If they had no killer instinct to win it when they knew they had the Grand Final at the GABBA then they'll never have it
Coach Lions - Has the Fagan era already peaked?
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What a balls-up that was.
It could be one of those peaks that never really amounts to anything. Such a sinking feeling.
They could still pinch a flag but have probably 2 more seasons to do so.
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Elixuh
See you on the 9th green at 9
It was weird that the MCG allowed us to get out to a 42 point lead. But clearly it knew what it was doing, and had the last laugh.
They'll get lucky in terms of McStay getting an inflated offer elsewhere and getting a decent pick for it. A career 11 disposal 1 goal a game player and he's gonna get 600k a year. He's not worth the salary he'd be demanding to stay. Great timing for Brisbane.
Would do well to flip his salary into a mid I.e. Hopper or even let Mathieson have an extended run and look at getting another tall defender as I don't think the combo of Andrews, Adams, Gardiner is up to it. Would even look at letting Gardiner walk tbh. Something has to give to get them from thereabouts to the premiers.
They could also do worse than getting Cotchin as a defensive minded center mid in all seriousness.
Would do well to flip his salary into a mid I.e. Hopper or even let Mathieson have an extended run and look at getting another tall defender as I don't think the combo of Andrews, Adams, Gardiner is up to it. Would even look at letting Gardiner walk tbh. Something has to give to get them from thereabouts to the premiers.
They could also do worse than getting Cotchin as a defensive minded center mid in all seriousness.
The Brisbane Lions of 2019-21 feel a lot like Port Adelaide of 2001-03. Mark Williams and the Power were SLAMMED for being chokers back then after three consecutive top four finishes, two prelim appearances and one straight sets elimination. As a top four team in each of those years, Brisbane have actually performed worse than Port did yet somehow how escape the tag of chokers... How?
If Brisbane do end up securing the number one pick in Will Ashcroft this off season then that might be the difference between a wasted premiership window and clinching one before it's too late.
If Brisbane do end up securing the number one pick in Will Ashcroft this off season then that might be the difference between a wasted premiership window and clinching one before it's too late.
A very frustrating loss considering the lead they had. It's nothing new, Brisbane are a tremendous offensive team arguably the best in the comp in that regard, but they need to tighten up defensively for them to be more legitimate contenders. Starcevich out would've hurt them as a player who is quality in the defensive role he plays but the whole team defence across the ground needs to improve overall. Can still make top 4, but I doubt they will go all the way with how they've been playing overall. In saying that, they're not far off. I think it's important they improve their midfield depth going into 2023 recruiting another ready made contested ball winner to support Neale perhaps a Jacob Hopper for example as well as an emphasis on improving team defence all over the ground. It's possible they've already peaked under Fagan, time will tell, but I think they've still got a window of contending for flags in the next few years.
That Port side were the best or 2nd best team in the comp in each of those years. Brisbane are far from that.
I wonder how this team would fair with Clarkson bringing some ruthlessness or even with a Ross Lyon.
Were they though? Port got beaten by Collingwood in both '02 and '03, once on their home deck and once at the MCG. You could easily argue Collingwood were in fact the second best team in the league in those years, particularly given they made back-to-back grand finals and Port never made it past a prelim in the 2002-03 seasons. They also went out in straight sets in 2001 so it's hard to argue they were the second best team that year either. Brisbane finished 2nd in 2019 and 2020; does that mean they were the second best team in those years? However you want to look at it, it's a subjective measurement and there will be varying opinions.
What's undeniable is this Brisbane side have lost more finals than they should have and concerningly a lot of those games were played at the Gabba. Bringing in Alastair Clarkson and Will Ashcroft this off season would probably change that dramatically, though.
Igavemyloveachicken
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We were, one of the years, maybe 2003 Port Adelaide finished 3 to 4 games clear of the 2nd team at the end of the minor round....we choked come finals.
BigPond101
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Lions were on their way to premiership glory befiore they recruited Daniher. He is a destroyer of team morale and spirit. On one hand he exists outside the team and has nothing to do with this teammates, on the other hand he burrows into their souls and eats them alive from inside out
Brisbane can look amazing with the ball at times and have enough talent to play some great high scoring, attacking footy. But they do not have the defensive hard grit edge that teams like the Cats, Tigers, Demons have had in recent years.
If you can't defend, your game doesn't stand up.
A new coach and gameplan and focus on being defensively stout and pressuring all over the ground might turn them around, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen under Fagan.
If you can't defend, your game doesn't stand up.
A new coach and gameplan and focus on being defensively stout and pressuring all over the ground might turn them around, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen under Fagan.
iBeng
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I didn't think the Demons were that much of a grit team a few years ago, so goes to show that it can change around even with largely the same crop.
Team philosophy and mindset is huge and if the current coach is not instilling a defensive mindset into the team well enough, then a change could be the best thing. In saying that, in a lot of our losses this year the playing group talk about wanting to improve "team defense" quite a lot. It's clearly something that is spoken about, so with that can you put it all on the coach if the players are not capable of implementing the defensive efforts that ARE being drilled into the team?
The talent is there though, our older players are not even our best players (Zorko time to move on, Rich replaced by Coleman etc) and there is a potential we grab the #1 kid in the draft. So we still have time at the top but it's clear we need to tweak and change things up to remain here in the foreseeable future. I don't see the Lions dropping away but without change I don't see us winning the flag either.
You're the second person I've seen mention Brisbane escaping the "choker" tag today. I'm seriously confused, as I actually thought they had definitely been given that tag and all their early seasons wins had a very big asterisk next to them. But maybe I've mistakenly thought there was more coverage saying that?
3KZ is Football
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Fagan has run his race. He is flat out terrible at team selection and directly costs us games because of his inability to see past his prejudices with players.
Then there is this - The shelf life on this rubbish is pretty short. This is just nine days old.
Fagan: Ready to Prove the Doubters Wrong
When’s the next reset? What will the next article be? Perhaps, “Fagan ready to prove those who doubted he could prove the doubters wrong, wrong.”
Then there is this - The shelf life on this rubbish is pretty short. This is just nine days old.
Fagan: Ready to Prove the Doubters Wrong
When’s the next reset? What will the next article be? Perhaps, “Fagan ready to prove those who doubted he could prove the doubters wrong, wrong.”
Saying a team has peaked when they are still relevant and there is no dominant opponent is always so odd to me. They aren't my pick for the flag but going by that logic Geelong should've given up years ago.
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Except Chris Scott actually won a flag early.
I guess it can re phrased to whether Fagan has what it takes to get improvement from this group. Especially with the poor team decence.
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they show time and time again when finals intensity is put on them they fall apart. If you are in the top 4 you wouldnt be too concerned about playing them in a semi or prelim
Collingwood finished 4th in 2002 with 13-9 and 109%, finishing the H&A with a horrible run of form. They were without Buckley and paying somewhere in the ballpark of $5 to beat Port, who had won 18 of their previous 20 games and just knocked off Brisbane the week prior. There was no way they ever should have lost that game on paper.
2003 was very similar, again winning 18 of 20 heading in and finishing 3 games clear of 2nd. Sydney blew them away early in the QF and they never recovered.
Brisbane in contrast while having had impressive seasons - and indeed lost finals at home - none were anywhere near as overwhelming favourites as what Port were. They haven’t been anywhere near as dominant in the H&A.
Came here to say this. That 2002 Collingwood side was the least talented GF team I can ever remember. This is why I say that Buckley is underrated when people say Voss and Hird were head and shoulders above him. He took a team of hacks to the brink of a flag in that game against one of the best teams of all time.
gianytee
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Super slow team when they let their opposition through the corridor. Not at all surprising, their forward pressure can be great with Bailey, Linc, Cameron but they got to cover for the 3 talls but there Mids and backline while great are slow through transition. Coleman who looks a find and maybe Ah Chee are the only 2 that have pace. Neale, McCluggsge, Berry, Lyons, Mathieson, Robinson, Rich, Zorko, Starcevich, Raymor are all their kid/backline brigade and just can’t keep up with quick ball movement. Not sure on their youth but need to get sone defensive pace
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