Unofficial Preview Changes v Giants

[PTizzle]

I think if we're dropping Fullarton after that game we clearly don't see a future for him as it was probably the best I've seen him play. Much better without needing to worry about rucking (and he doesn't offer much in there regardless).

I'd give Dizzy a spell and go with Adams/Andrews/Payne. Dev in for McCluggage if he doesn't pull up.

Answerth and Bailey were super poor but I would expect them to bounce back.

 

[On the quiet]

View attachment 1407052

For who? IF Gardiner got dropped (seriously doubt it), Payne surely plays ahead of Lester.

IMO Payne can take the 3rd tall (whist developing) with Adams and Andrews taking the two best forwards. Stated a few months ago that Carlton with their two tall forwards and De Koning resting forward, makes our backline appear a bit short without Payne. Some comments last night on TV about Carltons talls and their agility. Melbourne also play essentially 3 talls with either Gawn or Jackson playing significant time forward. Time to make the change so Payne is comfortable with the set up leading into finals. If he does not perform over the next couple of months, then Gardiner with all his experience can slot straight back for finals. I suppose another factor is if Gardiner has resigned to stay.

Payne, Prior and Fullarton should all be rewarded with a spot next week for their performances. Tom showed some aggression and took a couple of good marks and Prior really impressed and kicked some good goals.

If Gardiner out, then Payne back and Fullarton stays forward.
If Gardiner not out, then toss up between Payne and Fullarton forward, but as Payne is contracted until end of 2024 I probably would opt to play Payne forward.
Dev also in

 

[On the quiet]

Injuries are the biggest problem. Definately impacted us last finals without Dan McStay.

We saw how important he was. Can't understand how people are ok with the thought of him leaving. I'll be devastated as I think his contribution is critical to our forward line.

I prefer he stays, but not worth the reported $600K per season for his current Lions role. I remember only a year or two ago McStay was one of the whipping boys, and for the number of games he had played some of the criticism was probably justified. If McStay did go, I suppose after last night we have something to work with regarding Fullarton or Payne, both are good below their knees, Payne is fast and strong, Fullarton has a good leap on him.

 

[lionshine]

I think people are being harsh on Answerth as of late. The last couple weeks he has started to take some intercept marks again. Easy to forget he missed the entirety of last season and is still reigning form/touch. I think Answerth plays his role really well, for a team that can get opened up with overlap run/handballs, Answerth is one of the few players in our best 22 who has the pace, defensive nous and running ability/discipline to chase back hard and apply defensive pressure. If you watch closely, every time the opposition are surging forward in waves, it is usually Answerth and/or Berry chasing. I'd be very surprised if his position is in doubt.

With three games remaining before the bye, I'd say Clug misses the next month with the hammy and returns against the Demons post bye. In the meantime, I'd like to see Dev or T.Berry come in and get 3 straight games to build some form and prove their case to stay in the side. I'd hate for one to come in next week, look a little shaky, and get dropped the week after. It takes time when coming into the seniors to get up to pace. Give either one a three week block to show what they can add. My preference would be Dev but would love to see Tom get a shot as well.

Adams comes back in for Payne or Gardiner. Big fan of Dizz and believe he cops a ridiculous amount of unfair criticism, however, I am opening up to the idea that a backline of Andrews, Adams and Payne/Lester may serve us better. Payne due to the added versatility of being able to play on genuine talls and mid forwards or Lester due to his reliability.

Love what Lyons has added to our team since joining us but definitely seems to be even slower this season, could be his last year as a guaranteed best 22 player unfortunately. Still does a lot of things right but it frustrates the hell out of me how poor his defensive running is. If we weren't a top 4 side pushing for a flag I'd be prioritising games into Dev or Tom Berry over him.

 

[davemc_lions]

The other thing we not running out games well for a team that won 8.
We often take the foot off the pedal. Even yesterday started well then let them back
We won only 5 last.. Which puts us down the list

 

[knaf]

I think dev has talent and like him but also think he is getting a bit of halo currently from not being in the senior team. He’s not a consistent mid yet and while he did a decent job when given a run of games last year, it wasn’t world beating stuff.

As a young player that isn’t a problem as he has plenty of time to develop, I’m just not sure he will be the panacea that people seem to think he could be.

I accept your argument and your assessment that he hasnt proven he is a consistent AFL level player yet. He has time to develop, but I was thinking in terms of his current contract status and the need for the Eagles to rebuild. This is an opportunity to show him, he has a future at our club.

 

[McIvor]

Big O had a mare yesterday. Number of taps to no man's land or even worse, some taps straight to opposition. I was wishing he'd just punch the ball our way out of congestion. Didn't use that against Hawks for whatever reason.

Fort looked a lot better in the middle, trying to even win ground ball and send it our way.

Recruiting Darcy Fort was a very smart peace of business. I think he has t performed Oscar this year and if anything, Oscar to my untrained eyes is performing well below his 2019 - 2021 years. I know hes no Gawn but he just seems below his own PB of previous years and I feel Fort is out perfroming him, hence why his recruitment was excellent.

 

[briztoon]

I accept your argument and your assessment that he hasnt proven he is a consistent AFL level player yet. He has time to develop, but I was thinking in terms of his current contract status and the need for the Eagles to rebuild. This is an opportunity to show him, he has a future at our club.

I look at our midfield and Dev a little different.

I don’t believe Dev will come in and set the world alight. I expect he’ll play a role, that would allow Neale, McCluggage, Zorko or Rayner to do their thing. He also offers more pace and two way running and tackling through the midfield.

Last year when he played, he also played forward in a defensive role and on the wing a little, so it’s not like he’s a one truck pony.

We currently run 3 forward mids through the midfield, plus the lighter bodied McCluggage.

Outside of Neale and Lyons, Rayner and Berry are the only bigger bodies we have to throw in there, and Berry has been moved to more a wing role, because his shoulder is not up to constant bashing it receives when he plays on ball.

While Rayner is showing improvement, and his power to break through tackles is a weapon, he’s not really setting the world on fire yet.

If Rayner had the same game that game that Jai Newcombe did, everyone here would be frothing about him being the second coming of Petracca.

 

[T Rick]

In: Dev, T Berry, Adams, McStay, Lester
Out: Hugh, Fullarton, Prior, Payne, Gardiner

Changes I’d like to see

Prior was one of our best players and kicked 3 goals!

 

[KissKiss]

I think if we're dropping Fullarton after that game we clearly don't see a future for him as it was probably the best I've seen him play. Much better without needing to worry about rucking (and he doesn't offer much in there regardless).

He was much better but if McStay (or Daniher) are fit then he would go straight out for them. The only other option would be to give Hipwood a run in the VFL to find some touch (Im not totally against this) which would leave Fullerton for another game or 2

 

[Nunez]

I look at our midfield and Dev a little different.

I don’t believe Dev will come in and set the world alight. I expect he’ll play a role, that would allow Neale, McCluggage, Zorko or Rayner to do their thing. He also offers more pace and two way running and tackling through the midfield.

Last year when he played, he also played forward in a defensive role and on the wing a little, so it’s not like he’s a one truck pony.

We currently run 3 forward mids through the midfield, plus the lighter bodied McCluggage.

Outside of Neale and Lyons, Rayner and Berry are the only bigger bodies we have to throw in there, and Berry has been moved to more a wing role, because his shoulder is not up to constant bashing it receives when he plays on ball.

While Rayner is showing improvement, and his power to break through tackles is a weapon, he’s not really setting the world on fire yet.

If Rayner had the same game that game that Jai Newcombe did, everyone here would be frothing about him being the second coming of Petracca.

100% agree. It's time to let Dev do the hard work and let the damaging players do just that - damage the opposition and get the ball into great spots inside 50.

 

[mattsmob]

100% agree. It's time to let Dev do the hard work and let the damaging players do just that - damage the opposition and get the ball into great spots inside 50.

If he’s going to get an opportunity to do it then it’s while Hugh is out. For him to be effective in making the rest of our midfield function better he’ll need 5-6 weeks to build some continuity with him in there. If he’s not in this week I can’t see the coaches committing to it later in the season. Could be a huge month for him and a bit of a blessing in disguise with Hugh’s hammy.

 

[3KZ is Football]

For who? IF Gardiner got dropped (seriously doubt it), Payne surely plays ahead of Lester.

IMO Payne can take the 3rd tall (whist developing) with Adams and Andrews taking the two best forwards. Stated a few months ago that Carlton with their two tall forwards and De Koning resting forward, makes our backline appear a bit short without Payne. Some comments last night on TV about Carltons talls and their agility. Melbourne also play essentially 3 talls with either Gawn or Jackson playing significant time forward. Time to make the change so Payne is comfortable with the set up leading into finals. If he does not perform over the next couple of months, then Gardiner with all his experience can slot straight back for finals. I suppose another factor is if Gardiner has resigned to stay.

Payne, Prior and Fullarton should all be rewarded with a spot next week for their performances. Tom showed some aggression and took a couple of good marks and Prior really impressed and kicked some good goals.

If Gardiner out, then Payne back and Fullarton stays forward.
If Gardiner not out, then toss up between Payne and Fullarton forward, but as Payne is contracted until end of 2024 I probably would opt to play Payne forward.
Dev also in

I would go:

In: Lester, Adams, Mathieson
Out: Gardiner, Payne, McCluggage (injured)

If McStay is fit, he comes in for Fullerton, who would be desperately unlucky. If not Fullerton gets another run.

 

[Simbatheking21]

Hey guys and girls

I am heading up to brisbane for the game this weekend and was just wondering if the lions will have an open training session or a run around on Friday? Wouldn’t mind trying to get a few signatures and photos

Thanks guys

 

[p4p1]

Fages has brought the club a long way by building trust with the players.

There always comes a time where you need to get a bit ruthless and create competition for spots.

Be interested to see if that ever happens under Fagan. What he's done so far is pretty much excellent bar winning finals.

I worry that while he was absolutely the man to get us to where we are and we should forever be thankful, if he is the man to give us that final edge we need. On some level he has also been unlucky in some of our finals, we have been so close that a fortunate bounce or a call from the umpires would have our finals record looking much better than it does.

 

[p4p1]

It does make you think. Ive been beyond confused how Dev isnt getting a game and I to have thought that perhaps the reasoning is that the club has been informed he is moving home. It also makes you wonder why we fought so hard for him to get that draft pick if we arent even playing him partulalry when it seems we are missing a player of his type.

Why would Dev stay when he can't get a run? From the games I have seen him in at AFL level he has always performed pretty well. Better than others who have been given more opportunities anyway.

 

[scoman]

Latest is that McStay and Clugga could both play this week.

 

[pod17]

T Berry possesses very few, if any, AFL quality traits and has shown nothing in his senior appearances - he isn't the answer. Dev on the other hand has the tools, has shown more potential when given an opportunity and would benefit from an extended run in the side now that a position has opened up. He comes in for McCluggage for mine.

I wouldn't be adverse to dropping someone more high profile that is not delivering at the expected output. J Berry has really stagnated as a footballer and offers little outside of being able to at times nullify an opposition player. Sadly, he doesn't look like stepping up into that big bodied mid we are lacking around the stoppages - his limitations as a footballer are pretty glaring at times.

 

[McIvor]

I know that clubs probably dont play a significant amount of sentiment as teams are about winning, but it was nice to Mitch get a bit of a run in front of family and friends back home. Following on from this, I would love to see Nakia get a run in Indigenous Round. I recall his intereview a few weeks back and it sounds like it would mean a lot to him, so 'd love to find room for him.

We were wacthing Yokayi Footy (sp?) earlier and I think it was his Uncle Che on the show and it amazing him talking about thier family, which sounded really big and how they were related to the very well known Krakor (sp?) family which I didn't know. Anyway, Nakia seems like such a lovely young man that our household would be really rapt for him if he could play this week.

 

[JasRulz63]

Latest is that McStay and Clugga could both play this week.

Yep, McCluggage subbed out for hamstring awareness apparently, and is a test to play.

 

[Saucery]

T Berry possesses very few, if any, AFL quality traits and has shown nothing in his senior appearances - he isn't the answer. Dev on the other hand has the tools, has shown more potential when given an opportunity and would benefit from an extended run in the side now that a position has opened up. He comes in for McCluggage for mine.

I wouldn't be adverse to dropping someone more high profile that is not delivering at the expected output. J Berry has really stagnated as a footballer and offers little outside of being able to at times nullify an opposition player. Sadly, he doesn't look like stepping up into that big bodied mid we are lacking around the stoppages - his limitations as a footballer are pretty glaring at times.

They are interesting those two, T Berry is older with poorer stats at AFL level but like Dev is really too good for VFL, still he can go forward too. Dev seems like a bit of a one trick pony though with arguably the higher ceiling. My guess is Fagan being Mr Pragmatic will try and run horses for courses rather than think too far ahead in terms of senior selection and will let fate decide who stays and who goes. Elliot Yeo got a lot of game time before he left anyway (though it was a bad time for retention). Can't agree on J Berry though, he does a lot of things that get missed and he is a big body. As games go on players get slower but not shorter/lighter.

 

[JasRulz63]

The changes we make seem like-for-like as to not upset the balance of our side i.e. when two KPF come out, two KPF players go in. Hence why Prior came in for Robbo on the wing instead of someone like Dev, and has kept him out of the side.

Assuming this continues, if Adams and McStay come into the side and McCluggage is fit, the only changes I'd expect would be Adams and McStay in for Payne (or Gardiner) and Fullarton.

If McCluggage is out, we'll bring in one of our midfielders, so either TBerry or Dev (or Matho if his cards haven't been marked).

 

[Ray Button]

Linc had strapping on his left knee which I hadn't noticed before - is he carrying a niggle that's impacting his running?

 

[mattsmob]

Linc had strapping on his left knee which I hadn't noticed before - is he carrying a niggle that's impacting his running?

I think there must be something restricting him, he's been quiet but even more than that he's given away a couple of really poor frees or 50's which look like they come about out of frustration. The 50 he gave away yesterday kicking the ball after the whistle was really bad, looked like he almost stopped, realised what happened, then still kicked the ball anyways.

 

[BangyBangy]

Prior was one of our best players and kicked 3 goals!

Yeah, but you don't know if that was the role he was supposed to play though