NAB Cup Round 1 - St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions

[loyallion]

Loyallion, If you were not a Brisbane supporter I would have called you the biggest knobhead to post on this forum for quite a while. Go back and check your posts. Every single one of them has a touch of pesimistic hysterics. Leigh's selections were questioned, skill levels of our players derided, and now we won because of St Kilda's poor effort. Like I said if you were not a Lions supporter I would have let loose with a few more choice words than just a knobhead.

First point. IMO the reason why Schmidt and Hawksley would have been left is because of the playing conditions. There is only so many six footer plus players a team can carry in conditions such as the game was played.
Secondly our skills improved as the game progressed and we got used to the conditions. In comparison to what I saw of Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood and North we are on par if not better than the teams I have mentioned.
St Kilda lost because we adapted to the conditions better, showed better skill level playing the conditions, showed more determination, guts and heart and because we were the better team on the night.

I'd suggest next time you read what you write and think before you press the POST button.

Grrrrrrrr I never said Brisbane won because St Kilda was playing Poor if I have gave you that impression I apologize hell its called frustration from lack of TV/Radio coverage it was ********ing pissing me off and I thought those players were injured at the time ok?.

 

[Snuka]

Grrrrrrrr I never said Brisbane won because St Kilda was playing Poor if I have gave you that impression I apologize hell its called frustration from lack of TV/Radio coverage it was ********ing pissing me off and I thought those players were injured at the time ok?.

Like I said before we are in for a very long season! Why the hell did Leigh leave out last years draft picks for? Not a very smart choice Leigh!.

Actually, in your post you were blaming Matthews for leaving them out (the 1st year guys). Or have I misunderstood?

 

[loyallion]

Actually, in your post you were blaming Matthews for leaving them out (the 1st year guys). Or have I misunderstood?

You have misunderstood I have said this already The first sentence was me repeating what I had said in a previous post

The second sentence had nothing to do with the first.

I was just saying how I couldnt understand why Leigh had left our draft picks from last year out of the team, I wasnt blaming LM if we had lost the game at all.

 

[danielcan]

Lions prevail in big wet
11:14:36 PM Sat 24 February, 2007
Paul Gough
Exclusive to lions.com.au

The Brisbane Lions came from a near-hopeless position to dump St Kilda out of the NAB Cup as Ross Lyon's coaching tenure got off to a disappointing start on Saturday night.

In some of the wettest conditions seen in the AFL for years, the Lions won a thriller by seven points - 0.7.10 (52) to 1.5.6 (45) - in a match played in a continual rainstorm in Cairns.

But the final scores only tell part of the story as Lyon's debut as Saints' coach turned into a night he will want to forget as St Kilda somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Saints did not kick a goal in the second half and did not even score in the final term as Brisbane overcame a 28-point deficit at quarter-time despite Cazaly Stadium becoming so waterlogged that any precise movement of the ball was impossible.

The hero for the Lions was 2002 Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, the only member of the famous "fab four" midfield currently playing for the club.

While the other members of that group in Michael Voss (retired) and Jason Akermanis (traded to the Bulldogs) have moved on and Nigel Lappin remains on the injured list, Black's hunger for success shows no signs of diminishing and he was the difference between the sides after half-time as he continually won the ball in the atrocious conditions.

The Lions lost their last six matches in 2006 as they finished 13th, their lowest position since collecting the wooden spoon in 1998, the year before Leigh Matthews became coach.

And with Voss and Akermanis gone and Lappin and powerhouse forward Jonathan Brown troubled by injury, many were tipping doom and gloom for the Lions this year but on the evidence of Saturday night's gutsy win they still have plenty of spirit and plenty of talented youngsters in Matthew Moody, Joel Patfull, Justin Sherman Scott Harding and rookie Haydn Kiel.

On the other hand, much was expected of the Saints in their first game under their new coach and despite the absence of a host of stars including Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig, Lenny Hayes, Robert Harvey and Luke Ball, it was still a disappointing performance.

Veteran Andrew Thompson tried his heart out but lacked support and the Saints attack was unsighted after a promising start when the team booted five goals in the opening term, but then could manage only one in the final three quarters.

The Lions will now play the Western Bulldogs in the first NAB Cup quarter-final next Friday night, while St Kilda will meet Collingwood in a NAB Regional Challenge match at MC Labour Park next Friday afternoon.

BRISBANE LIONS: 0.1.0, 0.3.4, 0.5.5, 0.7.10 (52)
ST KILDA: 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 1.5.6, 1.5.6 (45)
NINE POINT GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Nil
St Kilda: Goddard
SIX POINT GOALS: Brisbane Lions: Sherman 2, Copeland, Kiel, Harding, Patfull, Tyler
St Kilda: Brooks 2, Milne, Allen, Montagna
BEST: Brisbane Lions: Black, Copeland, Moody, Rischitelli, Sherman, Patfull
St Kilda: Thompson, Montagna, S Fisher, McQualter, Ferguson, X Clarke
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Adcock (ankle)
St Kilda: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Sully, Nicholls, Ellis, Jeffrey
CROWD: N/A at Cazaly Stadium, Cairns

 

[Snuka]

You have misunderstood I have said this already The first sentence was me repeating what I had said in a previous post

The second sentence had nothing to do with the first.

I was just saying how I couldnt understand why Leigh had left our draft picks from last year out of the team, I wasnt blaming LM if we had lost the game at all.

I apologize for misunderstanding loyallion.

However, i'm still not sure I get your meaning. Why should we care if our draft picks from last year are playing? I mean, why is that important? Do you think that any of these guys should get a game come round 1? And if you do, why should the NAB cup even matter?

 

[scott522]

Great win - congrats to the boys; Blacky was awesome and Rischi did well, and no I'm not biased.

 

[Warwick]

After watching the first half, all I can say is thank God it was wet. We could have been down by a margin much larger than 30 points at 1/4 time with a dry footy.

Although the conditions were horrendous, there were still the same errors being made that couldn't really be put down to the weather, i.e. no options presenting up forward so being forced to chip the ball around until we coughed it up.

However, we are missing an entire forward line, and have such a young team. The effort is certainly there. It will come.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Winning is better than losing!

 

[Hollow Knight]

Where is the Bushy love guys?

He was fantastic, faded towards the end but was easily one of our best.

 

[loyallion]

I apologize for misunderstanding loyallion.

However, i'm still not sure I get your meaning. Why should we care if our draft picks from last year are playing? I mean, why is that important? Do you think that any of these guys should get a game come round 1? And if you do, why should the NAB cup even matter?

Well I would have thought that he would be very keen to get these guys on the field to see how they go against the other young players of the comp, I guess he doesnt want to do that.

I think its important to at least give them a taste of what is to offer before they get to play in a "normal" season.

As it turns out we went great without them still I would like to see how they go to see how great these draft picks are and if they will possibly be future stars for our great side.

 

[sainter]

Congratulations on the win.

With the team we fielded I didn't think we had much of a chance but in true St Kilda fashion they started off in great fashion and did just enough to get our hopes up before fading away.

It's early days though. Both teams fielded a lot of kids and there were a few from both teams that caught the eye.

I thought we may have held on but your experienced players stood up when it counted and on the balance of play we didn't deserve to win.

Good luck next week.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Well I would have thought that he would be very keen to get these guys on the field to see how they go against the other young players of the comp, I guess he doesnt want to do that.

I think its important to at least give them a taste of what is to offer before they get to play in a "normal" season.

As it turns out we went great without them still I would like to see how they go to see how great these draft picks are and if they will possibly be future stars for our great side.

Personally I think it's more important to get a regular core of players playing cohesively. This is what cost us games last year. In the glory years every player knew what the other would do. We need to get our best players playing well and playing together. As for the young players, we wouldn't have drafted them if we didn't think they could develop into good players.

 

[Quigley]

Given the conditions it was a bit hard to read too much into the game but the following are my thoughts:

I was generally pretty happy with the backline. They were under massive pressure early and did a pretty good job. The saints were pretty lucky I thought in their first few goals and I don't think you could place much blame with the KPBs. Merrett was strong and was the dominant back on the ground. Looked good. Mills started slow but worked into the game well and was around the ball a lot on the wing when the saints were flooding back. He would have had a win on the night imho. Bushy was probably the best player on the park for us in the first half. Faded out a little but that probably had to do with the fact that the ball was camped in the saints half for most of the second half.

Brennan was at his enigmatic best. When he was able to float around at the back (ie no body contact required) he read the play beautifully and invariably picked up the possession usually in a flashy manner. His disposal though was horrible all night. I cringed every time he went to kick.

For me the biggest winner coming out of last night on our team was Fixter. I never have been a big wrap for him but last night he showed what he could bring to the side. When he lined up early I thought Scotty was playing. He is a very solid guy and strong on the ball which we need in our midfield.

The change in the game in the second revolved around changes to our midfield which wasn't clearing it in the first quarter. Fixter moved to the midflied, Stiller came onto the HBF and Sherman moved up the ground. Rischa and Moody were yanked. Suddenly the 1%ers were going our way and the ball was being used better and we were camped at the saints end.

I made a comment earlier about how it looked like Rischa had a good game. I have to admit after watching the match it is amazing how much those stats lie. Again he was around the ball and got his hands on it but the use of the ball was ordinary. There were a lot of those little handballs that sold his receiver up the river. He also wasn't doing the 1%ers needed. Credit though after the half he played better. Moody was also getting a lot good clean possessions and looked good with it. Again though he did not use it well. Stiller was by far the best of the three.

Wood's rucking was disappointing. I don't think he got a clean tap all game. Beau was a bit short of a run. By far our most effective ruck when he was there was Charman.

It is great when the champions step up when the pressure is on. Good on Blacky. Sherman is getting there fast but not quite there yet. He is looking good though.

Patful was pretty good alnight. Nothing spectacular but a nice game all the same.

Begley was quiet for three quarters but was amongst our best in the fourth. Some nice signs there. Sheldon was around the ball and worked hard especially on his tackles. Good to see CJ go and have a quiet word of encouragement to Sam at the half.

Allan and Hamill are probably going to be lucky to be playing next week. I also am not sure that Possum is in our top 22. He wasn't sited all game.

 

[blynd_freddie]

I agree Quigley, re player assessments.

Given the conditions it was a bit hard to read too much into the game

but….

Metaphorically, after crawling to end of the 2006 season, I sense the club may now be standing again and ready to walk into 2007.

A big statement I know, as this was only a NAB game.

But, did anyone else notice the amazing energy and verve in the singing of the club song after last nights win?

I’m happy to interpret that as a very positive sign on the path to rebuilding a new Lions dynasty.

Sorry to bring up an old chestnut, but I think that’s the energy the club was looking for after returning from Kakoda.

As has been mentioned previously, the Docklands on Friday will be a litmus.

.

 

[Grimreepah]

Glad you mentioned Patful. I thought he had a good game, and his goal at the end was quite brilliant. I think you are a bit harsh on Rischitelli, I thought he showed good composure.

I agree about Brennan. Had a fairly good game mopping up from the backline (although kicking was terrible). Playing him as a loose man in defence is an interesting idea.

Fixter did play well, but I don't know if that is any form guide for dry conditions.

Adcock was very good for us too I thought.

 

[Chasing the Dream]

Great win - congrats to the boys; Blacky was awesome and Rischi did well, and no I'm not biased.

Blacky has drifted to $71 in Brownlow betting.

$5 each way will return $355 for the win and $92-50 for a top 3.

Don't tell anyone........

 

[xplo]

RE: Brennan's kicking. It was terrible, but I don't think it's too much to worry about.

He's always had a big, flicky, loose kicking action -- a flashy overly one-handed drop, and flicking his foot like a little whip -- and those actions fall apart first when the pill gets heavy and slippery. Ideally you want the classic, square-on Nathan Burke/Tim Watson kicking action on a night like that. Bushy is very square which helped him. Moody too.

Brennan would have struggled 30 years ago, but unless we get an appallingly wet season, it shouldn't raise it's head again.

Funnily enough, Simon's action should suffer more in those conditions -- he often seems to use his foot sideways like a sand wedge -- but he must just have super balance and timing.

 

[maroon and blue]

Copeland did play really well last night.

 

[Kochie 16]

i agree. For a defender he got the most diposals for brisbane and that quick goal he booted. Classic!

 

[danielcan]

Great game but I will miss Vossy on the field.

I will have to get used to not yelling out "C'mon Vossy"

 

[Kochie 16]

Brisbane will never get another vossy, no club will.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Brisbane will never get another vossy, no club will.

We've got a Strawb though.

 

[Kochie 16]

What's that?

 

[Hollow Knight]

What's that?

 

[Kochie 16]

I guess. But merrit needs a few more years though. I thoght his performance last year against Sydney & the Saints was impressive.