(NOTE - the following information was taken (pirated!!!) from Flintoff & Dunn's web site.
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Only the most optimistic 'Banana Bender' would have expected the Queensland Rams to come home with the Claxton Shield last season, but you only need to read the record books to see that they did indeed "take it all" at Blacktown 2003!

There will be no "surprise packet" element about them this season,
but there is an age-old boxing saying that "it is one thing to know what is coming, but it is another thing altogether to stop it!"
This may be true about the 2004 Rams as they try to retain the Claxton Shield.

One thing we like about them straight away is the few changes that their squad has suffered and that the nucleus of their winning team will be back to defend their hard-earned title.

No offence to Debert or Smith, but the only really significant absences from their winning team will be Brad Dutton and Daniel Paradise.
Brad Dutton was a revelation to AMLB in 2003 when the 19yo infielder "mugged" unwary pitchers to own a .333 average from his near maximum at bats for the tournament.
Similarly, Daniel Paradise played a very important role as a situational lefty reliever for David Nilsson last year when he got some key outs and did not concede an earned run.
In 7 AMLB appearances from the 2002 and 2003 Claxton's, Paradise owned a 0-0, 2.25ERA record.
Ex-patriot American Brian Debert left Blacktown 2003 with a 0-1, 10.80ERA record and while he won't be helping the Rams to retain the Shield he may well be in action with the Australian Provincials at Blacktown 2004?
Smith has yet to make his mark on AMLB.

Once again, without disrespect to those four abovementioned, the potential of the inclusions should more than compensate for those missing from the 2004 squad.

Of course, it would not take anyone who was studying the rosters long to stumble across by far the biggest name in Australian baseball history - DAVID NILSSON
The name alone is almost enough to strike fear into opposing teams because the former major league star has been synonymous with AMLB Championships, winning three ABL titles with Daikyo Dolphins, Brisbane Bandits and Waverley Reds, then coaching Queensland to the 2003 Shield!
Although some would argue that specialist reliever Graeme Lloyd has some claims with his World Series rings, it is not untrue to say that David Nilsson is (or was) Australia's one and only genuine star in the US major leagues.
The only evidence needed for this was his selection in the 1999 MLB All-Star game when he was No.1 catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hardly surprising that he also has no peer in the AMLB record books as he compiled an extraordinary .356 career average from 242 appearances.
Nilsson also captained Australia to our 1999 Intercontinental Cup triumph and in our 2000 Sydney Olympic games campaign.
So my friends the credentials speak for themselves, the only quandary... and it is not an insignificant one... is how much of the "old Nilsson" can we expect from the battle-weary 34yo in 2004?
Truth is that, apart from some fleeting efforts to resurrect his career, Nilsson has not fired a serious shot in baseball since the 2000 Olympic Games and this seems an eternity ago!
Still, David Nilsson knows better than anyone else what he is up against in AMLB and this stage holds few fears for him.
He would back himself against the best that Australia has to offer and, if he is anywhere near 75% of his greatness, he will make opposing pitchers take a very deep breath when he strides to the batters box.
We have no idea where Nilsson will play, although we hear that he won't catch, but even as DH his presence alone will bring a boost to the Queensland team and to the Championships in general.
Whatever happens it will be great to see him back in action and it will be a tremendous source of interest for Australian baseball fans.
The best opponents can hope for is a last minute injury or a change of mind from the "great man" and, dare we say it, we wouldn't bet against either of those outcomes!!
We wish him every success and hope that he can lead us into Athens 2004!

What a shame it is for Brett Roneberg that David Nilsson chose this season to make his long-awaited comeback to AMLB because, if it were not for him, the return of this quality player would have been heralded almost as much!
OK, we're not implying that Roneberg captures the imagination or has a reputation to match Nilsson, but serious Australian baseball fans have been keenly awaiting his return to the Claxton Shield stage.

Apart from playing in the "boutique" IBLA in 2001, we have not seen Brett since he played with the 1998 Brisbane Bandits when he was a standout teenage prospect.
The youngster batted a very impressive .292 in 113 ABL games.

Of course we do not forget that he was also a key player for Australia in Sydney during both the 1999 Intercontinental Cup and at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Still just 24yo, Roneberg continues to forge a successful pro career in the States where he has played as high as 'AAA' with the Florida Marlins organisation and he has since played at 'AA' with the Montreal Expos and, in 2003 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 2004 he is off to try his luck with the Boston Red Sox.

This classy left-hander will quickly remind people what a real talent he is!

Apart from Nilsson and Roneberg, Queensland will also bolster their batting stocks with the return of Ben Foster, Adam Pearce, Michael Simpson and Adam Wardrop.
A utility / catcher, Foster owns a career .264 average from 123 AMLB games.
Outfielder Adam Pearce once batted .313 for the 1998 Brisbane Bandits and he owns a career average of .257 from 92 games.
Michael Simpson also batted a gaudy .364 for the 1998 Bandits and he has batted .250 from 33 games.
Adam Wardrop owns a career .241 average from 129 games and he had played professional baseball with the California Angels organisation.
These players will all bring solid bats and added experience to the Rams' clubhouse.

The Rams have also stiffened their bullpen from 2003 with the inclusion of Matt Gahan, Paul Mutch and Wayne Ough who each have pro experience and the IBLA's Pitcher of the Year for 2000 in Brett Baker.
Matt Gahan owns a 1-0, 0.00ERA record from the 2001 IBLA and he played 'A' ball with the New York Mets in 2002 for a 2-1, 5.91ERA record.
Paul Mutch has a 6.95ERA from 11 AMLB games up to 2002 and he pitched for a 0-1, 3.33ERA record in 18 games for the Minnesota Twins Rookie league team in 2003.
Wayne Ough last appeared in AMLB with the Brisbane Bandits in 1998 where he owned a 1-0, 11.68 record but he has been on the rise with the New York Mets, pitching 7-5, 2.86ERA in 'A' ball during 2003.
We don't know why Brett Baker has not been sighted since the 2001 IBLA after he stunned the 2000 Claxton Shield with his incredible 1-1, 0.47ERA record.
Queensland would love him to maintain that ERA!
We can't comment too much about Brad Purcell or Rod Wodson.
Purcell was quite impressive pitching in Melbourne Division One baseball during the 2002/03 summer and he pitched in an Independent League during 2003 for an 8-5, 2.97ERA record with the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The Conclusion
We've already apologised to our Victorian compatriots for tipping them to miss the final this year, but then we were comparing their overall experience against the Queensland batting and (it's no secret!) NSW pitching!
While the Vics have some fine young prospects, they don't have the (major league) names to match Nilsson and Durrington, or our 2003 Hall-Of-Fame inductee Paul Gonzalez.

Then you add Brett Roneberg to the guys who did so well last year and the Queensland Rams should be able to put up some serious numbers!

Albeit for the heroics of P.J Bevis in February 2003, we still have a small question mark against Queensland's pitching.
They have added some handy arms to their bullpen, but they still don't have those one or two proven "big dogs" to take the mound and virtually ensure a couple of solid starts.
We do not make light of their performances in 2003, but they may need to reproduce those and "ride their luck" with a lot of set-up and relief guys to get the job done.
On paper, NSW has no such problems and this is why we are tipping them to "take the bacon" in 2004.

But then, followers of 'Flintoff & Dunn' will point to the fact that we also tipped the Patriots to win it in 2003... so who knows!?

We just reckon that the Rams might fall one game short of retaining their Shield this year, but if their batting really fires and it allows them to "nurse" some strong arms into the finals, then their offensive arsenal will always give them a big chance in any game...
and who in their right mind would bet against David Nilsson grabbing his 5th AMLB title?

Where Are You?
KLAE CALVERT - An experienced US Independent League "journeyman" who owned a 8-5, 3.94ERA record with North Shore Spirit in 2003. He may have given the Rams the "innings eater" they are looking for?
KEVIN JORDAN - We assume that the naturalised former US major leaguer would have been eligible and perhaps even able to play for Australia at the 2004 Olympics? After drifting out of the majors and 'AAA' ball over the past couple of years, Jordan batted .286 in a US Independent League this season.