Preview Round 18 - Melbourne Demons vs Brisbane Lions • Friday 14 July 2023 • 7:50 PM • MCG

[Thomasno]

Did they?

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Lmao I hadn’t looked in a while, but the AFL definitely sent out word asking clubs to stop that.

Guess Geelong just don’t care

 

[Lazza16]

I like all of them, I also think Wilmot could do a job on Kossie. Their inside midfield is pretty one dimensional without Oliver(inj) and Petracca in there, if he goes into the mid rotation put Berry on him.

Their wingers have elite running capacity so we need to have guys on the wing who can go with them, could be Berry if he isn't required for a job on Petracca... I wonder if Harry Sharp could be under consideration this week.

I was also wondering if Sharp was a chance of getting a call up this week especially after Fages mentioning him as going to be a good player in his recent Presser. I think he played on Langdon last time we met.

 

[Dalions]

Sounds like Dunkley's a 30/70 chance to play. I hope he doesn't play as I seriously rate him, as I'm sure you'll all be crossing your fingers that he does play.

How have you guys seen his season.
Has he exceeded expectations?
On par with expectations.
Been slightly disappointing?

He was exactly the type of player we required and has lifted the midfields performance as a result.

 

[Tassie4ever]

This is just plain wrong. Go to the match replay 12.55 in the last quarter and watch Lyons applying phenomenal forward line pressure. He sticks a killer tackle, gets the free kick, we play on to advantage and Gunston goals. He does exactly what you suggest he can’t do. People need to let the facts get in the road of their group thinking sometimes. The Lyons can’t chase and apply defensive pressure groupthink is like Ryan Lester can’t run groupthink. Watch the vision and tell me what you think.

Not too much pisses me off around these posts, but one thing that truly does is the persistent dancing on players' graves.

Ok, accepted that everyone has a use-by date, but before Lyons fell victim last year to the dreaded OP, and was asked to play through the resultant problem, he was a key part of our centre setup. Granted, the addition of Dunkley has complicated Lyons' place in the scheme of things, but I start from the simple premise that you can never have enough good footballers in the side. Lyons is a much better than average footballer by any definition.

A lot of this premature write-off stuff was also applied to Zorko, IIRC. Just plain wrong.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Public service announcement re Friday's game: for any of my fellow Mernda or Hurstbridge line travellers, don't hang around celebrating the win for too long after the match. Bus replacement services will be running after 11pm.

Yes, don't go home until the first morning train!

Crown is open all night. I attended a function after the 01 Gf and didn't get home until 4.30 and then watched the replay.

 

[buttermuffs]

Who do we get to tag the MCG out of the game?

I nominate 3KZ to lace up as player coach and produce the hardest tag we’ve ever seen. Gonna be called the 3KZG afterwards.

 

[Elixuh]

I nominate 3KZ to lace up as player coach and produce the hardest tag we’ve ever seen. Gonna be called the 3KZG afterwards.

No one wants to see 3KZ streak the MCG, especially with a hard tag.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Good point here. We rotate wings a bit and that's probably good for the inside role considering Berry is a good break glass as inside mid and Clugga can go to wing if he is struggling to go on the ball. All the more important to keep the other wing a bit more consistent. Makes it harder for Dev - but his best footy is inside mid mixed with half forward so he should be given opportunities there and keep working to get a spot (Zorko spot basically).

I've been a HUGE fan of Dunkley. Cannot wait to have him back. But is Lyons that big a downgrade in terms of around the ground pressure? I ask this question seeking a genuine answer. Does Dunkley clock up a lot more kms? More sprint efforts? I don't re-watch games and often have kids distracting me for games (or let's be honest i like a beer with the footy). But my perception of Dunkley is he has exceptional pressure around the ball, and has been brilliant at stopping the opposition's best clearance player. I don't necessarily think he has been covering the ground exceptionally well? Chasing down oppo players? He has been a very good outlet in terms of his overhead marking.

So don't get me wrong Lyons is a downgrade, but on our burning question of opposition transitions, is Lyons really that big a downgrade?

Lyons got 23 Brownlow votes one season.

Dunkley is a different sort of players but he has never reached anything like those heights.

Has anyone heard if Lyons has made a FULL recovery?

Without that piece of information it's hard to know what to expect from Lyons.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Sabotage the lighting and get the game moved to Marvel.

Much closer to us at Docklands and then kick on at Crown.

 

[p4p1]

Not too much pisses me off around these posts, but one thing that truly does is the persistent dancing on players' graves.

Ok, accepted that everyone has a use-by date, but before Lyons fell victim last year to the dreaded OP, and was asked to play through the resultant problem, he was a key part of our centre setup. Granted, the addition of Dunkley has complicated Lyons' place in the scheme of things, but I start from the simple premise that you can never have enough good footballers in the side. Lyons is a much better than average footballer by any definition.

A lot of this premature write-off stuff was also applied to Zorko, IIRC. Just plain wrong.

The problem Lyons brings is also a lot to do with team balance rather than just his lack of ability to spread/run defensively. The guy is an excellent footballer and 20ish years ago with the way the game was played then would likely be in the middle with Neale and Dunkley. Neale is currently playing taking the #1 mid role where there is less reliance defensively around the ground. You throw in Ashcroft who looks to be every bit as good as Lyons in the middle, albeit with some different strengths and weaknesses, it becomes clear that what we need in the middle with Neale/Ashy/Clugg etc is a Dunkley or Robertson type of player who runs well defensively and has real defensive intent. Our midfield is just stacked at the moment with guys who can play the role Lyons does best but are stronger in areas that aren't Lyons' strong suit allowing them to play supporting roles with better results.

 

[Lockie]

Yes, don't go home until the first morning train!

Crown is open all night. I attended a function after the 01 Gf and didn't get home until 4.30 and then watched the replay.

‘if we win the game I think I’d happily walk home. Do we know we’re the preferred area is for lions supporters general addmission?

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

‘if we win the game I think I’d happily walk home. Do we know we’re the preferred area is for lions supporters general addmission?

Good point

 

[Grasshopper17]

I was also wondering if Sharp was a chance of getting a call up this week especially after Fages mentioning him as going to be a good player in his recent Presser. I think he played on Langdon last time we met.

Sharp did not play in Round 2.

But I agree that some thought should be given to his inclusion.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Also given our lads have a training run tomorrow at the G, and our VFL team has the bye, with some decent detective work our team should be apparent well before 6:20 tomorrow night.

Maybe a slight disadvantage but nothing we shouldn't be able to overcome in and of itself.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Not too much pisses me off around these posts, but one thing that truly does is the persistent dancing on players' graves.

Ok, accepted that everyone has a use-by date, but before Lyons fell victim last year to the dreaded OP, and was asked to play through the resultant problem, he was a key part of our centre setup. Granted, the addition of Dunkley has complicated Lyons' place in the scheme of things, but I start from the simple premise that you can never have enough good footballers in the side. Lyons is a much better than average footballer by any definition.

A lot of this premature write-off stuff was also applied to Zorko, IIRC. Just plain wrong.

Here, here! Well said!

Remember the people who pronounced Lester was slow, Lester can’t run, Lester butchers the ball (highest disposal efficiency at the club), Lester can’t intercept mark, Lester can’t tackle, Lester can’t play on stronger forwards, Lester is no good on the deck, Lester is ‘depth’ at best etc etc etc. Some people even appeared to greet Lester getting dropped with glee. Well they were not only wrong, but they were egregiously so.

Now we are getting much the same sort of group think around Lyons, who by every measure had a fantastic game last week and has been a key part of our revival since 2019. All the pile on of negativity against Lyons shows is that we have a lot of people on our board who really don’t have a solid enough grounding in AFL / VFL football.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I nominate 3KZ to lace up as player coach and produce the hardest tag we’ve ever seen. Gonna be called the 3KZG afterwards.

Happy to. I will frustrate the MCG out of it with constant posting from #Chat3KZ

 

[Squizz89]

Sounds like Grundy is doubtful to play, which isn’t much of a loss for them given his form. It should mean we can get away without having to worry about going in with the 2 specialist rucks ourselves, however.

 

[Milux]

Sounds like Grundy is doubtful to play, which isn’t much of a loss for them given his form. It should mean we can get away without having to worry about going in with the 2 specialist rucks ourselves however.

I was wondering if Fort was a chance this week. Fages likes to make the move if the oppo team has 2 recognised rucks. Maybe not if Grundy doesn't get up.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

 

[Grasshopper17]

I was wondering about this, given people have been calling it "the bye".

 

[FeastOrFamine]

I was wondering about this, given people have been calling it "the bye".

Looks like we're bucking the trend this week

 

[Nunez]

This means nothing lol.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Some interesting comments from Jordan Lewis

Jordan Lewis

Age

38

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.5

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

11.5

5star

M

5.5

5star

T

2.7

4star

MG

310.5

4star

No current season stats available

D

15.0

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.8

5star

tonight on AFL 360 about the Lions at the MCG. He mentioned that when Hawthorn had their hoodoo against Geelong it was to their benefit when they finally acknowledged it internally, and apparently it was Fages who really drove those conversations.

 

[Milux]

Some interesting comments from Jordan Lewis tonight on AFL 360 about the Lions at the MCG. He mentioned that when Hawthorn had their hoodoo against Geelong it was to their benefit when they finally acknowledged it internally, and apparently it was Fages who really drove those conversations.

Just seen that. I feel like it needs to be addressed.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Just seen that. I feel like it needs to be addressed.

Completely agree. Said as much here.