grazman

Interesting. I voted for Josh Kennedy on the 'big fish' thread - this is more a pipe dream than reality though. Look at his game against Freo and tell me he's not worth two first round picks. 28 or not the guy is one of the best going around; whether, its 3,4,5 or 6 years he has left in him - he is elite. Big bodied, good in the air, kicks goals and a clearance machine - I just can't see the Swans wanting to trade him regardless of the talent coming through.

Thanks for sharing GD. Sydney is interesting, they tend to get who they want and their first target is Luey - but they're restricted to 450K so it will make it hard for them, but maybe not impossible given their continued run of finals and the lifestyle on offer up there.

1 more year to run on his contract, may pay him out, may just wait until next year - particularly in a shallow draft. Ditto for M Jones.

Agree, our bowling stocks are well served, but it's always easier to bring in bowlers taking wickets than batsmen making runs. There are enough good quicks and spinning options on the sideline to offer support, but the batting... Byrnes and Ferguson are probably the two most likely based on last years form and age, - Neither Klinger or Cowan fill me with confidence. I just can't believe we are getting pantsed by an English attack that includes, Ali, Finn and Wood (These guys would have been smashed all over the park by any Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh or even Ricky Ponting led sides). Our batting has been deplorable. Healy hinted that the WAGs were a distraction (which I interpret to mean the sort of reality TV faux drama that only serves to divide the dressing room by their other halves having to take sides n their bitching about each other).

Interesting comments from Ed Cowan this morning who stated that Cricket Australia had ordered that flat pitches were to be prepared for Sheffield Shield. This allows players with technical deficiencies to look better than they are, but means that we get exposed on pitches where the ball actually starts to do a bit. Been like this for the last ten years. Once Clarke goes there's only two locks in the top six for mine.

Perhaps in the eyes of many supporters, but it's hard to know exactly what other clubs see in players sometimes. I think he has some trade value, but not much more than as a like for like swap or later draft pick (mid to late 30s maybe).

An interesting selection dilemma, I have no great confidence that despite his form Shaun Marsh will make runs at Trent Bridge, but the only viable alternatives are Voges or Watson, so he has to come in. You wouldn't change the top 3, but I agree that Clarke dropping down to five might be what he needs. I would drop Starc. Hazlewood looked a lot more comfortable and bowled a better line to a more defensive field setting. I think bowling to four slips put a lot of pressure on him to do something with the ball when all he needed to do was bowl line and length - which is what Siddle does very well. The English lineup looks a lot better with Bell finding form at 3, so Clarke should take some heart from that. I really like Cummings, but Australia needs to get the basics right if its to level the series. Lyon is bowling well and Johnson is the X factor, but we need two other line and length bowlers nibbling away at off stump to build pressure. Starc won the world cup for us, but just isn't the same bowler with the red ball, if we could guarantee our top order fire, he stays in, but otherwise he just bleeds too many runs for the occasional unplayable delivery.

If this isn't Clarke's last test series - it's more than likely his second last. I've never been a rap for the man personally, but as a batsman he's all class. He genuinely looked like he lost sight of the ball in the background of the windows on a murky day... he's not in great form but until the last test series he's pretty much been the most consistent and prolific scorer. There is no one who can replace him atm so - serious questions or not he won't be replaced and I'm betting the selectors will back him to the hilt to fight his way through it. There's been no mention of dropping Warner who is also having trouble watching the ball (and once he's in throws his wicket away recklessly). In general there's a dirth of good middle order talent atm in Australian cricket (which is why Voges is playing) - our strength is our bowling, but sometimes we need to reinforce to both our batsmen and bowlers that this is test cricket and its a test of patience as much as skill. We tried to push things too fast on day one. The other big plus for Clark is he's a fantastic captain. My biggest criticism of Punter as a captain was that he just left the game to drift whereas Clark is always doing something. We're lucky that the heir apparent is in a rich vein of form and cut from the same cloth.

Yes the article wasn't exactly clear about a few details. It appears there are certain safeguards for clubs trading away all their next years early picks - but isn't clear on whether a club can trade both its first round picks in the same trade period. It certainly introduces a further dimension of risk into the trade - but chance favours the prepared and I feel my confidence in our recruiting team now is a lot more justified than it has been in the past.

Just in case you missed it.... clubs now free to trade future draft picks. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-commission-trading-future-draft-picks-20150728-gimgzk.html Interesting to see how clubs may assess what that future pick may actually be worth. Might also help if the club doesn't want to offer up two early picks in the same draft.

I hadn't seen that before - and maybe they did prioritise him, certainly there's not much to separate Shiel and Treloar in terms of performance. Whether a player is elite or not is subjective.

Agree, Treloar has given no indication that he's not happy at GWS, but clearly he's going to get more money from a Victorian club and GWS's priorities were to resign Shiel, Congilio and Hoskin-Elliott and offer something up to get their two academy players so you do wonder whether the sort of money/terms that's been touted is slightly above the odds. He's had a very good year at the Giants though, very consistent, but like Chaser has pointed out its his defensive running and probably lack of X factor means he'll be a very good midfielder, but probably not elite. You can't trade for everyone so you have to prioritise. We need another contested ball winner and speedy, goal kicking outside midfielder with X factor. So looking at whose available according to the rumour mill, I'd be chasing Prestia ahead of Treloar and gunning for Motlop as well.

How much better does our side look without Watson? Marsh is a better bowling option and a more imposing batsman. (Watson LBW is just so predictable). It looks like they might try another slow/low deck for Edgbaston according to SKW and so may bring in a wrist spinner for Ali who is in the side more to stiffen up the tail than as a genuine spinning option. Once again winning the toss might decide the outcome of the match. Good to see Johnson in the wickets though - England are obviously very worried about his pace.

Unless of course he was talking about targeting 2016 FAs a la Dangerfield last year.

With the top end of the draft being loaded with talls and their need to replace Dixon, I'll take a wild stab in the dark and say our first pick. - although they would also need to replace Dion and Bennell who will be moved on as well. We'd need to throw in some loose change as well. I wonder what Rocket's opinion of Dawes was when he was at the pies?

Until about five weeks ago I would have agreed with most of that, but I can now see what Roos sees in Watts. There was never any doubt as to his footy 'smarts' and he has a Mark Waugh laconic style approach to the game, but his lack of intensity was so frustrating. In his last five weeks however, he has been very solid and its worth remembering he has only now played as many games of football as many of this years U18s will have when they get drafted. I now think he can actually reach that mythical potential many of us were envisaging when he was drafted. I'm torn with Col, the key question if he left like Chippa would we get something better in return- and I'm not convinced we would. I think many on here underestimate just how tough Col is - he doesn't shirk an issue and he has an essential component for key defenders - he's quick, not the best reader of the play, but like Tommy Mac he has seriously good wheels when he takes off. It think he deserves another contract unless we were going to get another 1st round pick as compo...highly unlikely. I think most agree that Howe is gone and I'd put both Dawes and Toumpas on the table as well as Grimes (pains me to say it, but such is football). Tommy Mac and Frost have the speed, height and athleticism (Dawes has height - negated by his physical inability to get two feet off the ground at the same time and endurance - but that's it) to play both forward and back (but both need a couple of summers kicking at goal) to give us the flexibility.

Under contract. Even if he does want out (and GC will fight damn hard to keep him) the asking price would be very high. Treloar still obtainable time to up the offer.

I think you're right Nasher, I'm pretty sure he was from the wild and woolly parts of the West Coast.

It did seem a bit odd that the article didn't mention him being Andy's son. Andy played for Glenorchy btw, not sure if he originated from the Huon Valley.

I remember Andy as an 18 y.o. - must have been cutting wood since he was five, because he was an absolute ball of muscle. Hopefully Kieran has inherited his ability and attitude.

Go you good things! Well done the Vics. Obviously a very flat deck, but still a great effort.

Excellent, thanks 45.

Gee McRae and the Bont looked good last night. Along with Wallis and Liber the doggies midfield in two years time is going to be very, very good.

Had a bit of chuckle when Flem and Warnie were commentating the other night and wished the Vics good luck in the shield final being played at their traditional home ground in Hobart. Very funny. Then started talking about bouncer repellent. I like Flem as a commentator he's a very witty bloke. Pity there's no coverage of the shield final at least as there has been in the past. I find Sheffield Shield still one of the most enjoyable forms of the game to watch. Vic's have their work cut out for them though with the Warriors at 4 for 310. Still with rain forecast for all of Monday and showers on Tuesday & Wednesday they would want to bowl well on what looks to be an extremely flat deck. Ahmed might be a sneaky chance for the ashes tour.

A kick arse song from one of the Albums of 2011 (for me anyway) and I love the video because I think it's taking the [censored] out of the entire industry and the obsession with turning music video's into hollywood blockbusters Oh and Macca I agree. Exile on Main St is one of the all time great albums. Let it Bleed, Beggars Banquet Exile On Main Street and Sticky Fingers were a real high water mark for the Stones