MadAsHell

And to think, for something that was only 5 & a half years ago, the only players from our 22 that day still on the list are Jones, Watts, Dunn & Garland.

That fateful night against the Dogs in 2010....

Same article actually says that the Herald Sun believe that Hogan wants to stay in Melbourne. The hard copy does anyway for anyone that has a copy of the paper. I note that bit isn't on the online article though.

Exactly right on both fronts. Lazy journalism.

Personally think Neal-Bullen is going to be a very, very good player. I like Tyson and think he'll continue to be a good player also, but have a hunch Neal-Bullen could end up being better. If the question is who's a better player now, Tyson or Neal-Bullen? Well of course Tyson is, he's got three years development on Nibbler who's in his 2nd year.

I'd actually prefer us to trade one of these two then Nibbler. Really think he's going to be something.

Freo are in a similar boat to where we were early in 2007. Went into the season thinking that at worst we were in the finals mix and then it all went horribly wrong after 1/4 time Round 1. Freo are in a little better position in that they still have some good young players like Fyfe, Neale & Bennell (although he could be a cancer). But like us in 2007, they wont be able to fully start their rebuild until the end of the year. Makes for a long season!

Want him to stay. Think he will. Why go to Freo, they could have no spine within 12 months when/if Pavlich, Sandilands, Dawson and Johnson all join McPharlin in retirement....

The reason why what Langdon says sounds like BS is because he says that if Hogan could be playing in Perth now he would be. Fact is Hogan could be playing in Perth if he wanted to, yet he signed a contract extension towards the end of 2014.

Yeah ok Karl that makes perfect sense. 'He would already be back if he could' Then why is he currently into his 2nd conract at Melbourne Karl?

You make some good points Macca, and i think those measures can be introduced while still looking at a two tier system. Ashley Mallett shares a similar view to myself, however is far more scathing on the Windies then myself: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-west-indies-its-time-to-relegate-the-windies-from-top-tests-20151210-gll03b.html Crust of the article is a similar scenario to what i suggested. Difference being top tier of 7 and bottom of 6. He also suggested Canada and Scotland to be promoted with Ireland rather then Afghanistan which i found strange. Lets just hope for a better showing from today on.

The way this series looks like it's going to go says to me it's time to introduce a two tiered test system. Promote Ireland & Afghanistan and have two tiers of 6 teams. You play a home & away series against each team in your tier over the course of 3 years, and after that the bottom ranked team from tier one is relegated and the top team from tier two is promoted. One sided series like what we're about to see aren't good for the game.

Announced the 13 man squad for the next today. Pattinson in (early) O'Keefe (baggy blue/baggy green selection) S. Marsh (FMD!)

Not till Boxing Day.Give him a chance to build his fitness up.

Struggling unfortunately Faulkner. Made 105 runs in 6 innings so far this season @ 17.50 with the bat. Taken 9 wickets @ 28.11 with the ball however at an economy of 2.69. I think Mitch Marsh keeps his spot due lack of options. I do think Marcus Stoinis is a better option personally as he is a batsman who can bowl more then useful medium pace. First class batting average of 39.5 with a bowling average of 61.71 with 14 wickets from 25 matches that doesn't read that well. However last Shield season he made 785 runs @ 49.06 and took 7 wickets @ 40.14 with an economy rate of 3.16 having bowled 88.4 overs, so he's a bit more then part time. So far this season he's yet to take a wicket, however is averaging 43 with the bat with two half centuries in his 4 digs. Having said that I reckon they'll stick fat with Marsh. Won't happen, but I'd like to see 4 changes for Adelaide with three debutants. OUT Johnson (ret) Khawaja (inj) Marsh (dropped) Hazlewood (dropped) IN Siddle Fawad Stoinis Klinger Australian XI Burns Warner Klinger Smith* Voges Stoinis +Nevill Starc Siddle Lyon Fawad Watch Hazlewood & Marsh keep their spots though.

Further to my above comments re: Hazlewood, so far this series he's taken 4 wickets @ 68 with an economy rate of 3.8. With Johnson's retirement i really hope they do bring Siddle & Pattinson back into the XI. Could really do with Siddle's experience.Three wickets for Pattinson for the Vics today also helps his chances.

I don't watch it myself, but amazed this thread didn't get bumped last week.

Been out of action on this thread for some time. The thing that's annoyoing me is we're no longer seeing an even contest between bat & ball. New Zealand have done well to make something of this match, but teams shouldn't be making 400 & 500+ everytime they bat first which is sdaly becoming the trend in Australia. Agree with your point about trying to have one of England, India or South Arfica out here every year. And I thought I read somewhere that South Afrcia were going to come out for Boxing Day again, but I'll have to search for that. On an individual note, Australia should be concerned about the significant loss of form of Mitchell Johnson. Since the start of the Ashses, Johnson has taken 20 wickets in 6.5 tests (including this one up till stumps Day 3) @ 40.90 form 204.1 overs, meaning he's also going at 4 runs an over. I think it's fair to say Mitchell Starc has become the leader of our attack. Josh Hazlewood has also been hugely disapointing. It must be said, that our wickets have turned into roads, but if that is the case then CA should look at players like Siddle who know how to bowl on these dead wickets. For me, I'd look at bringing Pattinson & Siddle in for Johnson & Hazlewood. I'd bring Siddle in as early as the Adelaide test, and maybe hold Pattinson over until Boxing Day, just to give Mitch a few more tests to get his mojo back. As for the question of who comes in for Khawaja. I hope Klinger gest his chance, he's in great form, and at his age you can justify him coming in for cover for two test matches given he can bat anywhere. Also if Handscomb can make some runs in the 2nd Innings he'd have to come into consideration given he made a 100 in the openning Shield Match and didn't get a chance to bat v NSW. If Shaun Marsh comes back into the test team, I'd have to consider giving it away I think!

The more i think about it, the more i'm convinced we'll take Parish with our first Pick. We've been linked to all of Curnow, Weideman and Francis who are all talls, who are all also a chance of at least one of them being available with our 2nd Pick. Parish is the only genuine mid we've been strongly linked to and we know wont be available with our 2nd pick. Fingers crossed for a Parish/Curnow combo from me!

If we decide to go tall at Pick 3 rather then Parish, then I'd be very happy to see us take Tucker at 7. Don't get me wrong i'm a big fan of Oliver at 7 also, but Tucker's probably a little more versatile.

If he's a jet who breaks the lines and hits his team mates lace out then I'm not to concerned about his contested marking. Don't see Nathan Jones or Jack Viney taking too many either.

Not sure how some older members will feel with a player with this appearance running down the wing on the G?

Not even a 4th round pick back!

Trade Radio just said something else will be coming back our way also.

Howe to Gold Coast for Pick 19 Pick 19 to GWS for Bugg & Pick 27 Pick 27 to Essendonfor Melksham Howe gets us Bugg & Melksham. Win for me!