Preview Round 9, 2023: Brisbane Lions vs. Essendon Bombers, Saturday 13th May, 7:25. Gabba

[On the quiet]

Depends on the $. I don't think it would have been close to top of the market.

I suspect he is possibly on less than what was his previous contract, as he was one of our top 10 paid players, therefore a RFA last year. With our current list I agree doubt he would be one of our top 10 paid players.

Can't remember where, but heard or read he is back in the VFL this week which is encouraging. A fit Gardiner has a role to play alongside Andrews and Payne when the 'whips are cracking' later in the year.

 

[Warwick]

Gardiner needs to be as close to 100% as is possible to get a look in for mine.

Any slight niggle and it’s very noticeable in his game.

 

[martinson]

I think the later in the season we get Dizzy back the better because it means less time for him to break down again

Round 14 or 15 should be just about right. I wouldn't be rushing him back without a couple of games in the 2's either way.

 

[Section 5]

Sorry mate, I laughed as it is frankly laughable to suggest our result this season hinges on winning by more than two goals.

We absolutely should win by a lot more, but even if we don't my toys won't be flying out of the cot.

What i actually said: "If we are a top 4 side, we win by 4+ goals."

Nothing about suggesting our results hinges on this happening. I also said 4 goals not 2.
Nothing about not making the 8, finals, or GF for that matter.

 

[rye]

essendons key position stocks are kind of pus currently, would not consider bringing gardiner in. coming from a long way back let him get confidence in his body first

 

[martinson]

I'm getting a little wary because everyone is now getting bullish on our prospects this year. 5 in a row can do that to you.

Talking about margins and all that. Nonetheless the logical side of my brain says we should towel the Dons with a nice freshen up and them traveling off a lesser break.

We need Andrews and Cameron to stay injury free. They're two players who are important and hard to replace.

We should expect the likes of Clug ,Bailey and Rayner to step it up each week. We haven't got what you'd call a real weakness at present. I'd like our rucks to be better ,I'd love a big marking target in the forward line ,the wings have been an ongoing dilemma, but none of that should stop us too much provided the list remains healthy.

 

[Nunez]

What i actually said: "If we are a top 4 side, we win by 4+ goals."

Nothing about suggesting our results hinges on this happening. I also said 4 goals not 2.
Nothing about not making the 8, finals, or GF for that matter.

We are a top four side if we win by 1 point.

 

[BangyBangy]

I'm getting a little wary because everyone is now getting bullish on our prospects this year. 5 in a row can do that to you.

Talking about margins and all that. Nonetheless the logical side of my brain says we should towel the Dons with a nice freshen up and them traveling off a lesser break.

We need Andrews and Cameron to stay injury free. They're two players who are important and hard to replace.

We should expect the likes of Clug ,Bailey and Rayner to step it up each week. We haven't got what you'd call a real weakness at present. I'd like our rucks to be better ,I'd love a big marking target in the forward line ,the wings have been an ongoing dilemma, but none of that should stop us too much provided the list remains healthy.

Don't want to be one of those supporters, but just I can't see where we lose another game this year.

Or next year for that matter.

Take It To The Bank.

 

[martinson]

Don't want to be one of those supporters, but just I can't see where we lose another game this year.

Or next year for that matter.

Take It To The Bank.

Yeah I'm on board.

Lester cementing his spot was the missing piece.

 

[Section 5]

We are a top four side if we win by 1 point.

Not sure what you mean by that in relation to your replies to my original one-line sentence.
We are an equal top 4 side now.

 

[Nunez]

Not sure what you mean by that in relation to your replies to my original one-line sentence.
We are an equal top 4 side now.

We're going around in circles. You said if we're a top four side, we win by 4+ goals. I disagree as that is setting up for disappointment when in reality we are clearly a top four team regardless if we win by 1 or 100 based off 8 weeks worth of data, not something as simple as as "well only if we need by 4+".

Anyways, let's move on.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Not many tickets left for this one. Looked to upgrade my GA membership to reserved seats a while ago and nothing except top tier seats up the back. Still nothing as well. Should be a full house

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

essendons key position stocks are kind of pus currently, would not consider bringing gardiner in. coming from a long way back let him get confidence in his body first

I was always told “never let the sun set on pus”. It should be drained today. We will burst the Essendon bubble

 

[Section 5]

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Daniel Rich 10 Daniel Rich Age 34 Ht 183cm Wt 95kg Pos. Def Career Season Last 5 D 19.7 5star K 12.6 5star HB 7.0 4star M 3.4 3star T 3.2 5star MG 430.3 5star D 14.9 4star K 13.1 5star HB 1.8 1star M 3.8 4star T 1.0 2star MG 384.3 5star D 16.2 4star K 10.4 4star HB 5.8 4star M 2.6 3star T 5.2 5star	Calf	1-2 weeks
Dayne Zorko 15 Dayne Zorko Age 35 Ht 175cm Wt 77kg Pos. M/F Career Season Last 5 D 21.4 5star K 13.2 5star HB 8.2 5star M 3.6 4star T 6.0 5star CL 3.6 5star D 14.0 3star K 9.0 4star HB 5.0 3star M 2.0 2star T 5.0 5star CL 2.0 4star D 16.4 4star K 9.8 4star HB 6.6 4star M 5.2 5star T 6.6 5star CL 1.2 4star	Hamstring	1-2 weeks
Updated: May 9, 2023

Early prognosis​

Zorko is giving himself every chance to get back early and face Essendon on Saturday after training on Tuesday. The club says he's still a week or two away, but don't be shocked if he makes a miraculous recovery. Rich did not train early in the week. – Michael Whiting

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Nik Cox	Back	3 weeks
Jayden Davey*	Knee	Season
Matt Guelfi 35 Matt Guelfi Age 27 Ht 184cm Wt 82kg Pos. Fwd Career Season Last 5 D 14.1 4star K 8.1 3star HB 6.1 4star M 3.2 3star T 2.9 4star G 0.2 2star D 10.5 3star K 5.0 2star HB 5.5 3star M 2.5 3star T 1.5 2star G 0.0 1star D 17.2 5star K 11.0 4star HB 6.2 4star M 5.0 5star T 3.0 5star G 0.2 3star	Hamstring	2 weeks
Harrison Jones	Back	TBC
Jayden Laverde 15 Jayden Laverde Age 28 Ht 193cm Wt 92kg Pos. Def Career Season Last 5 D 11.8 3star K 6.3 2star HB 5.4 4star M 3.9 4star T 2.8 4star MG 152.8 2star D 8.8 2star K 5.0 2star HB 3.8 3star M 3.3 3star T 2.5 3star MG 116.5 2star D 11.2 3star K 5.4 2star HB 5.8 4star M 3.2 4star T 3.6 5star MG 141.2 3star	Shoulder	3-4 weeks
Zach Reid	Hamstring	TBC
Jordan Ridley 14 Jordan Ridley Age 26 Ht 195cm Wt 94kg Pos. Def Career Season Last 5 D 15.6 4star K 11.1 4star HB 4.5 3star M 6.4 5star T 1.7 4star MG 244.8 4star D 17.0 4star K 11.9 5star HB 5.1 3star M 6.7 5star T 1.7 3star MG 265.4 4star D 13.8 4star K 9.6 4star HB 4.2 4star M 5.2 5star T 1.4 4star MG 208.2 4star	Concussion	1-2 weeks
James Stewart 17 James Stewart Age 30 Ht 199cm Wt 99kg Pos. Def Career Season Last 5 D 11.4 3star K 6.8 3star HB 4.7 3star M 4.1 4star T 1.9 4star MG 193.5 3star No current season stats available D 12.4 4star K 7.0 3star HB 5.4 4star M 3.8 4star T 0.8 3star MG 200.4 4star	Foot	TBC
Elijah Tsatas	Knee	4 weeks
Peter Wright	Shoulder	9 weeks
Updated: May 9, 2023

Early prognosis​

The Bombers will be without Ridley (concussion) and suffered a blow in the VFL with Reid hurting his hamstring. Jones has also suffered a back injury as his frustrating run continues. They do, however, regain Sam Durham from suspension. – Dejan Kalinic

 

[Milux]

It'll be interesting to see if Gardiner is named in the reserves this weekend, a bit worrying if not, it has been touted he is on the cusp of returning for a few weeks now.

He had a little setback that was something different to what was holding him back originally.

 

[Section 5]

Let's hope we keep this type of team play up for some time.

Kane Cornes' six observations from Round 8 of the 2023 AFL season

The weekly staple.

www.sen.com.au

5. Brisbane are a different team this year

“There’s a couple of things I want to highlight. Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

31

Ht

178cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

(was recently asked how he’s going to improve his game this year)… he said, ‘I want to run back and get better defensively with my positioning’.

“Nothing about touching the ball, nothing about kicking goals, nothing about individual accolades, it was getting back and filling holes to make (his) defenders' lives easier.

“They get (Josh) Dunkley… he’s had the most smothers in the AFL in the last four years. The job on (Patrick) Cripps that he did, hadn’t seen a Brisbane team do a job on the opposition's best player like that for a long time.

“Their forward half pressure, they kicked 85 points off turnovers… it’s ridiculous. They spooked Fremantle last week in the same way, but the biggest thing I wanted to highlight was the job on Saad.

“It wasn’t one person, it was everyone. He still had a bit of the ball, Saad, but every time he got free there as Brisbane player, (Lincoln) McCarthy, (Eric) Hipwood, (Jack) Gunston, it didn’t matter who it was… that said, ‘were going to make life a little bit difficult to this guy’.”

 

[3KZ is Football]

Expecting Lester to continue to dominate.

 

[jonnobackpocket]

Imagine how many other team’s supporters would be loving to have a winge about easing up for a 1/4 and ‘only’ winning by 4 or 5 goals.

 

[Warwick]

Let's hope we keep this type of team play up for some time.

Kane Cornes' six observations from Round 8 of the 2023 AFL season

The weekly staple.

www.sen.com.au

5. Brisbane are a different team this year

“There’s a couple of things I want to highlight. Lachie Neale (was recently asked how he’s going to improve his game this year)… he said, ‘I want to run back and get better defensively with my positioning’.

“Nothing about touching the ball, nothing about kicking goals, nothing about individual accolades, it was getting back and filling holes to make (his) defenders' lives easier.

“They get (Josh) Dunkley… he’s had the most smothers in the AFL in the last four years. The job on (Patrick) Cripps that he did, hadn’t seen a Brisbane team do a job on the opposition's best player like that for a long time.

“Their forward half pressure, they kicked 85 points off turnovers… it’s ridiculous. They spooked Fremantle last week in the same way, but the biggest thing I wanted to highlight was the job on Saad.

“It wasn’t one person, it was everyone. He still had a bit of the ball, Saad, but every time he got free there as Brisbane player, (Lincoln) McCarthy, (Eric) Hipwood, (Jack) Gunston, it didn’t matter who it was… that said, ‘were going to make life a little bit difficult to this guy’.”

Don’t get me wrong, I agree with the sentiment, but it’s been less than 10 games since Berry destroyed Oliver in a final.

 

[Section 5]

Don’t get me wrong, I agree with the sentiment, but it’s been less than 10 games since Berry destroyed Oliver in a final.

The thing is Berry was not on Oliver the whole time.
Edit: I get what you mean now. We got thrashed the next week.

 

[twhowler]

Big crowd should help us avoid a let down.

As good as 6-2 is from out start we were 7-1 last year before the wheels slowly came off.

Year before 8-3 but that was having won 7 in a row which looked even better once we got 20 points up v Melbourne before again wheels slowly came off.

This years feels so much more sustainable, hope it’s not another mirage.

 

[lioninthesand]

I’m past worrying about let downs. We FINALLY have a defensive system that I trust.

We will win and win well. They will come at us in different parts but they don’t defend.

Similar to the freo game I suspect. Competitive at times but in control.

Rain also predicted which doesen’t suite their bruise free style.

Lions by 55

 

[McIvor]

Seeg Lachie at training, looks like he has gotten some new tough stickers on his upper left arm since the weekend's game.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Rain also predicted which doesn’t suite their bruise free style.

Only very light showers predicted throughout the day - don't think it'll impact the quality of the match much more than the usual Saturday night Gabba dew would.

 

[dlanod]

Don't want to be one of those supporters, but just I can't see where we lose another game this year.

Or next year for that matter.

Take It To The Bank.

Come on, be a company man - Take It To The Ned's Level (TM)!