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You sort of get the feeling that the MFC went after a new coach... the likes of which it had a reasonable idea of, but whats transpired since is Neeld's proved a catalyst for wholesale change. I think we're still coming to terms with this as its been so throrough and so dynamic. In so manyrespects its hard to recognise this club as ours. No complaints mind you You cant expect to build anything substantial and long-lived without due care to the foundations. These seem to have been implemented , and of a scale and design never seen before at the MFC. Rome wasnt bult in a day , but built it was, grand it became, and awed in its day and still now. One of the many endearing legacies of Rome, and particular its great Colliseum was how it took a simple building unit, that you and I know as a brick and remoulded it, redefined it and utilised it in ways un heard of before. Its not always the complexity or ability of any single aspect that determines effeciveness and success its the design and implementation that ensures this. This is exactly how I see the club at present. Neeld and Co are taking our 'units' and redeploying them into roles better suited to not only themselves but the greater good of our own Rome...aka The Mighty Demons. If he ( Neeld ) is half as good a thinker re football ( gameday) as he is in regard to all that goes into getting there then we are in for some interesting times

The interview had nothing to do with ANY of what you guys are talking about!!! It was about the Ox's Football Journey on the park...Nothing else. Have some RESPECT for the Great 5 Please.

IMO we now have an elite set up in terms of coaching staff, fitness staff and facilities. Unlike previous years, we now have games plugged into many of our younger players. We have also plugged some of the gaps on our list, not necessarily with great players, but with mature, hard bodies who will provide a decent contest. We have a pretty good draw, and the supporters are really behind the club and excited about 2012. To say, definitively, we will not play finals in 2012 at this stage in the pre-season, particularly given the recent developments, is not cool. I don't think anyone, including the Oracle, is saying we're certainties - but we're definitely in the mix for a finals birth. It beggars belief to suggest otherwise.

I have wanted to do this for ages. Will put more up as time permits, enjoy:

Good to see some decent batting from our bowlers!

The most accurate assessment by far.

I'd never heard of Watkins before, so I've just done a bit of reading. Makes for an interesting tale: From this article: And his cricinfo profile: Jeez. I can only imagine what a humiliating and degrading experience that must've been. We've all had those "I clearly don't belong here" moments in life, but in the spotlight on an international stage with some of cricket's greats within spitting distance would be horrifying. I'd be scarred for life. Sounds a lot like me when I played cricket through high school - I bowled leggies too. When the confidence was down or I just wasn't feeling the best, I'd have almost no control over the ball whatsoever. On a good day, most of my deliveries landed on the pitch

Ponting and Hussey bring up the 100 run partnership... who would have thought? I don't often say it, but the selectors have been bang on the money for this test match. Marsh has failed, but Hilfenhaus, Cowan, Ponting and Hussey have all made solid contributions.

That's a very interesting perspective Oracle. My highlight prediction for 2012 is that during the year Andy Demetriou will suddenly resign as AFL CEO to take up a similar role with the Indian Cricket Board. One of his first responsibilities will be to investigate the problems on the sub continent of corruption and gambling on cricket matches and after an exhaustive two day inquiry into the subject he will absolve all parties suspected of wrongdoing and give the all clear declaring that the sport is well run and that there's no gambling problem in Indian cricket.

Can any of them get you a Dees premiership for next year?

The difference is one poor decision in cricket is much more likely to have a major impact on a match and/or career than a single poor decision in footy. The same value is not added for the interruption to the event in footy for that reason.

I know, but my (subtle) point was that it's a bit harsh to rib the guy when he wasn't actually out. I realise it wasn't the greatest shot he's ever played in his career, but luck - or lack thereof - played an enormous part in his dismissal.

To be honest Im starting to wonder how we even won games this year....Go Dees!