Review Round 14, 2021 - North Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[Ralphy2017]

I see Fages snuck Birch in for a vote.

Anyone who thinks Birch is going to be replaced by anybody this year just forget it.

Which makes it more likely Madden keeps his spot and there's a fight between Payne and Adams as a hybrid tall.

Though in my view I'd be keeping Adams in against the better teams.

I stated last week before the Nth game that Birchall would no doubt play well against the side running last. IMO he has struggled against some of the better teams and I don't believe his role is critical to the team. Again I am no expert but we are too slow with Rich, Birchall and Lester in the same backline. Teams such as Sydney, Melbourne and no doubt Richmond (when all their mid field back) have or will expose our lack of speed across the centre half back line. I agree Birch is one of Fages favourites so probably safe, I just hope he does not go around again next year.

 

[M Malice]

I stated last week before the Nth game that Birchall would no doubt play well against the side running last. IMO he has struggled against some of the better teams and I don't believe his role is critical to the team. Again I am no expert but we are too slow with Rich, Birchall and Lester in the same backline. Teams such as Sydney, Melbourne and no doubt Richmond (when all their mid field back) have or will expose our lack of speed across the centre half back line. I agree Birch is one of Fages favourites so probably safe, I just hope he does not go around again next year.

Yer, personally I see with everyone available our best back 7 as >

Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner.
Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, James Madden. Bench- Jaxon Prior/Marcus Adams depending on opposition.

I think that back 7 gives us great flexibility and covers every type of opposition forward pretty well.

BTW I don't see it happening this season anyway, can't see our match committee leaving out Brichall or Lester if available.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Yer, personally I see with everyone available our best back 7 as >

Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner.
Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, James Madden. Bench- Jaxon Prior/Marcus Adams depending on opposition.

I think that back 7 gives us great flexibility and covers every type of opposition forward pretty well.

BTW I don't see it happening this season anyway, can't see our match committee leaving out Brichall or Lester if available.

Expect some changes this week I predict.

 

[davemc_lions]

Not sure Payne/Adams plays the same time if we have both Gardiner/Andrews available.
Gardiner out now so when Payne is back he plays in front of Lester for me now
I say back 7 of Andrews, Rich, Starc, Adams, Payne, Madden and Birchall/Prior.
Ah Chee forward which would mean Kiddy out.
Prior been playing back and wing so maybe a spot for him still.
If Payne is ready not sure he is yet.. this week I say Payne in for Kiddy and Zorko in for Matho/Prior.

Really need to play Madden more with Answerth still up in the air groin wise.

 

[T Rick]

Expect some changes this week I predict.

Fages hinted as much after the North game when he referred to the short-turnaround and sore players.

 

[Section 5]

Expect some changes this week I predict.

Your reply was in regard to a defenders best 7 from Jason mp
You are usually more in the know than most on this forum
If it is a defender the only obvious one is Payne coming in
If so it is a big gamble playing him with just one VFL game since round 3 and only 8 AFL games in total
I hope they retain Madden as I believe he is the type of defender we are missing
If Payne comes in maybe Ah Chee goes forward (replace Coleman) or dropped or Madden comes out (please no)
Can't see any of the bigger bodies of Adams & Birchall coming out v big bodied Cats
Unless injured, I assume Andrews, Rich & Starcevich are safe
We will all find out tomorrow evening

 

[M Malice]

Fages hinted as much after the North game when he referred to the short-turnaround and sore players.

If that's the case you would expect our eldest statesmen Grant Birchall to be given a rest.

 

[cotter101]

Payne would have to come in with Hawkins and Cameron he? Gives us some flexibility and allows Harris to play to his strengths.

 

[Ralphy2017]

Not sure Payne/Adams plays the same time if we have both Gardiner/Andrews available.
Gardiner out now so when Payne is back he plays in front of Lester for me now
I say back 7 of Andrews, Rich, Starc, Adams, Payne, Madden and Birchall/Prior.
Ah Chee forward which would mean Kiddy out.
Prior been playing back and wing so maybe a spot for him still.
If Payne is ready not sure he is yet.. this week I say Payne in for Kiddy and Zorko in for Matho/Prior.

Really need to play Madden more with Answerth still up in the air groin wise.

Yeah I don't believe Payne ready just yet, maybe another few games in the ressies, but I do see him playing a role in the later rounds and the finals. I would have him in front of Lester. Madden I would play as much as possible now and barring injuries don't see a spot for him come the later rounds or finals but hopefully some games now for next year.

 

[Ralphy2017]

Payne would have to come in with Hawkins and Cameron he? Gives us some flexibility and allows Harris to play to his strengths.

Yer, personally I see with everyone available our best back 7 as >

Daniel Rich, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner.
Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, James Madden. Bench- Jaxon Prior/Marcus Adams depending on opposition.

I think that back 7 gives us great flexibility and covers every type of opposition forward pretty well.

BTW I don't see it happening this season anyway, can't see our match committee leaving out Brichall or Lester if available.

I probably agree with you Birch and Lester appear to be favourites, but again the lack of speed in the backline with RIch, Birch and Lester and to a lesser extend Andrews means we can be exposed, especially on the quick turnover, so mids would have to be great come finals, which they were not in the Prelim: last year and our lack of pace in the defensive line is exposed.

 

[beardancer]

I probably agree with you Birch and Lester appear to be favourites, but again the lack of speed in the backline with RIch, Birch and Lester and to a lesser extend Andrews means we can be exposed, especially on the quick turnover, so mids would have to be great come finals, which they were not in the Prelim: last year and our lack of pace in the defensive line is exposed.

Great posts Ralphy. I think we're stuck between 2 stools. We don't have anyone to go with the bulk of Hawkins and we don't have a tall defender, fast enough to go with Cameron and Rohan. If we played Payne(my preference)he has the bulk to hold Hawk and the speed to go with Cameron and Rohan. Payne's kicking is also really good.

So I'd go Payne, Harris, Starc, Richy, Birch, Jimmy the jet.

 

[jackess]

Great posts Ralphy. I think we're stuck between 2 stools. We don't have anyone to go with the bulk of Hawkins and we don't have a tall defender, fast enough to go with Cameron and Rohan. If we played Payne(my preference)he has the bulk to hold Hawk and the speed to go with Cameron and Rohan. Payne's kicking is also really good.

So I'd go Payne, Harris, Starc, Richy, Birch, Jimmy the jet.

Dizzy is perfect to go to Cameron. It's a shame he's injured.

 

[Ralphy2017]

Great posts Ralphy. I think we're stuck between 2 stools. We don't have anyone to go with the bulk of Hawkins and we don't have a tall defender, fast enough to go with Cameron and Rohan. If we played Payne(my preference)he has the bulk to hold Hawk and the speed to go with Cameron and Rohan. Payne's kicking is also really good.

So I'd go Payne, Harris, Starc, Richy, Birch, Jimmy the jet.

Thanks 'beardancer'.

I like Payne a lot, reckon after 30 or so games he is going to really show his potential when he realises what he can do (bit like what Bailey, Starc and Rayner are now doing...good draft that 2017), just don't know if after only 1 ressie game in the last 9 weeks he is fit enough to go with Cameron. Cameron moves up and down the ground and whilst it is dangerous (for Lions) to drag Andrews too far upfield, I think Andrews takes Cameron and Adams on Hawkins. Probably Starc or maybe Payne (if selected) on Rohan.

 

[BangyBangy]

If that's the case you would expect our eldest statesmen Grant Birchall to be given a rest.

The week after a bye?

Pretty sure he'll be cherry ripe to go this week.

But yeah, sure. lets rest him. Let's see how we go coming out of defense when we try to go through Rich every single play.

 

[jjami15]

He is really impressing me, he does so many things right. His tackling and pressure is a standout feature at this stage. His handballing in tight is elite. Probably needs to work on his kicking, he hits his targets for the most part but doesn't really attempt anything too damaging. That will come with time though, showing great signs. What's probably impressing me most for someone his age is his effort over 4 quarters, he's very consistent.

He’ll be our Rory Sloane.

 

[briztoon]

He’ll be our Rory Sloane.
View attachment 1161381

I’m sure he’s taller than 182cm.

 

[T Rick]

I’m sure he’s taller than 182cm.

Listed as 185cm on Lions website

 

[M Malice]

The week after a bye?

Pretty sure he'll be cherry ripe to go this week.

But yeah, sure. lets rest him. Let's see how we go coming out of defense when we try to go through Rich every single play.

I Wasn't advocating resting him BB, it was just a reply to a post re Fagan intimating that there may be player/s rested because of the short turnaround from the Tassie game, I can't think of anyone else who would be in line for a spell.

On Birchall's distribution from defence.. I think it's quality is a little overstated on here, he doesn't take on the precise breaking game open kick much at all(I can't recall more than a handful all season) these days, nowhere near the level he did in his hey day at the Hawks, personally I wouldn't have Birch in the side at all.

 

[Nunez]

I Wasn't advocating resting him BB, it was just a reply to a post re Fagan intimating that there may be player/s rested because of the short turnaround from the Tassie game, I can't think of anyone else who would be in line for a spell.

On Birchall's distribution from defence.. I think it's quality is a little overstated on here, he doesn't take on the precise breaking game open kick much at all(I can't recall more than a handful all season) these days, nowhere near the level he did in his hey day at the Hawks, personally I wouldn't have Birch in the side at all.

That's very much gameplan based and not Birch being afraid/unable to hit those kicks.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

One thing I like is The Big O going the big smash forward every so often. It breaks the play up, gains meterage and brings back old memories.

The short tap often is ineffective. I wonder what the stats, comparing the big smash against the lay off show.

 

[Nunez]

One thing I like is The Big O going the big smash forward every so often. It breaks the play up, gains meterage and brings back old memories.

The short tap often is ineffective. I wonder what the stats, comparing the big smash against the lay off show.

Agreed. Tbh I think unless you're good enough to get those elite taps to advantage off, just gain metres and set up for it.

 

[M Malice]

That's very much gameplan based and not Birch being afraid/unable to hit those kicks.

Could be... the other thing re our disposal out of D50 that gets me a tad annoyed is the continual hesitancy to go quickly with our kick ins, plenty of times when at the game live you see one of our players free for a quick receive but it seems Richy and others just stroll over grab the ball and then stand at the top of the square and wait for our opposition to get their defensive zone set. Some teams show great urgency and use their kick ins to great affect, we either go long to a crowded contest or short to the pocket, I see it as an area of the game that we could significantly improve on.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

That's very much gameplan based and not Birch being afraid/unable to hit those kicks.

Agrre and I think Witho showed promise here , but we decided to get the ball out of defence with a long kick instead.
That's all good , but there it is , we didn't or haven't improved in this area.

 

[dlanod]

Agreed. Tbh I think unless you're good enough to get those elite taps to advantage off, just gain metres and set up for it.

You can't do it too predictably because it's relatively easy to set up for and counter. The element of surprise is key.

 

[Mighty Lions]

Could be... the other thing re our disposal out of D50 that gets me a tad annoyed is the continual hesitancy to go quickly with our kick ins, plenty of times when at the game live you see one of our players free for a quick receive but it seems Richy and others just stroll over grab the ball and then stand at the top of the square and wait for our opposition to get their defensive zone set. Some teams show great urgency and use their kick ins to great affect, we either go long to a crowded contest or short to the pocket, I see it as an area of the game that we could significantly improve on.

Thats because they are told to slow the game down a bit & take the pace down to a manageable level at that time. No other reason other than coach's instructions.