Sunday's game against St Kilda (14th) v Brisbane Lions (2nd) marks a special occasion for the club.
In terms of game analysis, that will be parked for a short while to acknowledge and appreciate a player celebrating a special milestone that has garnered a special feeling around this particular milestone as it is by a universally loved figure at the Brisbane Lions; Ryan 'Froggy' Lester's 200th AFL game.
The back story
A graduate of Glen Waverley Secondary College in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Ryan was drafted with selection #28 in the 2010 National Draft. In the same year the Lions also drafted Jared Polec (pick #5), Patrick Karnezis (pick#25), Josh Green (pick #32) and Brad Harvey in the rookie draft. In the same draft, Jarryd Lyons went to Adelaide at pick #61.
Ryan was recruited out of the Oakleigh Chargers in the then TAC Cup League in Melbourne and was one of seven Chargers drafted that year. The others were Andrew Gaff, who went to West Coast, fellow Lions draftee Patrick Karnezis and injury-stricken Sydney premiership player Alex Johnson. Others Lions draftees from the Chargers have been Luke Power (1997), Sam Sheldon (2006), Tom Cutler (2013), Toby Wooler (2017) and Noah Answerth (2018). The AFL Guide in 2011 read about Ryan: “Amazingly quick for a player of his size and capable of playing in defence, forward or even in the midfield. Played in the backline for Vic Metro at the 2010 NAB AFL U18 Championships, averaging 16 disposals and four marks. Impressed the Lions as a midfielder for his club.”
Ryan debuted under coach Michael Voss and captain Jonathan Brown at 18 in Round 1 2011 against Fremantle at the Gabba. He had 16 possessions and kicked a goal in a two-point loss after the Lions had led by 17 points midway through the final quarter. Of his debut teammates, no other is still playing with the Lions. Ryan was one of 24 AFL debutants in Round 1 2011. Of them, 14 are out of the AFL system. The others are West Coast’s Andrew Gaff (278 games) and Jack Darling (294), Adelaide’s Brodie Smith (262), Geelong’s Cam Guthrie (240), Essendon's Dyson Heppell (252) and Footscray's Tom Libertore (229).
Overall persistence, has been the theme with Ryan. Having been an avid reader of BigFooty years before I joined, Ryan's name was regulalry mentioned as a delistee for many years. Yet he endured. Year by year his game tally has been 3-19-16-14-9-19-22-15-9-15-17-3-19-19*. During his time at the Lions, the club has played 313 games. On top of his 199 appearances he has across his career, been dropped 17 times. Yet he persisted and didn't drop his bundle. Ryan's philosophy was a longer view; “I got told early in my career ‘you’re here for a career, not a game’, and that’s always helped my mindset,”
What many may not know is at the at end of 2022, Ryan was delisted by the Lions, then picked up again. Chris Fagan made him VFL captain, but told him it would not hinder his senior selection prospects. Lester accepted, with no expectations, but the determination still burned. For the past five years, Lester has thrived on one-year contracts and one would expect it to be a sixth.
Other useless Ryan Lester Facts
- His only Brownlow Medal vote came in his 87th game against Carlton at the Gabba. He had 26 possessions (11 contested) and a goal in a 30-point win to rank behind Dayne Zorko (26 possessions and three goals for three votes) and Dayne Beams (30 possessions and three goals for two votes).
- He has played more games in jumper #35 than anyone else in the extended Lions family. Michael Rischitelli (111) is the only other Brisbane Lions player to top 100, while others to wear #35 have been Nick Trask (12) and Shane Morrison (5). Stan Wright wore the #35 for Fitzroy in 77 games and the player to have worn the #35 in the history of the VFL/AFL is the Saint's Robert Harvey who wore it on 379 occasions in a distinguished career.
- Ryan has played with 136 players at the Brisbane Lions between 2011 and 2024 (including rookie listed players at the club) and becomes only the 16th Brisbane Lions player out of 237 players to have played one game or more to play 200 games.
- Ryan's win / loss record across 199 games is 93 wins / 1 draw / 105 losses with a % of 46.98%. Against this week's opponent, his record is 7 wins and 4 losses and at Docklands, he has played in 29 games for 13 wins and 16 losses.
- Ryan has kicked 47 goals and 35 behinds and had a career high 20 hit outs in 2014 to go along with 9 other in two other seasons.
- Some of Ryan's achievements include winning the 2015 Most Professional Player award and joint Reserves B&F winner:
Here's what some of Ryan's teammates have said about him in previous milestone games:
There are also not many players that are held as highly as Ryan is without being one of the stars of a team and I like what 3KZ is Football refers to him as the 'People's Champion' and that could not be any more fitting.
Now onto the game.
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (playing for the McIvor dubbed Jayden Attard Cup this week)
List of Players who've played for both Brisbane Lions and St Kilda
Ins (from St Kilda) 3 - Darragh Joyce*(8 games Lions / 13 games Saints) / (Matt Maguire (71 games Lions / 99 games Saints) / Xavier Clarke (1 game Lions / 105 games Saints)
Outs (to St Kilda) 5 - Steve Lawrence (68 games Lions (13 Bears) / 39 games Saints) / Brett Voss (35 games Lions / 135 games Saints) / Colm Begley (29 games Lions / 1 game Saints) / Trent Knobel (13 games Lions / 41 games Saints) / Billy Longer (9 games Lions / 57 games Saints) / Jayden Attard (5 games Lions / 20 games Saints) / Jason Gram (2 games Lions / 154 games Saints)
History
Overall Record between Brisbane Lions v St Kilda
Record since 2019 when Lions turned the corner under Chris Fagan (*indicates night game)
Record as Brisbane Lions at Docklands
Record since 2019 (*indicates night game)
Unwanted Records - Brisbane Lions greatest losing margin in 642 games is to St Kida in round 22 of 2005 when we lost at Docklands by 139 points (7.5.47 to 28.18.186). Conversely, Brisbane Lions round 2 win in 1997 is our 10th largest win, winning by 97 points 23.16.154 to 7.15.57 (all 9 other highest winning margins have been by 100+ points).
Saints
The Saints come into this game in some red hot form having won 3 out of their past 5 games (LWLWW) including two significant wins against much fancied rivals (Essendon +55 and Sydney +2 to go with their biggest win of the season against West Coast +72) and their losses coming against another credentialed outfit in Port Adelaide (loss by 2 points) and in a rain soaked match against Crows by 32.
At Marvel, its a different story for the Saints who have a 5-3 win / loss record there this season with their losses coming against Port (-2), Dockers (-17) and co-tenant (Dogs by 60 points in probably their worst loss for the season.
Saints Injury List (as at last week)
Brisbane Lions
The Lions are in a rich vein of form having won the past 8 on the trot after being 4-1-6 at the bye to now remarkably being 12-1-6 and sitting in second position.
Again the Lions face a massive danger game up against the red hot Saints on their home deck. A loss to the Saints could see the Lions fall as far as seventh on the ladder and a win locks up second until the next round with the Dockers breathing down our neck. Percentage is massive with a difference of 47 points although depending on points scored the margin is not necessarily 47 points if you get my drift.
The Lions injury list is still bleak reading, although we should welcome back captain Harris Andrews from concussion protocols. Darragh Joyce is a wait and see:
Last time they met:
Brisbane won a tense affair by 20 points at the Gabba (19.12.126 to 16.10.106) only six weeks ago which is an absurd feature of the draw when we've still yet to play Essendon. Nonetheless, the notable absentees from that game to last week's game against the Suns are Bruce Reville (omitted) and Jack Payne (injured) for Will Ashcroft and Henry Smith.
For the Saints, from the last time we met, Liam Henry, Max King, Seb Ross and Marcus Windhager (all injured), Tom Campbell, Zaine Cordy, Paddy Dow, Arie Shoenmaker (omitted) for Ryan Byrnes, Hugo Garcia, Dougal Howard, Tim Membrey, Cooper Sharman and Liam Stocker, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jimmy Webster; a massive difference of 8 players, so it will be a vastly different outfit to the one we played in round 14.
I won't attempt to guess who may be the ins / outs for the Saints, save to say, that it wouldn't surprise if they went unchanged unless Phillipou gets up.
For the Lions, changes will be kept to a minimum for Froggy Lester's 200th, with Harris Andrews a notable inclusion, likely for Henry Smith given the Saints only play Marshall as ruck. I'd like to see Jaxon Prior retained and wouldn't mind if Connor McKenna again made way for one Robertson, Sharp or Reville. With the likes of Sharman, Camamiti and Membrey up forward, Joyce will be handy if available.
Key to the game will be the start and killing the game as early as possible, which our numbers support. Others are more adept at the critical tactical component of the game but in simple terms:
Prediction
All up, should be an enthralling affair in the Jayden Attard Cup in the People's Champions 200th and the Lions clinging to second with it all to play for, I'm tipping the Lions by 35 points.
Shout out to everyone who can get to the game to do so and support the club and Ryan Lester in his 200th game. Having been to a Saints v Lions game in recent years, Lions fans whilst outnumbered are just as loud as Saints fan, so get along.
Its also Retro Round apparently, will be very interested in the Lions don a retro type jumper for the occasion, although what style jumper would they go with Fitzroy inspired or Lester's first jumper, the Paddlepop Lion?
In terms of game analysis, that will be parked for a short while to acknowledge and appreciate a player celebrating a special milestone that has garnered a special feeling around this particular milestone as it is by a universally loved figure at the Brisbane Lions; Ryan 'Froggy' Lester's 200th AFL game.
The back story
A graduate of Glen Waverley Secondary College in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Ryan was drafted with selection #28 in the 2010 National Draft. In the same year the Lions also drafted Jared Polec (pick #5), Patrick Karnezis (pick#25), Josh Green (pick #32) and Brad Harvey in the rookie draft. In the same draft, Jarryd Lyons went to Adelaide at pick #61.
Ryan was recruited out of the Oakleigh Chargers in the then TAC Cup League in Melbourne and was one of seven Chargers drafted that year. The others were Andrew Gaff, who went to West Coast, fellow Lions draftee Patrick Karnezis and injury-stricken Sydney premiership player Alex Johnson. Others Lions draftees from the Chargers have been Luke Power (1997), Sam Sheldon (2006), Tom Cutler (2013), Toby Wooler (2017) and Noah Answerth (2018). The AFL Guide in 2011 read about Ryan: “Amazingly quick for a player of his size and capable of playing in defence, forward or even in the midfield. Played in the backline for Vic Metro at the 2010 NAB AFL U18 Championships, averaging 16 disposals and four marks. Impressed the Lions as a midfielder for his club.”
Ryan debuted under coach Michael Voss and captain Jonathan Brown at 18 in Round 1 2011 against Fremantle at the Gabba. He had 16 possessions and kicked a goal in a two-point loss after the Lions had led by 17 points midway through the final quarter. Of his debut teammates, no other is still playing with the Lions. Ryan was one of 24 AFL debutants in Round 1 2011. Of them, 14 are out of the AFL system. The others are West Coast’s Andrew Gaff (278 games) and Jack Darling (294), Adelaide’s Brodie Smith (262), Geelong’s Cam Guthrie (240), Essendon's Dyson Heppell (252) and Footscray's Tom Libertore (229).
Overall persistence, has been the theme with Ryan. Having been an avid reader of BigFooty years before I joined, Ryan's name was regulalry mentioned as a delistee for many years. Yet he endured. Year by year his game tally has been 3-19-16-14-9-19-22-15-9-15-17-3-19-19*. During his time at the Lions, the club has played 313 games. On top of his 199 appearances he has across his career, been dropped 17 times. Yet he persisted and didn't drop his bundle. Ryan's philosophy was a longer view; “I got told early in my career ‘you’re here for a career, not a game’, and that’s always helped my mindset,”
What many may not know is at the at end of 2022, Ryan was delisted by the Lions, then picked up again. Chris Fagan made him VFL captain, but told him it would not hinder his senior selection prospects. Lester accepted, with no expectations, but the determination still burned. For the past five years, Lester has thrived on one-year contracts and one would expect it to be a sixth.
Other useless Ryan Lester Facts
- His only Brownlow Medal vote came in his 87th game against Carlton at the Gabba. He had 26 possessions (11 contested) and a goal in a 30-point win to rank behind Dayne Zorko (26 possessions and three goals for three votes) and Dayne Beams (30 possessions and three goals for two votes).
- He has played more games in jumper #35 than anyone else in the extended Lions family. Michael Rischitelli (111) is the only other Brisbane Lions player to top 100, while others to wear #35 have been Nick Trask (12) and Shane Morrison (5). Stan Wright wore the #35 for Fitzroy in 77 games and the player to have worn the #35 in the history of the VFL/AFL is the Saint's Robert Harvey who wore it on 379 occasions in a distinguished career.
- Ryan has played with 136 players at the Brisbane Lions between 2011 and 2024 (including rookie listed players at the club) and becomes only the 16th Brisbane Lions player out of 237 players to have played one game or more to play 200 games.
- Ryan's win / loss record across 199 games is 93 wins / 1 draw / 105 losses with a % of 46.98%. Against this week's opponent, his record is 7 wins and 4 losses and at Docklands, he has played in 29 games for 13 wins and 16 losses.
- Ryan has kicked 47 goals and 35 behinds and had a career high 20 hit outs in 2014 to go along with 9 other in two other seasons.
- Some of Ryan's achievements include winning the 2015 Most Professional Player award and joint Reserves B&F winner:
Here's what some of Ryan's teammates have said about him in previous milestone games:
There are also not many players that are held as highly as Ryan is without being one of the stars of a team and I like what 3KZ is Football refers to him as the 'People's Champion' and that could not be any more fitting.
Now onto the game.
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions (playing for the McIvor dubbed Jayden Attard Cup this week)
List of Players who've played for both Brisbane Lions and St Kilda
Ins (from St Kilda) 3 - Darragh Joyce*(8 games Lions / 13 games Saints) / (Matt Maguire (71 games Lions / 99 games Saints) / Xavier Clarke (1 game Lions / 105 games Saints)
Outs (to St Kilda) 5 - Steve Lawrence (68 games Lions (13 Bears) / 39 games Saints) / Brett Voss (35 games Lions / 135 games Saints) / Colm Begley (29 games Lions / 1 game Saints) / Trent Knobel (13 games Lions / 41 games Saints) / Billy Longer (9 games Lions / 57 games Saints) / Jayden Attard (5 games Lions / 20 games Saints) / Jason Gram (2 games Lions / 154 games Saints)
History
Overall Record between Brisbane Lions v St Kilda
| PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW | MARGIN | WIN % |
| 39 | 23 | 16 | 0 | +373 | 58.97 |
| YEAR | ROUND | VENUE | LIONS | SAINTS | MARGIN | WIN / LOSS |
| 2019 | 14 | DS | 17.13.115 | 8.11.59 | +56 | W |
| 2020 | 13 | G | 6.14.50 | 7.6.48 | +2 | W |
| 2021 | 17 | GCS* | 8.15.63 | 14.11.95 | -32 | L |
| 2022 | 14 | G* | 10.18.78 | 8.9.57 | +21 | W |
| 2022 | 22 | DS* | 12.9.81 | 9.12.66 | +15 | W |
| 2023 | 15 | DS* | 12.12.84 | 8.8.56 | +28 | W |
| 2023 | 24 | G | 9.18.72 | 9.6.60 | +12 | W |
| 2024 | 14 | G* | 19.12.126 | 16.10.106 | +20 | W |
| 2024 | 21 | DS | SUN T | AUG | 4 | 16:40 |
Record as Brisbane Lions at Docklands
| PLAYED | WON | LOST | DRAW | WIN % |
| 80 | 33 | 45 | 2 | 42.50 |
Record since 2019 (*indicates night game)
| Year | Rd | Opponent | Venue | LIONS | Opp'n | Margin | Result |
| 2019 | 2 | Nth Melbourne | DS | 16.11.107 | 13.9.87 | +20 | W |
| 12 | Carlton | DS | 9.9.63 | 11.12.78 | -15 | L | |
| 14 | St. Kilda | DS | 17.13.115 | 8.11.59 | +56 | W | |
| 2021 | 3 | Collingwood | DS* | 11.7.73 | 11.6.72 | +1 | W |
| 6 | Carlton | DS* | 15.13.103 | 12.13.85 | +18 | W | |
| 2022 | 2 | Essendon | DS* | 15.7.97 | 10.15.75 | +22 | W |
| 22 | St. Kilda | DS* | 12.9.81 | 9.12.66 | +15 | W | |
| 2023 | 3 | Western Bulldogs | DS* | 7.11.53 | 10.7.67 | -14 | L |
| 8 | Carlton | DS* | 15.10.100 | 11.8.74 | +26 | W | |
| 15 | St. Kilda | DS* | 12.12.84 | 8.8.56 | +28 | W | |
| 23 | Collingwood | DS* | 19.10.124 | 15.10.100 | +24 | W | |
| 2024 | 11 | Hawthorn | DS | 10.15.75 | 15.10.100 | -25 | L |
| 13 | Western Bulldogs | DS* | 17.12.114 | 10.11.71 | +43 | W |
Unwanted Records - Brisbane Lions greatest losing margin in 642 games is to St Kida in round 22 of 2005 when we lost at Docklands by 139 points (7.5.47 to 28.18.186). Conversely, Brisbane Lions round 2 win in 1997 is our 10th largest win, winning by 97 points 23.16.154 to 7.15.57 (all 9 other highest winning margins have been by 100+ points).
Saints
The Saints come into this game in some red hot form having won 3 out of their past 5 games (LWLWW) including two significant wins against much fancied rivals (Essendon +55 and Sydney +2 to go with their biggest win of the season against West Coast +72) and their losses coming against another credentialed outfit in Port Adelaide (loss by 2 points) and in a rain soaked match against Crows by 32.
At Marvel, its a different story for the Saints who have a 5-3 win / loss record there this season with their losses coming against Port (-2), Dockers (-17) and co-tenant (Dogs by 60 points in probably their worst loss for the season.
Saints Injury List (as at last week)
| St Kilda | ||
| Brad Crouch | Knee | TBC |
| Max Hall | Back | TBC |
| Jack Hayes | Knee | TBC |
| Liam Henry | Knee | Season |
| Max King | Knee | Season |
| Mattaes Phillipou | Hip | 1-2 weeks |
| Seb Ross | Calf | 4-5 weeks |
| James Van Es | Ankle | Season |
| Marcus Windhager | Hamstring | 3 weeks |
Brisbane Lions
The Lions are in a rich vein of form having won the past 8 on the trot after being 4-1-6 at the bye to now remarkably being 12-1-6 and sitting in second position.
Again the Lions face a massive danger game up against the red hot Saints on their home deck. A loss to the Saints could see the Lions fall as far as seventh on the ladder and a win locks up second until the next round with the Dockers breathing down our neck. Percentage is massive with a difference of 47 points although depending on points scored the margin is not necessarily 47 points if you get my drift.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | Percentage | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Difference |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 19 | 50 | 120.07 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1777 | 1480 | 297 |
| 3 | Fremantle | 19 | 50 | 117.81 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1654 | 1404 | 250 |
The Lions injury list is still bleak reading, although we should welcome back captain Harris Andrews from concussion protocols. Darragh Joyce is a wait and see:
| Harris Andrews | Concussion | 1 week |
| Keidean Coleman | Knee | Season |
| Tom Doedee | Knee | Season |
| Darcy Gardiner | Knee | Season |
| Darragh Joyce | Jaw | TBC |
| Kalin Lane | Knee | Season |
| Lincoln McCarthy | Knee | Season |
| Carter Michael | Concussion | 1 week |
| Jack Payne | Foot | 4 weeks |
Last time they met:
Brisbane won a tense affair by 20 points at the Gabba (19.12.126 to 16.10.106) only six weeks ago which is an absurd feature of the draw when we've still yet to play Essendon. Nonetheless, the notable absentees from that game to last week's game against the Suns are Bruce Reville (omitted) and Jack Payne (injured) for Will Ashcroft and Henry Smith.
For the Saints, from the last time we met, Liam Henry, Max King, Seb Ross and Marcus Windhager (all injured), Tom Campbell, Zaine Cordy, Paddy Dow, Arie Shoenmaker (omitted) for Ryan Byrnes, Hugo Garcia, Dougal Howard, Tim Membrey, Cooper Sharman and Liam Stocker, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jimmy Webster; a massive difference of 8 players, so it will be a vastly different outfit to the one we played in round 14.
I won't attempt to guess who may be the ins / outs for the Saints, save to say, that it wouldn't surprise if they went unchanged unless Phillipou gets up.
For the Lions, changes will be kept to a minimum for Froggy Lester's 200th, with Harris Andrews a notable inclusion, likely for Henry Smith given the Saints only play Marshall as ruck. I'd like to see Jaxon Prior retained and wouldn't mind if Connor McKenna again made way for one Robertson, Sharp or Reville. With the likes of Sharman, Camamiti and Membrey up forward, Joyce will be handy if available.
Key to the game will be the start and killing the game as early as possible, which our numbers support. Others are more adept at the critical tactical component of the game but in simple terms:
| 2024 | ||
| Q1 | Lions by 216 | W16-L3-D0-T19 |
| Q2 | Lions by 70 | W11-L8-D0-T19 |
| Q3 | Lions by 10 | W10-L9-D0-T19 |
| Q4 | Lions by 11 | W9-L8-D2-T19 |
| Total | Lions by 297 | W46-L28-D2-T76 |
| 2024 | |||
| Quarter | Goals Lions | Goals Opp'n | Difference |
| Q1 | 79 | 46 | 33 |
| Q2 | 64 | 55 | 9 |
| Q3 | 52 | 53 | -1 |
| Q4 | 60 | 61 | -1 |
| TOTAL | 255 | 215 | 40 |
Prediction
All up, should be an enthralling affair in the Jayden Attard Cup in the People's Champions 200th and the Lions clinging to second with it all to play for, I'm tipping the Lions by 35 points.
Shout out to everyone who can get to the game to do so and support the club and Ryan Lester in his 200th game. Having been to a Saints v Lions game in recent years, Lions fans whilst outnumbered are just as loud as Saints fan, so get along.
Its also Retro Round apparently, will be very interested in the Lions don a retro type jumper for the occasion, although what style jumper would they go with Fitzroy inspired or Lester's first jumper, the Paddlepop Lion?
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