Review Round 10, 2020 - Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond

[CarterS]

Some great takes on here especially from royboys and AFLQLD.

Media and some on here making it out to be a disaster, which it isn't. Riewoldt and Lyon carrying on with some rubbish about having mental issues and being scared. We've dropped from 1 to 4 in the "Power Rankings". I don't think it's indicative of mental problems, it's not indicative that we are way off the pace.

I do agree with the posts about the list management strategy with back to back 4 day breaks, it's put us in danger now.

 

[jjami15]

There is a big discrepancy between or best footall and our worst. I am not talking about from one match to another, it’s actually in the one match. It’s been evident in most games and a good team like Richmond make you pay.

Another factor I believe is that we are downhill skiers. We love being on top or in games but once that pendulum swings we are like deer in headlights. I believe it comes back to a certain level of maturity and leadership which we are lacking. We require leadership across the ground, not just one or two. I don’t want us using the ‘we are young tag’ as that gives an out.

Do I believe that we are ‘team first’? I don’t think so, the majority yes, but it needs to be across the 22. I am not using the one game as evidence either.

Yes bad kicking is bad football but our entries and where we kick those shots from are what needs to be worked on. There is a great article how St Kilda turned this one area around and the proof is in the pudding.

What was evident last night was our poor decision making on top of our skills. Do we have ‘smart footballers’? Not too sure, Zorko’s kick from half back flank (last quarter) where he took off and kicked the ball to no one apart from 3 Richmond players is evident of this.

I believe Shai Bolton us a new one. Would get the ball and go and once that happened we were back pedalling the whole time.

Big O is our future ruck. He has been the one consistent shining light across the last three games.

I usually like to finish on a positive however the one thing that really irks me, Richmond are not that good of a football ‘team’, couple of very good footballers but we made some ordinary footballers look like world beaters last night.

 

[lioninthesand]

4 day break. Payne, Skinner Bellenden. Poor kicking for goal. Car crash turnovers.

Given the circumstances, we actually played ok I thought. We were completely spent and battled on, had we converted in the third we could have been a couple of goals down going into the last.

Don't mean to gloss over it, but we actually saw the DNA of a winning side still on the park for most of the game, there were just too many areas we were / not goid enough in.

It was Dejavu with the missed shots, turnoversvand easy sling shot goals, we 100% have nerves againts the good teams.

Like the cats game I felt we were to focused on winning and scoring and went away from our basics, 2 tackles up until 2 minutes left in the second 1/4.

The have Prestia, Caddy, Edwards, Houli yo come back in - they will win the flag in a canter.

I hate Tom Lynch, smug w***er.

Again a teams cream rises to the top againts us, wish we made life harder for the big names, its a poor signal for us that stars run rampent everytime.

Inredibly frustrating in front of goal, I ended up just laughing.

Young team with alot to learn, onward snd upward.

30-14 to 12-34 - our combined scores againts them in our last 2 games! LOL

 

[LIONS08]

I think we need to remember just how young we were tonight all!
21.5yrs up forward and 22.5yrs down back. I understand Richmond were missing a few also but they had their veteran bookends to control and set up. We seemed lost at see up forward and Harris was trying to do too much to help cover and protect Payne which was the detriment to his game.
We need to remember we have Stef, Rich, Birch, Mcstay and even Lester to come back in and settle the ship. We will be fine. This was just a young team getting beaten up! This is not who we are!

 

[M Malice]

I don't think the reason we lost is as simple as oh we missed all those sitters, apart from 10 minutes in the first quarter and most of the third I thought the Tigers looked by far the superior side, similar to the final at the Gabaa last season. At the game it felt like they could put the pedal to the metal and torch us with run, overlap and spread just about at will. They are clearly a better side than us..........ATM.

1- We missed Rich and Birchall badly with their precision kicking out of the back.
2- We missed McStay and his run and crashing of packs, please no more talk of dropping him.
3- In hindsight playing the 3 young talls was just too much of an ask, not bagging them though, young talls take years and multiple senior games to develop not 1, 2 and 3 games.
4- Fages was saying we have been doing heaps of practice re set shots, unfortunately no matter how much you practice you can not duplicate match pressure.
5- We need more outside pace in our side.... please Zac Williams number 1 trade target.
6- Maybe we saw last night why CEY could never quite lockdown a permanent spot at the Crows, struggled badly with the pace of the game against a quality side.

 

[JasRulz63]

The side we put out last night was younger than a lot of the sides we put out in 2018. Combine that with a four day break, and playing one man down for half, we were always going to struggle after blowing our opportunities in the second quarter (feels like deja vu).

Our game plan is dependent on having good ball users off half back being able to hit that corridor kick, so it'll be interesting to see if our drafting/trading reflects that to replace Birchall and Rich in the near future.

Ah Chee has always played his best football off the half forward flank, so it'll be interesting to see if we keep him there. He looks a lot more comfortable there than he does across half back. Ball use still needs some work, but he was getting his hands on it which was promising.

Thought Payne looked okay personally. Richmond forwards got away with a lot of pushing in the back, especially Dusty who seems to have free reign to do whatever he wants without giving away a free. That said, Payne needs to learn how to use his size better and stand his ground, which I think will come with time.

Thought Skinner did a decent job at covering the ground and making himself an option (covered the third most amount of ground for us behind Clug and Ah Chee). I think there's more of a role in the team for him than Ballenden, and I think that was reflected by him being given the ruck role in the last quarter by Fages.

Our centre bounce setups didn't seem to work as well as usual either. Bolton was able to get on the outside a lot and was their best player on the night. We were nowhere near as competitive in there as we usually are. Even when we did get clearances, they weren't as clean as usual.

 

[M Malice]

4 day break. Payne, Skinner Bellenden. Poor kicking for goal. Car crash turnovers.

Given the circumstances, we actually played ok I thought. We were completely spent and battled on, had we converted in the third we could have been a couple of goals down going into the last.

Don't mean to gloss over it, but we actually saw the DNA of a winning side still on the park for most of the game, there were just too many areas we were / not goid enough in.

It was Dejavu with the missed shots, turnoversvand easy sling shot goals, we 100% have nerves againts the good teams.

Like the cats game I felt we were to focused on winning and scoring and went away from our basics, 2 tackles up until 2 minutes left in the second 1/4.

The have Prestia, Caddy, Edwards, Houli yo come back in - they will win the flag in a canter.

I hate Tom Lynch, smug w***er.

Again a teams cream rises to the top againts us, wish we made life harder for the big names, its a poor signal for us that stars run rampent everytime.

Inredibly frustrating in front of goal, I ended up just laughing.

Young team with alot to learn, onward snd upward.

30-14 to 12-34 - our combined scores againts them in our last 2 games! LOL

Agree, the tigers had some very good players out and in Prestia and Edwards great pace and run to come back in which is an area they taught us a lesson in last night, they are such a bloody well drilled side, looks like they could play with blindfolds on, always had players where they needed to be. As things currently stand the only side I could see stopping back to back flags for them is West Coast in a Grand Final in Perth.

Looking at our age profile I still think our peak years wont start till 2022.

 

[Sausages]

Well, what did the great man say? 'You are never as good, or as bad, as you think you are' - something along those lines, anyway.

Yep, we have a big problem with the Tiges and must now wait for the world to turn before having another shot at redemption. C'est la vie.

We're in the top eight, a likely finalist again and our players are still clearly afraid of being good lol. FREE YOUR MINDS, Lions, and embrace all that you can be. WE BELIEVE IN YOU.

It's ok, I have enough optimism to handle another Tiges loss.....but one day Tiges *shakes fist*.......

 

[Clarkythelion]

I'm not that worried, we beat the Dogs on Saturday and the Richmond game is just a bad night where we had enough of the ball to win.

I thought Harris Andrews dropping off his man in the 1st and early 2nd qtr to help Payne was between good leadership and unnecessary. In retrospect he could have shown more faith in Payne and I think they let Lynch get into the game. We hay fave played Lynch and Reiwaldt into some form. Payne and Skinner stay for me, we have to invest in them.

 

[dlanod]

There isn’t one available though. I dunno, find it hard to believe we wouldn’t be better with him in the team.

There will most likely be one - IIRC Daniher can take a nice contested mark, but I don't think the reaction on here to his recruitment would be positive.

 

[dlanod]

View attachment 927560Not sure if anyone saw this (I know the commentators missed it), in the last play of the day Riewoldt lead/kicked out with his foot whilst staying on the ground and Harris walked away limping. I think Jack has some history of doing this! Will the AFL do anything to the Golden Child?

If you put him in a GWS guernsey with 4 on the back, the AFL would be all over it but Riewoldt's a good bloke (TM).

 

[Dalions]

Stats did not show any relevance on the result. It was pure domination of gut running from Richmond. Smoked us

It was pretty evident, being at the game.
That we were completely off the pace of the game and always a step or 2 behind and allowed Richmond to dictate terms far too easily.
I said to my Mother early in the game that we were completely off the pace and struggling with intensity.
We lifted early in the 3rd but it was all in vein as we didn’t have the ability to sustain any intensity.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Agree, the tigers had some very good players out and in Prestia and Edwards great pace and run to come back in which is an area they taught us a lesson in last night, they are such a bloody well drilled side, looks like they could play with blindfolds on, always had players where they needed to be. As things currently stand the only side I could see stopping back to back flags for them is West Coast in a Grand Final in Perth.

Looking at our age profile I still think our peak years wont start till 2022.

When you watch players like Prestia and Bolton play with their run and carry andhow much damage those guys do to us , makes me envious.
Ah Chee was brought in for this exact piece of our puzzle, to date hasn't really shown much run.
So other than looking for trades do we have anyone currently on our list that could be groommed for this type of position.
I give you exhibit A TOM BERRY ?
He has played as a small defender in the past, and with Andrews , and Dizzy as our main two talls and Rich and Birch/Witho we are way too slow with zero run.
It's a thought.

 

[Squizz89]

To be honest I think we are so mentally ****** against Richmond, the games against them are lost before we even run out.

I think subconsciously we put even more pressure on ourselves to convert those chances against them, knowing that if we don’t it’s likely (and does) go down the other end and they will kick an easy goal.

Charlie is a good example of this. Played quite a few big games against them in the last few years including at Adelaide and they seem to have his measure mentally above anything else.

Until we stop putting them and some of their players on some sort of pedestal, It’ll just be a “rinse, repeat” job for them, and unfortunately to win the flag, we will need to go through them at some point.

 

[M Malice]

When you watch players like Prestia and Bolton play with their run and carry andhow much damage those guys do to us , makes me envious.
Ah Chee was brought in for this exact piece of our puzzle, to date hasn't really shown much run.
So other than looking for trades do we have anyone currently on our list that could be groommed for this type of position.
I give you exhibit A TOM BERRY ?
He has played as a small defender in the past, and with Andrews , and Dizzy as our main two talls and Rich and Birch/Witho we are way too slow with zero run.
It's a thought.

, Zac Bailey, Cedric Cox, Tom Berry and Keidean Coleman could provide outside dash, Zac I think has demonstrated he could do it, Cox, T.Berry and Coleman are obviously in the potential bracket. Zac Williams is someone we should target.

Anyway I'm off to Yoga now to get some well needed serenity.

 

[Sunny_]

Really happy to see Cal playing back where he belongs up forward last night! Thought he looked much better. Wait until he starts building in confidence - he can act as a real connector between the mids and forwards.

Was Tom Lynch always such a thug? Knew he always sort of played with an edge, but can't remember him doing stuff like that as his GC days, but entirely possible I had rose colored glasses on. Bleah. Terrible to watch. Hate that guy.

 

[jjami15]

Really happy to see Cal playing back where he belongs up forward last night! Thought he looked much better. Wait until he starts building in confidence - he can act as a real connector between the mids and forwards.

Was Tom Lynch always such a thug? Knew he always sort of played with an edge, but can't remember him doing stuff like that as his GC days, but entirely possible I had rose colored glasses on. Bleah. Terrible to watch. Hate that guy.

He’s been Richmonded!

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Is Eagles fit? Much better option as second ruck, half back, resting tall forward than the three young talls. Hate to say it, bit I dont think Skinner is AFL standard, rough skills, hard hands, no class (love to be proved wrong). Ballenden has a chance as a good mover and ball user. Needs to be stronger in the air. Payne, jury out. Very green but athletic. Cant play all three. Harris needs to play in a zone off role where he can play to his strengths. You lose twice by playing him man on man on a deep power forward like Lynch or Hawkins... No surprise that our two worst performances were when we didnt have Harris controlling the air from CHB because he was jostling (and losing) in the goal square.
There is a guy running around for Norf, I think his name is Walker, would be handy at both ends right now.

Walker has beaten his direct opponent in every game this year unlike Harris who has lowered his colours twice. I realise he never played anywhere as well for us but he was never given the chances that Hipwood and Mcstay have been. North play Geelong tonight so i will be watching.

He's back on the market at the end of the year......

 

[jackess]

Really happy to see Cal playing back where he belongs up forward last night! Thought he looked much better. Wait until he starts building in confidence - he can act as a real connector between the mids and forwards.

Was Tom Lynch always such a thug? Knew he always sort of played with an edge, but can't remember him doing stuff like that as his GC days, but entirely possible I had rose colored glasses on. Bleah. Terrible to watch. Hate that guy.

Might have been Sam Mayes I remember him targeting a few years back. Doesn't mind roughing up younger, smaller opponents

 

[JasRulz63]

Walker has beaten his direct opponent in every game this year unlike Harris who has lowered his colours twice. I realise he never played anywhere as well for us but he was never given the chances that Hipwood and Mcstay have been. North play Geelong tonight so i will be watching.

He's back on the market at the end of the year......

Who played on Bruce when he kicked 6?

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

We delisted Walker last year for Adams as we had Payne, Skinner and Ballenden.
Now with Adams down again, Martin/Archie out and McStay suspended he would of been a perfect fit
Watched a few North matches I still say Walker ahead of the three young kids.
Although happy he getting games in the firsts as he not pushed out anyone in our 22 when all fit

I have said elsewhere Walker has had a better year then Andrews. He has beaten his direct opponent


and in several of the North losses he has stood up against the run of play. Lynch killed Harris in the first quarter to set Richmond

Who played on Bruce when he kicked 6?

Tarrent for most of the match. Bruce did kick one on Walker

 

[T Rick]

There were three lessons we were taught here:

1. Goal kicking has to improve. It really is that simple. We get opportunities but don’t hurt the opposition. Against weaker teams we don’t get punished by poor goal kicking as much. Against the best we do.

2. Richmond’s game is built around cutting off the run and turning it over quickly with options everywhere. That was the story of the game. They get control, spread quickly and find targets. They ran the ball into an open forward line. We kicked ours into congestion in our forward line. We have to learn from this. They are too well drilled to do anything but go in quickly. The slow work up the boundary is what they love. Sooner or later they will bring the ball to ground, or intercept and immediately go into fast attack mode.

3. High intensity for long periods is something we are going to have to learn. At the moment we do it for about 20% of game time. Richmond do it for 50% and it means they get control and then just run their system: cut off the ball movement > intercept > spread fast > go forward to targets > goal. Rinse and repeat.

Let’s not crucify young players early in their careers. If anything, they just had a lesson they won’t forget quickly about the standard they need to get to. Lots of players are tired, let’s cut them a little slack. None of them were passengers but they were overwhelmed by the benchmark team.

Ultimately this is a lesson we need to have at this stage of development. We have to learn to control the game even when things are tough. We need to keep giving young guys a chance knowing they will mess up a fair bit but we need to build depth and experience still.

There is going to be a time when these last few experiences against Richmond will stand us in good stead. Every one of our players has been taught something tonight.

Great post - well said AFLQLD!

 

[Hirsty23]

There will most likely be one - IIRC Daniher can take a nice contested mark, but I don't think the reaction on here to his recruitment would be positive.

With our medical teams history of keeping players on the park we'd be mad not to go for him. Contract worth has dropped significantly and if he is looking to move outside of the Vic bubble i'd say we are the best option for him. Been saying this to my mates all season, it's a no brainer.

 

[T Rick]

Need some serious sport psychology during the off season, it has to be all between the ears as all of them can hit a field kick.

Our 2 best ball users out of defence hurt a lot tonight as well.

4.17

Nothing that a good Adelaide-like Camp wouldn't fix!

 

[Lions Flag 2020]

I thought we showed great heart. As a coach myself of multiple kids teams I look for resilience and heart when things aren’t going right. I saw that last night in spades. We will be fine.