hardtack

You need to explain it because the effects of the radiation and the risk and likelihood of illness are very real in Fukushima and its immediate surrounds. I'm surprised you even asked that question. Yes, there was an initial fear of radiation being blown in the direction of Tokyo by prevailing winds, but this was not a result of fear mongering by "lefties with an agenda", it was a genuine fear borne out of the lack of information being disseminated by TEPCO and the Japanese Govt. simply put, no one knew just how bad the situation was in Fukushima and what sort of levels of radiation were being spilt. My brother-in-law lives in Kawasaki just to the south of Tokyo, and he expressed concern for that very reason. He had a friend from Sendai staying with him who had been displaced by the tsunami. But who also had very real fears about radiation. The potential for serious health problems for those living close to the reactor at the time of the events IS very real...the fact that you can simply dismiss it astounds me.

I was at the game. As I said, he made some kicking errors, but he also put some good kicks into the forward line. He is inconsistent, but then again, so is Howe with his set shots and McKenzie and Grimes and a few others with their kicking in play. I thought Spencer put in a very serviceable game and was far from being our worst player afield.

My type? I challenge you to find anything that I have written that states I am against nuclear energy. This is the problem I have with the likes of you BH, you go off half cocked and make ridiculous assumptions. And it is very apparent that you do not even bother to read what others post, in much depth. If you did, you would be very aware of the fact that although there are currently no reports of major illness, the predictions are that there will be serious illness manifesting itself in years to come (or do you discount Stanford University as having some anti nuclear barrow to push?). As I said, if you think the radiation in Fukushima is not posing any threat, you must think those working on the site of the plant, and those who evacuated the area, must be deluded. You are so up with the facts that you couldn't discern between the effect of radiation on Tokyo and the effect of radiation on Fukushima quite some considerable distance north of Tokyo near Sendai - an area I have spent some time in myself and so I am aware of the geography.

If Cloke isn't a higher priced proven player, then I don't know who is. He is exactly what we need right now as has been evidenced by our recent form once a key forward goes down with a long term injury. We have recently been getting the ball inside 50 on numerous occasions, only to fall at the last hurdle. There is no reason we cannot get Cloke and a couple of proven mids... and I'm really not keen on this idea of looking for cheaper, lesser known players; we are definitely not in any position to gamble on unknown quantities any more. In the wash up, that can end up costing us just as much as if we had spent the extra getting a Cloke or a Boak.

Where's the "hate this" button when you need it? If I recall correctly, there was just a very slight difference in the hit outs and possessions, and of the two, Spencer got all of the kudos in the media. His kicks were a mixed bag, but that's no different to a number of our players.

Are you really that stupid BH? Why would anyone be concerned about radiation sickness in Tokyo...or is that the extent of your knowledge of Japan, and you consider all parts of Japan to be in spitting distance of Tokyo? I am talking about Fukushima and its environs. Fukushima is not simply a nuclear reactor...it was a city that had a reasonably sizable population until it was evacuated due to, yes, radiation levels being too dangerous for people to remain. There have been a number of people already taken away from the site because their bodies have absorbed the maximum amount of radiation one should be exposed to in a lifetime. I suppose you consider those workers at the site to be nancy boys because they wear protective clothing? I suggest you accompany Ding to show those bed wetting locals how safe it really is, and how they have been duped into believing it might actually be dangerous to their health to remain in their homes.

I think you might want to check out the "Last time they met" thread... you will find that there are only 8 of that 22 (9 if Jamar passes muster) who are likely to be playing this week.

As was I :-)

The way he is pilloried on these forums, would say a few would have him burning at the stake rather than on the field; hmmm, perhaps Cook is an appropriate name?

He is worth whatever the clubs believes it can afford to pay him. Yes, he would be ineffective in a poor side, which is precisely why we are saying that we should also be targeting a couple of good mids to compliment him... even if we don't fill all of our positional requirements this year, I would still prefer we get Cloke now while he is available because once he is gone he is gone for good and we will still be relatively impotent up forward regardless of the number of class mids we recruit.

Which is why we need to get him now, while he is available. Yes, we need the kind of delivery that he is used to getting at the Pies, but it doesn't matter how much quality delivery we are giving to the forwards, if there is no-one there capable of using it well. I'm confident that the recruiting people at the MFC are well aware of this and will be targeting a big effective forward (Cloke) as well as a couple of established and proven quality mids.

Then perhaps you should go over and spend some time in Fukushima to set all of our minds at ease that the levels are not dangerous (seems all of those bed wetting locals don't want to resettle anytime soon - perhaps you could allay their fears?). From the Wiki page dedicated to the Fukushima disaster:

Do you really think that the effects of exposure to radiation are instantaneous? The real impact will be seen in years to come and in generations to come. Maybe you also believe that the deaths in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a direct result of the bomb and not of the subsequent radiation and that the birth deformities and illness were merely a coincidence? http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4185707/Hell-on-Earth.html

Is it possible this is out of deference to Murphy who is one of their panelists?

But would that stop him offering up a few opinions (to Neeld & Co) on players that might suit our needs?

No need to think up reasons as to why really... under Bailey we didn't draft him, so unless you have a time machine handy, no-one is going back to rectify that oversight/poor piece of judgement. All we can do is hope that Neeld and his team of recruiters will atone by being very aggressive in the trade period and make the best of FA, and that they will pick wisely in the draft; and by all accounts, that is exactly what they are planning to do. Fretting over the fact we didn't pick up Darling is a fruitless (and pointless) pastime.

Yes, I agree that we should amalgamate with Dahlhaus and Murphy.

Yep, spot on! To quote his profile on the GWS site: Jonathan spent four years on Port Adelaide’s senior list from 2006 until 2009 but missed selection in all four years. The other thing I would like to know is how many games Giles has played this season. Jake has a total of 15 games in his injury interrupted career with the MFC...does Giles have more?

Yes, you're correct...that's the bit I misinterpreted. Apologies.

And now out come all the comments about how he only really had one or two great games or plays... so, we are entering the denial stage even before he has left the building?

Yeah, that line "His attitude has been very positive and he was able to confirm his commitment to continue playing in the AFL with Melbourne., really gives the game away, doesn't it.

Yeah, and no one else here is ever critical of the MFC administration are they. With his history of injury and slow recovery as well as the shadow hanging over his future as a footballer, do you really believe that Collingwood are interested??? I truly believe that Rudeboy just wants to see Jurrah playing footy and I would think that he is quite aware that MFC is probably his best bet to see that happen.

You have no idea... and there is certainly no justification for your comment. Rudeboy has been active on these forums since that interview...but don't that get in the way of a good conspiracy.

Won't be playing when? I wouldn't have thought too many would have expected him to be playing AFL against the Giants this week, so unless you mean won't be playing for the MFC anymore, then I'm not sure why you are so disappointed.

I agree with this. And if we do land Cloke, he and Clark take the two main defenders out of play leaving two strong marking options in Jurrah and Rivers (three if Howe is played forward)...makes it harder for the opposition to man up on our forwards.