Review Round 22, 2023 - Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide

[archangel1979au]

At the game and thought Dev played really well. Felt like he made a big difference when in the middle. He seemed to be busting a gut and getting to everything. Definitely need to persist.

 

[bungalow_bill]

What if we put Gunston out to pasture and have Rayner play his spot? He'd be damaging and playing to his strengths as a player

We certainly need to harness his incredible talent if we are going to win a flag. the personification of X factor

 

[LIONS08]

To all those potting Rayner and his role in the team at the moment. Just watch him shine with Gunston out of the team. Feel free to return to this post in the coming weeks.

 

[twhowler]

Lester did some nice things. Seemed to trail McAdam quite a bit and conceded some goals.

Starce continued his putrid form although seemed to get angry in a good way late.

I feel like we are a 50/50 chance of top 2 now

We win both - top 2 (35%?)

We win 1

Dees have to lose 1, to hawks (5%?) or swans (40%?)

AND

port have to lose 1, to gws (25%?), freo (25%?) or tiges (15%?)

Someone smarter than me can crunch the numbers

 

[Gadzorks]

I thought the end of our game was stressful ... Until I got home and watched the end of the Carlton game.

Going to need to practice emotional control if I want too survive a grand final - right now I think it would kill me.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

At the game and thought Dev played really well. Felt like he made a big difference when in the middle. He seemed to be busting a gut and getting to everything. Definitely need to persist.

I was at the game and think he's not up to it, 12 touches 2 tackles and a goal didn't set the world on fire. JL & Matho are way better options at the moment, oh and don't bother with the too slow BS because dev isn't quick at all.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

Lester did some nice things. Seemed to trail McAdam quite a bit and conceded some goals.

Starce continued his putrid form although seemed to get angry in a good way late.

I feel like we are a 50/50 chance of top 2 now

We win both - top 2 (35%?)

We win 1

Dees have to lose 1, to hawks (5%?) or swans (40%?)

AND

port have to lose 1, to gws (25%?), freo (25%?) or tiges (15%?)

Someone smarter than me can crunch the numbers

Lester nice things ? Seriously some blokes on here have NFI, he was bloody fantastic tonight, and been great this year...give it a spell and give credit when it's due.

 

[Harris Specter]

To all those potting Rayner and his role in the team at the moment. Just watch him shine with Gunston out of the team. Feel free to return to this post in the coming weeks.

Please. I'm a huge Rayner fan but he did nothing even when Gunston was subbed out in the 2nd half with 3 disposals.

He just seems off the pace with constant fumbles, tenderness to over possess and miss opportunities.

 

[Chezz]

Crows are a good side and are going to be unlucky to miss. Their percentage is a pretty good reflection where they are actually at.

I’m not too negative about the performance tonight. As mentioned Charlie, Wilmott and McLuggage were great. I don’t agree with the negative talk on Rayner and Dev. Both were decent enough tonight.

The one area we were totally dominated in was clearances for about the 4th week in a row. I agree with 3KZ in that we’re an inside midfielder short, but Lyons isn’t the answer. Matho needs to come in. He will absolutely kill it in there as part of the second mid rotations. No brainer for me.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Wasn"t Lester on McAdam when he kicked his first three goals? Whoever was on him got towelled up. It was only when Starc went to him that he quietened down I thought.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Lester nice things ? Seriously some blokes on here have NFI, he was bloody fantastic tonight, and been great this year...give it a spell and give credit when it's due.

Yep back to the NRL for twhowler - as they clearly don’t know much about Australian Rules Football.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Crows are a good side and are going to be unlucky to miss. Their percentage is a pretty good reflection where they are actually at.

I’m not too negative about the performance tonight. As mentioned Charlie, Wilmott and McLuggage were great. I don’t agree with the negative talk on Rayner and Dev. Both were decent enough tonight.

The one area we were totally dominated in was clearances for about the 4th week in a row. I agree with 3KZ in that we’re an inside midfielder short, but Lyons isn’t the answer. Matho needs to come in. He will absolutely kill it in there as part of the second mid rotations. No brainer for me.

Would love Mathieson in the side.

 

[Quested]

Take the points and move on. Crows were playing to keep finals alive, and have come close to the Pies and Demons this year. They were always going to throw everything at us. Could we have played better? Yes. Big week next week.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Wasn"t Lester on McAdam when he kicked his first three goals? Whoever was on him got towelled up. It was only when Starc went to him that he quietened down I thought.

Looked like he was on Fogarty all night.

 

[braddsey]

I'm very dead.

Adelaide is a good team that is better than its ladder position so not whinging about a win. But gee we were terrible in the last part of the 4th and lucky to hold on.

We've got to find something in the next few weeks because we are crawling into september currently.

I’ll be happy if we keep falling over the line. For once i think we need the bye.
If we fall over the line in the next 2 games we finish 2nd (unless Port reverse their slump and gain 15%).

I don’t have high hope for next week, but i’ll be there cheering like a madman.

Go lions.

 

[braddsey]

I'm wondering what the key to Zorko is for these last few games of his career.

Interestingly he's always played brilliantly in Perth and last week I was thinking he might be back to some form.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Zorko goes around for another year…
(Though perhaps the fairytale ending could see him retire!).

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Looked like he was on Fogarty all night.

Got to give him credit then because Fogerty was not a factor. Had trouble following it trying to watch the soccer at the same time. As usual the replay will give me some idea of what was going on.

 

[Nunez]

Not surprised to see some negative comments after that win. We were up against a very good team playing for their season and won the game in the third and early in the fourth.

They did wrestle momentum back but realistically the Starce turnover combined with several very easy misses made this game a lot closer on the scoreline than it should have been.

Ultimately though, for three weeks in a row we've won close games after capitulating against Melbourne. It's an area we've grown in and gives me belief that our gameplan and style is sustainable in finals.

On Cam: people who just look to stat lines missed the important role he played tonight. For one, he was very good in the first half. When Gunston went down, he had to pivot into a third tall role and with Charlie looking dangerous played the decoy over and over again. If he doesn't do that, Charlie finds nowhere near as much space. The forwards were very selfless tonight.

I think we are so close to going up another gear and think Coleman back onto the half back will help and - in the unfortunate injury to Jack - two talls will give us a very nice balance.

As for who comes in, I'd be keeping Robertson on the wing and bringing in Lohman for Jack. Give Fletcher another week as sub then assess where he and Robertson are at for finals, pick one for the final round and stick with them in finals.

 

[SizeMatters]

To all those potting Rayner and his role in the team at the moment. Just watch him shine with Gunston out of the team. Feel free to return to this post in the coming weeks.

This has been floated for weeks. Statistically he is a worse player (somehow) with Gunston out of the team..............

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Had a quick look at MacAdam's first three goals in case my eyes were deceiving me.

First goal he was Lester's man and Lester missed a simple spoil on him.

Second goal Payne tracked Walker back, switched to MacAdam as Harris picked Walker up. Fogerty ran a block on Lester.

Third goal Lester failed to spoil a mark on MacAdam who was too quick for him.

After that it looks like Lester was switched onto Fogerty and kept him quiet while Starc went onto MacAdam.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

Not surprised to see some negative comments after that win. We were up against a very good team playing for their season and won the game in the third and early in the fourth.

They did wrestle momentum back but realistically the Starce turnover combined with several very easy misses made this game a lot closer on the scoreline than it should have been.

Ultimately though, for three weeks in a row we've won close games after capitulating against Melbourne. It's an area we've grown in and gives me belief that our gameplan and style is sustainable in finals.

On Cam: people who just look to stat lines missed the important role he played tonight. For one, he was very good in the first half. When Gunston went down, he had to pivot into a third tall role and with Charlie looking dangerous played the decoy over and over again. If he doesn't do that, Charlie finds nowhere near as much space. The forwards were very selfless tonight.

I think we are so close to going up another gear and think Coleman back onto the half back will help and - in the unfortunate injury to Jack - two talls will give us a very nice balance.

As for who comes in, I'd be keeping Robertson on the wing and bringing in Lohman for Jack. Give Fletcher another week as sub then assess where he and Robertson are at for finals, pick one for the final round and stick with them in finals.

Agree about Cam and change of role once Gunston went down, but gee he's season has been below average. I'll back the kid in for now,but it's getting harder to do so.

 

[3KZ is Football]

We certainly need to harness his incredible talent if we are going to win a flag. the personification of X factor

Rayner’s “incredible talent” and references to his alleged “X factor” are wishful thinking and after a game like yesterday’s, border on delusional. Rayner managed 12 disposals for the game at 58% disposal efficiency. In the second half, when Gunston was off and you would expect Rayner to step up, he had two kicks and one handball at 50% disposal efficiency. It was a re-run of his numbers against Melbourne, when he also simply went missing. I’m actually pretty certain that I have never seen a footballer who has been more hyped and is more consistently set a “low pass mark” than Cam Rayner. Three disposals for a half of
Football AGAIN just doesn’t cut it. I have said before that Rayner has been poorly socialised by Fagan, who must bear some responsibility for the footballer Rayner has become. Rayner will be given another Mulligan by Fagan, after his non-performance yesterday, but he already has a draw full of them, so it is not like they have actually helped. He will also no doubt be selected on “alleged potential” and not exposed form, against Collingwood in our biggest match of the season to date. Meanwhile, in the reserves, players with Senior experience who are battling their guts out to get a senior game will miss out again. Finally, just imagine if Cam Rayner and Ryan Lester swapped stats yesterday. If Rayner had 16 disposals, took 8 marks, had 8 intercept possessions and had 3 tackles, people would have been hailing him as a champion. Conversely, if Lester had Rayner’s numbers, the knives, sniping and put downs would have been out. If only Rayner had Lester’s work ethic and if only he had been taught the same football lessons.

 

[lioninthesand]

It is strange how perception and narrative work.

A- Magpies win multiple close games and they are lauded for their excellence.

B- Lions win close games, shows they are no chance in finals.

Got me beat.

I thought it was a great win coming off the longest road trip in footy and a 6 day break.

I was very impressed with Hipwood live at the game, really busts a gut at every contest and runs his backside off, Wilmot the same.

My Fab5 were Hipwood, Cameron, McCarthy, Wilmot, McCluggage.

I think the fact we get 25 points up and stop is the issue.

Pies were also questioned about having to win that way, in conjunction with high praise. Having to come from behind to win isn’t a good trait IMO.

It’s very predictable, never known a team with such predictable in game patterns.

Not the end of the world, but carrying a last 7 minute complex into finals is not ideal.

Clearance and defence has fallen away.

Apart from that, pretty solid.

 

[JB42]

We need to persist with Dev in the midfield - can't judge him off one game - needs

I know this won’t surprise anyone, but I would rather Lyons. We desperately need an additional inside mid.

In other news, Starcevich needs to improve his kicking. Come finals, we can’t have him picking out opponents who are in space and hitting them on the chest.

100% since Ashcroft went down we have been playing a midfielder short. Lyons is the closest thing to Ashcroft we have. Clean at stoppage, good decision making. With Gunston out, we should be able to cover his lack of leg speed.
I thought Charlie looked better with more space once Gunston went off too.

 

[lioninthesand]

Nah, we have to destroy the opposition every week and win by 10 goals or we are shite according to some. How we have managed to be right in the running for 2nd on the ladder with 2 games remaining is a mystery... we don't even deserve to make finals.

I think people are marking us on our ability to win a flag, which after 5 years is fair.

So.. if you are just evaluating us as are we/arn’t a decent team, yep - we go well.

If you are looking at us through the lens of can we/can’t we win a GF, then I think it’s warranted that you’d be frustrated.

Right now, on current form, I think we’ll struggle to win finals.