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I've never heard a conversation about footy or cricket that I haven't wanted to join in immediately. If you disagree with me, you'll be made to work very hard to change my mind!
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Caulfield Cup day has arrived, and despite no international representation, a field of lightweight depth and quality has been assembled. It’s the biggest 2400m handicap in the world, and it takes a horse with a mixture of class and toughness to salute.
The Everest may never be the biggest race in Australia, but it has quickly become the most exciting.
The Thousand Guineas has been moved back to the Wednesday after several years of having it run on the Saturday just gone.
The next five weeks are what racing fans in Australia wait all year for.
Turnbull Stakes day is often referred to as moving day, to steal a phrase from the golfing world.
Super Saturday has arrived at Randwick, in what used to be Sydney’s biggest race day. It is still the best for overall quality, but there’s a little event called The Everest that has taken its place as the marquee race meeting. Let’s have a look at three even Group 1s.
Every drought-breaking win is historic and joyful.
Group 1 racing returns to Sandown for the first time this century on Saturday, with the Underwood Stakes program having been moved there in a shuffling of the spring carnival by the Melbourne Racing Club.
Caulfield and Flemington have had their taste of Group 1 racing this spring, and we’ve seen some fantastic racing – Behemoth winning back-to-back Memsies, Incentivise laying a down-payment on future riches in the Makybe Diva Stakes, and Sierra Sue winning a thrilling Rupert Clarke Stakes to give Daniel Moor his first Australian Group 1 winner.
Is it Melbourne’s time? After 57 years it really is the biggest, if not the only, question this week.
Sydney racing has always done glitz and glamour well. Who else in the racing world would have the audacity to make a 1200m sprint for two-year-olds their marquee race?
It’s George Main Stakes day at Randwick on Saturday.
Spring racing heats up this week with Group 1s being held in both Victoria and New South Wales.
The era of fairytale premierships is well and truly upon us, and Melbourne gets a chance to add their club to the ever-growing list.
It’s Makybe Diva Stakes day at Flemington, kicking off a run of nine consecutive Saturdays of Group 1 racing in Victoria. Spring has truly sprung, and the fields unquestionably reflect it.
Preliminary finals have a long and storied history.
There’s a special ignominy that greets the losing elimination finalists.
Group 1 racing returns to Melbourne after a five month gap with the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The home-and-away season has been run and won. The dust has settled. Unlike the last five seasons, we don’t have long to take a breath. It’s about to be all the way on.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
The question is, are the Dogs going to have the umps on their side again? Free kicks 25-11 v Melbourne in Rd 19. In fact, Dogs fans will riot if they don’t get that sort of favour, they’re so used to it. 😱
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
I barely trust Port to turn up 75 times out of 100, let alone 99.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
I’ve been rapt with Brown’s performance, he’s been really strong the last 6-8 weeks, and McDonald bounced back in the prelim after a down couple of weeks. Then you’ve got Fritsch getting off the chain and Pickett swooping around. I think they’ll cause the Dogs backs some headaches given enough supply.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
Again, some similarities with Richmond in 2017 there. Geelong beat the Tigers in Rd 21 that year, missing Hawkins, Duncan and Selwood. All three were there a few weeks later in the qualifying final, and Richmond reversed the result.
I don’t think the Dogs controlled the game as much as they kicked all those goals from stoppages. Was a wet game too, which it won’t be on Saturday.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
Couldn’t agree more on the last point, but thei Dogs win over Port was powerful so they must be respected.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
I agree, I would have preferred the Dogs lead-up. But the Dees hit Geelong like a coiled spring after a week off in the prelim, so can be trusted to do the same again. The Dogs will be more ready for it, of course.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
Well, you could say that about any losing grand finalists if you’re going to list all of those! Might as well list losing preliminary finalists too.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
Plenty of money in the Australian sprint races, why don’t they send a few?
George Main Stakes day: Group 1 preview and tips
Haha, your last line is a very good point PD!
'Another Cinderella story about to happen': History says Melbourne are due to deliver
The AFL love this idea of a two week build-up and generating momentum. They tried it with the pre-finals bye, and now are trying this. We didn’t face it this time, but the only positive from a week off before the GF is that the ridiculous 12 day concussion rule doesn’t prevent a concussed player from the prelim playing in a GF.
'Another Cinderella story about to happen': History says Melbourne are due to deliver
The Crows won a lot of games in 2005-06, finishing top two twice, but couldn’t convert it into a GF appearance. They had a ripe chance then.
'Another Cinderella story about to happen': History says Melbourne are due to deliver
Thanks Boo.
'Another Cinderella story about to happen': History says Melbourne are due to deliver
In terms of pure output, I guess it would have to be Carlton and Gold Coast.
In terms of who should have achieved more, I’m on record as saying West Coast has drastically under-achieved in this era by only making one prelim (which they at least turned into a flag). The Collingwood squad that won the 2010 flag probably should have won more but Eddie torpedoed that.
'Another Cinderella story about to happen': History says Melbourne are due to deliver
I agree with your last sentence. I think it’s possible to do all three of: admire and appreciate the Dogs performance and heart, that the Lions should have made more of their chances, while also thinking Brisbane were robbed.
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
😱
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
Well said Marty. How can you not admire the Dogs for their gumption, and they certainly know how to produce a lionheart performance. It won’t surprise at all if they beat Port, somehow finding a way even if Bont doesn’t play. And as you say, if you can stick fat away from home, and the home team gets the shakes late they can capitalize.
But I’ll go to my grave saying Brisbane were robbed last Saturday…
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
Breaking News! Dogs fan defends umpiring in a one point game!
The call against Caleb Daniel was poor, certainly. Fancy paying that ruck free, or the off-the-ball against McCarthy, and man in front was a rule for 100 years until Bont’s mark, let alone letting Bailey Dale go free after Lions players had been called for a fraction of holding the ball all quarter. Any one of which could have gone the other way, and if they had have more likely that Brisbane would have won.
I make the free kick count in finals 168-117 the Bulldogs way since the start of 2016. Most people would take that, in what should be something statistically random.
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
Dogs free kicks in 2016 finals:
20-8 v Sydney (I know Swans fans that haven’t had a good night’s sleep in five years due to the umpiring)
23-13 v GWS (not bad away from home in a game that never saw more than a two goal lead)
19-14 v Hawks
17-13 v WC (in Perth! Unheard of)
Five of the Dogs first seven goals against Essendon the other week were from free kicks, some of them questionable. In a game with only 12 goals to 3QT, it feels significant.
Not a bad run, it’s worth acknowledging. Easy enough to admit they’ve had the best of it. And anyone that says umpiring decisions don’t shape games is a simpleton.
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
I think you’ll find it was Melbourne that got the breeze for three quarters. It changed at quarter time, so they got the use of it for the entire first half. Phenomenal final round that year, as well as Melbourne’s surge through the finals.
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
Personally I think any bye can get in the bin, but we’ll see how this one plays out I guess. Feels like it’s tempting fate to not just play the game, given the COVID environment.
'Twice the ecstasy and twice the heartbreak': Preliminary finals have their own place in history
Thanks Nath, good to be back writing about the good ones again.
Yes, incredibly poor returns from the 3yo at WFA ranks last season, everyone and their dog writing them off, and yep, a 4yo wins the first G1 of 2021/22. Aegon needs to prove it at the level on firm ground, and Beau Rossa could win if he gets all the breaks and couple of others don’t. Always great if the 4yo’s fire a few shots in the early spring.
The Heatherlie is always a good race, and is often won by something leading or right on the pace from memory. Good shout (and good luck!).
Memsie Stakes Day: Group 1 tips and preview
I will be surprised to be honest. I do think the top four have the others covered with the Dogs horribly out of form.
Also, the bye being moved to later will help the top four.
'The best football weekend of the year': Four cracking games to start the AFL finals
I think a lot of years we think the four finals will be even, but it’s often not the case. We’d be spewing if we didn’t get a couple of classics this week though.
'The best football weekend of the year': Four cracking games to start the AFL finals
Plenty of games in the back half of the year where the Dees haven’t mounted much offensive force, and six goals to 3QT against Geelong last week. In my opinion, in the three areas of the ground, that’s the weakest for Melbourne, so of course it’s going to be called out. It may not cost them at all of course.
'The best football weekend of the year': Four cracking games to start the AFL finals
Damn, I forgot to put in that comparison with the Tigers too, not precisely with Jones in regards to retirement/not best 22, but Deledio as the long-time stalwart and fan favourite watching on was a similar gut-punch for mine.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years