Preview Round 17 - Brisbane Lions v West Coast Eagles - Saturday 8 July 2023 1:45 PM @ The Gabba

[vic_LION]

Wonder if they're resting Berry before the Melbourne game. He has tended to play a pretty physical role the last two times we've played them.

 

[Elixuh]

Wonder if they're resting Berry before the Melbourne game. He has tended to play a pretty physical role the last two times we've played them.

Has tended to play on Oliver who won't be playing.

 

[martinson]

How is he going to get back whatever speed and agility he once had?

He hadn't lost form or skills, before he was dropped. He had lost whatever little athletic ability he had. So to Rich.

They weren't physically capable of performing athletically at the level required.

Pretty much the same reason why we told Witherden to find a new club, as we weren't going to guarantee him a best 22 spot.

It frustrates me that it's self evident he doesn't have the physical capacity any more to play effectively in the role that we designated and people seem to have this blind fantasy belief that he'll miraculously start being a weapon again.

 

[martinson]

Who are the players vying for his spot?

I'd say anyone who can play forward of centre would be vying for his spot.

He's given us next to nothing tbh.

Any game where he's been in our best 15 players ?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

The group think seems to be supporting him.

Strangely enough.

I think some of some of the initial reaction perhaps have wisely opted to calm down a little.

It frustrates me that it's self evident he doesn't have the physical capacity any more to play effectively in the role that we designated and people seem to have this blind fantasy belief that he'll miraculously start being a weapon again.

Is anyone really expection him to be a "weapon" I haven't seen it. There's the possibility of him coming in and playing a role though.

 

[Elixuh]

I'd say anyone who can play forward of centre would be vying for his spot.

He's given us next to nothing tbh.

Any game where he's been in our best 15 players ?

Yeah, but who are those players. So if Gunners doesn't play who plays that role? Clearly the coaches want to play that third tall as a POD to Joe and Eric and to help them out when teams flood back. So which players is he up against for that spot?

 

[3KZ is Football]

Calling other people laughing stocks considering your gimmick is a good bit.

I keep my gimmicks for Big Footy. No gimmicks in my professional life.

 

[Hollow Knight]

The group think seems to be supporting him.

Strangely enough.

Or maybe you just tend to picture yourself as marginalised regardless of where you stand on each issue.

I definitely think the group is a little more on the "angry with selection" side tonight.

Your post a little earlier that suggested anyone who isn't in favour of the Gunston selection is being portrayed as "against the club" simply does not appear to be based in reason. In fact, it seems a lot of the people you are taking issue with aren't exactly pro-Gunston either... they are just anti-hysteria.

 

[martinson]

I think some of some of the initial reaction perhaps have wisely opted to calm down a little.


Is anyone really expection him to be a "weapon" I haven't seen it. There's the possibility of him coming in and playing a role though.

I don't think he has the capacity to play the role any more. Imo.

Unfortunately Ah Chee copped another knock ,but he was starting to show what was required in that role . Better mark , miles better defensively , linked up , even a much better kick these days. Importantly shut the game down by just jumping on the ball or forcing the opposition to the boundary.

 

[martinson]

Or maybe you just tend to picture yourself as marginalised regardless of where you stand on each issue.

I definitely think the group is a little more on the "angry with selection" side tonight.

Your post a little earlier that suggested anyone who isn't in favour of the Gunston selection is being portrayed as "against the club" simply does not appear to be based in reason. In fact, it seems a lot of the people you are taking issue with aren't exactly pro-Gunston either... they are just anti-hysteria.

Hysterical ??

Moi ??

 

[Hollow Knight]

Devil's advocate, but if Gunston's training block wasn't the answer, wouldn't the time to find out once and for all be sooner, rather than later?

It seems like he must have impressed over the past few weeks, time to find out once and for all if it can translate onto the field. If he is to be permanently ruled out as no longer an option, let's find out now.

For all the banal cliches about Fagan and people having photos etc, the man just wants to win. If Gunners looks nowhere near it in 3 or so weeks I have no doubt Fages will have the conversation.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I don't think he has the capacity to play the role any more. Imo.

Unfortunately Ah Chee copped another knock ,but he was starting to show what was required in that role . Better mark , miles better defensively , linked up , even a much better kick these days. Importantly shut the game down by just jumping on the ball or forcing the opposition to the boundary.

I don't think you and I are agreeing on the role. I'm taking about a third tall. Cal has never been selected to do that. Last week Rayner was the third tall, with Cal filling the medium forward role that Cam wa playing. Elixuh makes a good point - who else can play a third tall forward role? Fullerton is more like Hipwood and Daniher and wasn't fit I don't think.

 

[buttermuffs]

I don't think he has the capacity to play the role any more. Imo.

Unfortunately Ah Chee copped another knock ,but he was starting to show what was required in that role . Better mark , miles better defensively , linked up , even a much better kick these days. Importantly shut the game down by just jumping on the ball or forcing the opposition to the boundary.

Yeah I feel like the concussion came at the absolute worst time. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason we are seeing Gunston in this week. Not thrilled with Gunston coming in but would have been really upset if Ah Chee was healthy and omitted for him.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[martinson]

Yeah, but who are those players. So if Gunners doesn't play who plays that role? Clearly the coaches want to play that third tall as a POD to Joe and Eric and to help them out when teams flood back. So which players is he up against for that spot?

But Gunners can't play 3rd tall any more . It's ridiculous to call him a tall . He can't jump . They keep jumping over him or running around him . Ah Chee , Fort would be better , Rayner , I'd even hack Lohmann if we went smaller.

Your 3rd tall if you want 3 talls should at least be able to mark over their head in a contested situation. Or bring it to ground. He's done neither all that often on anything seen this year.

 

[harvester]

Now is the perfect time to play Gunston. This will show if he's improved or not. Simple.

 

[p4p1]

Devil's advocate, but if Gunston's training block wasn't the answer, wouldn't the time to find out once and for all be sooner, rather than later?

It seems like he must have impressed over the past few weeks, time to find out once and for all if it can translate onto the field. If he is to be permanently ruled out as no longer an option, let's find out now.

For all the banal cliches about Fagan and people having photos etc, the man just wants to win. If Gunners looks nowhere near it in 3 or so weeks I have no doubt Fages will have the conversation.

I think the issue that most people are having with that reasoning is that WC have been so putrid that the dominance we should have and how bad the WC cattle is could make him look good.
Now the logical part of me says that the coaching staff will look at other factors such as ground covered, average speed etc rather than just disposals, goals etc but given our history of sticking with ‘proven’ players it’s hard not to worry what the team will look like next week.
Not to mention Gunston was named as an emergency last week as well.

 

[Elixuh]

But Gunners can't play 3rd tall any more . It's ridiculous to call him a tall . He can't jump . They keep jumping over him or running around him . Ah Chee , Fort would be better , Rayner , I'd even hack Lohmann if we went smaller.

Your 3rd tall if you want 3 talls should at least be able to mark over their head in a contested situation. Or bring it to ground. He's done neither all that often on anything seen this year.

We played Fort as the third tall. It was terrible.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Gunston hasn't chased an opposition player or changed direction all year. He has been an absolute liability all season and the form of the side has improved for his absence. At his best was a great player. He HAS NOT earned a spot back in the side. If he'd played twos and shown better mobility and defensive intent then maybe his selection would be justified. If/when Lohman, who has been working his arse off in the twos, accepts an offer with another club, this unwarranted selection would likely be a factor in his decision making.
Fagan may feel he owes Gunston something, but the Brisbane Lions Football Club do not.

I find it easy to agree with these sentiments.

 

[martinson]

We played Fort as the third tall. It was terrible.

Worse than Gunston ?? We won.

We gave Gunston 13 games . Fort got one.

OK . I give up.

How lucky are we to have Gunners . Not only with teaching all our other forwards leading patterns but his savage attack on the opposition when they have the ball and 100% reliability with ball in hand ,giving it off to teammates after fighting for the contested ball ,or just nailing shots when he gets the chance. Backing into packs and bringing it to ground goes without question.

Thank God Fages saw common sense and brought him back in in what should be a do or die battle against the fearsome WCE.

I don't think any lover of the game could stomach Gunners playing in the twos.

Backing Gunners to kick 5 this weekend. But if he doesn't just watch for the improvement in our forward set up.

 

[Elixuh]

Worse than Gunston ?? We won.

We gave Gunston 13 games . Fort got one.

OK . I give up.

How lucky are we to have Gunners . Not only with teaching all our other forwards leading patterns but his savage attack on the opposition when they have the ball and 100% reliability with ball in hand ,giving it off to teammates after fighting for the contested ball ,or just nailing shots when he gets the chance. Backing into packs and bringing it to ground goes without question.

Thank God Fages saw common sense and brought him back in in what should be a do or die battle against the fearsome WCE.

I don't think any lover of the game could stomach Gunners playing in the twos.

Backing Gunners to kick 5 this weekend. But if he doesn't just watch for the improvement in our forward set up.

We won games when Gunners was playing as well, is that your argument lol?

 

[buttermuffs]

Now is the perfect time to play Gunston. This will show if he's improved or not. Simple.

Glass half full approach is always good.

Important to remember that preseason for older guys can often involve not a whole lot of focus on fitness. I’ve heard plenty before about how they usually go through the motions but don’t overdo it. That didn’t turn out well this time for Gunston but a legitimate training block to work on fitness is probably a lot more focused than preseason.

I just say this because there probably is an actual tangible difference between preseason and the last month. I know someone else mentioned Gunston was going quite well with it all while Rich was a bit slower with it. Considering Rich is still training despite being up for selection and picking Madden ahead of him at least shows it’s not a complete favouritism show.

 

[braddsey]

Gunston to kick 5 and Fages to declare "he is back".

I’ll be cheering Gunston if he kicks 5. Regardless of how down on Gunston the BF groupthink is, if he comes out of contributes goals and options and makes us a better side, what’s wrong with that?

…now if he kicks 5 this week, then goes 1, 0, 1 over the next 3 weeks and still retains his spot, then i’ll join the groupthink!

 

[martinson]

We won games when Gunners was playing as well, is that your argument lol?

Despite him ? That's what it seemed like. It's not as if I've just bobbed up now . I started in round 3. So happy we finally got the message. Would've liked to have seen a harder way back for someone who didn't help us.

We won a lot of games last year before we fell off the perch.

 

[Elixuh]

Despite him ? That's what it seemed like. It's not as if I've just bobbed up now . I started in round 3. So happy we finally got the message. Would've liked to have seen a harder way back for someone who didn't help us.

We won a lot of games last year before we fell off the perch.

Thats not what you said. It is hard to have a discussion with you because your tactic is just to constantly move goal posts. It is boring.

 

[martinson]

Glass half full approach is always good.

Important to remember that preseason for older guys can often involve not a whole lot of focus on fitness. I’ve heard plenty before about how they usually go through the motions but don’t overdo it. That didn’t turn out well this time for Gunston but a legitimate training block to work on fitness is probably a lot more focused than preseason.

I just say this because there probably is an actual tangible difference between preseason and the last month. I know someone else mentioned Gunston was going quite well with it all while Rich was a bit slower with it. Considering Rich is still training despite being up for selection and picking Madden ahead of him at least shows it’s not a complete favouritism show.

Gunston and Rich are proud guys with a great CV . Gunston will be giving it his all this week. But whatever.

I think Richy's done purely because we have players there now who are self evidently good. Still I'd rather Rich than Gunson.