2016 Brisbane Lions starting line up

[ZoBlitz]

Be interested to see how they calculate that. Does it purely relate to one on one contests or is it considered a win if a teammate comes over as the third man up and helps kill the contest.

It does probably solidify that, some weeks, Clarke has been asked to a job beyond his current capacity. Going to a Hawkins or Cloke is probably good for his development but he was simply not ready to beat that size/calibre of forward on a regular basis.

Here's Champion Data's description of a "one-on-one contest":

A 50-50 contest that occurs after a kick, and involves only two players - a target player and a defender. Each player must have a reasonable chance to win the ball in order for a one-on-one to be recorded. Winning and losing percentages refer to how often a player wins the ball or concedes possession to his opponent. A neutral result is recorded when the ball is spoiled or results in a stoppage.

Looking back to last year's prospectus Clarke had the second lowest winning percentage in the top 30 but he neutralised the fifth-most which I guess is indicative of his focus on spoiling contests. It'll be interesting to see whether we'll focus on developing Clarke as the number one key defender going forward or whether the club will focus elsewhere when Merrett retires.

 

[SizeMatters]

With Astbury talks last year I think the club knows we are lacking in that tall defender that can take on the Hawkins etc. be it through lack of experience or talent.

 

[Darcy161113]

With Astbury talks last year I think the club knows we are lacking in that tall defender that can take on the Hawkins etc. be it through lack of experience or talent.

What happened in regard to the Astbury trade? At one stage he looked a certainty to join

 

[WA Lion]

What happened in regard to the Astbury trade? At one stage he looked a certainty to join

I don't remember it ever being formally documented but reading between the lines I think he failed his medical, most likely his knees

 

[BrizzyBandit]

McStay. Merrett. Andrews.
Zorko. Clarke. Robertson.

Hanley. DBeams. Rich.
Martin. Rockliff. Bastinac.

Robinson. Schache. Christensen.
Green. Walker. Freeman.

Taylor. Bell. Paparone. Cutler.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Definitely on the Clarke bandwagon but have said all along he needs to be a second or third tall.

 

[Lace Out]

What happened in regard to the Astbury trade? At one stage he looked a certainty to join

Richmond were asking too much iirc i.e a late first round which was interesting as Chaplin was and may be still keeping him out of the side.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

Jansen will be in the starting 4 in the first centre bounce come round one.

 

[snooplions]

Jansen will be in the starting 4 in the first centre bounce come round one.

Go on...

 

[Dan12]

Jansen will be in the starting 4 in the first centre bounce come round one.

So will he be taking Rockliff, Beams, Hanley or Stef Martin's spot in the starting on ball combination?

 

[SizeMatters]

Jansen will be in the starting 4 in the first centre bounce come round one.

you know this how? still a long way to go to make that call before any proper intraclub and NAB challenge matches.

 

[James North]

Jansen will be in the starting 4 in the first centre bounce come round one.

Is that week at Coorparoo or somewhere else?

 

[POBT]

So will he be taking Rockliff, Beams, Hanley or Stef Martin's spot in the starting on ball combination?

While I think the earlier comment was uninformed opinion dressed up as fact, I'm starting to think that we may not necessarily play all three of Rocky, Beams and Hanley in the centre square. The recent article about Mitch Robinson made mention of the improvement in clearances once he went on ball. That blocking, bullocking type of role doesn't really suit any of our A graders. It may be our best midfield combination has one big body alongside two A graders. If that is the case, Robinson is surely favourite for the role given his form last year. Bell could also play it. Behind them, guys like Lester and Jansen are probably going to start the year in the reserves unless preseason form is sparkling.

 

[rusty08]

I'm really intrigued by Jansen. Perfect size and good skills. There hasn't been a great deal said about him this pre season. Agree with the above that his form in the practice matches would need to be pretty special to get a gig round 1. It only takes one injury though and it's nice to know we have some likely types waiting in the wings.
Watch this space with Jansen I think.

 

[Van Nostrand]

While I think the earlier comment was uninformed opinion dressed up as fact, I'm starting to think that we may not necessarily play all three of Rocky, Beams and Hanley in the centre square. The recent article about Mitch Robinson made mention of the improvement in clearances once he went on ball. That blocking, bullocking type of role doesn't really suit any of our A graders. It may be our best midfield combination has one big body alongside two A graders. If that is the case, Robinson is surely favourite for the role given his form last year. Bell could also play it. Behind them, guys like Lester and Jansen are probably going to start the year in the reserves unless preseason form is sparkling.

Agreed. Robbo has to start in the middle in rd 1. I can see rocky spending a lot more time at half forward amd hanley too.
Great news for our depth around the ground.

 

[POBT]

Agreed. Robbo has to start in the middle in rd 1. I can see rocky spending a lot more time at half forward amd hanley too.
Great news for our depth around the ground.

I think Leppa was really keen to see his midfielders stationed more often in the forward line but we just never had the depth last year to make it happen. Beams could also be a real asset up forward.

 

[chopperduck]

Our quality in the midfield, not just in ball winning ability, but flexibility and ability to go from center square to wing/HF or even HB and still have an impact there is massive.

Rocky, Beams, Hanley is the starting 3 for me. All 3 can play outside or up forward and genuinely impact the scoreboard doing so. You could do a full line up change and rotate those 3 outside/forward and bring in Robbo, Bastinac, Rich. Still a very high quality trio, again, all 3 can play elsewhere (bastinac the weekest) you could change an entire 3rd time, Bell, Bundy, Zorko and it is still pretty strong, and again, all those 3 can play elsewhere, and not just 'rest' but genuinely play another position and impact the game. Amongst that we have the younger guys in Squizzy, Mathieson, Keays, NRobbo developing.

Our midfield is ready to dominate now. I just hope we can keep enough talls at either end to make the most of it.

 

[Dan12]

The ability to have quality mids rotated onto flanks or deep in the forward line and have an impact will be huge for us this year. Instead of Beams doing all the heavy lifting inside, he can do damage playing more of a receiving role, then he can rest forward and be dangerous in spurts, then on the bench and be fresh to go back into the centre square. I remember the Port Adelaide game when we were starting to get a midfield gelling, where Beams looked fantastic, got 30 odd touches and seemed to get the ball in space more. then afterwards someone on here said that he only had 65% game time that night. I think that is the sort of game we will get from Beams and others this year. It will be valuable having midfielders that will feel fresh when in the centre square. There's a lot of flexibility with the player types we have at our disposal too. Robbo, Hanley, Rich, Bastinac etc are such different players and you'd hope they would compliment each other.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

you know this how? still a long way to go to make that call before any proper intraclub and NAB challenge matches.

Guarantee it - just like I guaranteed he'd be at Brisbane in September last year.

 

[James North]

Guarantee it - just like I guaranteed he'd be at Brisbane in September last year.

Being a WA person you may know him or his family or something.

He could've been told this by someone, but it still might not happen. He's a great size, but there's a little bit to work on from what I've seen at the practice sessions.

 

[Keays2myBeamas]

Guarantee it - just like I guaranteed he'd be at Brisbane in September last year.

September! Nostradamus!
This right here is a classic case of the "I was at the pub with his parent's neighbour's old dog sitter's male escort but I'll act like I'm his oldest mate and I heard everything straight from the horse's mouth and get some attention". I won't ask what you were doing at the pub with a male escort though, that's another story.

 

[SizeMatters]

Guarantee it - just like I guaranteed he'd be at Brisbane in September last year.

We have a long way to go until round 1 and if we have already chosen a best 22 team against the WCE then I'd want some answers...

or you could be wrong?

I know which I'd wager on.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

Confirm my form with TheBrownDog if you must.

 

[dlanod]

September! Nostradamus!
This right here is a classic case of the "I was at the pub with his parent's neighbour's old dog sitter's male escort but I'll act like I'm his oldest mate and I heard everything straight from the horse's mouth and get some attention". I won't ask what you were doing at the pub with a male escort though, that's another story.

I'll confirm - IIRC he was the first to come forward with a linkage to Jansen, well before any media reports. The name is distinctive enough.

 

[M Malice]

I'll confirm - IIRC he was the first to come forward with a linkage to Jansen, well before any media reports. The name is distinctive enough.

We have a long way to go until round 1 and if we have already chosen a best 22 team against the WCE then I'd want some answers...

or you could be wrong?

I know which I'd wager on.

agree with SizeMatters on jared jansen.
would be very surprised if jared has been told he is a lock for round 1. would assume he has probably been told he is tracking along nicely and has every chance of round 1 selection if he continues in that vain. NAB form will be massive for inside ball winners like bastinac, jansen, matheison, lester. personally from the training sessions i've been to i love the look of rhys matheisons inside work.