AFL Round 20 Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs Official Thread

[Hollow Knight]

Power and Brown were both absolutely bemused at Nicholls last night, both of them giving him an earful at various junctures.

You can bet your bottom dollar that the club will be on the phone to the Umpiring Department this week.

 

[sblack]

Random stats question: Just noticed on AFL stats that Merrett had 13 possies at 85% efficiency, but he had 4 clangers. How is that possible? Are clangers not counted as disposals?

CD class FAs as clangers.

 

[thecubs08]

For the first time ever when I've been listening at least NIRS really gave it to the umpires- or more specifically, the one umpire. NIRS put it down to having a bad night, as do players- true, players do make mistakes, but all night, consistently? One way?

Can anyone confirm that Nicholls was Fev's best mate from the Carlton game? If so, Vossy should be on the phone to tell the Geish we don't want the bugger up here again as this would be 2 "bad nights" in a row.

Umpiring apart, a number of matters. One, we will never be a top 4 side while we carry any passengers. Even a few down on the numbers contributing and any side will struggle against reasonable opposition.

IMO, a number of things are apparent:

1) Harding is not the answer- apart from the fact that he can't run kick, mark, tackle, kick a goal or do anything even slightly physical, he might be a fair footballer. I concede that he looks like a footballer, hands on hips, directing traffic and that he did the odd, repeat odd, good thing. But any sort of reasonable footballer would have kicked 3 goals with the opportunities he was presented. He fumbles, makes poor decisions consistently, and just doesn't capitalise on chances. He has had ample chances to claim a position, and has never come close to closing the deal.

2) Notting is gone- it's sad to see a once fair footballer reduced to spectating and embarrassing fumbles. Let's leave loyalty behind.

3) Leaving Clark one-off in the ruck against fair opposition doesn't work- this has been shown to be the case over the year and nothing has changed. Run a trainee off the bench.

4) That we have dropped off so much in intensity is shown when so much of the basic tackling, running and pressure-related stuff is left to Clark- not good enough, not nearly good enough. This is not fair and it should be pointed out to the spectators who, eg allow an old man to run untouched into an open goal that they need to be accountable.

Also, what is it with the slipping over? Is this a boots issue? Fine every player who slips over in a contest [Hawksley are you listening?] $100 each slip and maybe we might change this around.

Lastly, if a Carlton or Collingwood had copped the hiding we got from the "men" in green, there would be hell to pay. I hope to hell someone is on the phone telling HQ that it is just not acceptable to have the second game this year basically ruined by incompetent umpiring.

Absolutely agree about notting his turnovers are like a rookie playing his first game as opposed to the veteran he is.

We cannot go any further with harding he just does not finish as we need him to and he's had plenty of opportunities.

We must not "repeat " must not give the ball to merrett deep in the backline he is constantly making mistakes with it.

Macdonald needs to be dropped he just needs a kick up the ass he has been disappointing for a while now.

As i said last week sheldon is struggling he has been quite good this year but needs a spell .

When these senior guys mentioned above are making big clangers like merrett, Vossy needs to drag them because it happens too much and they seem to get away with it.

One more thing cornelius needs to come in he has earnt his place unlike the ones that don't deserve their spots at the moment.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Can't drop players like Notting and MacDonald now.

We have enough kids who are dead on their feet without dropping more seasoned campaigners.

 

[thecubs08]

Can't drop players like Notting and MacDonald now.

We have enough kids who are dead on their feet without dropping more seasoned campaigners.

Well maybe not mcdonald then browndog but surely u cannot have notting he was appalling lastnight with his turnovers and taking wrong options .

Mate he has played for 10 years he is doing much more harm than good u must see that

 

[Loyal Lion]

Well maybe not mcdonald then browndog but surely u cannot have notting he was appalling lastnight with his turnovers and taking wrong options .

Mate he has played for 10 years he is doing much more harm than good u must see that

I agree on Notting. Apart from nice pass to Browny, he didn't do much else. Although he had a lot of teammates in the same boat.

 

[lions_den]

I thought the crowd was a little disappointing in just over 33k, looked to be more than the Geelong game which was 34.5k.

 

[MacMum]

I agree on Notting. Apart from nice pass to Browny, he didn't do much else. Although he had a lot of teammates in the same boat.

Yes, he did have a lot of teammates who stuffed up as well, including Browny himself who kicked straight to a bulldog twice....they all made mistakes..

 

[Lehmo87]

It's sad that the person who had the best I50's was a defender - Drummond.

We are just about done for this year. It'll be nice to play some finals football this year but we are stuggling to get near the ball atm to do any damage.

 

[Ruse]

Just watched the game again and my Aunty was in the ad for the game. It was pretty funny and she was pretty chuffed about the whole thing. I don't know why they chose her cause she's pretty ugly, lol.

 

[Cousin Jed]

We've lost to the Pies (Top 4), Drawn with the Bombers who will complete a victory over the Saints in 30 minutes and lost to the Dogs (top 4) in the last 3 weeks.

Next week will show if we have anything left in the tank. If you turn up ready to play against Port you will win. If you don't, you get beaten.

Its pretty simple.

 

[Chasing the Dream]

Johnson was dodgy though. Was effectively shepherded by two trainers and gets to take an uncontested mark.

Now as I actually have a background with quite a bit of umpiring in it I usually find myself trying to defend the umpires, as I really do know how hard it can be, especially at that level.

Now the Johnson thing was correct to the letter of the law, but it irked me no end. In cricket if you enter a game injured you can not have a runner. Now I know this is a little different, but when you break from 2 trainers and take a mark, then you must dispose of the ball.

I can see this happening in a Grand Final, act up an injury, be in the arms of a trainer, and suddenly your spare man is in the forward line. Poor form from Johnson IMO.

Nicholls however evokes emotions, that sometimes worry me. I truely cringe everytime I see his name in the record.

A few years ago he, and Razor Chamberlain came up to Queensland to help train some of the young Queensland umpires. Now we all know what Chamberlain is like, does quite like the fact he is in the psotlight, but at least he has some idea on how to umpire the game, even if he tends to wait for the spotlight to be on him from time to time. In my meetings with Ray, what shone through was a guy who knew he was not up to playing at the highest level, but loved the game so much he turned to umpiring.

Nicholls on the other hand loves himself. Remeber the sirengate affair. Yep, Matty Nicholls then as well. He is an egotistical prick who thinks the suns shines out of this backside, then reflects of his bald head to have the light shining on him 24/7. I have made my decision on him from personal meetings with him as well as his shit standard of umpiring I watch nearly every game he is involved with. Why does the AFL effectively endorse this moron by maintaining his employment, if I was that shit at my job, I would be sacked.

 

[luthor]

Now the Johnson thing was correct to the letter of the law, but it irked me no end. In cricket if you enter a game injured you can not have a runner. Now I know this is a little different, but when you break from 2 trainers and take a mark, then you must dispose of the ball.

I can see this happening in a Grand Final, act up an injury, be in the arms of a trainer, and suddenly your spare man is in the forward line. Poor form from Johnson IMO.

Nicholls however evokes emotions, that sometimes worry me. I truly cringe everytime I see his name in the record.
.

Surely the AFL or the Rules Committee or whoever, really has to have a good look at that Johnson fiasco last night.

If any of our players had dared to go anywhere near him when he was "in the hands of the trainers" there would have been all hell to pay.

Yet, he is "free" to suddenly charge back into play and take a mark at will.

This is so obviously plain wrong.....especially when he is then given the "option" of handing HIS kick to a team-mate who can have a shot on goal

Ironic that of course, it was the Bald Eagle on hand to allow this travesty to occur.

I've got nothing against Brad Johnson...in fact I've been an admirer of the way he plays footy for several years....but that situation that happened last night should never be allowed to occur again!

The rules should be amended so that if you are injured badly enough to require trainer assistance, you may NOT re-enter play until either YOU or the trainers are off the field.

Penalty for doing so should be a free against and a 50 meter penalty.

As for Nicholls...I like you, cringe when see his name for any game that involves the Lions

 

[luthor]

Hey Cousin Jed....would you mind replacing your current avatar with something less provocative?

If I ever see that umpires face again, it will be far too soon.

 

[Mayestro]

Not wanting to be provocative being a first time poster (long term reader) didn't jb2 take a mark and kick whilst in the hands of trainers last week? Johnson's an honest enough joe to let that one through to the keeper.

 

[Jimmy Two Hands]

My thoughts on the game. Please note, I have decided to take one for the team and not attend live games for a while. I have been to 3 games this year and yep, we have lost all three. In fact, the only 3 we have lost all year at our home ground.

Good: Drummond running forward of the ball - kicked some great goals and single handedly put us back in the game. And what about his pass to Browny! I had the perfect view of that, what a gun. Polks in the middle - hard at it, good hands and penetrating kick. Travs defensive/tackling efforts. Black and Clark make you proud to follow the Lions

Bad: Decision making/ball use. Sherman and TJ main culprits. After watching the Dogs stream through the centre and hit their half forwards lace out and then our guys get it, stop, hold up and then handpass to a teammate trouble or directly to an opponent - sigh. Our defence looked unstructured too, and they took way too many marks inside 50.

Ugly: The bald one. Not Eagleton either. Harding - needs a breakthrough game in the next fortnight or should be off our list.

Whilst the umpiring was just awful and we came back in the last quarter, we never deserved to win that game and if the Dogs kicked straighter in the third, it could have blown out. We are a 5-8 team and it showed. An interesting stat - our highest score this season is 119 - thats the 2nd lowest in the comp, just beating Richmond who arguably dont have any key forwards. Its a bit alarming that we have yet to really bang on a big score this year - hopefully one is coming up against Port!

 

[_Gin]

Brennan did, and did a snap kick the second he had it before collapsing back to the ground. In all fairness he prolly wouldn't have gotten it if it hadn't of been for the trainers. But he didn't hand off to another player for a set shot at goal.

 

[chopperduck]

Brennan did, and did a snap kick the second he had it before collapsing back to the ground. In all fairness he prolly wouldn't have gotten it if it hadn't of been for the trainers. But he didn't hand off to another player for a set shot at goal.

Difference with Brennan was that he ball pretty much fell on his head, he grabbed it, immediately played on and just bombed it long. He didn't put himself back into the play, run, take a mark, then go back to being injuried again. The play came to him.

 

[dlanod]

Difference with Brennan was that he ball pretty much fell on his head, he grabbed it, immediately played on and just bombed it long. He didn't put himself back into the play, run, take a mark, then go back to being injuried again. The play came to him.

Exactly. If you're going to shake off the trainers to involve yourself in the play, then you're the one that should have to continue that play. Brennan did, Johnson didn't. I was mighty pissed by that one (not to mention the huge number of "incorrect disposals" that were ignored until Harding did one).

 

[MacMum]

In the cold hard light of day, we are going to finish where the majority of us predicted earlier in season, on the poll we voted in re: where will we finish..

Top 4 was a dream, 5-8 a reality.....the boys have lived up to our expectations and done a top job in Vossys 1st year..

 

[Cousin Jed]

Hey Cousin Jed....would you mind replacing your current avatar with something less provocative?

If I ever see that umpires face again, it will be far too soon.

Seems to be an unpopular avatar this one....

If anyone has suggestions for an appropriate new one I am happy to change it

 

[mpal6]

Redden tries to take the game on, gets tackled, Cooney manages to take the ball off him, free against Redden.. FFS !!!!!

I wonder why Redden copes it for taking the game on... I have seen Sewell, Judd, and others trying to barge their way through tacklers and its all ball up. Guess some are more equal than the others....

 

[Tim the Toolman]

Because his surname isn't Sewell or Judd.

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

Seems to be an unpopular avatar this one....

If anyone has suggestions for an appropriate new one I am happy to change it

Draw the no smoking circle with the line through it over him, or a sniper scope aimed at his forehead. That would do nicely.

 

[kimp]

Clarke scares me. He looks to be just an injury away the whole game and just commits himself 110% non-stop and then just when you think he's about to keel over, he's off again running up teh field full speed.

He seriously just plays his guts out. What's he like at training?