2015 Pre-Season (All news, press conferences, training reports)

[WhiteLionFeva]

Sounds like we might not see McGuane for some time, if at all.

 

[Milux]

Sounds like we might not see McGuane for some time, if at all.

Im not too sure many people rate mcguane much now anyways. From what ive seen id much rather play mcstay in his place.

 

[BuntonRules]

http://www.sportsfan.com.au/burning-questions-for-2015-brisbane/tabid/91/newsid/151152/default.aspx

Top four is out of the question, but there's every reason to believe Brisbane will be in the mix for eighth place or so in 2015.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Im not too sure many people rate mcguane much now anyways. From what ive seen id much rather play mcstay in his place.

A fit McGuane is a worthwhile addition to our list. And we are not so choosey that we can afford to have players occupying a place on the list and not getting on the park, even if it's in the NEAFL.

 

[James North]

I thought McGuane was pretty useful in the NAB cup when he was reasonably fit.

He's at least a mature body ...

 

[chopperduck]

McGuane would add heaps to our forward line if he can get fit. Hopefully the soreness passes and there isnt any ongoing issues.

 

[Skoob]

Im not too sure many people rate mcguane much now anyways. From what ive seen id much rather play mcstay in his place.

A fit McGuane is a worthwhile addition to our list. And we are not so choosey that we can afford to have players occupying a place on the list and not getting on the park, even if it's in the NEAFL.

I thought McGuane was pretty useful in the NAB cup when he was reasonably fit.

He's at least a mature body ...

McGuane would add heaps to our forward line if he can get fit. Hopefully the soreness passes and there isnt any ongoing issues.

Besides, you can't pick 22 players and say "Well, that's it, we don't need anyone else". Argue whether he is first picked or not, or who is ahead of him, but it doesn't really matter. He adds real value to the team. Even if you value McStay ahead of him, he is a required player.
I never get the idea that "Player X doesn't matter now, because we have player Y". I think almost every healthy player got a game this year in the seniors, not to mention their contributions to the reserves (which is critical to the success of the seniors). If fit, he will get games, no question. So however he is "rated" we need to hope he is right to go, we need 35 players, not 22.

 

[Milux]

A fit McGuane is a worthwhile addition to our list. And we are not so choosey that we can afford to have players occupying a place on the list and not getting on the park, even if it's in the NEAFL.

Fare points but for me im not sold on him. Happy to be proven Wrong though.

 

[Milux]

Besides, you can't pick 22 players and say "Well, that's it, we don't need anyone else". Argue whether he is first picked or not, or who is ahead of him, but it doesn't really matter. He adds real value to the team. Even if you value McStay ahead of him, he is a required player.
I never get the idea that "Player X doesn't matter now, because we have player Y". I think almost every healthy player got a game this year in the seniors, not to mention their contributions to the reserves (which is critical to the success of the seniors). If fit, he will get games, no question. So however he is "rated" we need to hope he is right to go, we need 35 players, not 22.

Fare call. Im not saying he cant add value. I just value a few others before him. Agree with the 35 players part.

 

[Skoob]

Fare call. Im not saying he cant add value. I just value a few others before him. Agree with the 35 players part.

The thing with McStay is, whilst we've seen a snippet of him, and he was excitingly promising, it was only a few games. Will he be able to consistently produce senior form, for more than half the season? Who knows? What McGuane brings is a wealth of experience. If his form is good and he is fit, I would have him ahead of the young fella. Can we fit both in? Probably, depending on who is out. History says that we'll have a handfull of injuries (at least niggles) and few searching for form at any given time. Although our list is looking beautiful on paper, the age spread (a lot of young'ns & a group of oldies) means form, fatigue and injury will still be a big factor for us while yet.

 

[Ironmonger]

http://www.sportsfan.com.au/burning-questions-for-2015-brisbane/tabid/91/newsid/151152/default.aspx

I'd rather quote this line:

No one at the club would be upset if the Lions were in the eight after 23 home-and-away rounds, but success will be better judged in the incremental improvements the Lions make to their list than in the number of wins and losses

 

[Skoob]

I'd rather quote this line:

I agree, although I would suggest wins & list improvement go hand in hand.

We have looked at poor seasons in the past (this one just gone is a prime example) and consoled ourselves with the fact that we had a tough draw, injuries, player exodus, new coach etc, etc, and we're much better than the results show. That consolation through excuses (often quite valid)can only go so far though. We need those list improvements to start paying dividends. If we don't get the results, has the list really improved?

 

[Billy Puller]

I agree, although I would suggest wins & list improvement go hand in hand.

We have looked at poor seasons in the past (this one just gone is a prime example) and consoled ourselves with the fact that we had a tough draw, injuries, player exodus, new coach etc, etc, and we're much better than the results show. That consolation through excuses (often quite valid)can only go so far though. We need those list improvements to start paying dividends. If we don't get the results, has the list really improved?

No

 

[blynd_freddie]

I agree, although I would suggest wins & list improvement go hand in hand.

We have looked at poor seasons in the past (this one just gone is a prime example) and consoled ourselves with the fact that we had a tough draw, injuries, player exodus, new coach etc, etc, and we're much better than the results show. That consolation through excuses (often quite valid)can only go so far though. We need those list improvements to start paying dividends. If we don't get the results, has the list really improved?

I think if one was to go back over the pre-season training news/reports that have been posted by BF peeps over say the last 7 or 8 years, the one glaring consistency throughout this period had been the reported disappointment in the 'poor skills' observed, even when there was little to no pressure.

For me, list improvement should go hand in hand with reports of sharp training and then finally, we might have optimism in win/loss/finals talk.

 

[Skoob]

I think if one was to go back over the pre-season training news/reports that have been posted by BF peeps over say the last 7 or 8 years, the one glaring consistency throughout this period had been the reported disappointment in the 'poor skills' observed, even when there was little to no pressure.

For me, list improvement should go hand in hand with reports of sharp training and then finally, we might have optimism in win/loss/finals talk.

Of course, and one should lead to the other. I'm not talking about expectations to make finals this year. For all the hype, I think we can only expect so much. We should win more games this year than last, and that should be the result of a better list, and the list playing better.

 

[Quigley]

I agree, although I would suggest wins & list improvement go hand in hand.

We have looked at poor seasons in the past (this one just gone is a prime example) and consoled ourselves with the fact that we had a tough draw, injuries, player exodus, new coach etc, etc, and we're much better than the results show. That consolation through excuses (often quite valid)can only go so far though. We need those list improvements to start paying dividends. If we don't get the results, has the list really improved?

We have had 25 list changes in a little over 12 months. That kind of list turnover makes it virtually impossible to consistently win games. This year will be a consolidation year in which I think people are going to end up disappointed in the win total. Hopefully next offseason will give us more stability and we can make a real run at the finals.

 

[Skoob]

We have had 25 list changes in a little over 12 months. That kind of list turnover makes it virtually impossible to consistently win games. This year will be a consolidation year in which I think people are going to end up disappointed in the win total. Hopefully next offseason will give us more stability and we can make a real run at the finals.

I agree, and some people will always be disappointed.
I do think we can win more games this year than last though.
*Of course, as I've said, we are very vulnerable to some nasty variables.

 

[Hollow Knight]

We have had 25 list changes in a little over 12 months. That kind of list turnover makes it virtually impossible to consistently win games. This year will be a consolidation year in which I think people are going to end up disappointed in the win total. Hopefully next offseason will give us more stability and we can make a real run at the finals.

Yeah I reckon our match threads this year are going to be even more angst ridden than normal.

Broad expectations are rising at a level that I don't think we can satisfy in 2015 for a number of reasons, including those above.

 

[blynd_freddie]

One game at a time - Pies, yeah we can beat them... North, yeah also bet them last year... tiggers, at home full of confidence after winning the first two, yeah piece of p!ss - etc...

 

[winged1]

I agree, although I would suggest wins & list improvement go hand in hand.

We have looked at poor seasons in the past (this one just gone is a prime example) and consoled ourselves with the fact that we had a tough draw, injuries, player exodus, new coach etc, etc, and we're much better than the results show. That consolation through excuses (often quite valid)can only go so far though. We need those list improvements to start paying dividends. If we don't get the results, has the list really improved?

Considering we have, on first appearances, an easier draw than last year we could win more games without actually improving.

 

[Skoob]

Considering we have, on first appearances, an easier draw than last year we could win more games without actually improving.

I think that is likely too.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

For me it's about going into games thinking we have a realistic chance of winning and actually being in with a chance of winning late in the game. That will tell me we are improving, regardless of whether we win them or not. The wins will follow soon enough. Example is North in 2013. They lost 10 games by less than 20 points and had just 10 wins. Not a great return but it showed they were close. In 2014 they had only one loss by less than 20 points and had 16 wins. Their form between the two seasons probably wasn't markedly different; they just learnt how to win.

 

[Haso]

For me it's about going into games thinking we have a realistic chance of winning and actually being in with a chance of winning late in the game. That will tell me we are improving, regardless of whether we win them or not. The wins will follow soon enough. Example is North in 2013. They lost 10 games by less than 20 points and had just 10 wins. Not a great return but it showed they were close. In 2014 they had only one loss by less than 20 points and had 16 wins. Their form between the two seasons probably wasn't markedly different; they just learnt how to win.

I still enjoy the fact that this loss was to us.

 

[Schache It Off]

I feel 2015 will be similar to 2012.

10 wins and will easily account for the bottom six and perhaps surprise a couple of top 8 teams. Will obviously struggle against the others though.
Hoping for more competitive performances against the top 10, a % of 90 will be a great start.

 

[SizeMatters]

anyone know the preseason 2km times our best runners are performing at? I was looking over a few teams board for DT stuff and came across these times.

Cameron: 6.29 GCS
Gorringe::6.37 GCS
Jack Martin: 6.38 GCS
Chris Masten: 6.00 - Eagles
Damian Cavka: 5:58 - Eagles
Jack Newnes : 6:09 St.K
Steele Sidebottom : 5.54 Pies
Nathan Freeman : 6.08 Pies

Surely our best would be equivalent?