titan_uranus

To be fair this thread is so long there's not a lot of incentive to backtrack through it all.

Right. No one on our list can fulfil that role well. Hence we went after Hale. But now that we've missed out on Hale, and assuming we don't end up with someone else from another club, we have to make do with what we've got on our own list. And assuming that going after Hale means that the FD wants someone to play FF/second ruck, it has to be either PJ or Martin. Don't you agree? The point of that comment was to say that neither is that good in the ruck. Comparing the two is like comparing Isaac Weetra with Jace Bode. Sure, one of them is going to be classed 'better', but neither are actually 'good'. Or 'passable'. In other words, the dilemma still remains.

PJ can perform that role, just not very well. Now that we're not going to get Hale, we have to have someone who can perform that role (ruck/forward), so it's gotta be PJ (or I guess Stefan Martin could but his ruckwork is worse than PJ's).

I think he does too. But it was clear that Hauritz was not going to bowl us to victory, and he was leaking runs, so taking him off was always going to happen. If we play Paine and Haddin together it's Haddin who plays as a batsman. In fact I reckon if he ditched the keeping and focused solely on batting that wouldn't be a terrible idea.

We're not getting Hale I don't think. So I would think that logically means we'll be keeping Johnson. Edit: This doesn't exactly please me, but I think that's what will happen.

Seems over now. We lose again. But this time it's not a player of much skill, just a role player who would have done a job, albeit an important one. Now we have to look at our options. PJ is a hack, we all know it, but I suspect he's going to get a one year contract to do what Hale was supposed to do in 2011. Spencer I think will be delisted, and at some point in 2011 we're going to have to play Fitzpatrick and/or Gawn to progress our ruckstocks.

What a load of crock. St Kilda don't need Warnock, they need Geary's pace. And why would they play Eddy in both Grand Finals then trade him? And why would we want either player and give up a player we've said is required?

Jared Brennan and Josh Fraser to be announced as the last two senior players to be taken. Fraser as Collingwood's uncontracted player, Brennan in a trade. Team's coming along OK now. Bock and Brown for defensive roles, Ablett, Rischitelli and D. Swallow in the midfield with Josh Fraser and that kid Smith as the rucks, Brennan can play forward, Krakouer and Harbrow give run off half back and Karmichael Hunt to stand there and attract attention. Throw in some high quality draft picks and they'll be OK in 2011.

Because I haven't seen any footage I can't comment on field placings but Ponting's never been the best at setting fields IMO. At one point on Day 5 Tendulkar prodded a short ball to short leg, which Ponting responded to by putting second slip in that position. Next ball Laxman edged through second slip. As for the bowlers, we had Watson and North going together at the end because Bollinger was off injured and Ponting wanted to keep Johnson and Hilfenhaus for one last assault. Which almost worked, with Hilfenhaus getting Sharma and Johnson almost getting Ohja. Too true. Hussey, Gambhir, Sharma and Ohja all got the wrong decision. All would have been reversed with technology. Should be funded by the ICC and made available for every single Test. Everywhere.

Sylvia, Jurrah, Grimes, Jamar, Davey, Frawley

Very old news buddy. New news though that he is a part time development coach now.

Me too. Furthermore McNamara can play forward or back (or at least has been afforded the opportunity at Casey). He looked OK for an 18/19 year old last year when he got those three games, he is a long kick too. I see massive potential in him.

There hasn't been a change for Daylight Savings. Or is that me?

I'd say so. I wonder if we got him over the line by offering him a change of role, or at least a move away from tagging? PS: Did you watch Survivor last night? That NaOnka chick is ridiculously annoying.

Fantastic match. Over 400 for both first innings, with a century and numerous fluent half centuries, then under 220 for both second innings with plenty of wickets falling. This match proves how Test cricket is totally a better form of the game than ODIs or T20s. A great showcase, and pity there's only one more match in the series. Having said that, it exposed more of our flaws. Our middle order is weak and should have been changed for this series in preparation for the Ashes. North is crap and has to go. Everyone except, supposedly, the selectors can see this. He is horribly wrong for our middle order, and only scores runs when the pressure's off and he enters with plenty on the board already. At number 6 you either need a stable rock who can steady the ship regardless of the situation or someone who can provide a counter attack. North is neither of these, and should not be retained based on some flimsy off spin that picks up the occasional helpful wicket. Hussey is struggling too, with only two centuries in the last two years, one of which is arguably tainted given it came in the Sydney Test vs Pakistan where he was dropped three times in now dubious circumstances. His career is coming to an end. The other big flaw is our spin bowling. Hauritz should have helped bowl us to victory yesterday, as he should have done in Cardiff last year. The ball was turning and bouncing, there was rough, there were footmarks, the pitch was breaking up, yet he couldn't maintain a decent line nor length and leaked far too many runs. Ponting needed him, especially when Bollinger got injured, but he couldn't rely on him. He just isn't good enough, and we need to find a replacement. IMO it should be Steven Smith. He could bat at 7 or 8 if we swap North for a batsman, or he could bat at 6 and we could play an extra bowler, or someone like Andrew McDonald. Our pace bowlers are undeniably good at their best, and at times in that test we saw them all reach their best, but none of them are consistent enough. Too many legside half volleys for my liking. VVS Laxman is a star. Tendulkar aside, the rest of the Indian batting line up struggle massively in the fourth innings, Sehwag especially (average of 50+ overall but only 28 in fourth innings). I felt he was, with SRT, the key wicket, and I wasn't surprised at all to see him overcome his back injury to defy us, given he made an unbeaten century in Sri Lanka a few months ago to do the same thing there.

With the new interchange rules Spencer has a snowball's chance in hell of being promoted IMO. Even as a number 1 ruck in the event Jamar goes down I'm not sure I would play him as he would then have to play forward for 25-40% of the game. I do realise, however, that if we get Hale, for example, and get rid of Spencer and PJ (which would have to happen to keep McNamara, which I want), our rucks would be Jamar, Hale and then Martin and Gawn, which is clearly a thin list, but to me I'd prefer McNamara on the list than Spencer.

We're going to get Hale. I don't know that, but that's how it looks to me. Hawthorn are expressing interest in anyone that potential fills a gap in their list. That's how they've approached trade week for the last few years. Sounds like we're the club who approached him in July. If that's so then I can't imagine us not getting him by the end of the week. PS: The propsed deal is not the massive loss to us that most believe. We need a player like Hale, there isn't a lot of difference between 12 and 17, and this may not be the only trade we do this week which leaves open the possibility of other picks coming in.

Exactly my reaction. That is way, way over the price and if it wasn't for Sherman wanting to play for the Dogs Brisbane would be laughing.

Geelong 2007. Didn't play finals 2006 (partly courtesy of us).

Don't like his attitude nor his tendency to go missing. No thanks.

That's what I'm inclined to think. Doesn't necessarily mean he won't go in the end, but the club hasn't had any indication that this will be the case.

What a comeback! 4/48 chasing 216! Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid and Raina all out. We're a chance! And yes, North has to go. Hussey shouldn't be too far behind him. Our middle order is a joke. If Michael Clarke doesn't score, we collapse. We can't rely on Watson and Katich to produce the bulk of our runs, or Paine, Johnson and Hauritz to bail us out late. We need a stable middle order, and North is as far from stable as can be.

It's how it's going to be for all 17 clubs now. A genuine ruckman, and a second ruck who's not as good but who's good enough, but more importantly who can hold down another spot. Most of them will be forwards. Where else can a ruckman play? Robbie Campbell used to play defence, but you wouldn't really want your FB or CHB to be regularly leaving his position to ruck.

Yep, it's now 3 interchange and 1 substitute. Wonder how this will affect us, we seem to be a high rotation side. The days of the giraffe second ruckman are probably now ever deader than they were before. Doesn't bode well for a player like Jake Spencer.

The keys there, clearly, are Grimes and Blease. Out of GWS's reach now. Nice to know Moloney, Jones and Bartram, three gutsy, strong players, are on board too.