Nasher

Amazing how the two innings were almost mirrors of each other actually. In addition to Southee and Johnson sucking immensely, it was hard to split Boult and Starc's performance with the ball after both absolutely tore through the oppositions middle-lower order. In the first three overs of his second spell, Boult had 5/1. Wow.

Great finish. The McCullum Show aside, it was definitely the bowlers' day (Johnson and Southee being wayward notwithstanding). Boult was amazing as was Starc. Tim Southee had a game to forget all round - a golden duck to go with his 2/65 off 9!

I have changed the title. When I saw "West Coast Sniffing" I was thinking of an entirely different subject.

At the end of the day, everyone who watches has their own opinion and their own bias. If you ever find yourself reading conflicting reports and wondering which to believe, my advice would be to just believe which ever one makes you happy. To me, it's unimportant whether Spencer was overall okay or terrible in the eyes of people I don't know in a training run I didn't see. I get more out of the little snippets of facts (not opinions) - like TDI's report of the Dunn/Roos exchange or the report of Dunn whacking Gawn behind play.

How would you have done it? Players in this environment have no viable choice but to lie in my opinion.

Who exactly has said that? Emphasis on "any". I doubt anyone would equate missing a handful of NAB games to doing basically no training at all for months.

If you are immature and irresponsible I imagine it's pretty easy not to know. You get the summons and ignore it.

This. Surely we knew what we were getting here, anyway. Hands up who thought, "model, responsible citizen" when we took Garlett?

I really struggle to understand what is gained by putting a second year rookie ruckman "on notice". It isn't going to make him get better faster. Just let the kid develop. To be truthful I struggle with the concept of "on notice" at all. All AFL players are aware of how quickly the end can come and they know if they don't perform they're gone - have a look at Cam Pedersen's comments last year. It's just stupid hyperbole that supporters spew out in order to make themselves feel like hardarses, I think, that has no reflection or relevance to reality.

Exactly. If Hogan or Tyson have poor seasons, are we going to put them in the gun? In theory everyone is tradeable, but in practice only the middle 1/3 of the list are tradeable and only the bottom 1/3 are on notice.

It must just be a coincidence that players who spend most of the pre-season injured have poor seasons.

With all due respect Sir WYL, perhaps the funeral may offer a little perspective on this issue?I was spewing about this yesterday, but now that the dust has settled I'm just left with trace disappointment. I can't quite bring myself to take the silver lining view that others have, but I've come to terms with the fact that I have to wait another year to be amazed. It isn't a long time in the context of a career and it's not going to impact our flag chances this year (lol). It's just a bummer for those of us that love a bit of instant gratification.

I lol'd. It was that, or cry. Bloody hell. Why??!!

Almost the entire second page of the thread was deleted. I wouldn't take it personally. (I didn't delete them and don't know what was in them.)

Spot on old dee. I'm in the same boat; I didn't know either. Judging by the response it would seem plenty didn't. Most of us don't read every letter of every bit of information the club publishes, or necessarily take it all in or remember it if it wasn't important to us at the time. 2008 was a long time ago. It's only become topical now because the relationship has gone to custard, hence the question. It's exactly what AGMs should be for - getting clarity on points that members are concerned about.

Denham is the embodiment of "that guy" everyone knows at least one of: barracks for Hawthorn, knows everything that is wrong with the lowly clubs, has an opinion on everything, and has a mouth permanently open with ears permanently closed. He's paid to be an angry, thoughtless moron and does a wonderful job of it.

What a first rate crap post. Who are you to judge a player for the life decisions he makes after his football career has gone down the dunny? Sooner or later all footballers have to recognise that the dream is over. Some recognise that their body is not up to it, or just plain don't want to spend the next few years flogging themselves physically and mentally for the 0.001% chance they might make it. It's their life and calling it the "easy option" and just makes you sound jealous and bitter.

Three posts in a row about the Heat being put to the sword, Smithy. Not a fan?

Watching the t20 tonight. I know it's not the full picture and I doubt Hogg was suggesting was suggesting picking Boyce, but he was bowling complete rubbish. If he ever gets picked, expect Jason Krezja like figures. Ahmed on the other hand looks very sharp. I haven't seen much of him bowl before, but he hits the spot and spins it. I'm very impressed and if Boyce and Agar are the level of competition he's up against then it's only a matter of time before he's in. What's Ahmed's fielding like?

It goes to show that the Betoota Advocate is a satire site.

No doubt Rhino loved to cross the line which upset people, but he also gave this site a lot of his time - more than most others have. Our jobs got harder when he went and I personally have a lot of respect for him.

The mods do their jobs; then they try and enforce the rules in their spare time. As far as jobs go, Demonland pays pretty poorly and is therefore prioritised as such. I've said for a while that I reckon we're undermoderated at present. To my knowledge there's only one active mod (Grapeviney) with cameos from me, WJ and Andy. We need a few 21 year olds with a good grasp on the rules, with nothing better to do but delete thread hijacks all day long. Yes, I'm describing myself 10 years ago. As to the OP - I don't think we're found wanting for active members during the season. I don't think it comes as a surprise that nobody wants to log in and talk about stuff when the club is on Christmas holidays.

Assuming it's one of Watson or Burns to go, Agar slots in at 8 with Ryano at 9 (what a luxury), with everyone from Johnson up to shimmy up a spot for mine. Interesting choice - he hasn't stood out at Shield level, though I have trust in the group in charge of the team at present, so if they say so. I'd just like to take this opportunity to declare my man-love for Ryan Harris. He's proven to be a truly dependable, tough, aggressive player. His journey has been amazing too - was a genuine B grader until his very late 20s - just goes to show that it's never too late to hit ones straps in this sport. Even with his wrecked body I reckon Ryano for 1/2-3/4 of a series is better than a whole series of the next best.

Shaun Marsh! Noooooooooooo. Shattered.

I'm trying my best to grab any memory of Brad Williams and can't find one. I vaguely remember the name but that's it. Can't even remember his feats at Shield level, though admittedly I wasn't paying stacks of attention to it during that time. I always thought Bracken was a handy bowler who was unlucky not to get more opportunity at Test level.