Preview Changes v Demons, Round 2 (upgraded to official preview)

[On the quiet]

If Kiddy is in concussion protocols does that mean he misses the Dogs game next Thursday Night as well? Protocols are 12 days correct?

I am not sure, but 11 clear days, so at the earliest can play on the 12th day after the concussion.

 

[Lace Out]

Think Kiddy can play,the 12 day break probably concocted so players can’t miss 2 games

 

[Section 5]

Think Kiddy can play,the 12 day break probably concocted so players can’t miss 2 games

Might be a hard team to get back into after defeating the Demons on Friday

 

[On the quiet]

I don’t know about the “same old response” thing. I’ve never heard fagan like that, he sounded pretty flabbergasted and pissed off himself. Match review this week would’ve been an absolute sh!tfest, I really don’t see him naming the same team for Friday.

I think the obvious in is Zorko, but also believe we need another ruck so Fort to counter Gawn's height when playing forward. Coleman injured and likely Tunstill misses.

Otherwise not too many other changes perhaps positional with McClug out to the wing and Dev in the middle, but put the responsibility back onto the group to perform. If we get beat on Friday can accept that as Dees are a v.good side, but we need a response, especially at home.

 

[rye]

answerth should come in if he is ready. we need a bit of mongrel. would also like to see joyce get a run. give the backline a different look - im particularly interested in seeing how we look with a different balance with the 2 rebounders being a slow elite kick (rich) and a dashing half back (mckenna). i have been concerned as to whether we can carry coleman, rich and mckenna in the same background during the preseason and coleman missing although it sucks gives us a chance to see a more defensive orientated backline

zorko in for robertson imo. would not be opposed to prior getting a wing spot and tunstill to sub

it is a bit funny seeing some here clamouring for lyons to come back after all the posting in the preseason and end of last year as to his place in the squad

 

[On the quiet]

I agree with you and think that we would be better served with Clugg playing wider and Dev or other inside mids actually playing in their more natural role. But we do need to take into account the balance of the team. Too many people are just suggesting removing two outside mids for an inside mid and a ruck. Structurally that is incredibly unlikely - we are historically very stuck with our formation. For example always playing 3 tall forwards and one ruck. We have basically never changed from that setup. Fort generally only played with Oscar when we had only 2 key forwards

Likewise don't disagree with any of the above, but with Gawn seeming to spend around 60% TOG forward (appeared to against Dogs) think we might need the two rucks this week. Pretty obvious from the time Grundy went to Melbourne that either he or Gawn would be a threat forward and hopefully our team have trained during the off season for different matchups and game styles against different teams. But as you said, we don't seem to change the structure. I think even with Fort in, we still have reasonable speed in the backline (assuming Wilmot playing back with McKenna), also whilst it probably won't be his role this week, Fort is not a bad set shot.

Pickett out is a big plus for us, always seems to bob up and kick goals.

 

[M Malice]

After being extremely confident of a win v Port I am now extremely pessimistic about our chances Friday night, hopefully I am way off again.

Melbourne are clear favourites for the flag IMO, very good side at full strength.

 

[mpal6]

answerth should come in if he is ready. we need a bit of mongrel. would also like to see joyce get a run. give the backline a different look - im particularly interested in seeing how we look with a different balance with the 2 rebounders being a slow elite kick (rich) and a dashing half back (mckenna). i have been concerned as to whether we can carry coleman, rich and mckenna in the same background during the preseason and coleman missing although it sucks gives us a chance to see a more defensive orientated backline

zorko in for robertson imo. would not be opposed to prior getting a wing spot and tunstill to sub

it is a bit funny seeing some here clamouring for lyons to come back after all the posting in the preseason and end of last year as to his place in the squad

I'll play Answerth since Pickett is out.
Pickett gives him a bath every time Answerth has played lockdown on him. It's good that he's out.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Dunkley lucky not to fracture a cheek bone

 

[M Malice]

What was Ah Chee's injury? I am wondering if he has been able to get some miles into his legs while he has been out, if not he will need a few weeks in the reserves IMO.
_____________________________________

The Lions could be set for a boost ahead of Round 2, with former Skipper Dayne Zorko available for selection.

The 34-year-old was ruled out of Brisbane’s clash with Port Adelaide but has been given the green light after overcoming a hamstring problem.

Cal Ah Chee could also be available based on Thursday’s training session.

Keidean Coleman will miss Brisbane’s clash with Melbourne through concussion protocol.

Darcy Gardiner has joined modified skills sessions at training, with his availability still to be confirmed.

 

[fugitive]

Yep the old “are we pretenders?” conundrum starts again for another year. Melbourne look deadly dangerous already and last couple of years have had the measure of our midfield, I have no confidence whatsoever.

After being extremely confident of a win v Port I am now extremely pessimistic about our chances Friday night, hopefully I am way off again.

Melbourne are clear favourites for the flag IMO, very good side at full strength.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

No Panic as Lions Eye Heavyweight Challenge

 

[Chezz]

The obvious in for me is Matho. Over the last 3-4 seasons we’ve looked much better with him in the side. He actually wins ball out of the middle and tackles. Our win ratio when he plays would have to be the highest of all our players. We won all but one match when Neale was out 2 seasons ago.

Even last year in the prelim when we got thrashed Matho got our second highest clearances and only played a quarter. We’ve got a lot of skilled players but no one outside of Neale, Dunkley and Matho who actively win the ball. To me it’s a total no brainer but I know it won’t happen.

 

[mpal6]

The obvious in for me is Matho. Over the last 3-4 seasons we’ve looked much better with him in the side. He actually wins ball out of the middle and tackles. Our win ratio when he plays would have to be the highest of all our players. We won all but one match when Neale was out 2 seasons ago.

Even last year in the prelim when we got thrashed Matho got our second highest clearances and only played a quarter. We’ve got a lot of skilled players but no one outside of Neale, Dunkley and Matho who actively win the ball. To me it’s a total no brainer but I know it won’t happen.

If Lyons is fit and had a good game in 2s, I think he'll come in before Matho gets his opportunity.

 

[CarterS]

Interesting comment from the Demons coach who said basically, they did a few things to us in that finals game that we will be ready for this time.

 

[Scubaveg]

I don’t think hands on the ball was our issue. Plus you’d sooner have the likes of Berry, Hugh and Bailey get more inside mid time than have Lyon in there

Bailey is not an inside mid and neither is Berry. If Berry played for the Dees ot he cats he wouldn’t get a game.


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[Chezz]

If Lyons is fit and had a good game in 2s, I think he'll come in before Matho gets his opportunity.

I think that’s what will happen too. Same as what happens every year. We’ll be getting smashed in the mids, Matho will come in and we’ll look instantly better again.

I hope Lyons proves me wrong but to me he has looked like a walking statue for a while. Against the stronger midfield teams Lyons gets exposed with a lack of run and doesn’t look like winning the clearance. Teams were setting up on the defensive side last year against him and just streaming through the contest with no pressure.

 

[Quested]

After being extremely confident of a win v Port I am now extremely pessimistic about our chances Friday night, hopefully I am way off again.

Melbourne are clear favourites for the flag IMO, very good side at full strength.

And they are coming in basically full strength against us.

 

[McIvor]

As much as I am a supporter of Cam in defence, if we pushed Gunston back and told Hippy and Joe (potentially taking May and Lever with them) to push further up the ground I would 100% be on board with having Cam as the deepest forward. He a good contested mark and I would back him to at the very least bring the ball to ground with Bailey or Charlie to crumb.

I think its a massive shame that Cam wont turn into a player anything close to JHF already is or be a midfielder beast of the likes of Petracca or Martin. IDK footy like alot of you, but its bitterly disappointing that our crack at pick one has netted us a third tall back that at this stage the coaches refuse to develope into a mid. Hopefully Will fulflls his midfield potential that Cam isnt.

 

[Scubaveg]

Fritchs is about to rip Rayner a new one.


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[notliondown]

Look, the reality is that we won't make major changes. Nor should we. This is almost certainly 99% of the team that we are banking on to win us a premiership.

It's no exaggeration to say not a single player from the Port game can hold their head up after Saturday arvo. Some may have tried harder than others but no one gave everything they had. What we have to hope is that Port gave us the slap across the face that we needed. The hubris and arrogance we approached that game with is what really showcases our issue - and it's one we've had for years.

For me it's our mental approach to games... and it's something we can't get a handle on. Our best is wildly distant from our worst. We just don't have the players mindset or the leadership or the right tools to level ourselves out. To perform at a high and consistent level.

Even in our best games there are quarters we sleep in, let alone whole games we just don't wake up in.

When are playing our best we float across the ground. It's not fitness nor is it game plan. When we are firing our disposal is incredible and speed super impressive.

The test for our leadership is to force consistency. To demand an evenness in effort and performance every minute of every game.

We have players who need to change. Rich needs to either give away kick ins or find some courage. Andrews needs to lose the sulky child act. As does Charlie. McCarthy needs to stop appealing and start applying. Bailey needs to WANT to apply pressure. Berry needs to find the mongrel every game and Hughy needs remember that he can kick bloody goals.

All of it is mental.

Good teams have a minimum acceptable performance that the players will tolerate, react to and correct in a game. Either we don't have one or our 11 leaders are incapable of arresting it.

That to me is a tool we have to teach them, because despite the talk we don't have it in our toolbag.

 

[a mayes ing]

We have to look at how we beat Melbourne last time in the finals. We lost to Melbounre in Round 23 trying to outmuscle them. We rethought our gameplan and realised that we aren't going to match them in the clearances. We took out players like Lyons iirc and other slow players and brought in speed. As soon as a Demons midfielder touched it, they were set upon and we outran them. Players like Dev et al should be staying in the team.

Honestly, if it wasn't such an important game, l would be dropping the laziest runners for a game or 2 regardless of position. They need to know that effort is a non-negotiable. I don't particularly know who the laziest runners are, but l have heard some are Bailey, Danniher, Rich etc. I would drop them (might be better after the tough 4 games we have tho)

 

[On the quiet]

We have to look at how we beat Melbourne last time in the finals. We lost to Melbounre in Round 23 trying to outmuscle them. We rethought our gameplan and realised that we aren't going to match them in the clearances. We took out players like Lyons iirc and other slow players and brought in speed. As soon as a Demons midfielder touched it, they were set upon and we outran them. Players like Dev et al should be staying in the team.

Honestly, if it wasn't such an important game, l would be dropping the laziest runners for a game or 2 regardless of position. They need to know that effort is a non-negotiable. I don't particularly know who the laziest runners are, but l have heard some are Bailey, Danniher, Rich etc. I would drop them (might be better after the tough 4 games we have tho)

Agree Dev should stay in the team this week as predominately a mid, rotating with Ashcroft. McClug for this game as a winger, with the option to go inside if required.

if we find ourselves 0-4, then starting against Nth, we get games into all the promising young guys.

 

[On the quiet]

Fritchs is about to rip Rayner a new one.


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yes he is a dangerous player, but Cam had some reasonably good moments last week in the 3rd Q, and Cam has just a good a leap as Fritsch. Think it will be an intriguing matchup, but Starc might get the role, but I would give it to Cam.

I am actually really looking forward to the below potential matchups
Cam v Fritsch
Fort (defensive role) on Gawn
Neal and Dunkley v Oliver and Petracca
Hippy v Lever

even those contest and we are a realistic chance. Bookies currently have Dees $1.80 Lions $2 so we are given some hope.

 

[briztoon]

We have to look at how we beat Melbourne last time in the finals. We lost to Melbounre in Round 23 trying to outmuscle them. We rethought our gameplan and realised that we aren't going to match them in the clearances. We took out players like Lyons iirc and other slow players and brought in speed. As soon as a Demons midfielder touched it, they were set upon and we outran them. Players like Dev et al should be staying in the team.

Honestly, if it wasn't such an important game, l would be dropping the laziest runners for a game or 2 regardless of position. They need to know that effort is a non-negotiable. I don't particularly know who the laziest runners are, but l have heard some are Bailey, Danniher, Rich etc. I would drop them (might be better after the tough 4 games we have tho)

Right, you go whack Petracca in the tibia with mallet, and I'll ride a mini scooter in Max Gawns' back. That oughta help Melbourne replicate their team from that semi final win.