Rhino Richards

......And if we only had a capable spinner

I thought the Saints are involved in building a State of the Art training facility in conjunction with the Frankston side. I would have thought the Frankston and the Peninsula area was also a "growth" area with high profile (eg proposed marina etc.). I dont think they could have honoured their interests in Frankston and met Casey's on the other side. Their link with Sandy is fortuitous for them as they did not have the same requirements for training facilities that MFC. It could be a fortuitous move for both Clubs. Time will tell.

Oh dear. Next.

Thanks for the misguided revisionism. Whatever problems Rivers had when he joined MFC, if indeed he did have injuries, were not OP related. Sylvia came to Melbourne with OP in already in case. He was not played as a result and indeed hardly played in his first couple of years.

I add also that Instead of R.Warnock - we also have Spencer, in addition to Strauss. If we took Warnock then I am not sure we would be trialling Spencer now. Whatever Warnock does he would have cost $400,000 a year. We would be paying Spencer a pittance, he is performing and he is not injured ATM. But your right about the time frame - at least three years. FWIW, I dont think it was a case of instead of Judd. He was always going to Carlton.

Great report and thanks to Junior and Faulty Det

Great post Distance D.

I would be too unless he performs. But they did give Newton a 2 yr contract. <_<

Rubbish. Robbo plays deep in F50 from the square. Sylvia plays up the ground. Easily play both if form warrants Nah, I just know you are ill informed. Alot more sensible if he does not perform by years end. Well done, you can do it.

Rubbish. You cant rush an achilles rehab especially after a bad tear. I think the player will be cautious too. Robbo would realise that if he reinjures his achilles ...its the end for him.

It does not address the lack of simple football nous that plagues his game. He did a full pre season last year and at best last year he was solid with a couple of dips in performance Why? What has he done so far? Beyond the hoopla of expectation. So why laud it then? When you have a first round draft pick regardless of the vintage, it reasonable to expect that you have secured an above average footballer. I can understand people's frustration but it is not justification for his condemnation. And the list of 2003 condemns all bar Cooney, McLean and one or two others as very ordinary... on par with Colin. It does not make him any better as a footballer because of it. Given our forward line I would be more than happy for Colin to make his mark there. Disagree. I believe Col is committed and does work hard. Aside from his stuff up last year involving a relationship break out when has his partying affected his play. Brilliant. Just how many clubs will line up to get an ordinary footballer with a history of OP. Unless he plays some sustained good football, then he will be worth a season's end what he's worth now.....nothing. If he cant crack a game at MFC then he aint going to encourage Clubs to trade for him. If Colin justifies his place. He plays. Given our 3rd world midfield, if he is actually good he should be able to establish a spot there.

I dont know why you have gone to the bother of listing all those players. You are on record as saying Sylvia is one of the best on our list period but then you have become the apologist in every case for why he has not delivered. He had done nothing to date some of that is due to the restraint of OP, some of it is due to issues not connected to OP. As a consequence until he delivers as player who deserves to be lauded, he is then just a player regardless of his draft pick. And before you get high on the fantasy, talent that a player could become is fools gold if that player never delivers on it. The ironic thing is that the Col dreamers celebrate talent which has never appeared but must be there because he was draft at No 3. He has a great opportunity this year to play the midfield if he is good enough. And if he isnt no doubt you will be able to blame the drought and the global financial crisis for suppressing Col's talent Neither Rivers nor Sylvia were thrown into the deep end. Rivers had his first game toward the end of his first season. He then played AFL regularly in his second year in 2004. Nothing unusual about that and his occurrence of OP had nothing to do with his conditioning program for AFL. Sylvia was struck with OP in his draft year. He has been on a modified program ever since he has been at MFC up to 2007. I understand he did do a full pre season and full training in 2008. His lack of footy smarts has nothing to do with his OP.

I think your missing the point by a fair margin. Neither Pakistan or India can guarantee nor provide any reliable basis of security to the cricketers from terrorists who have both the intent, the record and the infrastructure to access major targets and the weaponry in those countries. This is not the case with England Unfortunately the issues of Pakistan are very much intertwined with India. The outcomes are the same and that is the issue.

I am not sure what to make of the Ology assessment but if Robbo is starting to participate fully in all training drills then I dont think its a goer to put him on the LTI. So there is a dilemna here. I wouldn't bother with Meesen. He give us nothing in the middle and even less around the ground. We may pinch hit Martin round 1 in the ruck with PJ.

Even if that is true. He is still not training 100% ATM and has missed a whole pre season. He has little or no chance of playing Rd 1. And will probably need a couple of weeks at the Scorpions before he is considered for MFC....thats if his achilles holds out.

Jamar will struggle to be ready for Rd 1 and is not in for PS 3. Its just another injury for Whelan. As another poster has said that recurring calf injuries for 30yo players is bad karma and Wheels may struggle to get on the field consistently in what will be his final year IMO.

At 30 with a bad snap of your achilles in about Round 14 last year, he will take near 12 months to recover if at all. He is hardly training at the moment. I think MFC will announce Robbo on the LTI just before Rd 1, elevate and select Spencer for the NM game. There is no rush for MFC to do it right now.

Why is it looking probable? He has done nothing but disappoint. Spencer may be a rookie but has it all over Meesen. Cant they put Robbo on the LTI in the interim and bring Spencer onto the list? He may be raw but in my mind Spencer is our No 1 ruckman. Having Meesen in the ruck is akin to saying to the opposition "Here you start with the ball" everytime.

You overdo characteristics 1 and 3 but it is a central question for any potential sponsor. Whats actually in it for us? Too many posters, with a red and blue perspective and benefit have touted companies that would not go a bulls roar near sponsoring MFC. Its a very hard brand to align with for a corporate. And its not surprising in the current global financial cyclone (pollie speak) that its turned out the way it has. Its still disappointing nevertheless.

I think you are spot on the money Graz. It sort of kills 20/20 tournaments in India too.

We should be thankful if he gets through it OK.

Thought about that one myself. It was a poor miss for an experienced player.

The second article negates the first article. Before we troll through history aside from India and Australia who else has played at Durban since 2002 2002 - Pakistan - Saqlain (4 wickets in one innings bowl) - SA no spinner 2003 - WI - no spinner - SA - no spinner 2004 - England - Giles ( no wicket) - SA Boje (= no spinner <_< ) (3 wickets) 2006 -Aust - Warne ( 8 wickets) - SA Boje (1 wicket in one innings) 2007 - India - Kumble (4 wickets) - SA - No spinner 2008 - WI - No Spinner - SA - No Spinner Effectively neither the WI or SA have had a competent spinner to select in that period. Giles falls into the same very ordinary bucket. Both successful bowlers quoted in the article were wrist spinners. McGain is a wrist spinner. There is nothing to suggest that Durban is a spinners graveyard. Up until the injury scare the maintenance of the same team seemed likely. Not so now. Agree no certainties on McGain.

I have not said that at all. I just dont think they would do what we seem a completely illogical deal. And if it comes to making assessment of corporate genius I tend to rely on those that can understand a pretty straightforward point of view.

Crikey! Siddle and Hilf I doubt for Durban. That makes Bollinger, Clark , Lee and these two. http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus200...ory/393329.html