Preview LIONS vs PORT, GABBA, ROUND 3 2019

[jackess]

Completely agree. Neither him or Hipwood should be dropped but of the two Hippy has a bit more to work on I think.

I continue to be mystified by the desire to get McStay out of the team - I get his goalkicking can be frustrating but it is not like we are blessed with many talented talls in the reserves waiting for an opportunity either.

He’s the whipping boy. Especially strange given theres no replacement with Adams injured.

I don’t think McStay is playing all that well but he’s playing his role in the highest scoring team so it’s going to take someone in the reserves kicking bags and playing their role to force him out.

 

[jackess]

If for some reason McStay does need a week off do we throw in a smaller player (Christensen? Ely Smith Debut?) Or do we unleash Skinner? Or Eagles?

Skinner would probably be best suited to play his role but it would be interesting to see if we change tactics given there aren’t any key forwards pushing for senior selection

 

[Nunez]

Jesus this seems extremely harsh especially after hearing he might have copped a bad injury and then came back on and threw his body around.

He copped a few massive hits crashing packs and playing his role. I’d be extremely confident that the coaches view his season so far positively and that he’s playing his role adequately with plent of room for improvement.

Agreed. Upon watching the replay he certainly worked hard and played his role. If he had kicked that early goal we'd be talking about how he worked his way into the game and kicked two goals in important times during the game.

It's also easy to neglect guys like Dan and Eric leading out of the space of Charlie etc - although this week as we saw them doing too much of that and too little leading forward but would back them to get the balance right this week.

 

[bato]

The issue with McStay is all in his head. I think by dropping him it will give him a chance to regain confidence in the NEAFL. In the meantime, we could quite easily just play a smaller player in his place without ruining the chemistry our forwards have at the moment.

With some extra confidence, we'll eventually see Dan crashing packs, taking big marks and kicking goals. I loved his attitude second half of the year, you could see the improvement when he'd line up for goal too. I'm only thinking about what I think is best for his development. NEAFL isn't a retirement home or call for delisting.

Edit: Fagan seems to be happy with his role in the team. The only issue with dropping him is Fagan's desire to play 3 talls. I just hope we can eventually work out another way to set up our team if McStay does sit out either through injury or poor form.

 

[bungalow_bill]

He’s the whipping boy. Especially strange given theres no replacement with Adams injured.

I don’t think McStay is playing all that well but he’s playing his role in the highest scoring team so it’s going to take someone in the reserves kicking bags and playing their role to force him out.

Agreed. McStay is doing what the coaches are asking of him. Perhaps he and Hipwood not leading to the ball carrier is part of an overall plan.

 

[bato]

I do wonder who takes Westhoff this week. He probably has the most potential to unsettle our defence because he's so difficult to match up on (moves up and down the ground a lot). Adams would have been ideal

A Port poster on their board also mentioned how they can get an advantage in the midfield via their big-bodied mids. Wines, SPP, Boak and Ebert were the players mentioned. I didn't take too much notice of the midfield battle until I read about that. It is a little worrying.

 

[Gibbo_88]

The issue with McStay is all in his head. I think by dropping him it will give him a chance to regain confidence in the NEAFL. In the meantime, we could quite easily just play a smaller player in his place without ruining the chemistry our forwards have at the moment.

With some extra confidence, we'll eventually see Dan crashing packs, taking big marks and kicking goals. I loved his attitude second half of the year, you could see the improvement when he'd line up for goal too. I'm only thinking about what I think is best for his development. NEAFL isn't a retirement home or call for delisting.

Edit: Fagan seems to be happy with his role in the team. The only issue with dropping him is Fagan's desire to play 3 talls. I just hope we can eventually work out another way to set up our team if McStay does sit out either through injury or poor form.

It looks like he is playing with confidence, looks confident in his body and he's part of a forward line that has kicked 100 points two weeks in a row. Don't think dropping him would achieve anything, he needs to play at AFL level, he belongs at this level, just needs to get a bit more chemistry with out other key forwards.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

As long as he continues impacting contests, McStay is safe. It would be great if he was kicking more goals but if he contributes to the smalls doing so that's almost as good. If he drops his contested work, which was great on Sunday, I'm sure others will be tried. But we're not at that stage yet.

 

[MacMum]

That's the banner , or should be.

Seriously hadn't thought of that when I wrote it.......wow, would be proud as punch if it did make the banner.

 

[bato]

As long as he continues impacting contests, McStay is safe. It would be great if he was kicking more goals but if he contributes to the smalls doing so that's almost as good. If he drops his contested work, which was great on Sunday, I'm sure others will be tried. But we're not at that stage yet.

I'll admit I was premature in my call for him to be dropped. But I have this sense that this kind of limited individual output will continue. I want the guy to start marking and kicking goals like he did in the second half of the year. Seems like the first two games have been a bit of a step back (despite getting some praise for his efforts in r1)

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

I'll admit I was premature in my call for him to be dropped. But I have this sense that this kind of limited individual output will continue. I want the guy to start marking and kicking goals like he did in the second half of the year. Seems like the first two games have been a bit of a step back (despite getting some praise for his efforts in r1)

Bear in mind though that he was marking and kicking goals in a losing side. I'd much rather have it this way.

 

[Nunez]

I'll admit I was premature in my call for him to be dropped. But I have this sense that this kind of limited individual output will continue. I want the guy to start marking and kicking goals like he did in the second half of the year. Seems like the first two games have been a bit of a step back (despite getting some praise for his efforts in r1)

His game round 1 was anything but limited. He was a huge factor in McGovern not having an impact. If you watched the Eagles game this week you'd have seen GWS tried the same tactic but their forward didn't have near the success of Dan. Especially live seeing Dan time his bumps to outbody McGovern was fantastic.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Seriously hadn't thought of that when I wrote it.......wow, would be proud as punch if it did make the banner.

Have you posted it in the Banner thread, if not you should.
I'd be so bold , cause its a ripper , ring the club up or email them.
I'd guess who ever makes the banners it would be in the making process now , but who knows.

 

[Sausages]

I do wonder who takes Westhoff this week. He probably has the most potential to unsettle our defence because he's so difficult to match up on (moves up and down the ground a lot). Adams would have been ideal

A Port poster on their board also mentioned how they can get an advantage in the midfield via their big-bodied mids. Wines, SPP, Boak and Ebert were the players mentioned. I didn't take too much notice of the midfield battle until I read about that. It is a little worrying.

Here's the team lineups from last year, where we ran them to within 5 points:

B : Bonner, Jonas, Barry
HB : Byrne-Jones, Clurey, Hartlett
C : Motlop, Wines, Polec
HF : Boak, Watts, Gray
F : Westhoff, Dixon, Rockliff
FOL : Howard, Ebert, Gray
I/C : Powell-Pepper, Wingard, Marshall, Houston

(italics indicate playing/likely playing against us this week)

So - no Dixon (but Ryder is back), no Watts, no Wingard, no Polec, but let's assume like-for-like replacements at least in terms of skill and output.

Here's our team from that game:

B : Mayes, Walker, Gardiner
HB : Hodge, Andrews, Witherden
C : Taylor, Zorko, Bewick
HF : Cutler, Lester, McCluggage
F : Christensen, Hipwood, Cameron
FOL : Martin, Berry, Robertson
I/C : Robinson, Rayner, Cox, Mathieson

(italics again)

Look at the changes between our likely team this year and the one last year. We didn't get smashed then and I have no reason to think that their "bigger-bodied" midfield is all that much bigger and will prove decisive, given that we've added Lyons and Neale to this team (as compared to last season's game), who are of a similar size and can rotate through. I know there are detractors of his on here, but Basti ain't small either.

As we know, we lost by 5 points last year - and Port were flying throughout the first half of last season. This year, with the personnel changes we've made (and granted Port have added to their squad too) - I'm not frightened of what they can put through the middle.

**EDIT - left out the followers, updated

 

[Tom14]

Here's the team lineups from last year, where we ran them to within 5 points:

B : Bonner, Jonas, Barry
HB : Byrne-Jones, Clurey, Hartlett
C : Motlop, Wines, Polec
HF : Boak, Watts, Gray
F : Westhoff, Dixon, Rockliff
I/C : Powell-Pepper, Wingard, Marshall, Houston

(italics indicate playing/likely playing against us this week)

So - no Dixon (but Ryder is back), no Watts, no Wingard, no Polec, but let's assume like-for-like replacements at least in terms of skill and output.

Here's our team from that game:

B : Mayes, Walker, Gardiner
HB : Hodge, Andrews, Witherden
C : Taylor, Zorko, Bewick
HF : Cutler, Lester, McCluggage
F : Christensen, Hipwood, Cameron
I/C : Robinson, Rayner, Cox, Mathieson

(italics again)

Look at the changes between our likely team this year and the one last year. We didn't get smashed then and I have no reason to think that their "bigger-bodied" midfield is all that much bigger and will prove decisive. Given that we've added Lyons, Neale and Berry to this team (as compared to last season's game), who are all of a similar size and can rotate through. I know there are detractors of his on here, but Basti ain't small either.

As we know, we lost by 5 points last year - and Port were flying throughout the first half of last season. This year, with the personnel changes we've made (and granted Port have added to their squad too) - I'm not frightened of what they can put through the middle.

Completely agree although Berry did play against them last year

One thing I am curious about is how ready to play Hartlett and Wines are - hopefully they are a bit underdone.

 

[Tom14]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-04-02/in-the-mix-whos-pushing-for-selection-in-round-three

Medical room: No fresh injuries from Sunday's win over North Melbourne, with Cam Rayner expected to overcome the corked thigh that slightly limited his game-time in the second half.

Fish reckons Cam is likely to play and there is no mention of McStay - he thinks no change.

 

[Sausages]

Completely agree although Berry did play against them last year

One thing I am curious about is how ready to play Hartlett and Wines are - hopefully they are a bit underdone.

Yeah, I left out the followers, had to edit

 

[bato]

His game round 1 was anything but limited. He was a huge factor in McGovern not having an impact. If you watched the Eagles game this week you'd have seen GWS tried the same tactic but their forward didn't have near the success of Dan. Especially live seeing Dan time his bumps to outbody McGovern was fantastic.

Individual performance was limited - as in scoring goals and making his own numbers look impressive.

I thought he was OK. My definition of a good game is kicking goals as well as crashing packs. That is the role the coaches want him to play because he did it well second half of the year.

Fagan credited Hipwood for his selfless role on Gov. Both Fagan and myself saw Hipwood taking both Barrass and McGovern out of contests and allowing McStay to come in and positively knock the ball down to our smalls.

“Hippy had McGovern and his selflessness to play a role and drag him away was also important to the win.

“I don’t think McGovern was able to have the influence he wanted to have.’’

 

[snooplions]

This year anyway, we are like the boxer who needs to get hit a few times before they get going. Not ideal but still been impressive how we have run over our first two opponents.

 

[Nunez]

Individual performance was limited - as in scoring goals and making his own numbers look impressive.

I thought he was OK. My definition of a good game is kicking goals as well as crashing packs. That is the role the coaches want him to play because he did it well second half of the year.

Fagan credited Hipwood for his selfless role on Gov. Either we’re both wrong, but I saw Hipwood taking both Barrass and McGovern out of contests and allowing McStay to come in and positively knock the ball down to our smalls.

That is a fair metric to work with in a general sense, but if a players task during a game is do take out another player and he does so, then you can't judge that players game on how many goals he kicked.

I am 100% certain Mcstay went against McGovern several times in the first and third quarters as that was down on my end of the ground and discussed it with my mate as it unfolded. No doubt it was a team effort.

Either way, we're the top scoring team in the league and that's on the back of a team effort - hard to be too critical.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

I think we still have a tendency to underrate Steph. His bodywork in ruck tends to at least nullify most ruckman with possibly the exception being Gawn. I'll back him & Oscar to at least break even. Look at the last qtr with him feeding it down to Neale. Top shelf stuff.

I have been watching our rucks closely since the start of last season and in this period Steph has won his position in 22 of 24 games. He beat the Collingwood bloke both times and really towelled him up in the first Collingwood game last year.

I have never seen a ruckman play as well as Steph over so many games and it really annoys me that people do not appreciate his week in and week out consistency. Don't worry about our rucks. Imagine if Hipwood or McStay could win their positions in 22 of the next 24 games!!!

 

[bato]

This year anyway, we are like the boxer who needs to get hit a few times before they get going. Not ideal but still been impressive how we have run over our first two opponents.

As long as they don’t give fans a heart attack final quarter like last week. Gimme the first half knockout blow any day

 

[bato]

I have been watching our rucks closely since the start of last season and in this period Steph has won his position in 22 of 24 games. He beat the Collingwood bloke both times and really towelled him up in the first Collingwood game last year.

I have never seen a ruckman play as well as Steph over so many games and it really annoys me that people do not appreciate his week in and week out consistency. Don't worry about our rucks. Imagine if Hipwood or McStay could win their positions in 22 of the next 24 games!!!

To be fair on Grundy, he got on top in that Etihad reverse fixture. Their midfield completely took over in the second half because of his quality work.

Stef is underappreciated only because of his age. Gawn told Fox that he’s had ‘nil-all’ draws with Stef over the years, which is a pretty impressive compliment given how good Gawn has become as a footballer.

 

[Brett C]

If for some reason McStay does need a week off do we throw in a smaller player (Christensen? Ely Smith Debut?) Or do we unleash Skinner? Or Eagles?

Please no to Eagles, he's a very average player and shouldn't get a game this year unless we have a number of injuries.

 

[Billy Puller]

Am glad coaches don’t follow the ‘metrics’ of a good game that fans provide.

Some real numptys around here.. once again week 3 no changes. I would love to see another 6 matches of no changes to the team. Why change a winning formula