Rhino Richards

Must have been odds on to have been evicted from the MCG for behaviour issues.

I not sure what he believes but he did not look any better today against a pretty meek batting line up. Welcome to the 21century and thev era of slow lifeless flat wickets which prevent any proper battle between bat and ball. I would also add Yousuf and Umar aside the batting is pretty brittle. Geez, it must have been bad. For mine I cant stand people who run onto a sporting arena during a sporting event. They should double the fines and give security free reign on them once caught.

Sort of contradicts itself doesn't it? We blew it at Waverley that day. We showed very little character that day. We were down 10 goals to 2 at half time. It was an embarrassing performance from a side that needed to stand up that day but didn't. If we could not beat the Weagles there then we were pretenders in the most open flag race for many years.

If Hauritz belongs out there it is with the ball. He wont get an easier shot at a Test ton. Flat deck, pedestrian one string attack, village green fielders. Clarke should have batted out there. I saw little from Hauritz's bowling that has changed today. If I recall correctly the last mightwatchman to hit a ton for Australia were Tony Mann 1978 vs India - hit 108(?) in Perth could not take a wicket as a bowler (leg spin) and got dropped next test. Jason Gillespie 2005(?) vs B'desh - hit 240(?) n.o. and was dropped soon after because he could not cut it anymore as a bowler. Hauritz should not rest on his laurels. Now I know Pakistan is beset with political and cultural problems including civil war and terrorism but...... is this the most uninspiring team of cricketers I have seen. Their performance has been overall and flat as a pancake and I struggle to find one highlight. Aamer Mohammed at allegedly 17 is a find and could be something in the future but is too young and to raw to be thrown on the Test oven at this stage. I worry that unless treated properly the poor kid will be broken and burnt out by the time he is 21. I was worried what the Windies were serve up this summer and was pleasantly surprise but Pakistan (even allowing for the two last minute injuries) look a fair cut below the standard. I hope they can muscle something up that is more competitive going forward than what they have shown so far in this Test.

Regardless of how many he score I cannot fathom why Hauritz was nightwatchman. For the player with leadership aspirations, I can see no reason why Clarke did not come out to bat last night at 3/290 and the pitch was a batting gem. I felt Australia lacked momentum in the first session today.

Agree on that much Peanuts. Tim Lane writes a pretty good article on this issue in the Sunday Age. Agree and noted

How do you mean? At West Coast or Carlton? And as you point out, we have no knowledge of what Judd is like or has done off the ground. But the assertion that the change of a Club's culture or the behaviour of each player is the responsibility of one person alone is rubbish and beside bitterness that he did not come to MFC, I am not sure why he has been singled out the way he has here. The most recent episodes are a slur on the whole Club from the Board down through the Football department to the senior players. Judd shares part of that blame in the leadership. But besides Judd, who are the other players at Carlton? Definitely isnt Walker or Houli. Mind you I share your enjoyment that its Carlton. They have achieved a sense of misguided hubris without the prolonged success that is often the cause of it. I hope they are crushed from the overexpectations of their arrogant supporters

When we lost the semi final in 2002, Woey was playing a limited role off the half back line. He was not in the key midfield positions in that year. But he was deteriorating a footballer and his returns were along way in the years foillowing the B'low. What made the matter worth was the MFC signed him on a extended back ended contract at the end of 2000 that caused MFC undue grief in 2003 and 2004 for salary cap reasons. It was either get value for Woey now, free up some salary cap or having to delist other required players and then have Woey at the end of 2004 with stuff all market value. We have done that with so many other players to the Clubs peril. And MFC were not certainly in the flag window at the end of 2002. The Club did not think so and realised that they werent going to progress with the list we had. After the Woey trade, Powell walked on us after MFC offered him 2 years and not 3 years that St Kilda. He had OP and did little to excite at StK. His 2001/2002 was a shadow of his 2000 due to suspension and injury. Trading Woey was a smart decision. If the Club pandered to the whims of supporters we would not cut anyone and would have given Valenti a 3 year contract. The use of the draft pick 12 (?) was proven to be poor but they are two separate decisions. And Woey did little to suggest at the Pies that MFC had done the wrong thing. His first year was serviceable as 4th up midfielder after Buck, Burns, Licuria (shades of Brock), his next two years were poor.

I'd say none. 16 clubs have indicated they dont recruit for depth. Move on.

Hardly appropriate in the circumstances. I trust Levi moves forward from these challenges.

Absolutely agree and endorse those sentiments. You will never walk alone Troy.

Surely you jest. But some on here would believe it. But McLean has been quiet in proceedings on this. Good for him. Fevola was a serious and pathological troublemaker at Carlton. Lets not hide his problems behind blaming others. Fev was his own worst enemy. Brisbane wont prove you right at all. If he is no trouble then he might have grown up. People seem to forget that outside Judd, there are few ledership players in a young team. This is evidence by the most experienced forward after Fev left, Houli arranging this fiasco. You like other dont have a clue what Judd is like off the field. Some of the carp printed here by posters on Judd really begs for some factual evidence. It is clear that we dont know what actions Judd took on the cruise and we dont know what he like off the field. What we do know and has been evidenced so far is that aside from Judd, who are the team leaders at Carlton. I can name them at MFC but I can see them at Carlton. The culture damage that Fev caused for so long did not leave when he did. I agree with the image problem it causes. I am just glad it isnt MFC. I have no sympathy for Carlton.

Thanks stand corrected on that. I still think that given the continual rubbish they had from Fevola particularly on Brownlow night that the Club (lead by Sticks) would have been doing more to repair some of the cultural damage left by Fevola. Its not just up to one person. its also disappointing because Houli is almost the most experienced player on the list. Its seems a legacy issue at Carlton where Fev was the leading light. Serves them all right.

Judd was shoved the captaincy because Cousins imploded. He was not awarded the captaincy on due merit and respect but a knee jerk reaction by the West Coast management to diffuse a malignant Club situation of its own making. It was a clayton's captaincy at best and I fully understand why he did not want it and did not like the culture and wanted to leave. When WCE won the flag and he was on the dais with the trophy it was telling that he called Cousins up there. An appalling situation. Its also disgraceful that he could not stop Fevola and his behaviour. As chief wet nurse he should have kept 24 hour guard over Fevola, slapped his wrist and gone tsk tsk tsk when he strayed. As for the boat trip, was Judd on it? What were Judd's actions on it? who did the Club organise to be there outside the playing group when they booked the function? Sorry to hear that Judd my have a personality complex. Poor chap. Leadership is important but player behaviour is the responsibility of each and every individual. Captains can only set the example but not be responsible for each player at all times. This was a function organised by the Club for the players. The Club should be rightly embarrassed for this. It was a potential disaster waiting to happen and it could not have happened to a more deseriving club.

Agree. Farmer, Thompson and Jolly all wanted to leave for a variety of reaons and we sought to get the best deal we could given at the time given the circumstances. It was a case of we either dealt or lost the player for nothing to the PSD. Travis and Woey were list management decisions and correct ones at the time. The challenge with letting Brock go to the ND is you have no certainty of outcome and its debatable whether Carlton would have chased Luke Ball if they knew he was available. Mind the Blues could use some of the leadership qualiites of Ball at the moment

Oh dear they sure know how to woop it up.. "A TEENAGE Carlton rookie was handcuffed or bound to another player and forced to down copious drinks in the Blues' booze-fuelled end-of-year celebrations. Levi Casboult, 19, was barely conscious when his family came to his rescue. The drinking game, in which Casboult was urged to go one-for-one with the older player, happened on a $100-a-head booze cruise that may have have cost the Blues a $1 million sponsorship deal." http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/captive-c...o-1225813309312 Leadership, culture and responsibiliity...The spirit of Fev lives on. "They know we're coming......."

Pre 1990s, the ATO had a paper bag over its head and no idea about the "black" economy. That dinner must have made you feel you were with MFC supporters. Given the culture and their weakness in defence, I think Nathan Carroll would have fitted in there perfectly.

If a bottom dwelling team like ours did not think Valenti was good enough then its a fair indication other Clubs would not have. FWIW, Valenti has been prominent for many years at VFL level and Victorian based clubs have had more than enough time to make their assessments.

Your word is your honour Redleg. Crikey! Until the AFL had the salary cap the bags of money did not breach any AFL rules did they?

Wasn't Eddie Betts and Mitch Robinson?? http://www.theage.com.au/afl/carlton-blues...91223-lcbe.html

He was not contracted as an AFL list player. MFC got better midfielders in the draft. Any reason why 15 other clubs did not snap him up?

From time to time the issues bubble up into flashpoints but there is simmering undercurrent of dissatisfaction about the way recent Australian sides have behaved here and overseas particularly outside of the UK. Cricket is a great game that binds different cultures for the moment they play. However the robustness and at times viciousness of the Australian on field aggression upsets other cultures and teams. And while we can be dismissive of it, Australians dont like the same standards put back at them. Incidents with McGrath, Symonds and Haddin give testimony to the fact that Australians have not welcomed the feistiness served on them that they serve on others. I wonder how sensitive the microphones are when they could not pinpoint Warne's ungracious "Cant bat, cant bowl" sledge of Scott Muller. Blaming Tom(?) the cameraman fooled no one. In the recent series there has been consistent heckling going on between Benn and the Australians. Some of it particularly from Benn has been borderline in behaviour but none of it was taken in the microphones. I dont think it is an effective deterrent. I think Pakistan may surprise with some of their young stars. Consistently inconsistent as a team Pakistan can still manage to unearth a prodigious talent now and again. They certainly need one.

Prior to the salary cap was it really an issue? Proof??? 1995 was a flag definitely purchased against the rules. The others --------------------------------> = Long Bow

Lehmann was suspended for calling an opposition player a b---- c----- . Unfortunately, some of the sledging was pointed and aimed at a target as low blow. I think the public would have been disappointed in the cricket team if the truth came out. The India blow up 2 years ago over Singh has its seeds sown over a number of years of Australian behaviour. Unfortunately winning ugly has its ramifications. I share your disappointment but this is not a strong Australian team at all. Your missing out on a good day's cricket by doing that. I am fascinated at how we will go. I hope he has been permanently barred from the agro bar for his own sake!!!

True. A bit of storm in a teacup pre Xmas. In the range of naughty boy behaviours this has alot of hoopla. 10-11 flags under dodgy circumstances.... 45Hg16 was right. What a load of carp.