MadAsHell

Sounds pretty good to me HT. I'm in.

I thought at the start of this summer that Clarke should bat at 3 or at least no 4, however cleary for one reason or another he doesn't seem to want to move which is odd. Doolan is a possability, however I'm reluctant to play someone who has a first class batting average under 40. Last person we picked to be at no 3 with a first class average under 40 was Quiney and look how that went. Khawaja I think is probably the best prospect at number 3. Another option is playing Hughes as an openner and moving Cowan down to number 3. I say that because Hughes has made more runs than anyone else so probably deserves the call up before anyone else. Lyon did have an ordinary test, however Perth's always a tough place for the spinners, even Warne struggled there compared to other venues. As you siad though where else do we go if Lyon struggles? There's the injury prone John Holland, or if you ask me there's a young leg spinner for St Kilda who's yet to play a first class match yet who looks the goods by the name of James Muirhead. In his last district match he bowled 21 overs and took 7/26 and then on the weekend in a 20/Twenty match he bowled 4 overs and took 2/11. He's one certainly worth keeping an eye on. The other option, and one that I think is worth looking at is taking a leaf out of the West Indies of the 80's/90's book and playing 4 quicks and an all round spinner. Pattinson, Cummins, Siddle, Hilfenhaus (Ambrose, Walsh, Holding & Marshall) & either Glenn Maxwell or Steven Smith (Viv Richards/Carl Hooper). With our brittle batting line up I don't think either of Maxwell or Smith could do much worse then others are doing.

Goodbye Ponting, the timing was certainly right!

I thought that McDermott walked because of the tough travelling schedual and this way he can take smaller term roles as he pleases, I could be wrong though? Why they didn't hire Waqar Younis as his replacement though I have no idea? I wouldn't at all be suprised if they all went and Jackson Bird made his debut on his home turf. Mitchell Starc has talent but he doesn't have the control yet. It showed during this test that he's not quiteat the same place as Pattinson and Cummins. Despite his 6 wickets, I thought it was one of the more unimpressive 6 wicket hauls that you're likely to see. I thought Johnson was better then Starc, but he was still far to short for someone who has as good a record at that ground as he does. Playing both lefties didn't work for me and is the reason why I was more keen on Hazlewood to play ahead of either Stac or Johnson. Hastings battled hard but he probably falls into the Nathan Bracken category in that he's probably just not quite fast enough to be a top line Test bowler. One dayers might be more his go. His batting is handy! Jackson Bird on his hometrack could be a real handful. I'd be more then happy for us to have Bird & Hilfenhaus share the new ball for the remaining tests with Sids at first change for the rest of the summer. Once Pattinson & Cummins are up and going then there's a good chance we'll see the last of Hilfenhaus. I am HT, although loosing a wicket 2nd ball of the day wasn't the start I was hoping for. Just a lazy 214 runs more then any other team has ever chased to win a game ever. But I tell you what, if ever it could happen, the WACA with Clarke & Hussey in the form that they've been in with 2 days to go is the place for it to happen. I think it may be a dissapointing end to the series though unfortunatly.

While I haven't been to a training session as of yet, I can say that his VFL form late in the season after he was properly diagnosed with his condition was very good. He's getting better at holding his contested marks, so he's becoming stronger physically, but he's still got his pace also and can burn his opponents off. I think the inclusion of all these forwards will be good for him as it should make him work even harder to get a game. I can see him competing with Pedersen for the 2013 season for the 3rd tall forward/2nd ruck role. Once 2014 comes along it will become even harder for him, but with injuries/suspensions/rotations I could still see him playing a lot of football for us and I still have high hopes for him. I certainly see him being our first call up into the team if any of Clark, Dawes or Pedersen were to miss a match next season.

I hope Hastings does play. I reckon with the Fremantle doctor his swing will be very handy and I think he's a better swing bolwing prospect then Hilfenhaus personally. He'd also be a handy no 8, although I think Hazlewood could be useful on this wicket also. I hope we go with Hastings, Hazlewood & either of Johnson or Starc. Siddle will be gutted I reckon, I'm gutted for him!

Truely has been a wonderful career. While personally I have Border and Greg Chappell ahead of him (along with the Don of course) when I think about what Australia's greatest XI woild look like, he clearly be the next best there's ever been for mine! I'll never forget his 156 against England on Day 5 of the 3rd Test against England during the Ashes to save the game. The next highest run getter for us had 39! Came in during the first over of day 5 and was dismissed with 25 balls left in the day. Luckily Lee & McGrath were able to bat out to save the match. An all time great and he's gone out at the right time, allowing whoever his replacement is to have a home series against Sri Lanka to try and settle into the team before tough tasks with tours of India and England, followed by a home Ashes series.

You're preaching to the converted Nasher. I was just playing Devils Advocate and simply giving an opinion as to why he may not have been picked, if I was the selector he would have been in the squad for sure. As I mentioned in another comment though, I think there's a very good chance that he may debut in the first test against Sri Lanka in Hobart. If he performs well there, then he may find himself play out the series ahead of Hilfenhaus.

RR is right. Bellerive is a graveyard. I know Bird can't help but play half his games there, but selectors do take their home ground into account. It's like years back when the same venue was a batsmen's paradise and Jamie Cox mad a mountain of runs but never got a look in ahaead of guys like Elliott and Blewett. I would have gone for Bird personally over Hazlewood, although Hazlewood does have a bright future. We do need a bowler in the McGrath mode which is exactly what Hazlewood is. Hastings would be useful with his swing bowling into the breeze if Hilfenhaus doesn't get up IMO, but I expect Siddle, Hilfenhaus & Johnson to play given it's The Grand Final as the media are putting it and I think the selectors will want seasoned bowlers out there. Come the first test against Sri Lanka, given the work load Siddle & Hilfenhaus would have endured, I wouldn't at all be suprised to see our bolwing line up consist of Starc, Hazlewood, Bird & Lyon once Johnson puts in an ordinary performance against RSA.

Are we really going to resort to this? ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! ANGWIN! It goes both ways, and Darling never had question marks about drug taking. If I remember correctly it ws just about Darling liking the sauce a bit to much.

You do know that cancer spreads yeah? So we take the risk and draft him, he plays up badly within 6 months and we delist him mid year. Not only are we then wasting a spot on our list but we've also ran the risk of Garlett's attitude, company, outlook rub off and effect a Hogan or Barry, Kent, Toumpas etc... And then we've got problems with other players. No way is he worth the risk, the fact that 17 other clubs overlooked a top 10 draft talent like him says it all. If we weren't willing to draft him at Pick 48, then he isn't worth a rookie spot.

Qestion is who plays in Perth? Will both Siddle and Hilfenhaus be up to it, or after their big workload, will we see whole sale changes to the quicks so we have fresh bowlers with the short turn around? Then there's the question of Pattinson's replacement? Do we go with Strac who's carried the drinks for the first two tests and probably deserves the call up? Or do we go a horses for courses approach and pick Mitchell Johnson who;s a WACA specialist who took an 8 for last time he played against RSA at that ground and also had that blistering spell against England in the Ashes? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd actually go with Johnson for the reasons above. Seasoned bowler, and if he fails to deliver then he can be stamped with the 'Never pick again' stamp. My XI would be: E. Cowan D. Warner S. Watson R. Ponting (possibly last test) M. Clarke M. Hussey M. Wade M. Johnson P. Siddle (if unfit replace with Hazlewood) B. Hilfenhaus (if unfit replace with Hastings) N. Lyon 12th Man: M. Starc

If Jamar, Gawn, Spencer & Hannath (assuming we rookie him) are all injury free next year, you'd think one of them will be playing with Casey reserves as only 1 will be in Melbourne's senior team at a time and I can't see Casey seniors playing 3 ruckmen in the one team.

Shannon Byrnes for two seasons, with David Rodan to rotate through there. If we were to take a small forward in the rookie draft I'd look out for Shannon Taylor.

Two horse race between Colquhoun & Garlett with only 4 votes in it at this point. As people have mentioned, Garlett could be a star. However he could also be a cancer. For me the negatives outweight the poisitives. We've already picked up Viney, Hogan & Toumpas this off season, I don't see the need to risk someone like Garlett personally. Also as mentioned he doesn't fit into the 4 pillars of drafting that we've been using, so I just can't see it happening. As I mentioned earlier I'd be more inclined to go with Colquhoun myself with Haynes as my 2nd option. I've also been suprised at the lack of love for Wilkins. A lot of upside there I reckon.

If we were a club with a strong culture like a Sydney or Geelong then he might be worth the risk, but given what our culture has been like, and the lengths we're going to, to turn that all around then the last thing we need is to be rolling the dice on someone like Garlett who could be toxic to the club and a bad influence on some of our other young players like Kent, Barry, Hogan etc... This isn't the time for us to be taking a risk like this. Once we've won a premiership and have the strongest leadership group and palying culture in the land, then we can re-look at drafting someone like Garlett. Didn't realise Essendon took him in the national draft, I thought all clubs passed on him...... Just cause he's training with them doesn't mean they're going to take him in the rookie draft, they're under no obligation. He may be extremely lazy on the track, or after getting to know him a bit more the Bombers coaches may think he isn't worth the risk. He could be the next Cyril Rioli, or he could also be a wasted talent like Lovett or Sampi. I think he needs to move to either Adelaide or Melbourne, spend a year or two working hard and playing in the SANFL or VFL and then a club may be more willing to draft him if they can see him working hard to turn things around. Edit: Spelling

Martin was given away for the pick we used to draft Matt Jones.

Not that I'm aware of. He's lightly built, so there may possibly be a question mark over his ability to compete against men maybe???

Now's not the time to be taking a risk on someone like Garlett. We'd be better off playing it safe and taking someone who might not be quite as talented, but we know would committ to getting the best out of themselves. Still plenty of other fish in the sea. Colquhoun, Haynes, Pongracic, Boston, Taylor, Ballard etc....

And if he stuffs up in February and we've sacked him before the season even begins we're left with only three rookies and one less player on our list. High risk, high reward which we're not in a position to entertain. To use a cricketing analogy. It's Day 1 of a Test Match at Sabina Park and we've been sent in to bat on a green top with Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh steaming in. If they pitch one up on a good length just outside off stump we need to let that go through to the keeper and take the shine off the new ball before playing any extravagant drives through cover and risk edging it to the slips or the keeper if you get where I'm coming from......?

BUMP Matthew Haynes Height: 189cm Weight: 76kg While personally I prefer Sam Colquhoun, on the chance that he's taken before our 1st rookie selection I reckon Haynes would be worth a look. Classy outside mid with line breaking ability. If he could commit to putting on some size in the gym he might be worth a punt in the rookie draft and after the 1st year we can make a call.

Personally I'm going with Colquhoun. We could do with another small defender/midfielder who can use the ball well. Strauss is yet to make that spot his own yet, so with Colquhoun, Tarich, Jetta & Toumpas to possibly spend his first year down there it could certainly give us some options.

FB: Garland, Frawley, Strauss (just ahead of Terlich) HB: Watts, T. McDonald, Toumpas C: Bail (tagger), N. Jones, Blease HF: Howe, Dawes, Trengove FF: Pedersen (2nd ruck), Clark, Byrnes FOLL: Jamar, Grimes, Viney INT: Davey, Nicholson, Sylvia SUB: Tapscott EMERG: Dunn, Jetta, Rodan Others in mix for Round 1: McKenzie, Taggert, Tynan, Fitzpatrick, Terlich, Gilles

Now this is a guy worth a punt!

Only if neither of Matthew Haynes or Shannon Taylor are available.