Rhino Richards

Geez. Great performance from Aust. But SL should hang their collective heads in shame. Good batting strip won toss and sloppy batting.

Agree on both counts. Its not just the nature of the offer, its what it says to other prospective candidates. We are serious

Not in successful businesses. The use and role of consultants is not necessarily ceremonial notwithstanding corporate governance requirements

Tbere are still alot of variables to go on the Tour...I would not have thought choking was a prime one. Agree about the uncertainty on the mountain stages. This is not in Evans bag at all by a long way.

I never made any reference to a mental illness. It was your cheap self serving shot. And its ungracious to make a judgement about Fevola's mental state when you have no more knowledge about it than whats on the public record. As much publicised as Fevola's antics have been around alcohol, there have been many more where alcohol had not been involved. A bizarre rant at best.

If you find it offensive you are putting a slant on it to suit your purposes not mine. Fevola's past is on the public record. Spruce it as you will. And you can spare the "scape goat" issue. Fevola is where he is because of Fevola..fully responsible and accountable. It would be good if he does continue his rehabilitation. He needs to tap into the right areas of support for his issues. MFC is not an appropriate platform for either Fev or the Club. Your conservative comment was about the Club taking a risk with a rookie not supporters who dont have a say in the selection of rookies..

Agree and well said. MFC has done so much hard work to get the list to where it is, that they dont need to take silly or unreasonable risks or punts on a proven malignant element with significant baggage who is in the twilight of his career. And MFC conservative on recruiting??? You have to be kidding me. I would have thought the work to assess, review and support the recruitment and development of Jurrah, Wonna and Davey has been out of left field and exemplary. I know a number of AFL who looked at Jurrah were too "conservative" to pursue the Walperi warrior. In addition the ability to identify a rough diamond like Stefan Martin and bring him through has been first class. The same could be said for McKenzie, Nicholson and Evans. In addition, the Club has negotiated superb trades for McLean and TJ in recent years. The Club has proven its smart enough to do the research on left field opportunities, make the sensible calls and clearly not making ridiculous speculative punts. On that basis Fev wont be at MFC.

He is the only option we have and is unproven at AFL against top opposition. He has yet to nail the position at MFC for good reasons even if you struggle to work them out. We should have seek to find worthy alternatives for the FP role. Cost isnt the issue. MFC have rightly made a decision that Fev is not worth the risk both on the field and off the field. I am not sure why people want Fev for 1 or 2 years. He wont around for a flag challenge years so he takes up the spot and opportunities of another player. They must have watched VFL on the ABC. What does "The word" mean? Nothing its just a rumour. Tigers really need Fev when they have Riewoldt. And they need someone to sop their player welfare budget after Cousins retired.

When is the last time a MFC player kicked 11 in the reserves? Big deal. He got great service from a dominant midfield and was playing against a physically undermanned Frankston team. Frankston are struggling. The question is why has it taken Fev this long to impact a VFL game if he is still that good. Still has a great verandah over the shop front in the photos. It looks quite becoming when you are over 30. Could Fev help us win games of over the next 2 years? Not in his current state and I am more concerned about the wins we get when we are seriously challenging in the finals. Who would we be happy to lose to have Fev in the team? Its more a matter of which talent that will more realisically be around in challenging years be How much do we hold a persons past against them? I know what you get from Fev and its not what MFC want or need. There is good reason why MFC will not be foolish enough to punt on the Fev. How fun would it be for Fev to help us beat Carlton? Not as much fun as having 22 of existing list plus a couple of recruits beat them,

I would have thought winning flags actually involved having to win games along the way. Hmmmm I cant see how having Fev for even one year does not stop the development of younger players. Fev is not the solution to getting games and experience into our younger players. Quite the opposite.

Clearly you dont understand the issue. It not a matter of what we have to give up. And you wrong on the "nothing". He takes the place of a younger player more deserving of a crack at the AFL with MFC. And it makes no sense giving him a short term deal if we did actually want him (I am confident that MFC dont). Because he wont be around in 2013 then. FMD. He has had 12 years of football off field disasters. The bloke has been given more lifelines that he deserves and needs to find the proper avenues to deal with his issues. If there is a clause that he is gone if he "looks silly" then he wont last the pre season MFC jumper presentation. I wonder why???

The MFC FD have done enough due diligence on Fev before he had come to Casey. They were not happy with Casey for getting him and I doubt much has changed since then. I would have thought Fev takes away opportunities for younger players not creates them.

I think our forward line is starting to come together well with Watts maturing each week. I am not sure we should be spending picks on a "power forward". The most glaring problem we have up forward is the small crumbing forward. We dont have one. We need one and should seek to identify options in the draft. And I would not touch Fevola with a 10 foot pole. With or without 11 goals against an undermanned, below standard Frankston outfit. Its a pity the opportunities that were presented to a 31yo hasbeen are not provided to the Cooks, McDonalds and Fitzs who actually have a future with the Club.

Great knock by Watson. Another reason why Bangladesh is still an affiliate standard of one day cricket. Lots of wonderful stats out of Watson's innings. But it does not mean much given the opposition. About as memorable as Gillespire double ton against them when he was night watchman.

Glad we agree that the No 6 position is a furphy. Hindsight is wonderful tool but there is no evidence that Hastings would have done better than Johnson with bat and ball. And Johnson has form (albeit patchy) that he can rip through sides. Its makes no sense to playing different (2nd string) bowlers in the lead up games if they deprive your preferred front line bowlers of match practice and opportunity to get form. And given the closeness that the minnows went to pushing Australia and also other sides on ordinary wickets, why would you take the risk??

But didnt you want to bat him at six? Batting him at six only deprives someone else of the opportunity to be eased in. And No 6 is a great spot to bring in a green batsman. So why would you leave Ponting at six to block that spot. makes no sense when you really think about it. So there was no Plan B. Thanks for the confirmation. Thats the challenge for Australia if they dismantle a Plan A that includes Mitchell Johnson. Johnson was picked ahead of Hastings because he has proven but inconsistent ability to run through batting line ups. He didn't fire like a number of players in the Aust team.

Why does he bat six? You dont need to repeat the statement just provide a plausible reason why you would do the move. Ponting will be gone well before Christmas. It would be disasterous for Ponting did hit another century...perish the thought. So what was plan B??

Why is it an option that he either retire or bat six? If that's the option then he should be retired. I dont think that the intent of the ACB yet. I dont think there is a better and ready no 3 atm. This could change over the coming six months. BTW, his innings was top shelf on a reasonable ordinary wicket. If he plays then he should be No 3....unless there is a better option. If Ponting is not captain, I think Clarke will be captain for Bangladesh. White has blown a big opportunity from the start of 2011. The following players from the ODI will pensioned off progressively...Ponting, M Hussey and Lee. Tait and Krejza should be sent back to Shield level. White has been in poor form but should not be overlooked because he is proven ODI player and a matchwinner. We need to get a battery of fast bowlers and a spinner in place for next summer. Good chance for potentials to put their hand up.

Roebuck referred to Ponting having to give Krejza remedial bowling coaching on the field. On the brigher note go Tassie Tigers for the Sheffield Shield.

Krejza like Tait have not been successes on this tour. I thought Krejza was predestrian against Pakistan where his only wicket was a poor shot by the Paki batsman. The conditions in this match and for most of the tour were tailor made for spinners and Krejza was lacklustre. He is certainly not the only ordinary performer. However for a guy given an opportunity from the blue, he has done little to impress in my opinion. Although the pitch was poor with inconsistent bounce, the batting was indeed poor with poor shot selection by Watson, Clarke and Hussey. White ran himself out on a suicide run to complete his trail of misery since Christmas. I would drop White for David Hussey who at the very least can provide some offies. While at the end of his career, Lee has been a standout of the bowlers. After that bowling has been D grade or thereabouts with both Canada and Kenya showing up the deficiencies. Tait and Johnson have been poor. Some months ago, I thought we would struggle to get to the semis and after Australia get done by India on Thursday then the ACB should start a careful examination of the side for the future covering both on and off field matters. On form it would be a miracle if we beat India at home. The outcome of this tournament was not unexpected. The spate of injuries before the tournament sapped a struggling Aust side of some glimmer of upside. But the options to replace incumbents or correct issues are not as clear cut or simple to resolve. The hard decisions will need to be made. Ponting should be "retired". White has blown a big chance to have scaled the mountain to the top. Clarke is streaky in form and I am not sure he is the best option in the short term. But who else is there? Brad Haddin??? Hmmmm

Well done Ross Taylor. (Just need a certain "expert" to cut down Taylor's innings as not much chop because he was lucky earlier with the dropped catches!) Fabulous knock and a great run chase.

Too often the associates are about as competitive as country jolly game. IMO, playing the associates makes the WC too long and drawn out. FWIW, i thought the WC in the WI 4 years ago was a big yawn until the semis and then final ended in high farce.

I am worried the Dutch have played all their form in the one game. If only they had Moses Henriques in their team!!!

Its a tacky dump with little endearing it but the fact MFC owns it. The name is not the issue. There are better alternatives for locals and others to go than there. The only value is the land and the pokies licence

And Krejza isn't a game by game proposition? Krejza got lucky in India in a dead rubber slogfest. He still leaked 5 runs per over. And prior to that he got spanked in some early season jollies in India. No track form there Both are forced gambles due to injuries to preferred players. Australia is limited to taking an underwhelming side on this WC.