45HG

Wonderful, wonderful cricketer and, by all accounts, person. 11 test double centuries!

Lee's average gets blown out by his economy rate. His strike rate was excellent. Never taking more than 5 in an innings says something about the way that he bowled. Certainly not a great of the game and his total wickets taken seems a little misleading. He was certainly a very good bowler who enjoyed a wonderful Australian career. Having him bat at number 9 was pretty handy, too.

How can you put in Agar instead of Ahmed? Apart from being a lesser bowler, there was a fair amount of effort put in to getting Ahmed eligibility and they haven't even played him! Would've thought a turning pitch would've been right up his alley.

An interesting perspective here.

How's that b grade park cricketer of a captain of ours going?

Hughes 13th man was a nice touch IMO

Needs more pick 16 and 50s.

Shocking, heart-breaking news. Just stunned. Feel for all involved, especially his family and Abbott. Very sad.

How's the sizing on Jack's jumper, Clint?

Wow

Surely it's a blight on our international sporting reputation, olympic at least, that the president of our athletics association would defend people from another code from drug charges. Especially these kinds of charges.

Like your post rp, but I thought the flame was for the unknown soldier and link to our military past? Perhaps another nudge to the convoluted nature.

Someone tell me we are splitting the gate against the Tiges. We need wins next year like Winona Ryder needed to play whinge adolescents in the late 90s.

I think that's what the previous posters were getting up - but far be it for me to pre-empt them.

Reasonably confident you can extend the stat to round 2…Though I'm pretty sure our Round 1 2005 win was the Broady match against Essendon. In fact, the past 9 seasons' first 3 games (27 matches) have yielded 2 wins for the Dees.

Depends which way you're facing.

Is that because related to having passports taken and working well below minimum wage?

More interested in our 2015 finals fixture

Because of a little girl in a taco ad? I'd like to think I reasoned more thoroughly than that...

Would rather ANZAC eve against the Tigers. Pies fans simply don't show up the the QB game most years and the crowd isn't that much greater, I believe anyway, than it would be if it were a standard Home and Away match. Added to that is the way we are completely shafted commercially in the rest of the FIXture and it all isn't worth it in my mind. ANZAC eve against the Tigers, split the gate. Rotate QB if it is to stay with Collingwood and split the gate. If we lose it, we lose it. Would rather grab a few home games against Hawthorn, Essendon, Richmond, Carlton than perenial home matches against all 7 interstate sides.

Is if possible that Richmond approached us with an offer for Trengove and Jack, still contracted, jumped at the chance for a fresh start to his career?

I choose to believe that whoever the big fish we were chasing was landed for the 2/12 deal would immediately sustain a career-ending injury rendering us stranded with pick 3 in the draft. Subsequently, I reckon 2 and 3 will be jets and pick 23 will be the best pick 23 since (insert relevant research). To add to this glorious hit of luck, we keep our ex-captain who amazingly returns to full fitness to bolster the ... Midfield? As such we have picks 2, 3, 23 and Trengove instead of having pick 3 and an injured name-player. Wishful thinking?

Would love for nothing more than to see this kid get to the level he seems so clearly destined for before the MFC and injuries intervened. What a bizarre position to be in, especially with the potential trade and rumoured on-trade. Would've been absolutely gutted to see him as a Richmond player but this is so much worse. I hope Jack can get full-fitness and don the red and blue again. He's a sensational bloke but, apart from that, it's just such a shame to see any up and coming kid cut down when they should be hitting their prime. Best of luck, Jack.

I hope, and expect, every Melbourne player and coach to get around Jack today.

Alright people - stay on topic… Whatever topic…that would be...