Preview Lions v Suns Sunday 5th May @ 7.10 pm The Gabba

[Section 5]

I think this game is about Chris Fagan. (love the man)

Does he continue to show loyalty to his main squad and just tinker around the edges with fringe players or does he do something to send a message to the senior players that 'coasting' is just not enough.

How does Fagan overcome the half time fade outs. How does Fagan get a motivated team running back onto the ground after half time. How does Fagan get his team to fight games out.

If Fagan can answer these question I continue my, man love of him. Same, Same again and I may listen to his critics.

All good points considering how we have played up to date.
I think you can include the players leadership group also.
They are the ones on field at the time when things go astray.
Messages come from the bench but the players leaders really need to address it before that happens.
Of course the players themselves need to focus on how their individual performance can improve too.

On Lenovo TB-X606F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[mpal6]

Was wondering how to pronounce 'Reville' ... thought I might check out his roster watch thread first and discovered that the commentators have more than one idea (not helpful)...

So is it pronounced:

• Revel (like a party)
• Revile (like time to get out of bed army boys)
• Revile (like you have no idea what you are talking about and should just shut up)
• Revile (like Cecil B De Mille)
• something else?

Guessing he will be doomed at AFL commentator level in any case .

Oh and what is his nickname?

Lions Revi-va-ille !!!

 

[Nunez]

Joe Dirt, pronounced D'artay

 

[Clarkythelion]

All good points considering how we have played up to date.
I think you can include the players leadership group also.
They are the ones on field at the time when things go astray.
Messages come from the bench but the players leaders really need to address it before that happens.
Of course the players themselves need to focus on how their individual performance can improve too.

On Lenovo TB-X606F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Totally agree, I've said on here before how we desperately need a leader that charges up out of the trenches and yells "follow me". Michael Voss, Joel Selwood, Luke Hodge - one of those types that lead from example rather than the "lovey dovey I'm supporting you types".

I agree the playing group has some responsibilities in the turnaround and the leaders are not making the right sounds at all yet. I'd like to hear some real frustrations, "we are shocking, we are just being run over, we are just not there with the top teams, we have to harden up and fight our way back". There doesn't seem a level of frustration yet and we are already at that point in our season, based on win numbers, where we have to try something else rather than just slip slowly into quick sand. The season is not lost, we are not that far down but without something dramatic to stop the rot, we will be 'rebuilding and playing the kids'.

 

[McIvor]

All this is reasonable but I'm in Melbourne so will have to work the following day

So do you not watch Thursday night for the same reason?

 

[Tom14]

So do you not watch Thursday night for the same reason?

I obviously watch all our games - and will watch on sunday. Doesn't mean that Thursday and Sunday night are good though lol?

 

[McIvor]

I obviously watch all our games - and will watch on sunday. Doesn't mean that Thursday and Sunday night are good though lol?

Appreciate you would, was more a general question. I mean I quite like Thursday night footy albeit, only watching it on Tele. Unless the Friday was a public holiday, we wouldn’t make the trip down; just too hard on a school night.

 

[Jim Stynes11]

Being in WA, it's rare that the time difference is a positive, so welcome the late Sunday time slot of 5:10pm. The following week the last game of the round is at 2pm WA time.

As for the game, I will be watching this through my hands. Don't know if we will turn up or not, and not sure what to expect. Generally if we are beaten in the midfield, we don't go so well, so Witts, Rowell, Anderson and co may well be looking forward to this weekend.

Obviously if we bring the pressure like we did against Melbourne (and q1 against Carlton) we will win, but it's impossible to know if that will happen (or the reasons it isn't happening consistently)

Up until last week I was very much talking down our issues, as each one can individually be explained to some extent, but we are getting to the point of no further chances. The Melbourne game didn't spark the kick on I was expecting, so I wouldn't even be convinced by a decent win this week.

 

[twhowler]

At 2-5, surely there are some changes? Worth noting we had a major lapse last year losing to the crows and hawks when Rich and Gunston made way. It sent a message to the group - if you are poor for several weeks, you will eventually feel so bad you will drop yourselves! Ha

At least it freshened us up. We are desperately in need of that right now.

Changes for mine:

Sharp for Ah Chee - best runner in the club. Improved last year. Absolute no-brainer.
Zorko back to previous half back role - radical i know but stick him where he was dominating?
Oscar for Fort - if Oscar not right then Smith. Fort has looked okay as second ruck and marks well but got bullied around the ball.
Ryan for Hipwood - liked what i saw of Ryan. Has played before. Hipwood should be told get back form and you get another go. Another radical idea i know.
Reville for Gardiner - watching Gardiner close-up on Thursday it struck me that while he is not fast in terms of running, it's how slow he reacts that kills him as a forward. Twice he got it, figured out an option to handball, but he just couldn't pull it off before he was tackled. He is a great back-up back for now
Mckenna to forward line - let's just bloody tackle down there hey? tell him to run people down and stop the ball rebounding

So team would be

Starcevich Payne Wilmot
Zorko Andrews Lester
Berry Dunkley Fletcher
McKenna Ryan Rayner
Cameron Daniher McCarthy

Oscar Neale McCluggage
Lohman (spare forward) Reville (spare mid) Sharp (spare wing) Answerth (spare defender)

 

[Section 5]

Back to my PC from my Android tablet.
I don't use my tablet or phone to post but I did use the tablet today.
Had to have my legs elevated.

When checking my review on both my Android tablet and phone I noticed on my post that the "table of player stats" I inserted was pretty much unreadable.

Would that be what other posters see or is that in my settings on those two Android devices being a Lenovo tablet and Samsung S20FE.
If so how to fix it would be appreciated.

 

[wantok]

Back to my PC from my Android tablet.
I don't use my tablet or phone to post but I did use the tablet today.
Had to have my legs elevated.

When checking my review on both my Android tablet and phone I noticed on my post that the "table of player stats" I inserted was pretty much unreadable.

Would that be what other posters see or is that in my settings on those two Android devices being a Lenovo tablet and Samsung S20FE.
If so how to fix it would be appreciated.

Unreadable on a Samsung A52

On SM-A525F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[McIvor]

At 2-5, surely there are some changes? Worth noting we had a major lapse last year losing to the crows and hawks when Rich and Gunston made way. It sent a message to the group - if you are poor for several weeks, you will eventually feel so bad you will drop yourselves! Ha

At least it freshened us up. We are desperately in need of that right now.

Changes for mine:

Sharp for Ah Chee - best runner in the club. Improved last year. Absolute no-brainer.
Zorko back to previous half back role - radical i know but stick him where he was dominating?
Oscar for Fort - if Oscar not right then Smith. Fort has looked okay as second ruck and marks well but got bullied around the ball.
Ryan for Hipwood - liked what i saw of Ryan. Has played before. Hipwood should be told get back form and you get another go. Another radical idea i know.
Reville for Gardiner - watching Gardiner close-up on Thursday it struck me that while he is not fast in terms of running, it's how slow he reacts that kills him as a forward. Twice he got it, figured out an option to handball, but he just couldn't pull it off before he was tackled. He is a great back-up back for now
Mckenna to forward line - let's just bloody tackle down there hey? tell him to run people down and stop the ball rebounding

So team would be

Starcevich Payne Wilmot
Zorko Andrews Lester
Berry Dunkley Fletcher
McKenna Ryan Rayner
Cameron Daniher McCarthy

Oscar Neale McCluggage
Lohman (spare forward) Reville (spare mid) Sharp (spare wing) Answerth (spare defender)

Definitely all for Ryan getting a go at the expense of Hipwood. He’s had enough chances of finding form in the seniors where he takes his spot for granted and only does something when he feels like it. I mean could Ryan really be any worse than any of Eric’s poor games?

 

[McIvor]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1119504

 

[Section 5]

Hippy's form and goal kicking are on a par with his previous seasons.
However, it would be nice to see those stats improve in his 9th season.
Playing as a 26-year-old this year. So, this and the next 2 years will hopefully produce better form.

We really are missing a more bulking type of 3rd tall forward.
I think that would allow Jo and Hippy more options to get up the ground, knowing someone else other than the smalls are still in that forward 50 area.
Logan Morris is 191cm and 90kg that's about the same size as Waterman and Langford.
I am probably in the minority on BF but i still prefer the 3 tall forward set up.
Especially when we basically have two flankers playing as KPF with one being ruck relief.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Hippy's form and goal kicking are on a par with his previous seasons.
However, it would be nice to see those stats improve in his 9th season.
Playing as a 26-year-old this year. So, this and the next 2 years will hopefully produce better form.

We really are missing a more bulking type of 3rd tall forward.
I think that would allow Jo and Hippy more options to get up the ground, knowing someone else other than the smalls are still in that forward 50 area.
Logan Morris is 191cm and 90kg that's about the same size as Waterman and Langford.
I am probably in the minority on BF but i still prefer the 3 tall forward set up.
Especially when we basically have two flankers playing as KPF with one being ruck relief.

View attachment 1974797

I too prefer the 3 tall forwards setup. It's interesting to see the Giants are rolling with essentially a 4 tall setup in their forward line: Hogan, Riccardi, Brown and Cadman. That extra tall presence didn't stop the Giants laying 23 tackles in their forward 50 tho. More to the point, those 4 guys mentioned made 12 tackles between them.

So to me it is more about attitude and work rate than "oh we have to play smaller so we can apply better pressure inside forward 50".

Something for the proponents of Rayner reverting to 3rd key forward to have a think about.

 

[dlanod]

I too prefer the 3 tall forwards setup. It's interesting to see the Giants are rolling with essentially a 4 tall setup in their forward line: Hogan, Riccardi, Brown and Cadman. That extra tall presence didn't stop the Giants laying 23 tackles in their forward 50 tho. More to the point, those 4 guys mentioned made 12 tackles between them.

So to me it is more about attitude and work rate than "oh we have to play smaller so we can apply better pressure inside forward 50".

Something for the proponents of Rayner reverting to 3rd key forward to have a think about.

I wouldn't count Brown as a true tall in that forward line, so it's more of a three. Brown is a bit of a freak athletically but he's actually only 1.88m.

 

[braddsey]

Miller's got Neale's number.

I wouldn’t mind seeing one of our boys getting suspended this week for defending Neale. It’s clear that the AFL aren’t going to protect him and fines for oppo players isn’t a deterrent - fines for Hewitt and particularly Pendlebury have empowered them to go after him.

…as long as it’s not the entire team trying to target Gold Coast and have us then lose focus anyway!!

 

[Nathan Barley]

Hopefully Miller has learnt from the last QClash to keep his hands to himself

 

[On the quiet]

Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns Sunday May 5th @ 7.10 PM

V

There is a bonus at the end of this Preview.
Have we ever had a Sunday Night 7.10 pm start time before?
Monday is public holiday in Queensland for those interstate BF people.

Last year results:
Round 10: The Gabba @ 7.30 pm Lions win 107 - 64 Daniher 4 goals. Attendance 23,286.
Round 20: Carrara @ 4.35 pm Lions win 96 - 55 Cameron 2 goals. Attendance 14,097.

Suns 2024
The Suns have a new triple premiership tigers coach in Damien Hardwick signed on for 6 years.
He has arguably taken over the best young list in the competition.
I think this being his first year and playing the youngsters may help us on the weekend.
He will continue to play the teenagers to see where they likely fit into his long-term plans.
With that in mind below is how their young players with under 20 AFL games have played including todays game.

Player & Position	Games & Age	Disposal Average	Marks Average	Goals Average	Tackles Average	Height Weight
W Graham Mid	4 games 18 years	14	1.8	0.2	8.2	202 cm 81 kg
E Read Fwd/Ruck.	3 18	4.7	1.0	1.0	0.3	202 cm 92 kg
J Walter Fwd	5 18	6.4	2.0	1.2	2.0	195 cm 97 kg
J Rogers Fwd	2 19	15	1.0	0.5	2.0	172 cm 68 kg
B Uwland Def	9 20	9.8	3.2	0.0	1.5	188 cm 89 kg
S Clohesy Wing	4 21	18	6.2	1.0	2.8	189 cm 81 kg

The Suns AFL form to date reads win at home lose away. Let's hope that form continues.
I won’t mention our home record though.
They have lost all away games: Dogs 48 points, GWS 28, Swans 53
However, they have won all their home games: Tigers 39, Crows 6, Hawks 53, Eagles 37
The senior players below we have to watch as usual.
Witts in the ruck is always an issue for Oscar and all other rucks in the AFL for that matter.
The Suns three midfielders in Anderson, Rowell and Miller are in fine form.
Millar not really tagging under Hardwick. Hopefully that continues for Neales sake.
Ben King is an excellent kick but a low possession player. He kicked 3 goals 2 behinds from 10 disposals vs Eagles.
King went with Andrews in our 41-point loss in Round 20 to quell his intercept marking.
That worked for the Suns as Andrews was down on his usual output that day.
To make it worse King only got 7 disposals but kicked 5 goals 1 behind from just 6 marks.
Others playing solid footy are Flanders, Fiorini, Powell, Collins, Mac Andrew., Ainsworth & Lukosius.
Jake Rogers in his 2nd game impressed with a zippy 22 disposals 1 goal.
Looks like a team player with the most goal assists 4, because he is honoring good leads.


The Lions
Sitting 2-5 is not great and we just have to win this week.
The last two games were very hard to take for fans, especially BF posters.
In my opinion the midfield and forwards have been the reason for those losses, not our defenders.
So logically we need to make a few changes in these two areas.
I will assume Ah Chee misses and Oscar comes in so that's 2 changes.
Tunstill as sub played a half of footy with only 4 disposals so he is likely to miss selection.
Tunstill in the VFL v Sharks game only had 4 disposals again in the 1st half. He ended up with 17 disposals.
So, which players do I think are ready to step up from VFL level.

VFL Side v Southport Sharks
They won by 9 points in a very entertaining and seesawing game of AFL.
For mine the standouts were Reville, Brain, Smith, Sharp and Morris but overall, a good team effort.
With Lloyd moving to defense and Fort missing they had a much smaller forward line.
The team looked a much better outfit without all those talls clogging up the forward 50.
I understand that the Lions need to get games into Lane, Smith, Ryan, Morris & Lloyd.
However, if they make the 8, they should consider dropping one of Lane, Smith or Fort.
As such it was the smalls contributing the best scoring
Those being Ben Thomas 3, Sharp 2, Manly, McPherson, Lyons, Abberley all with 1 each.
The talls contribution coming from Morris 2, Smith, Ryan, Lane all with 1 each.
Morris has shown enough in his 5 games to be considered as a marking tall forward.
But would they drop Gardiner?
Reville just has to be included this week in my opinion.
Sharp looks a better AFL player this year with 3 years in the AFL system.
He has a stronger body now and does not get pushed off the ball as easily.
Ryan only if they drop Hippy which is unlikely. Ryan is very slow around the ground.
But he is quick off the mark when leading into space and does take a good mark. Solid kick for goal.
Smith a chance if we decide on two rucks or if Oscar is not available Fort will need help v Witts.
Brain a half back but playing well.
Lyons got his share of disposals but looked slowish on defending again. Sealed the win with his goal close to the final siren.

Player Position	AFL Games & Age	VFL Disposal Average	VFL Marks Average	VFL Goal Average	VFL Tackle Average	Height Weight
Reville	0 23	21	5.8	0.02	3.8	185 cm 80 kg
Sharp	10 21	21	9.2	0.8	2.6	182 cm 76 kg
Morris	0 18	14	5.4	2.2	0.8	191 cm 90 kg
Ryan	3 26	11	4.7	1.7	1.3	200 cm 91 kg
Smith	0 21	18 19 h/outs	4.2	0.75	2.6	206 cm 98 kg
Brain	0 20	17	6.6	0.0	1.6	183 cm 83 kg

How To Fix Our Forward & Midfield Issues in the AFL Side.
Midfield: Introduce someone with pace and agility.
Forwards: A strong mark that kicks straight and applies some defensive pressure.

McCarthy, Cameron, Lohmann & Rayner to up their game pressure and tackle count.
The tall forwards also do their bit on pressure in that area.
Start converting fairly easy opportunities. Think things through on set shots.
Players kicking inside 50 to lower their eyes and make better choices.

The Possible Changes
Midfield: Consider Reville and Sharp
Forward: Consider Morris, Smith

So, who do we pick from this group if they decide to drop Gardiner which is unlikely.
Gardiner with only 5 disposals could get better in his new position but can we wait till that happens.
Witts usually gets the better of Oscar, so Smith comes into play as a 2nd ruck.
Or we stick to one ruck and bring in Morris assuming Oscar is available.
I prefer one ruck as we are slow enough already. Midfield just needs to adjust to a losing ruck.
Reville must get a full game next week or I will have to consider going over to the dark side on Fagan selections.
Sharp has been disappointing most times he has been promoted. His last full game was May 2023.
This year he looks much stronger in contests and not getting easily pushed off the ball.
However, he is playing well and deserves consideration.
Interestingly in the last 2 years he played at AFL level, we won 7 games and only lost one by 10 points.
Maybe we need a lucky charm player.

My Changes
Out Fort in Oscar. If Oscar is still not available, definitely Smith to help Fort out.
Out Ah Chee in Reville. Reville to play Baileys role.
Out Tunstill in Morris or Smith
Out Gardiner (unlikely) in Morris or Smith

If Oscar is available, that is really only 2 or 3 changes to best 23 after two horrible losses.

Changing The Players Positions to Add More Pace.
Zorko starts the game at half back. Move Wilmot to wing/midfield.
This allows Reville to take Baileys role as a forward/midfielder where he plays VFL.
This also allows Fletcher to get some midfield time as well if they wish.
I would like to see Wilmot, Berry & Fletcher as our 3 wings for the remainder of the year.
Brain is now a serious backup to that half back position where we have lots of options.
I don’t think that hurts our backline or team structure much with Zorko covering Wilmots position.
I can only see a positive in that move, but the coaches may disagree as Wilmot is playing very well at half back.
But would there be much difference if Zorko takes that spot. Zorko's two full games at half back were great.

Who Needs to Step Up this Week to Get the Win.
The players leadership group and the coach at the selection table.
Our forwards and midfielders.

Conclusion.
The season really is on the line in this game and a win at all costs is a must.
We should account for a young Suns team at The Gabba to record our first home game win.
Hardwick wants to win games, but I think in his first year as coach he wants to get players to play to his game plan.
Also granting games to youngsters to see how they fit into his future side.
Should this be the case then expect no hard tag on Neale which will help greatly.

Lions by 40 plus points being a bold prediction on our recent form.

Bonus For BF Readers
The channel Seven Weekender show just did a Lions segment and are offering a double pass to the Lions Premiership Lounge this Sunday.
It looks an impressive set up and i am sure some BF poster would like to win a pass.
Maybe you can catch a repeat of the program on 7plus.

To win your own double pass to the Premiership Lounge, visit our Facebook page.

https://7weekender.com/

Great preview. Just one small correction, at Carrara last year Suns beat the Lions. From memory King deliberately went to Harris after every bounce and kicked about 4 or 5 goals.

 

[Jim Stynes11]

Whatever people think about the 3 tall setup, it's not going away any time soon.
Oscar going down early against Geelong is the exact reason Fages wants to have a third tall. This will have spooked him. If it was just Joe, Hippy and a bunch of smalls, then that leaves Hipwood up front on his own.
If this injury doesn't happen, then maybe they start wondering if its worth it for an extremely rare occurrence, but it's happened now (and once early last year iirc)

I know you can make the point that Gardiner doesn't take as much watching, and Hipwood was still effectively double teamed the entire game, but I believe the coaches will want an additional tall to give the flexibility that fages always talks about

 

[On the quiet]

Totally agree, I've said on here before how we desperately need a leader that charges up out of the trenches and yells "follow me". Michael Voss, Joel Selwood, Luke Hodge - one of those types that lead from example rather than the "lovey dovey I'm supporting you types".

I agree the playing group has some responsibilities in the turnaround and the leaders are not making the right sounds at all yet. I'd like to hear some real frustrations, "we are shocking, we are just being run over, we are just not there with the top teams, we have to harden up and fight our way back". There doesn't seem a level of frustration yet and we are already at that point in our season, based on win numbers, where we have to try something else rather than just slip slowly into quick sand. The season is not lost, we are not that far down but without something dramatic to stop the rot, we will be 'rebuilding and playing the kids'.

We have 9 on the leadership group and this nine are regular senior players all with over 100 AFL games. Like another posted, I think that is too many.

IMO, not being able to beat or get close to GWS with arguably three of their better players missing, has me convinced we will struggle to get to 7th or 8th. We have some winnable games coming up, but from round 19 play Swans, Suns (Carrara), Saints (Marvel), Giants, Pies & Bombers, still a long way to go, but on current form how many of the last 6 games do we win?

 

[Elixuh]

The suns always get up for this one and our fight when challenged seems to be lacking at the moment. Will be a difficult game.

 

[Section 5]

Great preview. Just one small correction, at Carrara last year Suns beat the Lions. From memory King deliberately went to Harris after every bounce and kicked about 4 or 5 goals.

I did know we lost that one.
Thanks for the pick up on my error.
Fixed

On Lenovo TB-X606F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Jirik13]

The suns always get up for this one

I wish. In reality Suns suffered 9 mostly bad losses in a row before last year win.

Suns are still inconsistent while learning a new plan. Dimma works on his line-up and plays very young team.

If Lions bring the same intent like against Melbourne they win comfortably. I guess, question is, will they. They should with the season on the line.

 

[Chief]