Macca

If Detroit can get at Rodgers they've got a big chance - he had a couple of concussions last year but this year he's hardly been touched . The Packers protect him better now but Detroits defensive line is very good ( if they're all healthy ) . There's a few QB's that have gone down lately so fingers crossed . All 3 games are beauty's hey - I'm picking Miami ! And the Ravens by a field goal ! If the 49ers can win this then the no.1 seed might be their's . And if the Saints beat the Giants and the Eagles beat the Pats ................................

Nice bracket of tunes the H_T . Some good Aussie stuff in there - we've produced some great bands over the years hey ! A lot of us have been brought up on Pub Rock which is a very Australian thing . Lost count on who I've seen live !

Macca 3.0

We never play enough Tests in a series against the South Africans which is a shame . And it isn't going to change in the foreseeable future . Though it looks like we might play them more frequently . Obviously the fact that both our summer's clash is a major issue , but they should find a way to play 4 or 5 test series ( home and away ). The 2 big stumbling blocks are the T20 Champions league every September and the IPL in April / May every year . Here's the link to the "Future tours" program . http://icc-cricket.y...ch_zone/ftp.php Interestingly , we host South Africa late next year for 3 Tests and we're in South Africa in early 2014 for another 3 Tests . The "Future tours" program is adjusted from time to time though . Another major item is that we're in England for 5 Tests in 2013 and play them again a couple of months later for 5 Tests in the Summer of 2013/14 .

Great win by the Aussies and hats off to Punter , Haddin , Johnson and Khawaja for some well played knocks . I've advocated change and still do despite the memorable win . At some stage we will have to move on from our current line up though injuries will play a part in the short term . Cummins and Uzzie prove somewhat that youth is the go and we need to stay on this path - albeit incrementally . Reckon another young quick should be blooded against the Kiwi's . Cutting is the smoky for Brisbane though Pattinson , Starc and Hazelwood have strong claims . With maybe Watson and Marsh out injured it gives us a chance to blood a new batsman - Warner seems to be the next cab off the rank according to the selectors . Worth a punt IMO . Paine and Wade are terrific prospects as Keepers but they may have to bide their time for now . Fantastic win by the Team and if we were offered a series win against the Sri Lankans and a drawn series vs the South Africans I think many of us would have taken it . Inverarity , Marsh , Bichel , Arthur and Clarke have a few very interesting meetings coming up !

Macca 2.9

Cutler out for at least 6 weeks apparently so the Bears might be in a bit of strife now . Detroit should be able to take advantage in the wild card race Watched my Packers this morning and Tampa took it right up to em' ! The Eagles had a great win with Vince and though it's gonna be tough , they're only 2 games back and ANYTHING can happen in that division . Any more losses and you'd reckon it's curtains for Philadelphia but while there's life there's hope . Your blokes , the 49ers just keep powering on - well coached obviously and Alex Smith is way better than solid . I'm getting a liitle concerned esp if you get the no.1 seed - The Pack have got some tough games coming up so it will be interesting . Atlanta might be the smoky's and the Bengals had a dip but it's once again looking like the Ravens or Pittsburgh for the AFC North . Oakland seem to back in business but who knows in that division ! Tebow certainly knows how to win and surely the Chargers will fire up soon ? Hoping Matt Schaub gets back soon because I'd like to see the Texans in amongst it in post season . KC are at New England tomorrow - go Chiefs ! ( if only to keep both divisions keenly fought )

Macca 2.8

Macca 2.7

Macca 2.6

Yep , and he's 18 . He's got McDermott as his Coach at international level as well , which might help him develop a good outswinger . Early doors but you'd reckon he will get quicker and better with maturity - huge prospect .

Macca 2.5

Really good video Wyl - I often wish I could travel back and see some of our past stars - Ivor Warne-Smith and Percy Beames are 2 that stand out - did you know that Beames was arguably B.O.G in the 39' , 40' and 41' Premiership sides ? Equivalent of 3 Norm Smith medals yet the average footy fan has probably hardly ever heard of him . Barassi was also reported as our best player in at least 2 winning Grand Final teams . Btw I heard a good track from the "Stones" 2005 album "A Bigger Bang" - song's called "Rain Fall Down"

Macca 2.4

Yeah , great show - Steve Buscemi as "Nucky Thompson" is great and has really grown into the role - production values are second to none as well . "Killing Time" is an Aussie crime/drama mini-series worth a look - more underworld stuff set in the last few decades - might have been shown earlier this year but I've just caught up with it .

Macca 2.3

Every week there's surprises hey ! What is it with the Ravens ? Though Seattle do surprise - they beat the Giants in New York a month ago . Houston had another big win at Tampa - This could be their year - their next 3 games will tell a tale - @ Jags , vs Atlanta , @ Cinci San Francisco had a great win as well - it's all about which number seed now - 1 or 2 is my pick . Philadelphia - disappointing - they'll probably beat the Giants next week now . Dallas , Chicago and the Pats are back in business it seems . The Saints also had a big win and should win the NFC South now . Pittsburgh had an important win but the Bengals were good . And that AFC West is anybody's guess - Oakland now ? Who knows or is that Who knew ! Go figure ! 8 and 7 on the tips - Need the Packers to win to stay above 500 !

Macca 2.2

With regards to Ricky Ponting - he's been a truly great player and in some ways should be able to retire on his own terms - they should have a chat to him and maybe arrange a "farewell" Test . Like all great players he doesn't know the meaning of the word "Quit" so this may not be possible . One major issue is that if it's the selection committee that sits down with Punter , this will include Michael Clarke ( If Pup opts out then .......) I don't agree with the Captain being a selector because of issues like these . Btw - getting dropped is not always the end - I will stand corrected on this one but I usually don't stick my neck out before checking the relevent facts - The great Glenn McGrath was dropped 5 times in his 1st 9 tests ! I am not absolutely sure whether he might have been injured once or twice in that time period but I don't remember this being the case . And re Alex Keath - I'd rather the Vics play as many young blokes as is reasonably possible and take our chances on winning the Shield .Of course , they can't all be young blokes but lets face it - the Vics don't produce too many Test players these days .

We won the World cup in 1987 with a lot of that 86/87 team so maybe that was the turning point .Strangely enough we never got to see that triumph live as Ch9 didn't show the 2nd half of the Match - they did show highlights at about 10.30pm that night . The only place we found that it was "on" was the "Whale's" pub in South Melbourne - couldn't get in ! And , I'm with you on those 3 you mentioned - though Hughes is still very young .

And Rhino , how about you post your team as well - the team I posted is a going forward team - Whilst Hussey keeps making runs he has to stay .

Ok - here goes Marsh Watson Khawaja Warner - is next cab off the rank according to the selectors . Clarke Hussey Paine - when fit or Wade if not . Harris Pattinson - was in the Sri Lankin Test squad Cummins Beer / Lyon or "pluck a leggie from somewhere" Experience - Harris , Clarke , Watson , Hussey - Marsh and Paine are 27 I believe so they're hardly youngsters . Out of the team go Ponting , Haddin , Johnson , Siddle , Hughes , Punter deserves a "farewell test" Hughes , Johnson and Siddle can all get back in if form warrants it . The current team has two 36yo's , a 34 yo , a 32yo , and three 30yo's - it's not a young team . To be fair - post your team . A lot of the 86/87 team played in the 89 team - one got thrashed , the other did the thrashing .Check the lineups through cricketarchive.com Edit - The 11 that I picked is a team "Going forward" - A Future 11 - possibly by the end of the Indian Tests .

Yeah good tune isn't it H_T - it's grown on me after 6 or 8 listens - Nothin wrong with a bit of "Pop Rock" ! Frozen planet looks good btw - will have a look .

Who knows and you may be right but ....... I remember that series well and don't remember feeling very confident about the Team going forward - if you remember there was a lot of doom and gloom about . 1989 changed all that and still goes dowm as one of my most enjoyable series . 1989 Team btw was dubbed "One of the worst ever" by the English media ! ( prior to the series of course ) As an aside , why aren't the Vics playing Alex Keath in the Shield Team - gotta give the kid a chance . NSW are constantly ahead of the Vics in this area and it somewhat explains why so many of them play Test cricket .

Yes we've blooded a few but my point was that the current 11 is very similar to the one thrashed by England . It seems they started to bite the bullet then revisited again . Not sure about the "learn from it" bit either . You throw in the 40% bit as if that's how much the side has changed since the Ashes - The current side is only about 20% different and Lyon for Beer is hardly ground breaking - and they've replaced a new player ( Khawaja ) ( who played in the last Ashes Test ) for Marsh . So I'd argue that it's much the same side - almost identical !. Khawaja should never have been dropped and Haddin should have been moved on a fair while ago . Ponting is a tricky one as he is a "Great" As for the Bowlers - only Harris can hold his head up The reality is that we should have been slowly but surely blooding new players way before last years Ashes series . Not a hindsight comment either as I've been saying this for years - youll have to trust me on that one ! Anyway , we're just about on the same page in most area's here . Nuggets