Rogue

That's exactly how I read Clarke's comments; backing the incumbent teammate, like Aus captains always do. They even back the guys that have been dropped! Just google comments about Mitch Johnson being a matchwinner who is important, will no doubt be back to his best soon as he has a role to play, blah blah I don't think Wade has 'set the world on fire', but his batting average - which you suggested was low - is higher than the batting average of Haddin and Paine... 'If it's allowed'?

I think that's a bit inaccurate; Michael Clarke's ODI strike rate is 79, while Wade's strike rate is currently 74. Anyhow, I imagine Wade's strike rate will increase, given his domestic strike rate is above 80, as Wade gets used to international cricket and is able to settle in a particular batting position. An average of 40 is pretty respectable, and the fact he attained it on pitches difficult for batting makes it even better. Brad Haddin's career test average is 36. Fwiw, Paine averaged 36 in his four Tests and averages 32 at first-class level; Wade averages 40 at domestic level. What do you mean by that? Clarke's hardly going to sack his mate via the press, while he's the incumbent MIA because his daughter has cancer. I wouldn't read too much into Clarke giving his good mate and NSW teammate Brad Haddin some encouragement in the press.

No mention of Wade's 100? Haddin's return becomes increasingly unlikely... On that note, anyone know what the 'personal issues' are that mean he's not playing at the moment?

No.

I do.

When you're pretty much at rock bottom you can't get much worse.

I like Lyon and reckon he's probably a pretty good Coach, but if he'd stayed at St Kilda an extra year or two he'd probably have ended up on the coaching scrap heap; he chose a good time to switch clubs.

Haha.

We definitely don't have enough midfielders who aren't good enough to get a game at decent teams.

Three weeks in and we're already looking forward to draft picks? Phwoar.

I demand some shuffling of the deck chairs.

Only from 2010, it seems. Yeah, I can't see it lasting long.

Definitely a stellar win, and you'd have to say it was an inspired declaration from Clarke. Yeah, I thought about that when I read that the tail wagged furiously in this game.

Every time Geelong and Hawthorn used the centre corridor I cried. Are you sure about that? I don't think his footy philosophy is a centre-corridor attacking plan.

Likewise.

I imagine MgDee is suggesting that Eddie had a hand in disseminating the info, not that Eddie was behind some machievellian scheme by which he persuades Polis to ruin his empire in order to 'get' the Dees

Hah. Nice image, Jaded. I wholeheartedly...disagree..

I'm glad we terminated.

Sheedy would have been worse IMO. DB gave us a decent crack at list renewal; Sheed's track record suggests he would have persisted with older players and traded in recycled players. Sheedy reportedly had a poor relationship with the players at Essendon, particularly the younger guys, and we wouldn't have been getting him for his game nous. Apart from 'entertainment value' - and I don't want a Coach to play the role of jester - I can't see why we should have hired Sheedy instead.

Ricky Petterd (leg) - test James Strauss (concussion) - test Jake Spencer (knee) - 1 week Lucas Cook (groin) - 2 weeks Liam Jurrah (wrist) - 3 weeks Colin Sylvia (back) - 3 weeks Neville Jetta (ankle) - indefinite Rory Taggert (back) - indefinite Michael Evans (back) - indefinite Max Gawn (knee) - season

Is Stynes bigger than the Club, and all that came before him?

Indeed. A standard membership just gives general admission entry entitlements plus the member perks (voting rights, scarf, etc).

Lyon's tribute to Jim Stynes:

Personally, I like the idea of Melbourne fans singing the Melbourne theme song before a game. You know, that one Stynes sang after every win he played in, the same song he loved getting Melbourne members to sing while linking arms at every single MFC event I went to while he was President (and normally more than once). Yeah, I'm happy with the true beating heart of Melbourne supporters being expressed as they sing that their heart beats true for the red and the blue...

...because people like getting outraged, and it prompts more readers/hits etc. I'm with RPFC. If anyone hasn't read the comments they might want to actually see what Aker said: Honestly, is it really that outrageous? Aker later said this to the Herald SunL