Rhino Richards

Harris takes wickets and actually turns the ball. Can bat a bit too. I am starting to warm to Harris. Made a few Australian batsman look like beach cricketers.

The series has been decided because South Africa are streets ahead of Australia in this series in all facets. You would need about 15 bad decisions in Australia's favour to even it. We at risk of losing the series 3-0. If he is not fit to bowl then he would not have been selected as an all rounder. From comments on ABC cricket he was selected to bat six only. He was not required much against NZ. And the skipper bowled Krejza to force a result in Perth. And you are right the captain can only direct the cattle he has on the park and he did not bowl Symonds and therefore I cant see how Symonds has necessarily failed with the ball.

At this point in time Meesen has been a dud even if we had rookied him. Clearly there was enough track record of him in SA after being pick 8 that could have raised and indicated question marks about him. In addition, giving him a three year deal on a speculative selection is most disturbing. There is nothing wrong with MFC leaving no stone unturned so long as it does not shoot itself in the foot with silly deals for bog ordinary players that dont address the issue. I am not sure at this point in time why there is any rapture or back slapping over PJ. Clearly ranked as 2nd ruck behind a spud like Jamar that cant ruck does not tick the boxes of success in my book. He has many of the secondary nice to have skills for a big man just too few of the must haves.

Absolutely. The sooner these regrettable human errors are erased from the game the better. I cant wait till a Test Match/ Series is "decided" by a dubious disasterous decision.

Isn't up to the Captain to bowl him? You can only take wickets if you are given the ball to bowl? Just dealing in the facts....... 17 wickets in India 14 wickets against NZ. 12 wickets so far against SA BTW, I reckon Siddle has the making of a good fast bowler.

I was thinking the 80's against NZ. I think if Symonds fails today then Sydney might be his last Test.....if he get another one.

SK - 8/10 (6) since india (batted well but yet to make a big score) . Agree MH - 1/10 (8) since india, unlikely to see sydney.Agree RP - 5/10 (10) struggled since india. Just made a ton in the first innings but has struggled otherwise. Captaincy has been suspect. MC - 6/10 (8) given his wicket away too often since india, showed a bit on the 1st day MCG. Scores over the past twelve months would suggest he has performed credibly. AS - 2/10 (7) as above, no impact with ball. Agree but a harsh rating number. Has not bowled that much so unlikely to have impact MH - 2/10 (9) out of sorts. If AS is a 2 then Hussey hardly gets a 1! BH - 7/10 (5) serviceable. Once finding his feet he has been outstanding with bat and gloves. If he continues this form he could almost cover Gilly. BL - 1/10 (8) has struggled, maybe injured since before india? He is accountable for his performances. At 33 and injured, I think it might be over for him MJ - 6/10 (6) one great spell and has not had the impact outside of this. Leading wicket taker in India, leading wicket taker against NZ, Leading wicket taker against SA..... NH - 3/10 (4) taken a few but no real impact. Limited to containment and wont tear through batting line ups. PS - 3/10 (4) no impact in perth but better in melbourne. Third test at 24 and he has broken through. Good future.

Absolutely agree. The fifth day in Perth may have been the shot across the bow, yesterday was the direct hit. I think there are issues running from top to bottom from selectors, captaincy and players. Twelve months ago there was some hope that the post Warne - McGrath- Langer -Gilly era could be managed successfully. Hayden, Ponting, Hussey lead the batting and Symonds was there to monster the advantage. Lee backed by Clarke bolstered the attack. Its unravelled quickly and for some sportsman quicker than they or their fans imagined. In regard to a couple of players: Hayden - he either makes a big score today (a big 100) and retires at Sydney or is finished after this test. Hughes/Klinger may get a look in for the Sydney test. Lee- Stress fractures in the foot are not good and not easy to overcome. Either way he is out of the Test side. Injury makes it less severe than being dropped. I think it might be the end for Lee. Bring in the bowler the selectors believes will ultimately do well in the Ashes. Either Bollinger or Hilfenhaus. We need to get Stuart Clark back fit as soon as possible. Symonds - Completely agree with Graz. Needed to make an impact with the bat. Gets the start then throws it away. Needs a big innings today or its over. His injury does not help either. Watson does not excite as his bowling and batting is wooden and his fitness is a real concern. Hussey - Will probably get a Test in Sydney because they will already be changing two positions already. However, if he fails in Sydney I would select him for the SA tour. Full marks to the efforts of Haddin, Clarke, Johnson, Katich and Siddle for stepping up under pressure. Hauritz will keep it tight but will never run through a side on the last day unless the planets line up. Ponting is coming up to 5 years as Australian captain and I think that time is as long as anyone would want in the hot seat. Selectors should be seeking to groom a transition to Clarke within the next six to 12 months. FWIW, since McGrath Warne retired captaincy became a far far harder job. If ever a young player wanted an opportunity to wear a baggy green cap, then now is the time to show some form.

Carroll was paid as a consequence of a series of off field issues which allegedly contravened the terms of his contract. Newton and Meesen are in a different position. Its not a matter of just paying out players who have been given excessly long contracts because you dont want them. The AFL and MCC have both kicked in $1million this year and would not be happy with costly contract management issues.

I agree but the lack of forward options at MFC possibly gave him a life line. This year is critical for him if he is serious about AFL.

It is indeed a disappointment that a Rd 1 pick does not become more than a tagger. Its better than not becoming an AFL footballer at all (eg some of the Class of 2003). I would hardly class Dunn as a tall like I would rate a ruckman. He should be showing more for MFC. 2009 is the year he has to stand up. The same goes for Bate as well.

Agree with that. Its a pity that Wisbey has been subjected to unreasonable and unfair pillaging on various forums for his view. My understanding is that Wisbey does much of his work unpaid and out of interest and he does do the hard yards in seeing young players play and is prepared to document in detail his findings. Bollocks. Morton played 22 games as an 18yo in one of the worst midfields imaginable last year. He was one of the bright lights. Very premature to assess him now and the criticism of his kicking is overdone and out of context.

Dunn's run in the midfield in a tagging/ checking role was as much to instill the required vigour in him for the contested ball and to be accountable for defensive pressure. It also allowed him to develop the capacity to win more of his ball. At the moment, Dunn is at the cross roads at establishing himself as an AFL football. He has yet to show that he can make a role his own at AFL level. He may be a forward flank option or may be continued in the midfield. Whichever way he needs to really grab the opportunity this year with both hands. Bulking up on bench presses can not hide his shortcomings elsewhere.

If a player cannot break into a bottom dwelling side or has chronic injuries then age is irrelevant. They are worthless on the trade table. I think you are arguing a given there. I dont think any Club would think otherwise Have you looked closely at what has happened at the trade table over recent years? Can you work out why Hamish McIntosh and Ryan O'Keeffe could not secure new clubs through trading. Trading has always been vastly overrated and this year (without the hoopla of a Judd one off), trading was shown to be a dry well. Given you recognise that MFC is down with a young list that has potential, it is unlikely we will have either tradeable surplus or marketable players to go to the trade table with that would extract worthwhile draft picks. Rubbish. Its the only way of getting rid of dead wood at the bottom of your list. Should we have kept Weetra and Neville???? Given where our list is, Rivers fit and in form and Petterd playing to his potential are important to MFC and definite keeps. If either are not, why would any other Club bother stumping up any pick with value for either. Neither Rivers or Petterd are likely to garner draft picks that reflect a value to MFC that is going to be greater than keeping them.

Possibly. The trade potential for players that cant cut it in bottom dwelling clubs like MFC or cannot get on the field consistently due to sustained fitness concerns is zero. The introduction of GC wont change a thing. They wont buy crud. No kidding!!! Do you think the Club realises this?

Agree. Perhaps that is the case. Referring to them as BS artists is a cheap shot and abusive and is not a part of doing any valid comparision. Nice try. But it was not. My comments were in line with the the Club's assessment and treatment of the player. Rather than borrow the quote apply it to yourself and see where it sticks when you refer to a previous Club President as a BS artist. You're being melodramatic now dear. I said he struggled as a footballer in 2008 and thought he was finished as a footballer. Had it not been for the fact MFC are bereft of experience and midfield grunt he has got another year. I think he will struggle..earnestly..this year. But he is not a BS artist. Go and have a lie down it must have taken alot out of you.

And its achieving a great purpose too. Well done. The Club is proud of your petty vindictiveness. No one is praising the previous administration, but most supporters show the nous and maturity to move on and not undertake childish and divisive vendettas.

I doubt it. The Cousins saga is the biggest AFL media story since Carey. You are jumping at shadows.

Anything thing involving an AFL player is newsworthy. Renouf's behaviour was far worse than the McLean incident. Renouf's involved the wilful and reckless damage to private property. He deserves to be publicly humiliated and made an example of to not only teach him a fundamental and necessary lesson but also hopefully to show to other teenagers/ young people that stupid behaviour like that is criminal behaviour.

Its a pity supporters who acknowledge Jim Stynes for such honesty and recognition of people's service dont have the good grace and common sense to take a leaf from his book and do likewise.

Green and his manager actually looked for a trade to another Club this year. No Club came up with a contract. - Why? Little interest and no trade value Your crystal ball seemed to miss a few facts in respect of the disposition of the players it listed. What do you think the Club has done over the past 2 years? We moved on a swag of ND's depth players, retired off Neitz, White and Yze. Got rid of cultural misfits like TJ and Carroll. That almost half the list in 2 years. Hardly any surprises to the players. The messages of the past two years should be well known to each of them.

Given their really is on concrete trading platform anymore, Petterd and Rivers are more valuable to MFC. However, Rivers injury history and lack of football over the past two years would destroy his market value in a better trading environment. Petterd needs to perform this season to back up the hype over his potential notwithstanding his residual issues over his collapsed lung.

But thank God, Nathan Carroll is no longer one of ours!!!

MFC's current business model is not financially viable and will not provide for a commercial sustainable future no matter where we finish in 2009 and 2010. All AFL Clubs are dependent on AFL assistance. MFC is more dependent than most as it does not have other forms of revenue to replace and supplement the AFL contributions As a consequence we have neither the consistent revenue stream to reduce debt and service the accompanying interest bill. I hope that Schwab and co are looking at a significant overhaul of MFC's business model as the current business model will be less sustainable in 5 to 10 years than it is now.

I would have thought this year showed that the trade table is an extremely limited outlet with few options to rely on. Only Meesen would compete against Spencer. I dont see the logic of losing a midfielder and taking up a ruckman. Besides as said Fan said Bell, Newton and Meesen are contracted in 2010. The issue with Spencer is if whether we keep Jamar and PJ at the end of 2009.