Rhino Richards

??? Not at all. When Lee is not bowling well he looks all the more lame on good batting strips. He loses his outswing and is not bowling at 140kmh he becomes fodder (eg India 2008, Adelaide 2008, Aust vs India 200 He is a wonderfully athletic bowler but has never struck me as overly clever bowler particular in good batting conditions. At 32, he really needs to have developed more ways to remove a batsman. I understand he has been through alot on the field (cricket, illness) and off the field. It may be appropriate to rest him at some stage if the view is that they want at least experienced bowler for the Ashes tour.

2 cents well spent there.

Is Riewoldt a power forward or a more athletic type forward that just runs hard and burns sides with his run. There is not doubt he is a KPP and is fearless. He just does not seem to be in the same box as a Brown or Tredrea.

Agree and that is the whole point. Chill. You need to get out more?

Brett Lee wont see out the SA series the way he is going. He is running out of chances and flat decks just make him look even more insipid.

Me neither. But it is welcome indeed.

You complain about using an exception and a bad example and then you pull an exceptional case of Mark Coughlan to discredit that an ACL is more standardised injury than OP. Nice one there. Sylvia, Moloney and Luke Ball have all had significant inflictions over a number of years from OP. Like I said there is not a standardised way of treating it and it often requires trying a number of possible treatments to find an appropriate rehabitiation program. The whole treatment of OP has gone through a revolution with the increased occurrence of the infliction and the clinical experience had from dealing with it. I was made aware during the past season he was still getting over it. I was also aware of the abdominal issue. If he is now over the OP then well and good. The real proof will be when he can move freely on the ground.

Agree and a good summation of where things are at.

I am cautious with injury reports from all AFL clubs including. Over the past two years Rivers has had any number of references to his injuries as being hip, thigh, abdominal etc without referring to where his problems have been. There is no clear decisive one size fits all solutions to OP. Its great Hodge and Judd are over it. However it is only now that Sylvia is apparently not on a modified training program. How long has he been inflicted and restricted? 5 years? Unlike an ACL injury where there is a formalised path to full recovery, each OP case is different. One persons recovery and rehabilitation is not the same as anothers. Its great Rivers is doing the weights etc but there is no clear certainty that he will be fit and not on any modified program because of this terrible infliction in 2009. I hope he does come back fit because this is a debilitating condition. And it is naive to assume that he should not be carrying any recurring injuries. There are no certainties in these situations. FWIW, I understand an ex MFC footballer in his mid 30s with a known OP condition when he played is apparently "over" his OP. However I further understand that he cannot get on a treadmill at any speed and is restricted to limited and very restricted forms exercise from the residual impact of his OP condition. Glad he has recovered.

Good post Jack. I dont want this to become a CJ thread. Had too many of those already. However if you take Judd, Fev, Kruzer, Gibbs, Murphy, Stevens out of their list the rest look rather pedestrian and CJ may have been convinced that he would have chance there. If Carlton are going to make the finals in 2009, they need their leading lights (Judd and Fev) to have big years, the young No 1s (Gibbs, Murphy and Kruzer) to step and Warnock to earn his expensive keep and the rest to play solid supporting roles. I guess CJ sees himself filling one of those supporting roles. I reckon he'll be watching on from the side lines most of the time. I am glad DB and co were forthright and honest in the communication of the Club's position on the topical issues of the day. Its worthy to keep members and supporters in the loop. Thanks again for the updates.

Thanks for the informative and interesting reports from all who were there. Very useful.

Rivers won a Rising Star in his first year in 2004. However over the past few years of football, there is a greater emphasis on pace and mobility around the whole ground not just the midfield. And despite having good judgement he is not fleet of foot nor with the body sized to play one on one on the bigger players. I think the logic for a new recruit is the same as it is for Rivers. They play the same game. And with the demanding nature of AFL and the increased speed at which it is played, footballers cannot afford to miss any football let alone 2 years on the sidelines. In River's case there is no certainty that he will be back given his OP problems.

Agree. Rivers lack of body size and pace does limit the type of forwards he can reasonably play notwithstanding that he does exercise pretty good judgement. It still wont overcome the other two. He would want to play fit this year. Otherwise its his 3rd year out injured and that is too long in AFL. I am even thinking 2 years is a stretch to miss so much football.

Ray was flicked because he is an ordinary fringe player. An ineffectual outside player who was surplus to the Dogs. Another of the exalted class of 2003! No real loss there and only worth a 3rd round pick in trade week. As a player, West falls into the category of senior players who dont know when their time is up whether it be age, form or injury or a combination of all. For some facing the writing on the wall and then the transition from player to ex player can be harder than for others. West leaving the kennel is about broadening your AFL experience as a Coach. Good on him for doing it. Otherwise you end up as an ex Sheedy nuff nuff like Mark Harvey.

Sidebottom has done his back. http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/england/co...ory/378762.html In regard to spinners, isnt it a case of Ol' Mother Hubbard? I note Bryce McGain is making the long road back. I guess anyone who bowls off breaks is a chance of selection. Funky Miller anyone?

Who was in the top quality midfield? When Rock had arrived in 2005, our No 1 midfielder Scott Thompson left for Adelaide. Thonpson had a top 2004 season til injured and Ratten had the benefit of the only class midfielder we had plus an AA ruckman in Jeff White whos contribution waned in years after that. How easy is it for a midfield coach to look good. Our boom recruits in 2003 draft McLean and Sylvia were in there 2nd seasons with Sylvia having OP and McLean have a number of niggles. Moloney who was promising in 2005 broke down with OP in 2006. We had no real hard contested midfielders beside the honest Junior and we had talented but lazy and underperforming TJ. If anything we were a very ordinary midfield during that time. Your post is proof that unless you are close to the footy dept activities that the average supporter does not have a clue about the relative performance of assistance coaches. And flaky revisionism of history does not cover it.

Both Rock and Williams stayed at MFC for 2 years each.

No just being honest. No side is going to go for Cousins on a whim. They will need to do at least the same amount of due diligence that the other clubs did including sounding out the position of their sponsors. There is a lot of ground work to do. I am not sure why people are suddenly turning in favour of MFC going for Cousins. Yeah I know we wont. But nothing has changed and as pointed out by Caro Wilson there is reason to question some of Cousins recent behaviour. And further I did not see Neitz, Yze and White provide any useful experience or real leadership. The players could not have been more smashed by the opposition if they tried. And Carroll a loss of experience??

The sponsors of NM, Brisbane and St Kilda have all express strong protests about being associated with Ben Cousins. Given we are battling to get a sponsor in these difficult times we will make the job even harder. There are two issues about Cousins. Can he return to being a capable AFL footballer if not a star after nearly 2 years absence? Will he stay clean and free from any associated misdemeanours? From his actions over the couple of months he has provided potential suitors with good reason to question where he is at. The worst case is he does not perform, is not clean and MFC looks like brainless and reckless gits for recruiting a player with substantial known risks that the other 15 clubs were seemingly able to steer clear of. We would be a laughing stock. Hardly a public endorsement for an Administration trying to convince the AFL that it is a responsible competent outfit while going cap in hand for $2 million. You might want to read Caro Wilson article....... http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2008/...7491548054.html

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...7-19742,00.html

Absolutely. Given we are seeking significant AFL funding for now and will be in the future we need to work with the AFL in situations like this Great And they would never link it back to MFC. Brilliant.

England have two potential match winners in Petersen and Flintoff. It rests with them as I dont think there is much else in the English side ATM. I am not sure if its a case of England being favorite. More like the gap between the two sides at the end of the last series being reduced. The SA series will be important to determine the composition of the Australian team. The lead up will be fascinating watch. I just hope the 2009 series is nearly as good as 2005 series. It may be asking too much to get one better. Prefer to win the Ashes.

You are right. Debt proceeds go through the Profit and Loss. Whether we disclose a profit or loss will depend upon the size of debt demolition proceeds and the operating loss for the year. Either way the Press release should be issued in Siberia on New Years Eve. If we make (a small) profit, it will derided as a stunt due to passing around the hat and the Club will be accused of misleading supporters! If we make a loss, its another excuse for the media to kick us and for whinging posters to say "When then arent we hopeless!" :angry: No press release thanks. Rule it off and lets move forward.

Great article and shows how unforgving footy can be whether you are drafted No 9 or 99. However, Craig Cameron admitted he erred selecting Molan at 9, luck or no luck. Indeed MFC's list still bears the scars of drafting poorly in 2001 with Molan, Rogers and Armstrong. Lets hope MFC never stuff it up like that again.

I dont think it is a choice. Given our forward line small options and given the culture we are trying to build I cant see a lazy selfish front running forward who has burnt his bridges at two clubs getting a gig here. Given we are trying to build our midfield I dont see the use in a 1 yr contract on such a receiver being in MFC's interest.