Macca

It's not always double footed in Soccer , Sloonie . What Thomas did is bookable in soccer . 3 game penalty and red carded . Hawthorn started this trend of "feet first" a few years ago . The AFL should have knocked it on the head then . Ducking into tackles is another worrying trend . Are the AFL going to wait for a horrible accident to occur before they do something about it ? Ping 'em for holding the ball , just like they used to do . We don't see "kicking in danger" much anymore since it became a reportable offence . Hands in the back doesn't happen as much either . Zero tolerance can often work . By the way , I understand yours and others point of view . It is coming across as reactionary by the League though I do think the AFL sent a DVD to the clubs on these type of tackles .

Yes , just like 'jumbo returns' , 5 - 6 weeks . That will put a stop to it . Head over the ball . Not feet first .

I'm totally with the AFL on this one . That sort of studs up tackle could end a players career . As it is Gary Rohan has a break fairly close to his ankle . In our game we don't go in feet first . Or is that somehow ok now ? In Soccer you get a 3 match ban and red carded for a studs up tackle . Even if you don't connect . Just imagine you were playing and you go to pick the ball up , then some opposition player comes flying in feet first and breaks your leg . It's a weak way of trying to get the ball . Incredibly dangerous . Just ask Gary Rohan . An accident ? More like an accident waiting to happen . Zero tolerance on this one . Put your head down and win the ball . Just like it's been done for over 100 years .

Yeah , you'll be happy now 'GTG' ! Schadenfreude ! Got a team that you might follow from here on in ? Don't tell us you hate 'em all ! I've jumped on the Bruins but failing that , maybe St Louis .

3rd Test , Roseau , Dominica ( part of the Windward Islands ) Might be the 1st time the Aussies have played at this venue . Beer and Pattinson (inj) are out for Starc and Harris . Pup won the toss again and we're batting . Early wicket ! Cowan out lbw (leaving one) for 1 .

And he's a Victorian ! Caught Gotye on SNL last weekend . Got some talent . http://www.billboard...arts/rock-songs Macca 7.8

Canucks out ! C'mon Bruins !

I heard the other day that only 3 out of 116 teams have come back from 3 nil deficits and won a playoff series . Think it was Tony Kornheiser on PTI who said it . On one of those 3 occasions it was Toronto , your team "GTG" , who came from 3 nil down to win the Stanley Cup from Detroit in 1942 . Well , even though the odds aren't great , the Penguins have forced a game 6 and I'm not giving up on Vancouver yet . Ya just never know . Anything can happen in this wild and crazy sport ! Tough luck there 'pantaloons' with those Sharks . Barry Melrose has given St Louis a big rap . The Blues could go all-the-way ! Game 5 , Canucks / LA Kings , Fox 2 today 10am EST .

Vell , ve are wery happy now . Prost !

Fair enough GTG . I'm guilty of that in the AFL so I can hardly talk !! Schadenfreude alive and well . Go Cunucks !

Hell mate . you're quick to have a go at everybody else's team . Your own mob stink . Toronto are not even in the playoffs and haven't been for years . You're not exactly in a position of strength hey ? The Maple Leafs choke before they even get to the dance floor . Now that's what I call choking . Oh , and maybe if your team had somebody of Crosby's talent you might make it to the last 16 instead of being the "Also-rans" that your lot are ! Cheers

Rest in peace Greg Ham . Very sad day . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJKl_kGWekM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHFI817dJbM

Yeah it's looking wide open for the playoffs . It's been a tightly packed regular season and some teams are feeling the pinch . My team the Phoenix Suns are making a late run for it but will need to win all their games to sneak in . Utah are currently 8th in the West . I still think Miami will win it but if they don't that will be the big story . All eyes are on King James , Wade and Bosh . Cheers

"South Street" by Brian Lenair . Another excellent saxophonist . Macca 2.9

Don't worry GTG , there's a lot of hate and grudges when it comes to Ice Hockey . Especially with all the goons and "legal" fights that go on . It never ceases to amaze me . Those Maple Leafs have got a rich history with Stanley Cup victories but they will need to start getting into the last 16 . Fans can get awfully impatient . My cousin reckons he can find a reason to hate every other team !! Might be the only sport in the world where this is the case . Apparently the ratings are up 50% in the States . This is probably due to the "Big City" teams being in it but there has to be a "Bit of biffo" factor yeah ? Did a little "look see" at the records of the 1 and 2 seeds for the last 10 completed years of the Stanley Cup . 21 of 40 teams didn't make it past the 2nd round ! Does that sound like I'm making an excuse for the Canucks ? You betcha ! Have to win tomorrow . Got a couple of mates who follow the Bruins and Penguins so there's other teams I've got an interest in . And those Sharks need a win pantaloons ! It's been great viewing so far - watched the Bruins win a beauty yesterday and game 4 of the LA / Canucks series is on Fox1 from midday tomorrow . C'mon Vancouver - do something !

A bit from Lewis Black http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8VoIP9ZM8U

Macca 7.7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8q8kB87APc

For whatever reason , it appears to me that our players aren't playing for the coach . Obviously I have no concrete proof but that's the way it appears . It could be that the players simply aren't up to it or they don't believe in the game plan or perhaps it's something else . What we do know is that our game plan is not even close to working . Shane Crawford said on the footy show that it could be a case of "Too much information" from Neeld . And he got support from Brown and Lloyd . Brownless was in Neeld's court . Malthouse is backing his man but of course he would . I have put my support behind the coach and haven't changed my stance - yet . And before people jump up and down it's important to remember that we are all allowed to change our mind - about anything . We have virtually no teamwork to our game plan . None that I can see anyway . To have 140 less uncontested possessions than Richmond is ridiculous . There are those who think that Neeld wants us to master step 1 first ( get the contested ball then generally boot it along the boundary ) . My opinion on that is thus - you can probably get a 4th division reserves EFL team to do this with 1 pep talk . Our blokes are professional sportsmen . Surely they can multi-task . Can we not use the corridor and not use handball ? How about some short passing to an open teammate? Switch of play? Gut running? Passing to a leading forward ? When are these parts of our game plan going to appear ? Going around the boundary is an outdated game plan anyway . And our players haven't the talent to pull it off - so what's the point ? Neeld needs to do a rethink on this boundary hugging style - it might be the toughest decision of his footy life . But he has to do it in my opinion . Get rid of the boundary hugging style - it won't work . Just let them play . Now , it may be that our players aren't up to it and so far , they've been ordinary . This may not improve even if we manage to play a way more attacking style of play . Right now I reckon most of us are just totally confused with what we're seeing . Except , perhaps , the crystal ball gazers . By the way , I like Neeld's no nonsense style . No complaints there . But ............the players and the coaching staff need to lift their game . So far , the large majority have been way less than average , based on the results and our style of play . People are talking of the team going zip and 11 . It's hard to disagree right now . If we get towelled up by the Dogs we are in serious trouble . cheers !

Clarke wins the toss and we're batting in the 2nd Test . Venue , Port of Spain , Trinidad . Harris and Siddle out for Pattinson and Beer . The last Test was a beauty with a terrific declaration by Pup . Nice to see 2 spinners operating in Test cricket though it's interesting that the Windies have only 1 in this Test . Shillingford the tallish right arm off break bowler coming in for Bishoo .

Of course . said players will have to want to come to our club . I did address that in a later post .#33 on this thread . You make a good point though Doc . Templeton and Moore did come to us in 1983 . I've heard Mike Sheahan describe that dual move as the biggest football story he broke ( or reported on )

Yeah , and the difference between now and the 70's and 80's is that (in theory) clubs can't get themselves into debt . The salary cap precludes this . If you're going to spend 8.4 million in salaries for your players , you may as well spend it on quality . We will have to pay 'overs' to get top class talent - That makes it tricky . All the more reason to go for best quality . Judd went to being easily the highest player at Carlton when he arrived . Look at the difference he has made to that club . Interesting times ahead .

Yes , I like this ! We can still win our division !

Well , we can send Eddie and Nathan off to the 'Easter Islands' . They'll probably look familiar to the locals so they'll fit right in . As for their fans . Stop all centrelink payments . The money we save can pay off the Greek national debt . We at Melbourne can help ease their salary cap pressure by offering Cloke a new home . That'll do for starters !

That's the spirit OD ! Demons in a shoot out . Big Mitch Clark will be the difference . This is of course , my optimistic view !