H_T

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24 days

Malcolm Conn today names his Test XI v Sth Africa: - Dave Warner Ed Cowan Shane Watson Ricky Ponting Michael Clarke Mike Hussey Matthew Wade James Pattinson Peter Siddle Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon Ben Hilfenhaus He states that Matthew Wade today will be named instead of Brad Haddin. That brings a smile to me. The only question remains is who will be named 12th man. I think they will include Lyon, need a spinner. Either Starc or Hilfenhaus will be 12th man. Conn thinks Hilfenhaus will be a surprise 12th man. I'm unsure. It would have been easy to have made the sentimental decision to select Brad Haddin. But I will applaud the selectors in naming Wade ahead of a busy summer and an ever important Ashes series approaching fast.

I'm confident something will happen. Something!! Maybe Clothier's investigation will be announced as "still ongoing"... Now that he's assisting Ken Wood in the Tippett case, I'm expecting a completion of the investigations around the time GWS' list is brought back into line with all other teams. Think that's around 2019...

I think there's a couple of lines still in the water.

Vics are in fine form again, and an ever watchful significant innings of 89 by Matthew Wade steered the ship for the VICS after a nervous time at 6/68 chasing 140-odd. Please select Matthew Wade for the first Test, selectors......

Have you ever caught two fish with the same bait on the same hook dc?

I know that feeling. Time and again you check to see if the bait is still on. Then you realise you may have the wrong bait. Sound familiar? In all honesty the FA period and the extended trade period has allowed much more time for consideration and exploration. Some clubs I believe have taken a back seat and watched the early moves for the first few days.

Neeld: We will manage Hogans expectations a bit better than we handled Watts. I guess that rules out a Queens Birthday debut for Hogan in 2014.

Here old dee, sit back and play this, it might clear your mind...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luu2E-Cv3Wo

H_T 2.4 Here's another one I was wanting to post a couple of weeks ago, but it slipped my mind, got distracted or something..still send shivers down the spine and I think of it everytime I smell cut grass in September. Up there Cazaly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luu2E-Cv3Wo

H_T 2.3 Given what's transpired in Season 2012 and now in FA/Trade period, I thing this is apt for this point in time...I just hope it lasts: - Poor standard clip, movie soundtrack : Cool Runnings.

Closure? I know what you're saying, but 4 and 13 haven't been finalised yet in terms of their use.

I don't think I'll be venting unless we don't have JV in our stable. If we have to take JV with 3, so be it. For 3 years our club has been committed and making noises about Jack. if GC nominate bid we must take him at 3. But if our club has somehow brokered a stealth deal sending him to be picked in the second round, leaving both picks 3,4, I will most likely be doing backflips. Fingers crossed for a good start to trade week tomorrow. Edit: ummm... Today

17 hrs 20minutes.

Bolton was considering his future last I heard, a retirement or two will leave some room for the Bloods.

Have I heard right? Jesse White at the Swans requesting a trade? Not confirmed, but if right I reckon The Swans have won out with Tippett. And that may ensure Moloney finds a home at the Lions too.

May need several sets of steak knives to get these deals over the line. And because D'Land ranks highly according to clicks among other forums - we won't have the early picks.

I think I read or heard somewhere that the NBL and A League seasons start soon. You wouldn't know it unless you looked through the media with a fine tooth comb. Saw a snippet of the 20/20 world cup briefly. Aussies have reached the semi's. Marked cards on publicity; AFL 10 A League 3 T/20 Cricket 2 NBL 1

We will wake you up when the F/S bids take place.

Tippett - Swans or Suns? I'll say Suns.

Gold Coast manager Marcus Ashcroft said that if they cannot reach a suitable trade agreement for Caddy, they will let him go through to the PSD. Hardball.

AFL rules out priority picks this year I've said it before, I'll say it again. The AFL have said the investigation into alleged tanking claims concerning the Melbourne Football Club will take "as long as it takes to complete", they will interview "everyone and anyone" associated with the club regarding these allegations until they are satisfied before announcing any findings. Hence we know FA has already commenced and trade period starts next week. So "if" any findings or recommended sanctions are announced by the AFL during this period - you "would think" - not influence the trade and draft period for 2012. As it has already commenced.

Just hope he will be fit and firing like the rest of the team come the Ashes next year when I'm there.