Whispering_Jack

Old dee, I just think we need to go beyond the banana fritters and the like. This thread started as a distraction at a time when everyone was going bananas at the thought of Voldemort jumping ship. Once we've played GWS and hopefully given them a shellacking, what purpose is it going to serve?

Every club knows full well that, come what may, we will be picking Jack Viney. That's the problem with the system. Whoever finishes below us knows there's no risk in nominating him. If we improve in the second half - which I think we should do - then I have a feeling we could finish 15th which means we will have to use that pick on Jack.

He still has a point - perhaps we could start a poll to decide?

Surely, there has to be some closure from this whole T$ thing at some stage? What better time than after the GW$ game when we get the chance to see him in the flesh in that ghastly orange garb?

No ... the changes are for their game against Richmond at the weekend. No doubt there will be more for the following week. I doubt that Sheedy would hide Voldemort. It would send out a poor message for his club. I'm sure he wants to set his team up for the game and that it will be one that he's absolutely desperate to win.

Five changes to the GWS Giants team this week - all injuries.

When this (the merger) was first mooted, it sounded logical and a good deal for Melbourne. Hawthorn was probably the wrong choice in the end for Melbourne. Perhaps, Fitzroy would have made a better choice and perhaps we might have been up there on the premiership dais from 2000 all the way to 2004 or even 2005 - but of course they knifed Fitzroy before the merger deal was announced. Anyway, the more information that came out, the more distasteful the merger proposal sounded and felt. I didn't go to vote that night but I was against. Gutnik came in and I really do believe that he had been a supporter. He changed the club and gave it his money. Some of his innovations were ahead of their time. In other respects, I suppose he didn't understand what the game was about. His removal from the presidency was as disgraceful as some aspects of the proposed merger. What strikes me as tragic about our club is that since the sacking of Norm Smith we have had no shortage of infighting and faceless men who were always ready to step in and destabilise the club at times when we least need it. Some still lurk out there today. If that's one thing the current regime can rid the club of then we might finally be able to look forward to better times.

The other 49 idiots are the people like us who have kept this thread going for so long

The Gold Coast? You're in the wrong place. We're playing Sydney today. We don't even have a game on the Gold Coast this year!

Meanwhile at Lords the first test of the English summer sees England dominating the Windies thanks to some superb swing bowling from Jimmy Anderson early and later Stuart Broad (7fer) and a ton from Andrew Strauss. The Poms swing it, others don't - a sign of things to come when we tour this time next year. And of course, they couldn't get Chanderpaul out.

Do yourself a favour Redleg and extend ...

Anyone who watched the last hour's cricket today would vouch for the fact that cricket's a funny game. Windies coasting at 4/230 with Chanderpaul nudging towards a ton and the chances were that the home side would end up with a sizable first innings lead ... and then Nathan Lyon strikes, five wickets fall and it's game on ... we should get a result now.

There's also young P J Cummins who is on the comeback trail from a foot injury after making hist test debut in South Africa last year. He's currently taking part in an Under 19 Carnival with Australia making the semi finals which are being played today. He scored 50 not out in Australia's innings against NZ. Could make a handy number 9 one day?

If you have Foxtel, they're replaying it tonight on one of the sports channels. Of course, it's nowhere near the same when you know the result. The game will go down in history as one of the more inspired captaincy decisions because the last pair in the first dig looked as if they could bat on for hours.

Anyway, we finally got Chanderpaul out

Strange thing happened to me today. Had a visit from a Hawk supporter who told me he was frustrated with one aspect of the game in that he claimed his team was "crucified" by the umpires. Just checked the stats and they received 29 frees to Geelong's 24. If that's a crucifixion then what do you call 21-1 at half time and 32 - 12 at the end of the game?

Well here's my contribution to this thread which is all about amazing things like miracles happening in unusual circumstances - Crocodile Bites Off Part Of Elderly Man's Testicles In Zimbabwe; Jonah Maturure Survives Attack . Even in adversity of the worst kind, people can survive so why get upset about losing a football match or a pair of agates?

Sri Lanka takes the first test from the Poms by 75 runs. Who's the no 1 test country ATM?

I don't usually like it when Carlton wins but those Richmond supporters were really getting carried away during the week. I even heard a few on radio mentioning the P * word. * P = Premiership

That Richmond full forward line looks sensational with Miller and Maric in the two pockets.

In other words, nothing's changed since last year.

I thought the coach's name was "Kevin"?

Voldemort to miss historic Giant's opener Questionable source I know but the scans have revealed he suffered a slight depressed fracture of his cheekbone. Also unconfirmed reports that the scans revealed the cheekbone is made of 14 karat gold.

Demetriou will sack the MRP if it even thinks about suspending Izzy. As for the other bloke ... sh1t happens.

GWS won yesterday without Voldemort? How good would they be if he played?