Nasher

He won't, but I think we'd all agree that whoever makes way will be bloody unlucky.

In: Vince, Dawes Out: Toumpas, Frost I advocated keeping Toumpas previously, but I can't see who else could go out on that performance. Despite the fumble I still think he's stiff. Frost for Dawes only on team balance. It has to be a tall and there are no other candidates. Don't know who rucks for 5 mins per quarter though. Hogan?

Seems Jack Viney and Col Garland aren't playing for their careers after all.

Weathered the storm there which was very pleasing, for a break even quarter. Come on boys, bring it home. I'm absolutely pooing myself.

Could watching the footy be... enjoyable again?

It's not.

Yes, but as it is not a VFL H&A game, he can still play in the VFL. The rules as they are mean Victorian players can play in the VFL if serving an AFL suspension in round 1, but if they are AFL suspended round 2 and beyond, they can't. In effect, Dawes doesn't miss any weeks of match practice despite being rubbed out, but only because he happens to only be suspended for round 1.It's a bit silly; Dawes should really not be able to play this week. I'm not complaining though, we need him in peak condition when he comes back next week.

Handy. Is that allowed because this is a practice match? That's a pretty funny loop hole.

You haven't stood for excuses any other year either, and it's made SFA difference.

Exactly. If Brayshaw wasn't playing, I expect Michie would be.

To give him until the last minute to prove his fitness, presumably. It's the only reason I can think of anyway. Can't see what's going to change between yesterday and Saturday since we (again, presumably) know Howe has recovered from his injury but is just short of a run.

If people weren't blaming his form on #31 then I wonder why it's the only part of any of it they mention in their posts - yourself included? I'm assuming you're going to tell me they're intrinsically linked and I should have just been able to draw the inference, but like I said to rjay the jumper is a minor, barely significant part of the symbolism.

Again, not sure what that's got to do with #31. He didn't even wear #31 until he was made captain, so talking about what happened prior is going off on a tangent. The two things are tied up, but #31 accounts for 0.000001% of the burden in my mind. The requirement to speak all the time and the expectation of leadership account for the rest - yet the insignificant thing is what people mention.

I don't disagree that he was over-burdened - but if that's the case, then people should just say "he shouldn't have been made captain". The number is irrelevant, so why mention it at all? Not that it in any way justifies it, but I reckon JG and JT being thrown under a bus as 19 and 20 year olds has allowed NJ to blossom as a true leader in his own time, though. I wonder if we would all view him as the same leader that he appears to be had he been thrown under said bus instead?

I was thinking a few times in the PS games that a few of the new players had obviously not been told the "don't kick it to Watts no matter what" instruction like last year's midfield seemed to have given themselves. I watch on TV so it's not always the easiest to be able to tell, but it seemed to me that he got ignored by his teammates a lot in years gone by.

Am I the only one to think it's beyond silly that people are blaming Grimes' fall in form on the fact that he wears jumper #31?

Agree. Salem was never really in question, but it's a particularly big vote of confidence for Toumpas I think. It could just as easily have been Matt Jones in his place as the 'safe'(?) option. I'm really happy for him and hope he can deliver - and if he doesn't, is persevered with for a while.

It surprised me too. Haven't seen a lot of him but he looked hopeless when Western Bulldogs played us last year.

Very surprised they went with a completely undercooked Howe over Grimes. I like the side, though. Very few of the usual heart attack givers in it.

Squad for WI tour: NSW Michael Clarke Steve Smith Brad Haddin Josh Hazlewood Nathan Lyon Peter Nevill Mitchell Starc David Warner Shane Watson QLD Ryan Harris VIC Fawad Ahmed Chris Rogers Peter Siddle WA Mitchell Johnson Shaun Marsh Mitchell Marsh Adam Voges Tas and SA not represented. Harris was named with an * next to his name, and is apparently not going. Not sure why he was named in the squad, then... Lots of the usual bitching and moaning on facebook and stuff about NSW being over-represented, but it's pretty hard to name anyone from the squad who doesn't belong there. Everyone has their opinion on Watson, but he's obviously still well in favour with the selectors. There are even a few other NSW players whose cases could be pressed, such as Pat Cummins. Peter Siddle is lucky to be in the squad IMO. Good to see Adam Voges selected as a reward for good form. Players being overlooked for being too old despite great form is hopefully a thing of the past. Hopefully they've learned something from Chris Rogers being overlooked for many years. Anyone know where James Pattinson is at? He took 0/131 in the Shield final and only bowled 5.5 overs in the second innings. Injured again? His brittleness has to be a worry, although we seem pretty well covered for talented quicks at this stage. Really pleased that Fawad Ahmed is in the squad. He is far and away the best spin bowler in the country IMO.

Not having all your crucial players come out of contract at the same time?

Every time Ron declares his love for something, my mind is cast back to P-Man's post of impressions about the sky. Definitely an all time Demonland classic.

LOL, nice conclusion. The alternative is we don't like yobbo Victorian amateur footballers coming to our pubs harassing our women and starting fights with our blokes. One of those is probably true.

Yes, was going to suggest Customs House. Can't be much more help than that sorry, I normally just watch it at home.

Oh no. The Essendon supporters are going to be (even more) insufferable.