Unofficial Preview Changes and discussion Qualifying Final @ ? v Demons.

[fugitive]

The last time we were in this position was 2003, which we lost to the Pies anyway.

So it's been a long time between drinks of knowing how it all works from this spot!

The finals system is exactly the same as it was back then except the awful MCC/AFL deal that at least one prelim final needed to be played at the MCG that some would argue costed us the 2004 premiership.

 

[lioninthesand]

FYI guys Saturday probably most likely as Dees have had consecutive 6 day breaks coming in plus the shemozzle a week earlier where they flew up to Brisbane and back when the lockdown was called. Club have discussed trying to ease the burden on our playing group with the AFL and as minor premier get first choice.

Should be a ripper regardless.

Sounds like you are rolling out the old 'pre-emptive excuse' disguised as information there

 

[lioninthesand]

Birchall has gone from being a reasonable player with some good games earlier in the year to being ordinary and a liability in recent matches.

End of story imo. And I was his biggest supporter in the face of calls to get rid of him as the season has worn on.

He looks a bit confused out there and has lost confidence in his ability to thread the needle with attacking penetrating kicks which is the reason we had him there.

My argument was always that he was better than whoever else we had but I don't think that applies any more.

My one hope is that he has a last reserve of ability and hunger in a final. Like he did last year against Richmond. It'd be a turnaround on recent performances.

Birch has been really solid the last 3 weeks. I think I am in the 'no contract next year' camp - but if you isolate his recent form, he has been far from a liability.

He looked horrible during our form slump, but show me a player who didn't.

Birch plays finals for our structure and his leadership and experience, mo doubt about it.

 

[lioninthesand]

That would be shitful if we earn a home Prelim and we are forced to play it in Perth.

#remember2004

I agree Jase, but we can't really complain given what Vic/Sydney clubs are facing, with no home ground advantage at all.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Wonder what the odds are of SA opening to QLD before Saturday. We've gone a fair while without community cases here now, so you'd have to think it's pretty reasonable. Would definitely look at flying down for it if possible.

 

[BuntonRules]

Took a while to get to sleep last night but woke up with a spring in the step, great atmosphere last night and a Qualifying Final to look forward to, ain't life grand.. had this song stuck in my head this morning >

You don't get out much anymore do you?

 

[M Malice]

You don't get out much anymore do you?

My musical tastes are very diverse, I also like Cat Stevens, Metallica, Neil Sedaka, Neil Young, ABBA, Dexys midnight runners and Guns n Roses to name a few.

 

[BuntonRules]

My musical tastes are very diverse, I also like Cat Stevens, Metallica, Neil Sedaka, Neil Young, ABBA, Dexys midnight runners and Guns n Roses to name a few.

Knew I shoulda used an emoji to show I was taking the piss

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

Everyone is already writing us off in this one, hope going in as underdogs works to our advantage.

 

[martinson]

Everyone is already writing us off in this one, hope going in as underdogs works to our advantage.

We've always gone well as underdogs in recent years.

It's when we're heavily favoured we run into trouble.

 

[SacksonvilleJags]

We've always gone well as underdogs in recent years.

It's when we're heavily favoured we run into trouble.

Yup, much prefer us as underdogs!

 

[Lion_LegacyXL]

We've always gone well as underdogs in recent years.

It's when we're heavily favoured we run into trouble.

Like the home prelim last year against the cats, media kept hyping up the prospect of us getting a home grand final against Richmond.

 

[briztoon]

Birch has been really solid the last 3 weeks. I think I am in the 'no contract next year' camp - but if you isolate his recent form, he has been far from a liability.

He looked horrible during our form slump, but show me a player who didn't.

Birch plays finals for our structure and his leadership and experience, mo doubt about it.

I can’t recall seeing any leadership from Birchall in the two years he’s been here.

 

[luthor]

.

I can’t recall seeing any leadership from Birchall in the two years he’s been here.

So I've just watched a full replay.

I urge others here to do the same and to let me know why Birchall should be in the side instead of Coleman.

Coleman was flawless. Apart from some really good defensive work throughout the game, he was constructive in his run from half back and had some really good passages through the centre of the ground

Coleman's kick on his non preferred right to McStay`for a walk in goal was sublime.

On the other hand, Birchall really didn't do much at all. Had a couple of kicks from half back that any semi-skilled flanker could execute but twice made the recipient work really hard to mark it.

There was one complete howler that he drilled onto the chest of an Eagles player that fortunately didn't turn into a goal

I respect Fage's loyalty to players but I'm going to be royally pissed off if Birchall is retained at the expense of Coleman

I don't give a stuff that he's played in 8 finals or 28 finals or whatever, his form has been abysmal.

Past glories should not trump the requirements of the team

 

[bungalow_bill]

For the finals instead of the lions theme following a win I'd like to hear "Another one bites the dust"...just to rub it in

 

[Scubaveg]

Wonder what the odds are of SA opening to QLD before Saturday. We've gone a fair while without community cases here now, so you'd have to think it's pretty reasonable. Would definitely look at flying down for it if possible.

Yup me too.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[On the quiet]

Fages in his presser did say he was disappointed in the defence yesterday and we need to look at it. He could be open to change to avoid a similar performance again and not just rely on Dad to improve things. It is not an elimination game.....

Out ...Birch, Lester /Gardiner, Cocky.

In...Dad, Robbo n Robbo.

Against Dees we know they will come home strong so we can't afford to have anyone running out of steam.

Our defence was at times a little disappointing (excluding Starc, Coleman and Adams second half) Kennedy not playing, Darling recently not playing well and on one leg for some of the 3rd and all the 4th quarter and young Allen concussed and taken off I think in the 3rd quarter, so West Coast forward line missing a few key talls towards the end. However we did win by 6+ goals.

If Gardiner declares himself fit then he plays.

Dees will almost certainly play Jackson, Brown and McDonald so a fairly tall forward line.

 

[danster168]

Dees fan here. I just wanted to read up on who you guys are gonna bring in etc. This should be a cracking game. As a dees fan, I'm worried about Zorko and Bailey. It's these small, quick and skilful guys that cause us headaches. I think we'll go with 3 talls just to, at the very least, keep Andrews accountable with one of the talls. I think Mitch Robbo would be a savvy inclusion for you guys considering he is suited for finals footy and we have Viney, Oliver and Petracca as very in and under inside mids.

You guys just have to continue hitting the short option going inside 50m. I think Rivers plays on Cameron but we may bring Hibberd in to use a more 1 on 1 savvy defender instead of a more offensive runner in Rivers. No stuffing around I think May goes on Daniher, Petty to Mcstay. Lever on the least damaging forward.

I think the game will be won in the middle as well as goal kicking conversion and we are the most inaccurate team in the comp statistically this season.

I'm pretty disappointed that we've earned the right for an MCG final but it's been brought over to a neutral version due to covid. I'd be much more confident in from of 80k dees fans but alas it's not the case.

 

[harvester]

Dees fan here. I just wanted to read up on who you guys are gonna bring in etc. This should be a cracking game. As a dees fan, I'm worried about Zorko and Bailey. It's these small, quick and skilful guys that cause us headaches. I think we'll go with 3 talls just to, at the very least, keep Andrews accountable with one of the talls. I think Mitch Robbo would be a savvy inclusion for you guys considering he is suited for finals footy and we have Viney, Oliver and Petracca as very in and under inside mids.

You guys just have to continue hitting the short option going inside 50m. I think Rivers plays on Cameron but we may bring Hibberd in to use a more 1 on 1 savvy defender instead of a more offensive runner in Rivers. No stuffing around I think May goes on Daniher, Petty to Mcstay. Lever on the least damaging forward.

I think the game will be won in the middle as well as goal kicking conversion and we are the most inaccurate team in the comp statistically this season.

I'm pretty disappointed that we've earned the right for an MCG final but it's been brought over to a neutral version due to covid. I'd be much more confident in from of 80k dees fans but alas it's not the case.

The lions intensity been really inconsistent, which is critical for our game. If we are on, we can win. Gawn is my biggest worry. Such a great player around the ground.
The Dees have had a great year, and if we cant win the GF I hope your team does.

 

[Nunez]

Dees fan here. I just wanted to read up on who you guys are gonna bring in etc. This should be a cracking game. As a dees fan, I'm worried about Zorko and Bailey. It's these small, quick and skilful guys that cause us headaches. I think we'll go with 3 talls just to, at the very least, keep Andrews accountable with one of the talls. I think Mitch Robbo would be a savvy inclusion for you guys considering he is suited for finals footy and we have Viney, Oliver and Petracca as very in and under inside mids.

You guys just have to continue hitting the short option going inside 50m. I think Rivers plays on Cameron but we may bring Hibberd in to use a more 1 on 1 savvy defender instead of a more offensive runner in Rivers. No stuffing around I think May goes on Daniher, Petty to Mcstay. Lever on the least damaging forward.

I think the game will be won in the middle as well as goal kicking conversion and we are the most inaccurate team in the comp statistically this season.

I'm pretty disappointed that we've earned the right for an MCG final but it's been brought over to a neutral version due to covid. I'd be much more confident in from of 80k dees fans but alas it's not the case.

It's a damn shame the game isn't being played in normal circumstances at it'll be a cracker regardless. Hope we meet in the big dance regardless of the result week one.

 

[M Malice]

We were the only side that scored over 2000 points in the H&A season ie. 2131, an average of 97 points per game, that is a seriously impressive attacking pedigree.

However 4 sides... the top 3 + the Bulldogs(Demons number 1 defence) have a better defensive record that us, our intensity and pressure must be on for all 4 quarters this Saturday night, if it is our attack will take care of the rest.

 

[dmac_55]

Really interested in the Pickett and Fritsch matchups. My initial thoughts are:
Starc > Fritsch
Kiddie > Pickett

We also could use Ah Chee down back as an option for Pickett. I think Andrews and Adams should be able to do a job on Brown/McDonald. Gardiner to likely take Jackson when resting forward.

Birchall needs to go forward with the ball, at one stage we won a really good contest and they handballed to Birch in the corridor and he kicked 30m sideways and the kick fell short leading to a ball up. Need to take all the ground we can get this week, we will struggle if we are going boundary possesion game, then leading to more stoppages and likely dominance from Gawn and Oliver.

Play to win with attacking corridor ball movement and kick to Grass to allow Daniher/Charlie space to operate.

 

[Surly Boy]

Great spot to be in as they will start favourite and have pressure on them but it's at a neutral venue. We are carrying great form in.

And they have no recent finals experience...

 

[Elixuh]

I think if we are to win this week, it’ll be on the back of a big coaching effort, especially around how we manage lever and may.

Our mids are also going to have to go to work.

 

[lioninthesand]

I can’t recall seeing any leadership from Birchall in the two years he’s been here.

LOL what a ludicrous statement.