MadAsHell

That is very suprising. I think everyone would agree that wouldn't of been a good idea.

Fair on all parts RR. I understand why WB took the punt on Johnson for 2010 with Hall coming in, unfortunatly for them just hasn't come off.

Sorry if your misunderstanding what I'm trying to get across RR. I'm not having a go at Johnson or Lyon from back in 99, I'm just saying that sometimes it's good if a player (or club) is able to look ahead and know when it's time to pull the pin and go out still on top instead of how it is/was in both these cases. Take the retirements of Ben Cousins, James Hird and even Matthew Lloyd as some examples. All 3 of these players probably could of gone on another season as they were still playing well in their final seasons but decided to call it quits and hence they've still finished up while playing good football and not with the stigma of if their place in the team is even warranted. I'd never question Johnson's commitment or achievements over the years and how much of a champion he is. All I'm saying is at the end of last year/start of this year when the achilies (or however it's spelt) struck, he was 33, played 349 games and with other senior members in the team he or the club maybe should of made the hard decission and pulled up stumps then. They took a punt but doesn't look like it's going to come off for them. All my best wishes for Brad Johnson in the future and I hope for his sake they're able to win 3 more games for him, however in their current form I doubt they'll be able to win 1 more this season.

End of the day it's quite sad that Brad Johnson (a great player over the years) is retiring with all this debate over should he play or shouldn't he? It actually reminds me a bit of Garry Lyon going on that 1 extra year in 1999 when his body just wouldn't allow him to play more then the 2 games for his final year. Melbourne thought they were close to a premiership, and as RR mentioned earlier that's the reason why Bulldogs allowed Johnson to go on another year when in hindsight he probably shouldn't of, like Melbourne did with Lyon. It's a very cruel game and it's amazing how going on just 1 extra year can change your final view of a player and the influence they have on matches. Hopefully Johnson is remembered by the greater football community as the great player he once was and not the ageing player he is today who struggles to get around the park and who's place in the team is debatable.

Well said. I reckon when it comes to finals football you really can't afford to gift people games. While Brad Johnson has been a super player, I believe his club is suffering with him playing in the team at the moment.

After watching Brad Johnson play against Collingwood on saturday night he really did struggle, and for that matter he has been very ordinary all year. There are now reports that he will retire at seasons end after the Bulldogs finals series with a view to playing in their remaining matches. It really made me look on our James McDonald with an even greater respect then I already have. Junior was in a position where he wanted to keep playing but after a slight push he stood aside for the good of the club and to allow to fast track development of other players. He also bowed out still playing good football. Johnson (if you believe some Bulldogs fans) is only announcing his retirement now to ensure he isn't dropped. If I was on the Bulldogs match commitee there's no way that I'd be playing Brad Johnson due to form and the fact he looks liek he's still carrying his injury. Johnson himself would know how much he's struggling and how much more worth someone like an Everitt, Hill or Stack could provide the Doggies. End of the day Melbourne and the Bulldogs are loosing 2 great veterans/servants of their club at the end of 2010. However while McDonald bowed out putting the team first and knowing when to step aside, it seems as though over at Whitten Oval their captain can't see the bigger picture and seems more concerned about his own standing then the greater success of the team. Harsh, but that's just the way I see it. Edit: Missed typing a word.

No trade. But if I had to I'd accept a straight swap for Hampson.

Yeah I thought MS was raising the bar a little high. Personally I'm not even convinced we have to make the finals next year. I'll be hoping for 10 wins as a pass mark min, obviously will be looking for signs of improvement and if we can get up to about 13 wins that would be fantastic! As long as the club continues to show signs of improvement then DB should have nothing to worry about.

You raise a good point. Hopefully an agreement can be reached for a 2 year incentive type deal. Base salary of approx $320K with generous bonuses for top 10 B&F finishes or something like that?

Once he gets in he is very difficult to get out!

In regards to Nathan Jones surely he's still a required player for season 2011. Maybe from 2012 onwards he may struggle to get a game but whle the likes of Tapscott, Scully etc are still finding their feet I'd of thought Jones's experience and strength would very much be needed for next season and if we're any shot of finishing top 6 as Mike Shehan thinks we should.

Your right RR, I know the NSW bias goes back to Trevor Hohns or whoever it was and possibly even further back and it did serve us well when we had once in a generation type players all playing in the same team at the same time such as Warne, McGrath & Gilchrist. However times have changed and the selectors need to get with the times. White did have an ordinary tour of India last time your right however he was picked and really played as a bowler when we all know he's really a batsman who can bowl some handy leggies. He's been in fantstic form in the shorter format of the game for a good 18 months now and I would have thought with North struggling now would be the perfect time to slot C. White into no:6 in the batting line up. Plus he's an excellent captain prospect, or maybe that's why the selectors don't want him in so M. Clarke's toes aren't stepped on??? Your right about S. Smith he's a very good prospect but I probably haven't seen enough of him myself to judge exactly what sort of player he is. Is he a genuine all rounder or is he a bowler who bats very well ala Danile Vettori? Or is he the other way round ala Chris Cairns? One thing's for sure he has a bright future. I have heard good wraps on Hazelwood although is India the place where you want to blood a raw fast bowler if one of the senior bowlers gets injured? India's the sort of place where I think experience and maturity is very important and that's why I would have thought McKay would have been a shoe in for this tour. It's a very delicate time in Australian Cricket with their rebuilding of the side. I just hope the selctors are able to make the tough and right decissions at the right time. I hate to think of the fall out if we loose the Ashes this summer.

And isn't it fantastic to see that the selectors are still handing out the baggy green cap in a paper bag when NSW players receive their baggy blue cap. How on earth did Hazlewood make the squad??? George I'm, suprised by also, especially when you look at McKay's last domestic season. I also would have thought that James Pattinson's the most promising young fast bowler coming through. And North still in the squad but no Cameron White!!! Once we loose this test series 2-0 with North and Hussey scoring a combined total of less then 150 runs will Hilditch finally be held accountable?

Congrats to Brad Green for a well deserved win last night. Shattered I couldn't attend last night as I had my wedding food/wine tasting night but I went last year and it really was a fantastic night. For anyone who's yet to attend a best & fairest night for the MFC I highly recomend. Well done again to all the players for a much improved season!

My thoughts exactly RR. This is nothing more then SA media beat up. There would be no guarentee that GWS would trade Viney or even that Adelaide could satisfy a trade. Viney has the same options available to him that any father son has, I'm confident that we'll see him in the Red & Blue, for all reports Chris Connolly has had very positive talks with the Viney's for some time now.

Your right RR, that's why although it's something I'd like to see I'm well aware that it wont happen. There just seems to be no end in sight the this great game spiraling down the sink while India holds a monopoly over everyone else.

Stephen, 27 years and live in Eastern suburbs & getting married (to a St. Kilda supporter) in November which is exciting. Work with Department of Justice in the Magistrates' Court and been a Melbourne supporter for my whole life apart from a brief 6 season stint from 1992 - 1997 when my Grandad brainwashed me into going for Carlton sorry to all, but I eventually saw the light. Been a member every year since 2001 and am really excited about the direction the club is heading. Favourite memory was the 98 finals series when Melbourne smashed Adelaide & St. Kidal the previous years Grand Finalists. Favourite Players: Rivers, Grimes, Jurrah

Pick 32 maybe?

It wont happen but I'd love to see Australia and England make a huge stand and try and take the game back World Series Cricket style. Australia, England & New Zealand should dispand from the ICC, try and bring South Africa & West Indies across with them and intergrate Ireland to International status in their own 6 nations comp (Ireland dominate all the lower ranked countries in all forms of the game.) They could start their own 6 nations International cricket commitee and start taking the game in the right direction. Hopefully in time Sri Lanka & Bangladesh may even come across and the game can rid itself of the cancer that is Indian and Pakistani cricket that is a huge blight on the game!

I appologise, only came across it today. Still love the fact we've still got a stack of talent waiting in the wings that the rest of the football world isn't even aware of!

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-alsorans-where-to-now-20100825-13sbl.html I'm loving it, The Age think we've got the most talent and best bunch of kids and they haven't even mentioned the likes of Tapscott, Gysberts, Blease, Strauss & Fitzpatrick. The footy world isn't going to know what hit them when these kids develop along with the names already mentioned in the article. Also there will be one Jack Viney to come in also!

I wasn't aware of that rule thanks. Although would you take Spencer over pick 32???

1. Our ability to continually have one of the highest injury rate in the AFL 2. Gold Coast 17 coming in and the rumors about who they'll be poaching. 3. Stefan Martin's inability to make the no 2 ruck position with the ability to drift forward or back wherever needed his own.

1. The Frawley/Grimes combo forming down back 2. The Scully/Trengove combo forming in the middle 3. The Jurrah/Wonna combo forming up forward!

I'd be more then happy to rookie list someone like Stockdale or Myles Sewell, but for the National Draft I'd be more keen on sticking with the kids.