POBT
Brownlow Medallist
When: Sunday April 28 - 3.15pm AEST
Where: Gabba
Tickets: Ticketmaster
TV: 7/7mate/Foxsports 3
Weather: Mostly fine, possible shower. Min 16 Max 27
Preview by Matt_BL
The game in itself isn’t a big crowd drawer, but it is extremely important for both teams and acts somewhat as an ‘8 point game’ this early in the season to get the team away from the bottom of the ladder. Lets wipe the slate clean and look at these two teams head to head.
The Matchups
Backline
Howe, Byrnes and Pedersen all got on the board against GWS with Howe kicking four goals and Byrnes showed some form kicking 3. There is an injury cloud over Mitch Clark, he may miss which will allow a slightly easier matchup in the favour of the Lions. No doubt Merrett will go to the number 1 forward, which may be someone like Cam Pedersen while Patfull is likely to take Howe. It will be an important matchup for Patfull as Howe is know to take hangers all over the ground and Patfull may not have the athleticism to keep up. Michael Evans had a good game for the Demons last week, kicking 3 goals with 20 disposals. He’s a fairly new player to the demons lineup, with injury keeping him out of the side in 2012, it will be an important matchup for our smalls to get right.
The biggest one however looms to be Shannnon Byrnes, this season our small defenders have struggled to contain the goal sneak forward type, and being from the Cats, Byrnes has a good idea of how to get a hold of the Lions. Someone like Adcock needs to go to him and shut him down.
Midfield
By far, Nathan Jones has been Melbourne’s best midfielder in the last two seasons. In 2011 it was Brent Moloney – who is now at the Lions and he will go against his old club. These two may well go head to head. The old verse the new. Will be an interesting matchup. Generally, both midfields have been poor all year, and when both teams have been on the end of heavy defeats it is usually to do with the lack of the ball winning ability and poor entry into the forward 50.
Both Co-Captains of the Demons got amongst it against GWS last week which is a positive sign that their leaders are throwing themselves into the contest. For the Lions, 2 of the 3 R’s have been sorrily lacking in their performances this year, with Rockliff being the only exception, he has started the season like every other one and looks like one of the only players who actually cares about the results of the team. The unit needs to lift. A big in for the Lions this week may be Simon Black. If it is it would be expected he might get the green vest, or even the red vest at half time. Black would ad some class and ball winning ability which makes the Brisbane midfield function better as a unit.
Two young guns in Sam Mayes and Jack Viney will be great to watch. Both have had very solid starts to the season and both can win the ball and use it well.
Mark Jamar an All Australian ruckmen will go head to head against Matthew Leuenberger who has returned from injury this year and is playing well. It will be a pivotal matchup as these ruckmen both are very good at giving their midfield first use of the ball. Jamar has been averaging 33 hitouts this year to Leuenberger 28.
Forward Line
Many on the Lions board have jumped to panic stations about Jonathan Brown being past his best. While he hasn’t had much impact on the scoreboard, neither has the rest of the team. Frawley would be the obvious choice for Brown, as last year at the Gabba Brown got off the chain when Jack Watts was forced to defend him. Tom McDonald may be another one to rotate on to Brown, but it would be expected that these two take our tall forwards in either Brown and Martin or Jordan Lisle if he finds himself in the side this week. Marco Paparone kicked 3 goals on debut so he will be looking to back up his good form with another strong display. The Lions are 18th in Points For so goals need to come from somewhere, it’s a good chance to get some points on the board this week. Alternatively, if the forward 50 entry is poor, it will be easy pickings for the Melbourne defence and they will be able to rebound the ball quickly. The Demons do have pace so it is important to limit their use in the back half.
The Coaches
Voss is in his 5th season and Neeld his 2nd and both are facing pressure to keep their jobs. The winner of this will come out feeling a little better, the loser especially if the Lions lose will find themselves under an intense spotlight. With coaches such as the calibre of Ken Hinkley guiding Port Adelaide to 4 straight wins this season, the temptation would be there to start a fresh and aim towards a new goal. Neeld in my opinion needs more time, however Voss’ time may be running out.
The Verdict
The Lions and the Demons have been in some poor form this year, so it is an important game for both teams. It is at the Gabba giving the Lions the home advantage, and if the team comes to the game prepared they should be able to get across the line. It will be close though.
Brisbane by 18
Where: Gabba
Tickets: Ticketmaster
TV: 7/7mate/Foxsports 3
Weather: Mostly fine, possible shower. Min 16 Max 27
Preview by Matt_BL
Brisbane v Melbourne Preview
At the beginning of the AFL season, the Brisbane Lions and the Melbourne Demons were very far apart. The Lions had just completed an unbeaten run to win the Pre-Season Grand Final, while the Demons came off a horror season and looked to rebuild. Melbourne were tipped to be a bottom 5 side while the Lions were widely backed to continue their rise up the ladder. But now, at round 5 these teams are one place apart. With the Lions sitting 16th and the Demons 17th on the AFL ladder. Brisbane seems to have imploded since their NAB cup form, and 2012 form for that matter, with many players significantly down on form. Now it is time for one of these clubs to stand up and show they aren’t as bad as everyone says.The game in itself isn’t a big crowd drawer, but it is extremely important for both teams and acts somewhat as an ‘8 point game’ this early in the season to get the team away from the bottom of the ladder. Lets wipe the slate clean and look at these two teams head to head.
The Matchups
Backline
Howe, Byrnes and Pedersen all got on the board against GWS with Howe kicking four goals and Byrnes showed some form kicking 3. There is an injury cloud over Mitch Clark, he may miss which will allow a slightly easier matchup in the favour of the Lions. No doubt Merrett will go to the number 1 forward, which may be someone like Cam Pedersen while Patfull is likely to take Howe. It will be an important matchup for Patfull as Howe is know to take hangers all over the ground and Patfull may not have the athleticism to keep up. Michael Evans had a good game for the Demons last week, kicking 3 goals with 20 disposals. He’s a fairly new player to the demons lineup, with injury keeping him out of the side in 2012, it will be an important matchup for our smalls to get right.
The biggest one however looms to be Shannnon Byrnes, this season our small defenders have struggled to contain the goal sneak forward type, and being from the Cats, Byrnes has a good idea of how to get a hold of the Lions. Someone like Adcock needs to go to him and shut him down.
Midfield
By far, Nathan Jones has been Melbourne’s best midfielder in the last two seasons. In 2011 it was Brent Moloney – who is now at the Lions and he will go against his old club. These two may well go head to head. The old verse the new. Will be an interesting matchup. Generally, both midfields have been poor all year, and when both teams have been on the end of heavy defeats it is usually to do with the lack of the ball winning ability and poor entry into the forward 50.
Both Co-Captains of the Demons got amongst it against GWS last week which is a positive sign that their leaders are throwing themselves into the contest. For the Lions, 2 of the 3 R’s have been sorrily lacking in their performances this year, with Rockliff being the only exception, he has started the season like every other one and looks like one of the only players who actually cares about the results of the team. The unit needs to lift. A big in for the Lions this week may be Simon Black. If it is it would be expected he might get the green vest, or even the red vest at half time. Black would ad some class and ball winning ability which makes the Brisbane midfield function better as a unit.
Two young guns in Sam Mayes and Jack Viney will be great to watch. Both have had very solid starts to the season and both can win the ball and use it well.
Mark Jamar an All Australian ruckmen will go head to head against Matthew Leuenberger who has returned from injury this year and is playing well. It will be a pivotal matchup as these ruckmen both are very good at giving their midfield first use of the ball. Jamar has been averaging 33 hitouts this year to Leuenberger 28.
Forward Line
Many on the Lions board have jumped to panic stations about Jonathan Brown being past his best. While he hasn’t had much impact on the scoreboard, neither has the rest of the team. Frawley would be the obvious choice for Brown, as last year at the Gabba Brown got off the chain when Jack Watts was forced to defend him. Tom McDonald may be another one to rotate on to Brown, but it would be expected that these two take our tall forwards in either Brown and Martin or Jordan Lisle if he finds himself in the side this week. Marco Paparone kicked 3 goals on debut so he will be looking to back up his good form with another strong display. The Lions are 18th in Points For so goals need to come from somewhere, it’s a good chance to get some points on the board this week. Alternatively, if the forward 50 entry is poor, it will be easy pickings for the Melbourne defence and they will be able to rebound the ball quickly. The Demons do have pace so it is important to limit their use in the back half.
The Coaches
Voss is in his 5th season and Neeld his 2nd and both are facing pressure to keep their jobs. The winner of this will come out feeling a little better, the loser especially if the Lions lose will find themselves under an intense spotlight. With coaches such as the calibre of Ken Hinkley guiding Port Adelaide to 4 straight wins this season, the temptation would be there to start a fresh and aim towards a new goal. Neeld in my opinion needs more time, however Voss’ time may be running out.
The Verdict
The Lions and the Demons have been in some poor form this year, so it is an important game for both teams. It is at the Gabba giving the Lions the home advantage, and if the team comes to the game prepared they should be able to get across the line. It will be close though.
Brisbane by 18
