by and large, is older Australians that are wealthy... we'll continue to squeeze as much revenue out as possible"

Think you're right assuming they can show him a decent plan to improve the team across the board. He'll get $$ but what the West also offers is the outside dollars. Radio, newspaper and sponsorship opps adding another $200k plus a year. Bulldogs also have to deal with the JUH contract renewal saga

While not about the Kayo experience this article about where Craig Tiley is trying to take the AO from a spectator viewpoint gives you some idea of future stadium trends. (Like cruise ships it's all about the upsell) Spectators attending the Australian Open will soon be welcomed to Melbourne Park not by security personnel and bag checks but by a stream of push notifications about their seats and favourite food - which will be delivered to them by drone. That is Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley’s near-term vision for the “happy slam”, which under his stewardship has evolved from a tennis tournament to an entertainment destination where up to 40 per cent of visitors do not watch a game. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/burgers-by-drone-find-your-seat-by-phone-welcome-to-the-open-of-the-future-20240117-p5exzl.html

Just a little more... If you use the AFL club package to renew you will get the Basic package ie 4K.. two screens for 12 months. How long this continues will be interesting but if it's anything like the deal they did for Telstra customers I'd expect it to run for 2024. Then it will increase in price in 2025.

Many posters on other sites suggest that the Foxtel exclusive games are in native 4k (no upscaling) Can you get steady download of 40Mbs plus? If so you will get 4k They suggest 25Mbs. For 1080 it was around 13-15

The argument advanced by our glass is half full followers is that in 2023 we played a slightly more elasticised version of the game plan but the reality is that the final thrust forward was still to the forward pocket. And of course there was our very secret kick out strategy

You can keep the existing price of $25 per month. This gives you one screen and HD only. Foxtel in the box will eventually become redundant as it is replaced by a combination of Kayo, Binge and Hubbl. They've made no secret of their intention to sell/float the platform as soon as they can get a decent offer

Just announced Kayo will be streaming some AFL and some other sports in 4K in 2024. You'll have to buy the Premium package (which they have now renamed Basic) at $35 per month for two screens to qualify (At $25 per month you get one screen and HD) Across 2024, more than 1,000 hours of 4K* content will be available on Kayo Basic including NRL, AFL, Formula 1, Cricket. More specific information will be available closer to launch. 4K streaming on selected content and compatible 4K devices will be enabled for Kayo Basic subscribers in March 2024. To watch Kayo in 4K, you’ll need: a Kayo Basic subscription a device that’s compatible with Kayo and supported for 4K viewing on Kayo a steady broadband speed of at least 25Mbps to ensure the content you’ve selected is available in 4K. https://help.kayosports.com.au/s/article/Why-has-my-Kayo-price-changed#:~:text=As of 1 Feb 2023,Apple via email in February

Two different grounds and to a large degree based on separate development concepts The 25k stadium at Gosch's would be for everyone. I assume the prime users would be the Women's game assuming the game grows to regularly attract say 15k. This would be one of the main reasons why the State funds it. Separately Collingwood want to develop the Olympic Park oval for their Women's team by adding a grandstand

The penny dropped for me this morning... Today's Age has an in depth article today on the battle for control of the Melbourne Park precinct. Well worth a read but it mentions Gosch's Paddock as a possible site for a 25k AFL stadium. Makes sense as the future home of Women's football and if the cost of roofing is not prohibitive a summer music venue for use when Rod Laver etc are tied up by the tennis. If the powers that be wanted this to happen the quid pro quo for us is funding of a replacement training facility at a venue such as Caulfield. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-speech-that-sparked-a-bitter-feud-over-the-future-of-melbourne-park-20240110-p5ew9q.html Live Nation isn’t the only organisation with ideas for new venues. Collingwood boss Craig Kelly floated plans for a new AFL stadium on a part of Gosch’s Paddock, which is currently the training ground of the Melbourne Demons. “I know Richmond [Football Club] and ourselves have both said that if there was an opportunity as a code with the AFL … we’d be more than happy to explore how do we have another facility there that can be utilised for that sort of 25,000 seat [stadium].” The AFL, Melbourne Football Club and Richmond Football Club declined to comment. As an aside here's another on the Collingwood wish list: In the push-and-pull fight for land, the powerful Magpies often come out on top. They expanded their empire in 2007 by secretly lobbying to push out the Victorian Institute of Sport and Athletics Victoria from what is now known as the Glasshouse. Kelly wants to secure tenancy for another 50 years and told The Age about Collingwood’s vision to expand further, adding a grandstand and permanent cafe so the facilities could be used as an AFLW venue.

I think you are right on this score. Casey will continue as our main match playing venue outside the MCG. Having been to Casey many times (other than distance) it's a good ground for viewing football for crowds up to say 2k. The wildcard is the Womens team. Princes Park is a good location but it's soulless IMO. Dare I say I'd prefer Victoria Park

We have not got ourselves a "game changer" since Petracca and Oliver. The game plan is highly susceptible in key games Can we win it from 6 in 2024 ?

I'll never understand the non substitution of Schache for T Mac but moving on. We have both BBB and Tomlinson as well as TMac in the marginal fringe brigade and of course Schache. That's four players we are carrying. Each is entitled to be there but I look to the coaching staff to use these four players to our advantage over the season. In 2023 just like 2022 we didn't take our chances to rotate players. Would it have made a difference. Who knows At VFL level I see TMac playing down back with Tomlinson. Could be interesting

This is my concern as well. Let's see how it goes

Can't help with the Record but I'd love a link to the game on youtube It was a significant turning point for the club

28 years of age. For list balance we need this guy to keep going until 32 at good/top form. Key year for this player