Shorting on the asx is quite difficult for retail with most...

Shorting on the asx is quite difficult for retail with most brokers and this is due to ASX deeming it a practice for institutions and sophisticated participants. Generally, you need quite a large account and to have gone through some hoops with your broker. The ASX, in their wisdom, seeks to 'protect' retail from themselves - to buy an inverse ETF is something that most will never be able to do.

I'd be taking anyone's claims to be short with a big pinch of salt, where most would be simply flexing their ego with the intention of looking smart and to have control over the market. Professionals are not on hotcopper talking about their big plays. Hotcopper is predominately a space for retail long investors to discuss ideas.

There was that one guy awhile back who was open about being short, his reasons, and how he went about it (talking with the risk manager and his boss at whatever firm he was in). If you read his posts you'd see it's not straight forward nor easily done.

I am dubious that there is some great cabal of coordinated professionals trying to sow discontent and pry your shares from you with poorly articulated posts. The algos do a much more efficient job.