John Crow Batty

I'm glad to see him come over even for pick 25. I hear he is a pretty good boxer also.

At least he won't be over rated by supporters when he arrives unlike many before him.

No such thing as fair dinkum test cricket any more. Once it was an arm wrestle with ebb and flow for how long it took and battled out to the finish, win, lose or draw. Now when one team gets the upper hand the other folds in a blink. This game is now [censored].

Do they post here?

He did his sums and worked out he could sell more newspapers and make more money if the bombers won.

Makes my face screw up to see that ratbag Murdoch as a supporter. He is the biggest cheese in controlling world sport but has done bugger all for us as far as I can tell. Shameless meddler only interested in power and making more money. If one deserves a punch in the nose for getting into people's space it is him.

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.

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?

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..