Whispering_Jack

It's promising in terms of training facilities at altitude but might disappoint some who felt there were some major sponsorships on offer as well.

I suppose Bradley Hill thinks he has some kind of excuse. He was the fastest kid on two feet at the Draft Combine and wanted to prove he was also the fastest on two wheels. Problem is that the latter can kill people and I hope that he is suitably punished and more importantly learns a lesson from this.

Have those horses finished running yet?

Not quite right Rhino. Max made his test debut in the second test at Melbourne along with Jeff Thomson who was belted around the park and took 0-100 in the first innings. The test started exactly 39 years ago today - there was no Boxing Day test back then. I was there when Thommo opened the bowling with Dennis Lillee who also had a tough time taking 1 fer about 90. Sadiqh and Mushtaq Mohammed carted us all over the ground for centuries in a mammoth first innings score but we still knocked them over cheaply in the second innings. Maxy took 2 in the first dig and 3 in the second and we ended up beating them. Sheahan got his ton in the second innings but that was a year after the John Benaud century. Thommo was dropped for the third test in Sydney which was the one in which Watkins made his debut. The third test was the one in which Walker took his 6-15 in the second innings. I was in Sydney at the time for a family wedding and had a clear day for the last day of the test but my transport from the north shore to the SCG was stuffed up so badly that I arrived at the ground late. The Pakistanis were chasing 159 in the final innings and were about 2-40 overnight. I got to the ground in time to watch the last two wickets to fall, the last to Walker. The catcher was Watkins who did very little else in the match. They were all out for a little over 100. I then had about five hours to spare before I was due to be picked up by my hosts in Sydney which I spent sprawled on the grass at Centennial Park reading several hundred pages of Lord of the Rings. I think I dreamed that night about a Bilbo Baggins taking a hat trick on the SCG.

Another who posted a fairly good phantom draft on bigfooty was Knightmare who graded each club's efforts. His assessment of Melbourne's drafting and trading isn't particularly positive although he does like our new coach:-

During the trade and draft period, we highlighted Snoop Dog's phantom draft on bigfooty. Now, he's back with his assessment of each club's drafting and here is how he rated Melbourne's efforts:-

Neeld: settling in (part one) Neeld: the whirlwind starts (part two)

I was a bit worried that it might be a trick question because of the fact that he was dropped before making his one and only test century. I think Michael Hussey might find it a tough ask to score a ton in this current test but I reckon if they had to name the team for the Sydney test last night, he might have been in the same boat as young Benaud was almost 40 years ago.

Does he have a brother named Richie?

A couple of weeks and the Australian Open Tennis will be dominating the sports media and the footy won't be getting a look in. The next month is usually totally bereft of football. A good time to read thriller novels, go to the movies or listen to your favourite music.

Won't happen for the second test but it's only a matter of time before James Faulkner gets the all rounder's spot. I personally would have had him in this test ahead of Hussey, promoting Haddin to 6 and batting him at 7. I think Faulkner has more penetration as a bowler and is more solid in his batting.

Open up them Golden Gates.

What are the experts' comments about the pitch? It's hard to tell on the tv but it seems that it might become a perfect wicket for batting and, given what we're going to be up against, a big indian first innings score beckons.

It's intrigued me for some time as to what was the definition of a "mature player". I came across this one in a Saintsational post which discusses Chris Pelchen's first trade and draft period at St. Kilda:- This would mean that Saints' draftee Daniel Markworth, at 19 years 8 months, who played as an overage player in the TAC Cup this year is a "mature age" player, absurd as that might sound. The fact is that the circumstances of new clubs, compromised drafts and the success of the likes of Barlow and JPod have meant that most clubs (including the MFC) have by necessity had to expand their drafting horizons and this factor will almost certainly have an impact on how they fare in the coming years.

Wondering what Neil Craig's role is at the MFC and why he's here? Craig: a new tune (part one) Craig: a new tune (part two)

Spot on - 12 each. As to the issue of bad luck dogging out of form players, I know the feeling. Dogged me throughout my entire career.

Yes ... a great night for the footy ... and a sad night, not only because of Troy but because that evening began for me with the news I heard on the radio that Paul Hester, drummer for Crowded House and a Demon fan, took his life in a park in Elwood where my grandchildren play. The sky was red and blue and I had just picked up my son who lived hearing near the Elwood Canal. We were on our way to the game and passed the place where it must have happened. And so we celebrated many lives that night; the thousands of victims of the tsunami and a couple of lost Demon souls in Troy and Paul. I wrote an article about it a couple of years ago and said how proud we were of our team that night. Seven years down the track and there would be few left from that game. Green, Davey, Rivers, Beamer ... I'm not sure if the Russian was playing that night.

Amid all the controversy from the Boxing Day test surrounding the dismissals of Mike Hussey and Ed Cowan and the fact that the Indians refuse to accept any technology available to assist in adjudicating on umpire's decisions, I was wondering how long will it take for the AFL to introduce technology to decide on goals and behinds scored and other decisions. I'm sure it will happen one day but why do I have this feeling that the first team to get dudded one way or the other will be us.

Quick Quiz: Since January, 2008 who has made the most ducks in test cricket - Michael Hussey or Chris Martin?

And it could have been so much better. I remember having a chat with Jim Cardwell at the end of an MFC AGM in the early 1970s. They used to send those of us who stayed on to a canteen area near the old long room where we were served drinks, party pies and sausage rolls and the committee, staff and players came to answer any questions the members had to ask. Someone asked Jim about the great players he signed up and who became members of our great premiership decade and he told us that the best of them all never came down from the country to play for the club. His name was Bill Barham and Jim swore that he would have been a champion if only he wanted to play in the city. Barham was the father of Collingwood star Ricky Barham, a winger for the Pies in the 70s who was recruited from their country zone. Two other sons, Bill Jr. and Jamie had brief careers with the Demons. Jim went on to say he had St. Kilda legend Darryl Baldock signed on a Form 4 in 1958 but that lapsed after two years. He also spoke about how close he came to getting Polly Farmer and later Peter Hudson. Geelong and North Melbourne premiership player and champion full forward Doug Wade trained at Melbourne in the 1959 pre season. Smith sent him home to beef up because he felt he was too light for a VFL KPP. Wade took Smith's advice but instead of coming back in 1960 he went to Kardinia Park. I don't think Jim forgot a thing. Someone should write a book about him one day.

That's cricket. You can't overrule the umpire in these tests so we just have to get on with the game and get over it.

How does this Ed Cowan go in the 50 over game and the 20/20 stuff?

Correct. I'll get my pleasure if GWS fails because of the poor selection of playing personnel or bad list management but I'll not be taking any enjoyment out of injuries to the kids they recently drafted.

Great memories and thanks Bush Demon. Do you have other gems like this?

Nick Smith 4-6 weeks (whatever)