John Crow Batty

In the current game a 100 goal plus goal kicker is a bit unrealistic. Last happened in 2008 for any club. Though Hogan is as good a bet as anyone to get there someday.

We need to knock off at least five. One or two per season will still keep us in limbo land.

IRISH GHOST STORY This story happened a while ago in Dublin , and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Bradford, a Dublin University student, was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm. The night was rolling on and not a single car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped. John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door, only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on. The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life. Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of nowhere through the window, and turned the wheel. John, paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him. Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength; he jumped out of the car and ran to it. Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had. A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying. And he wasn't drunk. Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark and stormy night. They, like John, were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other ... "Look Paddy ... there's that fooking idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!!!"

First post on this topic and I pigeon hole this sad episode to the era in the recent past where every recruiting gambit was a [censored] up on top of [censored] up. I hope since Roos has come it it wont happen again. Last seasons recruiting was very encouraging. I hope the line in the sand is permanent.

The only problem I have with him the moment is the lack of his signature on the contract waiting for him at head office.

If any one is interested Chan Phat grocery in Victoria St, Richmond is selling bananas for $1.29 per kilo. I bought a few kilos for myself and a couple for the local possums. How wonderful.

Dead meaningless game in a dying version of cricket. Woeful bowling including 16 wides. Complete form reversal allows former feckless poms to breeze to over 300. Aussies overwhelming favourites with the bookies. Somehow expected this before the start of the game. Why an I so cynical?

FFS a first year player thrown to the wolves. In a good side he would be still developing in the VFL. On schedule to be another ruined high draft pick. I hope the new regime wil save him from oblivion.

1964 was the year of the century. We lived two blocks from the MCG on Powlett St and the weather girl from Channel 9 boarded upstairs. Graham Kennedy was an occasional visitor to the house. And the other Chinese student boarder used to keep live lobsters in the bathtub. Plus we had fire crackers to play with and a premiership. Life was never the same after 64.

Wow, that is some seriously expensive roast pig. Who can afford that these days? Nah! better not mention any names.

Only have to go as far as Dan Murphy's.

Can't drink scotch anymore. Gives me too much of a sore head like our club. These days I'm into like the TV commercial "el tranquilo" feeling. A fine Cuban Rum like Havana Club or Santiago De Cuba. Or if I feel like singing a few verses of What shall we do with a Drunken Sailor then Pusser's Navy Rum from the Virgin Islands does the job.

I got fantastic news. Bananas are now only $9.99 a kg at Chan Phat's otherwise known as Fat Chance grocery in Victoria St, Richmond. No kidding.

Jeez did they get Thomas out of the filths craws?

I have a niggling feeling. Don't know why but sometimes I think we wont see much more of Flash in red and blue.

All this obsession with bananas and voyeuristic tendencies. I"ve seen you peeking. Monastic life is not good.

Want to know a bargain? Buy banana chips. Only 4.99 a killo at Woolies or even cheaper at Preston Market..

When are all you mad monks going to break your vows of silence and return to the real world?

Suburban pokie venues are soulless mausoleums where one goes to get euthanised. How can anyone have a good time when it's populated by only the lonely doing their dough and all you hear is PING, PING, PONGO. The club should get out of the business or get a venue back to where the soul of the club resides that is the inner city, close to the MCG and near a tram and train line. And offer attractions that attract real supporters and not just suburban losers. I've lived in the Melbourne area most of my life and don't even know where Bentleigh is and never been to that other place Leighoak nor do I want to.

It amazes me why India will still not agree to 3rd umpire reviews. Supreme arrogance or something more sinister?

I don't think it would be a bad idea to get in some proven players with maturity, experience and form. Professional cricketers play a lot older than most sports. Some one in their late 20's can still have 10 good years in them. Gilchrist is a recent example. Hauritz is a player who's been around and still appears to be getting better. This youth stuff seems to be getting too PC. The Australian team has serious problems that appear long term. Leadership is one. Ponting has had it. Clark appears to be flaky and backsliding fast. As for other current team members who could lead? Hussey I'm not sure. Best bring in someone like Cameron White who is a proven performer and leader IMO. Perhaps a poison chalice for him but the team could not be any worse with him leading..

QUOTING DAPPA DAN As with most of these suggestions for fixture changes, there's an immediate merit to it. But then, a season isn't 11 games long. It's a marathon. If, say, we won our first 6 games... then went badly at the end of the year, I'd feel jibbed. Also... if you think it'll make the end of the season better, it'll almost certainly make the start of the season less important. Teams will be trying harder at the end of the year when their situation becomes clearer, and taking their foot off the gas at the start of the year. As with most of these suggestions, the league will only change them when MADE to... Like when new clubs come in. I love the idea that it'll stay a final 8, even though that's less than half of the teams in the league.

I think you misunderstood me. I don't advocate a conference system but want to see the current very long season and finals system improved. I want to see action at all stages of the footy season. I want to see teams sitting at 10, 11, 12 and so on at midseason having a real crack in the later half of the year. The draft system rewards mediocre teams for tanking. Offering a wildcard for the top performing team that finishes below seventh from mid to end of the season is of far more value and interest. It would develop a secondary race for a finals spot that could create enormous interest and genuine competative games at the lower levels. It may also scare a few of the top clubs too.

Thanks Dapper for the info. In response to Benno, the teams play each twice in their division then play the balance of games against teams(once) from other divisions and also I believe the other conference too. Not sure of the exact details or fixture formula. As for the wildcard system, I believe it could have merit for our comp and is worth investigating even for academic interest alone. For example the best performed team that finishes below seventh for the second half of the season gets the eigth wilcard sport irrespective to where they finish on the ladder. Thsi will provide incentive for lower ranked teams and slow starters to play out the season in full and also fuel interest. Could not be any worse than the current system and will also discourage tanking to a degree.

Which was the last Wildcard team to win the Superbowl? Was it the Oakland Raiders but that seems a long time ago?