Rhino Richards

I am glad you are watching it now. I am sure Warnie has enough axes to grind. And I am glad you know how to set a field in cricket. Very reassuring. You might work out that its impossible to set a meaningful field when a bowler is bowling crap. But I am sure you must be on top of that too. And to correct a misconception, alot of posters feel you rant on and I believe with proven justification.

It was FFS. Watson was moved in as an opener with success. Bollinger and Siddle have about two years experience. Since then Harris, George and Paine have been blooded since then. Hussey averaged 66 with the bat against the Pakis. Not a case to be dropped. I am not sure what the match fixing allegations have here with team selection. Oh, yes HT did point that out. B) North could have been dropped but who would they have reasonably replaced him with given they were going for a No 6 that could bowl. Sorry White struggled at 8 when he played and does not even bowl himself these days. So not a clear selection issue. The ACB selectors have been doing this where there are ready replacements. The spinner and middle order roles are begging for players to sit up and create the action. Who did? Ferguson got injured at the wrong time and missed his moment. There is no clear You continue to rant on about this but have been unable to put a plausible or sensible substantiation to your comments. I dont think in some areas its a deep well for the selectors to tap. But only you see the obvious.

Rooke was finished last year. Its hardly news. Just confirmation of what was known. Rooke was not a bad player and not always given the credit for his good work amongst more high profile players.

At 21, Smith with one or two tests and a part time bowler is not a frontline option in either India or the Ashes. While Hauritz is a poor option you cant provide a better one than Smith...Hmmm So who would you replace Hussey and North with? As for the same side being selected series after series. The last time I looked George and Paine are new to the side in the past 3 months. So much for the pumping going on. Most of the players that play for Australia have been identified in their youth and tracked and developed by the ACB. You learn little by throwing kids to the wolves. I would have thought MFC might have taught you a bit more. It sounds great when you rant but when you think about it.... He's right WYL. You do this all the time. The silly statements are only outdone by the tragic efforts to support/divert/deny/falsify or complicate matters. And you get found out every time. B)

He cant ruck and cant pinch forward. He is no insurance on Jamar. MFC would be better off pumping games into Spencer who physically contests in the ruck and around the ground and at 21 should improve. I have seen enough of PJ to know that WYSIWYG. Its not good enough.

And what would you DO that would improve the side now and with the Ashes in sight? Like it or lump it, Hauritz is our only 4th innings bowler. He is bowling poorly. This is further exacerbated by the fact that he has been taken apart by one of the great players of spin, Tendulkar. Smith is not a frontline spinner and the silliness of playing a part time spinner was shown on the last India tour with White. As for the batting I would have thought that century aside that North position is in doubt before Hussey. Mind you Clarke has been ordinary for a while on and off the field but he has some creds. I am also struggling to identify definite replacements for either or both players where that replacement has a good track record over the past 6 to 12 months to push for selection. There are no quick fixes and I would rather considered selections as opposed to making changes for changes sake under the banner of "LETS DO SOMETHING".

Great house and land package indeed. Good move MFC. Well done. Where does Todd's role fit with Kelly O'Donnell's role?

If you dont like to have your comments challenged on the Forum...get a blog and turn the response switch to off. You said you didnt rate him as a footballer and its parsimonious to discount because he took another footballer to court over an action which was common assault and caused damage and loss of income. Stop Press: Supporter from one club does not like a player from another club. I am not sure what Milburn has to do it with it. I dont recall Milburn punching SOS in the face and breaking his jaw. It was common assault. If a player did that today, he would miss at least a year and potentially be up for damages. Throughout his career, Grinter had a habit of belting people and getting suspended. Easily qualify as thug in todays football if he had not been rubbed out of football all together. And the bloke from West Coast, Josh Kennedy a thug like Grinter? No not even close. Clearly only yours does Billy and we wont challenge it.

How? Can you give examples and what do you think Ponting should have done in the situation? He has been in the job six weeks. The ACB are still to agree the terms of reference for the 4 man selection panel at their Board meeting this month. What did you expect in such a short time given the side for India was already selected?

Terry Wallace - 254 games, 3 Premierships, 2 B&Fs during one of the golden periods of the Hawks. 2 B & Fs at WB. A credible and decorated playing career. Wallace was the victim of thuggery by Grinter. It was a disgusting and reckless act which knocked Wallace unconscious, extracting teeth and breaking his jaw. Grinters low act was akin to common assault. As a coach, I dont have much time for Wallace. But his playing record is outstanding. I note you plugged Cloke as a Premiership player but dont rate a player with 3 flags. Hmm. B)

I am still wreteched over what they did to Simon Godfrey. Fair summary and to think the selectors will not be under pressure to move Garland forward to fit Cheney in the 22. B)

I wouldn't. He's a proven crock that cant stand up to the physical rigours of AFL. Its time to look at other options.

We need someone to pinch hit in the ruck to give Jamar a breather and be able to play forward. PJ does neither effectively I'd use Martin or Newton off the rookie list and look to find a ruck/fed option in the next draft.

No. We delist him. If we did offer him anything its one year on low $$$. No save the charade...delist.

Just putting you straight Billy! B) Yes. After losing Jolly, they needed a key ruckman. Pyke was raw, Seaby was questionable and a cheap pick up. Mumford came with good promise at Geelong who had Ottens and Blake already on their books. At 23, with 20 plus games he was definitely in the zone. The Swans were serious too. They offered him a $1 mil 4 years contract and offered him the role Jolly had. You dont do that with speculation. MFC were quick to move on their part and could have delayed until when Luke Ball played his cards in the trade week which would have muddied things. MFC moved decisively and quickly and they should be recognised for that. And yes I think Carlton made a rash judgement and it will cost them. Good aggressive clubs know not to pay over the odds. MFC didn't. We identified an interest, determined a value and stuck to our guns. Hardly amateurs at all.

I think Meesen has a chronic foot problem which has killed his career and also any likelihood of nominating and being selected by another Club.

No fan of Setanta's game but there is no need to overstate Warnock's game. I am a fan of Warnocks but I know his limitations.

If he has signed a contract then Sydney would have to want to trade him and White would have to want to go. Neither scenario seems apparent. We had the ruck position covered with Jamar. Mumford would have been an expensive 2nd fiddle. And besides Mumford wanted to be a first ruck and Sydney had the need. And as for MFC not being aggressive enough... Brock McLean for pick 11 !!!!

Try again. From the top 12 AFL goalkickers in 2010, he matches up reasonably with only few of them. He can take the 2nd string gorillas and be 2nd go at Hall, Roughy and Podsiadly. Yes. Rivers and Warnock played few games together in the same 22. Garland and Frawley were in most of the year. Garland plays tall and small. Once saw Garland take Jeff Farmer to the cleaners a couple of years ago. Could not expect that of Warnock.

Cheney and Martin are contracted. Unless you do a gratuitous trade for Cheney then he stays. PJ,TMac are in the gun. Upgrading from the rookie list counts as taking up draft picks. Jordie and Jake count for 2. Atm we only have room for pick 12. As another poster pointed out, PJ and TMac are not on the plane to China. Hmmm!

If you want to free list space, then you should be happy to take a 5th or 6th rounder pick that you will never use. At the moment we dont have space to use pick 32.

His spot was taken by Rivers and not Frawley. Warnock is an honest defender whose best footy is capable. It is not up there with the best of any FB in the AFL. Shrewd thinking.

We have only three spaces on the list. We will upgrade Spencer and McKenzie from the rookie list. That means all we can use in the draft is pick 12 unless we do either or both of the following: 1. Delist PJ and/or TMac. 2. Trade Cheney for a pick we will never use. Cheney is low in the pecking order and is not a keep IMO. And if Newton is China bound I wonder whether they will re rookie him in 2011.

In: 2005 - Byron Pickett and picks #54 Port Adelaide Melbourne Draft Picks #28, #44 Out: 2009 - Brock McLean Carlton for pick 11 (Gysberts)

No. Given what Hale went for, the deal would be an absolute stinker for the Swans. Cheney, Maric or any other VFL player aint no sweetener in a deal. Rule 1 for trade deals is that they are a win win for both parties. Sydney get nothing out of this. Bradshaw is almost finished at AFL and struggled to play this year. It might give a hint why Sydney wont give up White.