MadAsHell

Yeah i'm not sure why Butcher was prefered over Shaw? My understanding was that Shaw was ahead of Butcher coming into 2015, however things changed. Whether that's to do with the injuries Shaw got, could be? Still think he's worth the punt though. The thought of a Hogan/Shaw forward line excites me to no end!

Who I hear you ask? Mason Shaw, 197cm, 95kg key forward/part time ruckman who was delisted today by the Power. Shaw was someone I had my eye on in his draft year of 2012, however I knew we never had the pick to land him. Was selected by Port Adelaide at Pick 30. Here's a bit of what Knightmare wrote up about him pre-draft: Mason Shaw (WA KPF) Height: 197cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/01/1994 Recruited from: South Fremantle Style: Kurt Tippett Player comparison: Range: 15-45 Profile: Strong marking key forward. Has a presence, marks out in front and can take a contested grab. Had a sensation 2011 season scoring 66 goals which is a great return for the young key forward. Has good accuracy from both general play and set shot attempts. Also Shaw is a serious big game player kicking 7 goals in the grand final which is a big return and shows potential to continue being a big game player into the future. Good finisher around goal and in general play. Endurance very good for a key forward. Has played in the ruck but I most like Shaw as a key forward and see that as the position where he can impose himself on matches most as a big marking target. Kicked over 20 goals in the SANFL (Reserves/seniors combined) in both 2013 & 2014 despite missing several games each year. Struggled to get on the park this year. Over the course of his three seasons he's mainly played key forward/relief ruck and sometimes specialist ruck, collecting over 20 hit outs on a couple of occasions and also kicked between 4 - 6 goals on a few occasions. Now a few players have been mentioned for the 2nd ruck/forward role like Josh Walker,Casboult etc. But this is a kid with real upside that we could land for nothing. Another WA boy, so Hoges may enjoy sharing the forward line with Mason. I for one would love to see Melbourne go down this path. Wonder what others, especially supporters in South Australia who may have watched him in action think?

This is horrid if true!

Look, in isolation, Melksham to the Dees doesn't bother me to much. But given the whole WADA thing i'd really rather us not go anywhere near him. Not worth the risk.

9th in their B&F, but I'm still not a fan. Many others I'd rather before him.

Yep, Moore's on my shopping list for the off season. Could be a real valuable utility. In our 22 if you ask me.

Hope Melksham stays put. Wouldn't want him for anymore then 2 years and for no more then a 3rd round pick. Bye the sounds of it, we've offered him at least 3 and Essendon want more then our 3rd rounder. Lets hope Essendon give him the extra year and that ends it all.

1. The only way he would be in our best 22 would be if he was the only player we traded in and we let go of all of Howe, Watts & Grimed.2. As for suspensions the 34 will get. The time served ship has sailed. Good chance they'll get a season at least.

What a great night! The Hawks get smashed. Frawley plays a putrid game. Viney, McDonald & Hogan make top 5 in our B&F And most important, the article referencing us to the Melksham trade has been amended to another club!

Not a fan at all. If true, given it's a weak draft it wouldn't bother me to much as long as it's no more then a 3rd round pick. But personally i don't want any of the Essendon 34.

And is currently out of favour. Contracted players get traded all the time.

DELIST: Cross Jamar McKenzie Bail Riley Terlich (re-rookied) PROMOTE OFF ROOKIE LIST: Vandenberg Harmes RETAIN AS ROOKIES: King White MOVE OUT THROUGH FREE AGENCY: Garland TRADE OUT: Howe Grimes Dawes Fitzpatrick TRADE IN: Daniel Gorringe Aaron Hall Patrick Karnezis David MacKay Josh Walker DELISTED FREE AGENT: Daniel Markworth NATIONAL DRAFT: Three selections in top 30. 1st & 2nd round picks plus Garland compo. ROOKIE DRAFT: First round pick only.

Heard from a good source that he'll be gone at years end.

Nice win by the Aussies in the end to finish off a disapointing series. Very odd way the whole thing played out, we had the two leading run scorers and thre eof the top 4 wicket takers for the series, yet loose the Ashes? Haddin's drop of Root on the first morning could wel have been the critical point of the whole series. New era under Smith will begin now starting with the tour of Bangladesh. So will be interesting to see what the makeup of the team will be? Think it may be along the lines of: Cameron Bancroft (seems a lock to make his debut) David Warner (vice captain) Joe Burns/Usman Khawaja (not sure which will get the nod. Personally I think Burns has a better game/balance between defence & attack.) Steve Smith (captain, number 4 suits better.) Adam Voges/Peter Handscomb (Voges saved his spot for now with two half centuries in his last two innings. Poor series in Bangladesh will see Handscomb debut IMO.) Mitch Marsh/Glenn Maxwell (All rounder spot should become rotatable I reckon. Seaming wicket Marsh, spinning wicket Maxwell. So in Australia, England. South Africa, New Zeland - Marsh, Asia & Windies Maxwell) Peter Nevill (will be given a run as keeper, although I'm not convinced yet. Wade & Ludeman breathing down his neck.) Mitchell Johnson (lead the attack. Eye should be on 2017/18 Ashes swansong. Starc as the standbye Mitch.) Pat Cummins/James Pattinson (whichever is fit at the time. Will be good to see Cummins.) Peter Siddle (I'd have him as a lock in the XI for his control. Hazlewood & Sandhu should keep the heat on, but Sidds has it for now.) Nathan Lyon (easily our best spinner. Agar, Zampa & Muirhead need to show something.)

I know we're right on top. But Mitchell Starc's bowling today has been concerning. He's all over the place at the moment. I suspect this may be the last time they play the two left arm quicks together (baring injuries). Better balance may be Johnson, Siddle, Cummins.

And now the other retiree Rogers has dropped Bell also. Much harder chance, but this is getting a joke. But thankfully now Bell is out anyway caught by Clarke. Odd last 20min!

Clarke drops one in his final test. Hope it isn't costly....

Siddle gets the 1st wicket of the 2nd innings. I'm telling you, he's back!

Looks like Clarke is enforcing the follow on for the first time. Rogers & Warner not racing off at the end of the innings as per usual. We may not see Clarke or Rogers bat again....

I said this after the 3rd test I think, but with Harris having retired, Siddle is now very important for the team balance. He not as exciting or as dangerous as a Pattinson, Cummins, Hazlewood, Strac etc but he's a very important role player. If Siddle's in the team bowling line & length it allows Johnson & our other quick (suspect it will be Cummins in Bangladesh) to attack thanks to the pressure being built at the other end. Hazlewood on the other hand in the first 4 tests who was suppose to be playing that role was leaking runs. Personally, I think Siddle is an automatic selection until Hazlewood can do it consistently at Shield level (which he pretty much does already) but also try and do a similar think in the ODI's with Starc & Faulkner.

Could be on the money there Macca. Can see Bancroft opening with one of Khawaja or Burns at 3. Mitch Marsh really has struggled this series with the bat. Given the next series is in Bangladesh, I wonder if the selectors decide to go horses for courses and select Glenn Maxwell in the all rounders role. Not only for his spin bowling, but he's also a very good player of spin.

Had been a good session up until that last over. 4/89 in a session, but we're just about at 400 on a track that's going to turn. Lets hope Smith & the tail can add a few and get us into a strong position.

Another low score for Mitch Marsh, but great patient 100 for Smith. Dead rubber, but good to see him make a ton just before he's due to take over the captaincy.

76 for Voges, out to a ball that kept low, and it's only Day 2! Wonder if that score is enough to hold his spot for Bangladesh?

Been a good day so far from the Aussies. Shame Warner couldn't get 100, but if we were offered 2/184 at Tea on Day 1 after being sent in, you'd take it every day of the week! Clarke looking solid so far also. Lets hope we can convert this start into a score of 400+ and at least try and finish this horror of a series off with a win.