titan_uranus

Talked a bit about Watts, said we eased him into the season not because he was the number 1 pick, but because he wasn't strong enough (but we already knew that). Went from 82kg to 89kg before he played. Also said that the two most important things to consider when drafting are whether the player can kick, and whether the player can get his own ball. He doesn't want to draft players who have to rely on others to get the footy. He wants to have players who can get their own footy.

Grateful for the opportunity. I'd hate to see the AFL become like the NRL, where players and coaches move clubs mid-season, thereby playing out a year with one club knowing that they'll be somewhere else the next year. There's very, very little wrong with how the system is now.

Cannot and will not debate the phantom drafts of any HUN journalist. Mark Stevens has no idea. I'll wait for Emma Quayle's predictions.

Yes there is. Read DaVe86's stuff and you'll see. He's nothing like OX, or any other Collingwood supporter I know.

This thread should be changed to A Discussion of Free Agency, or something along those lines. Free Agency is a gimmick, and will destroy the fairness and even playing field the AFL has for so long strived for. I for one would hate to see the AFL become the EPL, with 4 teams dominating, and the others at their mercy. Free Agency helps selfish players get where they want to go. The current system allows honest players, who want nothing more than to play AFL football, and who regard it as a privilege, not a right, to continue playing whilst ensuring we don't let the rich clubs prosper. The AFLPA can get stuffed.

I think it evens things out, frankly. Quite a few blunders of late, but the way they've managed to get decent, international-quality players over to India on such short notice, and ensure that the team's stability hasn't fallen apart, deserves credit.

I'd take Blake over Newton. Maybe. I'd also take Blake over Ryan Murphy at Fremantle. So Blake is not the worst player on any list currently. But I'd prefer Meesen.

More like $55. No chance at all. He's not that stupid. It's St Kilda or Melbourne. Most likely St Kilda. That would be DaVe86 I believe. Very balanced and open-minded Collingwood supporter. Writes a good preview whenever we play them.

What an amazing match. 175 to Tendulkar, and India loses. How would you feel? White and McKay leading the charge for Victoria. White's innings was the first typical White innings we've seen in a while. 5 sixes. If we get up and win this series it will highlight the strength and resilience of Australian cricket. Probably 6 or so of our first-choice XI aren't available for selection.

Wouldn't Robbo love that: 'Please Russell, you're so good, we need you to come back and play FF, please?'

What understanding? I don't think either of them are particularly suited to FF. But if I had to pick one, it would be Martin. If he's 'at best' a back up ruckman, why should we waste our time putting him at FF? As Rogue said, his goal kicking is crap. Field kicking is OK, but decision making makes it look worse. Marking is poor. You're right in that we do need to ensure Jurrah doesn't become opposition defences' focal point, but PJ's not the man to help there. After 1 or 2 games, teams will come to realise that PJ is useless as a forward.

Definitely should have got the call up before Henriques, and should play once he's over there. Good fill in for Hopes. Hodge has the ability to come back in and make runs, but I guess the selectors will use this somewhat easier summer to look at new talent. I would just like to see Hodge (and Rogers, for that matter) get some recognition from CA for their continual dominance in the Sheffield Shield. Possibly Hughes back to open and Watson into the middle order.

Michael Clarke's no certainty for the First Test in Brisbane on November 26: http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/...ory/433004.html Possibly an opening for Hodge to replace him in the middle order?

Looks pretty bland to me. Just another scarf.

I thought you were the form team of the AFL at that point? Is this an admission that Collingwood was not the best team? No it's not. You play 4 games per year outside of Melbourne. Essendon in 2010 becomes the first team in my memory to play less than that. We know the reasons why, so I'm not complaining. And it's also true that you do play well interstate. But the fact remains that you only play 4 games per year interstate. The Dogs play 6 or 7. Come on, WYL. It's pretty freakin obvious why they don't go to Geelong. Crowds. Too many supporters would get locked out of a Geelong-Collingwood game at SS. Drop the sour grapes.

No they're not. They're going nowhere and don't deserve to be playing Test cricket. Very true. And sad. Give it up WYL. The idea that every captain should bat first 100% of the time is just out-dated and wrong. As RR said, Waugh could have bowled first on roads and still had a result.

Article in the HUN today says Smith is about to start training with Hawthorn: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawt...f-1225794046327 True, but I don't think it would hurt to have either/both of them down at the club training. Although now that Smith looks like he's with Hawthorn for the time being that mightn't be possible.

Well then you wouldn't make a very good captain.

I'll agree with that. Our choice of opening batsmen in ODIs seems to be slightly haphazard. We've had something like 8 different opening partnerships since January. Should be Watson and Haddin IMO. As for spinners, Hauritz is doing very well in limited overs cricket at the moment. He'll start in the First Test, but if he doesn't perform, I dare say the selectors will be keeping an eye on Krejza, who seems to me to have worked hard on bringing his economy rate down. Why is Hussey playing in India? Because he's our best batsman at the moment, that's why! Have a look at his form. 4 ODIs, 3 50s. Continues to anchor the innings, especially when we lose a couple of quick wickets. He's doing a fine job. His spot in the Test team is under threat, but his century at The Oval will probably keep him in in Brisbane. No runs there, and he'll likely be chopped. What did Hayden playing too long have to do with it? Hughes was just coming off completely destroying the world's best bowling line-up in foreign territory. That's a pretty good formguide and preparation if you ask me.

You reckon Frawley's more solid than Warnock? Again, I'd have said the opposite. I certainly don't see Warnock as having the larger engine either. However, I'm not sure either of them have an engine good enough to keep up with the better CHFs. Agree that Frawley probably isn't the best suited to taking on gorillas. But he did a good job on Fev when he was on him. Hard to judge any efforts on the second half of the St Kilda match. But Frawley's effort was a lot better than you've given credit for. As I said, he didn't look out of his depth.

Johnson was rubbish. I don't understand why Siddle only bowled 5 overs, whereas Ponting kept bringing Johnson back on. Good bowling performances from Bollinger and Watson (who surprised me with his ability to get the ball to hit the pitch). I'll bet there were a few nervous Aussies when Harbhajan got going though. More crap. In Tests yes. But in ODIs, the pitch doesn't always break down to the extent that there's a definite advantage to batting first. Add to that the fact that bowling in the second innnings can be difficult if there's dew around (which there has been), and there becomes a case for bowling first.

I'm over Ball. He doesn't want to play for us. Fine. Let's stop wasting our time and start analysing the rest. Get Smith and Thorp down to the club to train with us over the next 4 weeks, see if either of them are worth it.

You wanna prove it? As far as the rest of us know, McNamara was signed to a 2 year contract when he was drafted in 2007. That puts him OOC.

Well, there you go. I would say that Warnock's better suited to the gorillas, and Frawley to the quicker CHFs. BBP, you need to watch the game before you comment on it. As has been pointed out, Frawley was moved off both Fevola and Riewoldt when they kicked their goals. Tanking or resting or rotation or flexibility, whatever it was, when Frawley was on both of them he looked comfortable and competent.

Warnock, Frawley, Garland, Rivers fit in for me. Warnock and Frawley for FB and CHB. Rivers and Garland can push up the ground more, or take smaller forwards. McDonald will play midfield. Bruce too. Grimes could play defence, but if we bring Strauss in then Grimes could well go into the midfield. Not sure about where Grimes is best suited though. Bennell and Strauss the two most likely from the others to play defence. Bell no chance. Cheney probably squeezed out of the team. McNamara has the potential to take a spot in the defence, possibly Rivers', but at the moment he isn't ready.