Review Round 22, 2023 - Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide

[Scubaveg]

Oh what a beautiful morning
Oh what a beautiful day
Lions are 10/10 at the Gabba
And 2nd on the ladder today


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[3KZ is Football]

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.

Yep

The question now for Fagan is whether the three tall forward set up was about the team or about finding a role for Gunston. If Fagan is committed to this set up, if he thinks it is in the best interests of the team, then he would be selecting Fullerton or Fort against Collingwood. If he doesn’t it really shines a light on his tactical integrity.

I agree with your summary, particularly in regards to Cameron. He was great yesterday because he had space to work in and midfielders were looking for him on the lead.

 

[Scubaveg]

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

Worst pick 1 in history.


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[BrisVegasDru]

Worst pick 1 in history.


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Jack Watts says hi

 

[JB42]

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.

We clearly need another inside mid to play Ashcrofts role. Lyons or Matho for me.
I think finding a spot for Sharp might be worth it also. His exceptional running ability will help with providing the extra number contest to contest and will help us run out games.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

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.

I have thought this since he started. You need a peg to hang your hat on if you are going to be a good AFL player: a beautiful kick, pace, being a ball magnet are examples of skills that can raise you from the mire.

Dev competes well but that is it.

I do not see any upside.

 

[Nathan Barley]

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.

It's strange how the needle has ssung on Lester from whipping boy to infallible superhero

 

[Scubaveg]

I have thought this since he started. You need a peg to hang your hat on if you are going to be a good AFL player: a beautiful kick, pace, being a ball magnet are examples of skills that can raise you from the mire.

Dev competes well but that is it.

I do not see any upside.

Starting to feel a the same way. Love the guy, great endeavour, but think that’s it. Three back up inside mids not up to it. Dev, Lyons and not very beasty.


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[3KZ is Football]

It's strange how the needle has ssung on Lester from whipping boy to infallible superhero

People who understand football and know a good player when they see one, have been proven very right about Lester. Similarly, those who seemed to take delight in running him down, do look a bit silly. Lester isn’t a ‘superhero’, because they are fictional characters, Lester is the real deal. Always was and always will be.

 

[M Malice]

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.

From my aging eyes at the game and on vision Dev while not possessing elite speed is quite quick, he can really put in a burst of pace over a short distance if needed to get to a contest or run hard and long, he is rock solid fitness wise as well.

IMO if not played in the guts he is a great role player when on a wing and/or forward, stats while handy are not the full story, not every player in a flag side needs to be a star, you need players willing to sacrifice their own stats for the benefit of the overall team.

Unless Neale goes down I would no way have Matho or Lyons in the side, their defensive deficiencies outweigh the strengths they bring to the table by too much to be worth it IMO.

Our fellow top 4 sides are all very hard running sides when in form, we need to be able to match them in that area of the game.

 

[Scubaveg]

People who understand football and know a good player when they see one, have been proven very right about Lester. Similarly, those who seemed to take delight in running him down, do look a bit silly. Lester isn’t a ‘superhero’, because they are fictional, Lester is the real deal. Always was and always will be.

Yeah cause no one else on this forum understands football but you. What an ass.


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[M Malice]

Yeah cause no one else on this forum understands football but you. Ass.


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To be fair on 3KZ he has an uncontrollable strain of obsessive compulsive attachment to Froggy... you can't blame the man, Froggy is one handsome dude.

 

[golions]

Yep

The question now for Fagan is whether the three tall forward set up was about the team or about finding a role for Gunston. If Fagan is committed to this set up, if he thinks it is in the best interests of the team, then he would be selecting Fullerton or Fort against Collingwood. If he doesn’t it really shines a light on his tactical integrity.

I agree with your summary, particularly in regards to Cameron. He was great yesterday because he had space to work in and midfielders were looking for him on the lead.

Has 3 genuine talls ever worked for us against the more competitive teams? I can’t recall a game against top of the table teams where it has.

Feels like we just have to utilise Rayner in that “3rd tall” role because he can take a grab overhead but theoretically also provides the bonus of pressure at ground level

 

[Scubaveg]

Has 3 genuine talls ever worked for us against the more competitive teams? I can’t recall a game against top of the table teams where it has.

Feels like we just have to utilise Rayner in that “3rd tall” role because he can take a grab overhead but theoretically also provides the bonus of pressure at ground level

Pies and Dees at the Gabba?


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[LIONS08]

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

As you know though... Games aren’t all about stats are they. Especially when playing as a forward. Playing through the guts I would have to agree but certainly not as a forward. Strictly looking at stats is no way to read our game and it’s a naive way to form an opinion on someone

 

[jjami15]

We have no inside knowledge of wether the boys are implementing a heavier training load at the moment pre-finals. What we can do however is look at the facts. That is we just had a six day break away with the longest trip football. It’s amazing that some here don’t take that into account. When I was watching the Pies v Blues BT made a comment about their 6 day break when they did their amazingly long trip to Adelaide. I was thinking before the game about our trip to Perth and also that the Crows are a pretty good team playing for finals. All in all it was a good win. Further to add for the integrity of the competition we have another 6 day break…..back to back!

 

[Nathan Barley]

We have no inside knowledge of wether the boys are implementing a heavier training load at the moment pre-finals. What we can do however is look at the facts. That is we just had a six day break away with the longest trip football. It’s amazing that some here don’t take that into account. When I was watching the Pies v Blues BT made a comment about their 6 day break when they did their amazingly long trip to Adelaide. I was thinking before the game about our trip to Perth and also that the Crows are a pretty good team playing for finals. All in all it was a good win. Further to add for the integrity of the competition we have another 6 day break…..back to back!

Sure you can make excuses every week for why we didn't play better but I think the more rational negative posters, removed from the emotion of gameday, are more worried about trends like losing the midfield battle 3 out if 3 games without Ashcroft

 

[Scubaveg]

It’s coming baby!!




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[Thomasno]

I didn't see anything at our game that made me think we're clearly not as good as anyone else. It's a super even season and on our day we can beat anyone. Crows are a good side and have lost several by narrow margins; a bit more luck and they might be well inside the top eight. Yes a few players are down on form but I think the current 22 is the best available.

Wilmot is becoming a gun. He's a real x-factor player.

Honestly this is where I am. The competition this year is so ridiculously even, the crows are GREAT and with a bit better accuracy this year they’d be vying for top 4. Gotta remember too we’ve come up against sides playing their grand final to stay in contention - both Freo and Adelaide, and unfortunately probably the saints in 2 weeks as well. All three are good teams, we’ve seen two off already now with one to go.

Take the 4 points and move on, we know there’s room for improvement but even looking at our we approached the last couple minutes was a lot better than the Melbourne game. Massive amounts of pressure.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

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

I think our current form is on a par with most other top teams' current form. Neither Carlton nor Melbourne looked like clear grand finalists to me and Collingwood had to fight all the way to beat a mid-table team on Friday night. Port is struggling. Our form is as good as anyone's.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Funny hearing all the screams in the background of Fagans press conference

 

[Thomasno]

Has 3 genuine talls ever worked for us against the more competitive teams? I can’t recall a game against top of the table teams where it has.

Feels like we just have to utilise Rayner in that “3rd tall” role because he can take a grab overhead but theoretically also provides the bonus of pressure at ground level

Well before we ****ed it, we absolutely and utterly tore Melbourne apart with 3 talls a few weeks ago.

We also pulled Collingwood and Melbourne apart at the start of the year with 3 as well.

 

[Nunez]

I think our current form is on a par with most other top teams' current form. Neither Carlton nor Melbourne looked like clear grand finalists to me and Collingwood had to fight all the way to beat a mid-table team on Friday night. Port is struggling. Our form is as good as anyone's.

I think plenty here are a victim of unreasonable expectations.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Funny hearing all the screams in the background of Fagans press conference

That'll be the players reading back over the game day thread

 

[Nunez]

Well before we ****ed it, we absolutely and utterly tore Melbourne apart with 3 talls a few weeks ago.

We also pulled Collingwood and Melbourne apart at the start of the year with 3 as well.

When people criticize two talls v three, I think it's easy to forget that when we play Hippy and Joe, Rayner is their third tall. With Gunston in, Rayner was struggling to define his role however felt like he'd finally got that right the last week.

Whether he plays or not for me is irrelevant (although I'm a fan of playing Rayner as the third tall), what matters is whether all of our forwards have defined roles that they can play and play consistently.