Preview Round 16, 2023 - Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond

[3KZ is Football]

That is why it is my preferred option.

I think you have convinced me. If Fagan is going to draw a midfield ‘rabbit out of the hat’, this is the round I would be going for Lyons. His strength and experience could be vital against Richmond.

Irrespective, Dev Robertson in the centre would be good too. His tackling power is a big weapon and he won’t be brushed off like Bailey.

 

[Section 5]

With Zorko now out, it is possible no changes to a team that beat 5th place Saints.
They may now give Lohmann another run against a fairly quick Tigers team.
He was good against the Swans and young players can be a little inconsistent form wise until they fit into how the team plays.
If he plays well, that most likely gives him another go v the woeful Eagles.
That would then be 4 games running and give us a better idea of what he can produce.
Also, i think the club may manage a couple of players v Eagles so that will leave a spot for him if he plays well & Zorko.

Fort sub again. I think he is a chance to replace Oscar (managed) the following week.
I know a lot on BF don't like Fort as the sub.
But it is insurance and just replaces whoever is not going well or in case of an injury.

In my opinion subs are very overrated and rarely produce game changing results.
Richmond could bring 206cm Samson Ryan a F/R back, but they also may not.
Remember anyone from your 26 can be named in the starting team 1 hour before the game starts.

 

[Tassie4ever]

If, big if, we toss the Tigers I may allow myself to begin to believe.

However the loss v Hawtorn lingers. Bad miss. Bad.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Tapatalk

 

[SizeMatters]

Fort out. Answerth in.

Lohmann sub.

 

[Tom14]

Some interesting stuff in here: 'It's a long year': Lions take cautious approach with ex-skipper

The absence of Brisbane's veterans has not only exposed some young blood like Jaspa Fletcher and Kai Lohmann, but also prompted Fagan to do-away with his preferred three tall forward approach.

Although not convinced by it yet, he liked the extra pressure against St Kilda and said it was a model he'd like to see more evidence from.

Rich and Gunston are both closing in on being available for selection again, with Fagan saying the pair were "flying", but offering no guarantees it would be a swift passage back into the AFL.

"Their bodies are feeling good, they've got energy, I think they can't wait to play," he said.

"Sometime over the next few weeks they'll be reintroduced to playing … but there's no guarantee they'll come straight back in."

 

[3KZ is Football]

Fort out. Answerth in.

Lohmann sub.

Granted, Answerth is a pet of Fagan’s, but he has to be a few places behind a couple in the queue. We don’t need to bring in a defender, especially one who butchers the ball as frequently as Answerth. Ah Chee is miles better as a footballer.

 

[mpal6]

Some interesting stuff in here: 'It's a long year': Lions take cautious approach with ex-skipper

Nice to see Fagan drawing the line around straight back in.
Like it - very much.

 

[M Malice]

I think you have convinced me. If Fagan is going to draw a midfield ‘rabbit out of the hat’, this is the round I would be going for Lyons. His strength and experience could be vital against Richmond.

Irrespective, Dev Robertson in the centre would be good too. His tackling power is a big weapon and he won’t be brushed off like Bailey.

Lyons has some great strengths but he is a liability when it comes to defending turnovers.

 

[M Malice]

Nice to see Fagan drawing the line around straight back in.
Like it - very much.

Me too.... although if we lose tomorrow night it will give the match committee an excuse to bring them straight back in for the easy kill against the Eagles, Rich/Gunston will look great against them(anyone would) and then keep their spots for the following weeks.

 

[Thomasno]

OK so with Zorko not getting up, we should go one of three ways:

Option 1.
No Change

Option 2.
In: Fort
Out: Lohmann
Sub: Ah Chee, Lohmann or Lyons

Option 3.
In: Lyons or Ah Chee
Out: Lohmann
Sub: Fort

Amongst all this the question remains, where do we need to improve, midfield or forward line. I think Fagan should go with Option 2 as Richmond has a very strong defence and we need to try to stretch it. Option 2 gives us three talls in the forward line, plus Fort in the ruck.

Agree with option 2. If it’s not working, and I suspect it won’t, it still gives us an option to return to what worked last week in a fast, high pressure game style.

I will say next to no chance of Lyons coming in. He is a completely different player to Lohmann or Ah Chee, and he will slow us down so much if we were wanting to play fast.

 

[Section 5]

I hope the Lions continue with Bailey taking McCluggage outside/inside midfiled time over the past few weeks.
I think team balance wise McCluggage on the wing wins out over playing in the middle.
However, McCluggage may prefer outside/inside mid over the wing, so that has to be considered.

We have Neale & Dunkley great inside mids and a good defensive side to their game.
Ashcroft gives us a bit of what those two do and has some other assets but so far is not that dangerous offensively.
Wills kicking needs big improvement but that should improve with more AFL games.
McCluggage pretty good overall but provides good I50 ball to our forwards. The best offensively of those 4.

Some posters believe Baileys tackling needs improving.
I don't think he is that bad but concede it does have room for improvement in certain circumstances.
There are not that many players that can tackle head on when opposition players are coming at you with speed and moving around.
Every player has weaknesses, so something for him to work on.
Baileys tackle numbers while mostly midfield for the last two games.
Swans 6 (best Lions Dunkley 8, Neale 7), Saints 5 (best Lions Dunkley & Ashcroft 7, McCluggage also 5).

Bailey is possibly better playing forward goal scoring wise, but we have a number of smalls to fill that area.
But we don't have many mids that are good offensively in the best 22 or in the VFL.

At this point in time of the season i prefer:
Wings: McCluggage, Berry & Fletcher wing relief.
Mids..: Neale, Dunkley, Bailey & Ashcroft

over
Wings: Berry, Fletcher & wing relief being a variety of mids filling in or Dev, Sharp, Prior.
Mids..: Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, Ashcroft

CBA's for the year.

 

[knaf]

Father son for Lions or Dockers
Well done Lachie Neale
.................................

Lachie Neale is set this week to complete the best first 100 games in Brisbane history.

Neale Down to Lachie's Impressive 100 Games

Lachie Neale is set this week to complete the best first 100 games in Brisbane history.

www.lions.com.au

Great article. I enjoyed the read. Thanks for posting.

To me an interesting sub point was that Lyons is on 92 games for the Lions. Does he have any children and is it worth getting him to 100 games? I note that his brother was a reasonable footballer too.

8 games as sub gets him to 100

 

[knaf]

Granted, Answerth is a pet of Fagan’s, but he has to be a few places behind a couple in the queue. We don’t need to bring in a defender, especially one who butchers the ball as frequently as Answerth. Ah Chee is miles better as a footballer.

If you watched the VFL you would know that Noah has played as a ruck rover type for most of the year. And been impressive in the role.

 

[SizeMatters]

Granted, Answerth is a pet of Fagan’s, but he has to be a few places behind a couple in the queue. We don’t need to bring in a defender, especially one who butchers the ball as frequently as Answerth. Ah Chee is miles better as a footballer.

More for his ability to play across all lines. I’ve watched him reserves and he’s improved a lot playing midfield. Has pace, is hard at it, tackles well. Yeah disposal is shithouse but can hide it as an in and under midfielder or defensive midfielder. We generally just boot it long anyway from a stoppage so…

 

[Section 5]

Great article. I enjoyed the read. Thanks for posting.

To me an interesting sub point was that Lyons is on 92 games for the Lions. Does he have any children and is it worth getting him to 100 games? I note that his brother was a reasonable footballer too.

8 games as sub gets him to 100

Unless Lyons gets traded, he is contracted to 2024 so should get to the required number of games.
Has been sub 3 times this year.

 

[almagoo]

I think you have convinced me. If Fagan is going to draw a midfield ‘rabbit out of the hat’, this is the round I would be going for Lyons. His strength and experience could be vital against Richmond.

Irrespective, Dev Robertson in the centre would be good too. His tackling power is a big weapon and he won’t be brushed off like Bailey.

One of our biggest concerns is Richmond getting us with speed on the turnovers....Lyons would just exacerbate that. Please not this week.

 

[Dalions]

One of our biggest concerns is Richmond getting us with speed on the turnovers....Lyons would just exacerbate that. Please not this week.

I was actually thinking that it will be on turnover where we will expose them.
They run hard forward and in numbers, if they turn it over from our pressure we will expose them the other way.
Still, can’t see Lyons being picked bar an injury to Neale, Dunkley or possibly even Ashcroft.

 

[p4p1]

I hope the Lions continue with Bailey taking McCluggage outside/inside midfiled time over the past few weeks.
I think team balance wise McCluggage on the wing wins out over playing in the middle.
However, McCluggage may prefer outside/inside mid over the wing, so that has to be considered.

We have Neale & Dunkley great inside mids and a good defensive side to their game.
Ashcroft gives us a bit of what those two do and has some other assets but so far is not that dangerous offensively.
Wills kicking needs big improvement but that should improve with more AFL games.
McCluggage pretty good overall but provides good I50 ball to our forwards. The best offensively of those 4.

Some posters believe Baileys tackling needs improving.
I don't think he is that bad but concede it does have room for improvement in certain circumstances.
There are not that many players that can tackle head on when opposition players are coming at you with speed and moving around.
Every player has weaknesses, so something for him to work on.
Baileys tackle numbers while mostly midfield for the last two games.
Swans 6 (best Lions Dunkley 8, Neale 7), Saints 5 (best Lions Dunkley & Ashcroft 7, McCluggage also 5).

Bailey is possibly better playing forward goal scoring wise, but we have a number of smalls to fill that area.
But we don't have many mids that are good offensively in the best 22 or in the VFL.

At this point in time of the season i prefer:
Wings: McCluggage, Berry & Fletcher wing relief.
Mids..: Neale, Dunkley, Bailey & Ashcroft

over
Wings: Berry, Fletcher & wing relief being a variety of mids filling in or Dev, Sharp, Prior.
Mids..: Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, Ashcroft

CBA's for the year.
View attachment 1723995

I still like Dev as a rotation inside, outside and as a pressure forward. Of Neale, Dunkley, Bailey and Ashcroft, only Dunkley is what I would consider defensively sound. I like Dev in the middle because I think you need someone who will defend with everything they have when Dunks is taking a breather. We obviously don't want to risk it too much with Bez and I think Dev is our next best option. If we had someone who could fill the lockdown role, I also think Starce would be very handy as a defensive mid.

Obviously I am a big supporter of Dev and I think it is based solely on his intensity and desire to defend. In a team that is so offensively talented I think someone like him is needed.

 

[p4p1]

I was actually thinking that it will be on turnover where we will expose them.
They run hard forward and in numbers, if they turn it over from our pressure we will expose them the other way.
Still, can’t see Lyons being picked bar an injury to Neale, Dunkley or possibly even Ashcroft.

I just don't see Lyons coming in for Dunks personally. He offers something so different to Dunks and is more in line to replace Neale or Ashcroft IMO. Though I would believe that we would likely replace either with Bailey/Clugg spending more time as a mid ball hunting and bring in another wing or forward. Losing Dunks would probably see either Bez spending more time inside or Dev and/or Answerth filling that defensive mid role.

 

[BuntonRules]

I think pace is more important against Richmond than the extra tall forward. I also think the 2 tall setup makes us lower the eyes more rather than just blasting it in to 50.

IMO with the 2 talls setup, it is where Hippy shines. Gives him the room to use his improved lading while still crashing it to make a contest, when required.

 

[royboys4eva]

RIP Matty Rendell. Wonderful Fitzroy ruckman in the 80s and played 13 games for the Bears. Very sad news. Black armbands this week to respect the Royboys legend.

 

[3KZ is Football]

If you watched the VFL you would know that Noah has played as a ruck rover type for most of the year. And been impressive in the role.

Has his disposal improved? Who would he replace or perhaps compliment, in that role in the seniors?

 

[knaf]

Has his disposal improved? Who would he replace or perhaps compliment, in that role in the seniors?

My comment was related to you suggesting we don’t need him as a defender. He isn’t playing as a defender in the VFL. I’m not advocating he is selected.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

RIP Matty Rendell. Wonderful Fitzroy ruckman in the 80s and played 13 games for the Bears. Very sad news. Black armbands this week to respect the Royboys legend.

What, really? Geez he was no age to be dying, how awful.

 

[Warwick]

How’s Ah Chee performing in the ressies? Seems the perfect sub.