Preview Rd 21, 2014 - Brisbane Lions vs Collingwood

[Dylan12]

I genuinely hope that you can at least give the company you're with an A+ for a great day out at the MCG.

Why wouldn't I...at least I'm on the same page with a lot of them regarding Merrett...not sure I've seen a Lions player so popular with the Melbourne based Lions fans.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Not there is a worthwhile suggestion.

Are we sure we can't just clone him so we have one up each end?

I've been thinking about that, and I reckon we'd be better off having two of him down back - he's shown he can blaze out of defence and kick goals, he just needs to start doing it consistantly - the next logical step in his improvement.

It's interesting to look at his last three years - 2012 he solidified his defensive game and became a brick wall. 2013 saw him add a stopping and rebounding aspect to his game, and 2014 has seen him become an active attacker. I honestly can't wait to see what he brings in 2015, it's a shame he has no ambitions to be a leader as I think he'd make a very good Captain - at least one of his goals this year has been a "Captains Goal" (against west coast). However, I think he'll happily let Rocky take that mantle.

 

[a mayes ing]

Dion Scott is a perfect example of someone that was not highly skilled, but at least offered something up forward and competed despite limitations and Merrett doesn't even offer that. Shit, I'd prefer Trent Bartlett up forward and reckon we'd get a hell of a lot more.

So what you're saying is: You're not a fan of Merret?

 

[Old Den]

I feel similarly to Last of the Roys et al about feeling a little flat after team selection. I don't think we're putting our best foot forward, and in that regard I'm not sure why I should think of this game as anything other than a glorified practice match.

I don't have Foxtel and I go to the pub to watch most matches. I'm not keen on sitting amongst a pack of drunken Collingwood fans roaring about a big win against a pack of kids.

But what if we win?

Call me totally out of touch, but I really don't think that "IP" matters any where near as much as actual relative scores on the board. Pretty simple way to measure success really. What's more, it's the way everyone else in the competition measures success as well.

Without wishing to get personal, anyone who gives Merrett a pass mark or better for his work this year is seriously deluded, no matter his contribution to "collisions" etc. Just for a start, in the increasingly rare event he actually gets a kick near goal, his kicking lately has been abysmal. The sad reality is that he is in the team only because there is no viable replacement.

This is true enough...I doubt if anyone could or would give him a pass mark this year...last year when forced forward (due to lack of AFL ready tall forwards on the list)Merrett at times kicked quite well for goal but this year his goal kicking has been poor most of the time.

His playing forward this year has been again a stop gap measure and as I posted previously,had Merrett been left at full back all year he would have drawn a lot less criticism...in other words due to his lacking all the skills necessary to play forward,a fact established long ago,but being seen as the best option to cover for the lack (Brown aside) of fit and capable KPP's on the list...Merrett is copping a truckload of criticism for not providing what was hoped for from him...fair enough but I am pointing out the very obvious circumstances that perhaps are not taken into account or considered irrelevant by some of his critics.

This season is just about shot and hopefully Merrett won't be called on for a forward role next year as our young KP Forwards develop but gosh they all have had so few senior games.

 

[ninja_lion]

Yes they are. Someone on this page or the one before rated Merrett's season as an A to A+. Surely that could only be reserved for Rockliff or even Martin. I wouldn't even give Hanley an A to A+ considering he was below par early in the season.

I'm happy to own up, that was me. But let's be fair, I rated him at A in the context of what I feel he's being asked to provide whilst being played out of position - not that I think he's an A grade forward. He's clearly struggling for possessions/goals etc but I think all available options wouldn't offer anything better, and I think he's trying his guts out.

Agree that Rockcliff, Hanley, Martin are the only ones in current A grade form in the context of the competition as a whole. But I feel it's probably fairly pointless to try and compare individuals in a bottom 4 side at this point. I'd also offer up the likes of Taylor, Aish, Gardiner, Clarke, Paparone, and Green as those worthy of an A, purely in the sense that they have met my expectations of what could reasonably be expected of them in the roles they've been asked to play.

Would you really delist him? You wouldn't even give him a chance to fight to reclaim his spot at full back? Saying he's not VFL standard is taking the joke a bit far, surely.

Edit: maybe it's just that I don't (and never have) rated Merrett as a forward. Last year I don't think he was any better, so I think he's a pretty average option up there. BUT he's the best we've got, so there's no point pasting him because our list doesn't have more to offer

 

[Dylan12]

So what you're saying is: You're not a fan of Merret?

Is it that obvious?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

YOUSE ARE ALL WEAK! I'll be there!

Pay for my airfares and I'll be there!

 

[James North]

Why wouldn't I...at least I'm on the same page with a lot of them regarding Merrett...not sure I've seen a Lions player so popular with the Melbourne based Lions fans.

Because you actually said you weren't looking forward to it due to your foregone conclusion that we're getting "spanked".

Does everyone in Melbourne vote your way too?

 

[3KZ is Football]

I'll be there, fortunately with the Lions Hunters...just not looking forward to it considering we'll get spanked.

I will be in the AFL Members courtesy of a mate who got a couple of guest passes from a guy at his cricket club. Hopefully there won't be the same "density" (collective noun for Collingwood supporters) of Pies fans.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Pay for my airfares and I'll be there!

If only I could.

 

[Dylan12]

Would you really delist him? You wouldn't even give him a chance to fight to reclaim his spot at full back? Saying he's not VFL standard is taking the joke a bit far, surely.

Yes, I would delist Merrett. His form was horrible in the backline when 'coach' Leppitsch consigned Goose Maguire to the reserves for god only know why, and it has just regressed ever since he was moved forward. I'm being deadly serious when I say Merrett is not VFL standard and doubt very much that he would put up the numbers even Jackson Paine put up in the VFL last year. Have you seen Merrett actually kick for a goal? I'd hate to see what Merrett would be like kicking on a bayside ground such as those at Williamstown, Sandringham or Frankston.

 

[a mayes ing]

Yes, I would delist Merrett. His form was horrible in the backline when 'coach' Leppitsch consigned Goose Maguire to the reserves for god only know why, and it has just regressed ever since he was moved forward. I'm being deadly serious when I say Merrett is not VFL standard and doubt very much that he would put up the numbers even Jackson Paine put up in the VFL last year. Have you seen Merrett actually kick for a goal? I'd hate to see what Merrett would be like kicking on a bayside ground such as those at Williamstown, Sandringham or Frankston.

Why do you keep putting apostrophes around coach?

 

[Old Den]

Yes, I would delist Merrett.

Snipped.

When you did that you would be paying him out for the last two years of his contract.

 

[James North]

Why do you keep putting apostrophes around coach?

This is a valid criticism.

He is in fact the coach of the Brisbane Lions.

 

[Dylan12]

Because you actually said you weren't looking forward to it due to your foregone conclusion that we're getting "spanked".

Does everyone in Melbourne vote your way too?

I'm not because there is nothing worse than when the club concedes the game before a ball has even been bounced, pretty much like the first half of the season.

Merrett may be a favourite up in Brisbane, one can only wonder why, but I honestly don't recall a more unpopular than Merrett ever before amongst a lot of the Melbourne faithful. Sure Aka pissed a lot of people off, but the man was a magician which more than made up for what a dickhead he could be.

 

[John]

Yes they are. Someone on this page or the one before rated Merrett's season as an A to A+. Surely that could only be reserved for Rockliff or even Martin. I wouldn't even give Hanley an A to A+ considering he was below par early in the season.

So one person has got you repeating yourself over and over?

 

[ninja_lion]

Yes, I would delist Merrett. His form was horrible in the backline when 'coach' Leppitsch consigned Goose Maguire to the reserves for god only know why, and it has just regressed ever since he was moved forward.

OK, you're entitled to your opinion no matter how much I disagree with it - each to their own. I will go with my earlier statement and agree to disagree.

FWIW, I didn't understand why Goose was out either and was (and am) happy to see him back in.

Genuine question: what's with the 'coach' bit? Is there some doubt as to Leppa's position?

 

[Dylan12]

Snipped.

When you did that you would be paying him out for the last two years of his contract.

I'm still at a loss why we would have signed him on such a long term deal to start with.

 

[John]

Dion Scott is a perfect example of someone that was not highly skilled, but at least offered something up forward and competed despite limitations and Merrett doesn't even offer that. Shit, I'd prefer Trent Bartlett up forward and reckon we'd get a hell of a lot more.

Haa haa.

 

[James North]

I'm still at a loss why we would have signed him on such a long term deal to start with.

This explains a lot of your posts!

 

[Dylan12]

Why do you keep putting apostrophes around coach?

Because he is 'coach' Leppitsch, just like I did for 'coach' Voss.

 

[QLDatHEART]

I've not said Lisle and Michael are awesome or perhaps you can provide a direct quote, but they are no worse than Merrett.

Merrett shouldn't be on an AFL list either next year. In fact he would struggle getting a game at VFL level if anyone was to use his form and limited abilities as a guide.

ridiculous post. I get your point about being out of form.... but really .
just breath deeply and count to 10.

 

[James North]

I'm not because there is nothing worse than when the club concedes the game before a ball has even been bounced, pretty much like the first half of the season.

Merrett may be a favourite up in Brisbane, one can only wonder why, but I honestly don't recall a more unpopular than Merrett ever before amongst a lot of the Melbourne faithful. Sure Aka pissed a lot of people off, but the man was a magician which more than made up for what a dickhead he could be.

Now I'm confused.

You're not looking forward to the game because you're certain of our defeat ... but there's no reason as to why you'd have a bad time at the game because you can sit with folks who dislike the same player you dislike.

Is that a good time?

 

[Dylan12]

It isn't uncommon in the US for anyone to refer to their coach as 'coach' <insert their name>, which I inadvertently picked up having attended a US college.

Apologies if doing so has upset some of you precious souls.

 

[a mayes ing]

It isn't uncommon in the US for anyone to refer to their coach as 'coach' <insert their name>, which I inadvertently picked up having attended a US college.

Apologies if doing so has upset some of you precious souls.

Its fine if that is the case, just it makes it sound as if your saying that he isn't coach or being sarcastic about him being coach.

My apologies if l mistook it, didn't mean any harm.