So are Brisbane Lions the surprise top 4 side this year?

[KevinCat07]

Every year one team from the bottom 8 the previous year surprises people and jump in. I'm surprised there isn't a thread on it, but I reckon Brisbane will be that team. Not saying they are a premiership threat, but they are in a good spot to claim the double chance, and you always have to be weary of a side with Brown and Bradshaw.

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

Their performance today was top 4'esque in the second half, however there would be serious question marks over the hunger and intensity of their insipid opponents. Their loss to Carlton at home is a better indication of their capabilities as a side.

Could not see them getting close to either St Kilda, Geelong or the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne during the finals. But neither will most teams.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Heroic win.

Selwood going down 10 mins in, and then Mitch doing his quad.

Amazing.

We played like Vossys.

 

[Valve Bounce]

Fourth spot is up for grabs. Hawthorn's poor performance made the Lions look good, but it is still early days.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Their performance today was top 4'esque in the second half, however there would be serious question marks over the hunger and intensity of their insipid opponents. Their loss to Carlton at home is a better indication of their capabilities as a side.

Could not see them getting close to either St Kilda, Geelong or the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne during the finals.

Probably not, but we have some big names to come back into that side...

Drummond, Merrett, Patfull, Dalziell...

 

[iluvdanielkerr]

LOL not exactly a surprise!!! they've only won, wot, 4 premierships this decade? lol
they're not my team or anything but u can't say it's surprisin when they do well they're so awesome!

 

[Soul_Pie]

Definitely in contention.

 

[KevinCat07]

LOL not exactly a surprise!!! they've only won, wot, 4 premierships this decade? lol
they're not my team or anything but u can't say it's surprisin when they do well they're so awesome!

I'm not sure about that, I don't think many people would have penciled in this win, nor penciled them in for top 4.

 

[loki04]

Them or Carlton.

 

[Warwick]

Fourth spot is up for grabs. Hawthorn's poor performance made the Lions look good, but it is still early days.

That may be so but we have beaten top 4 contenders in Hawthorn, Essendon, and Adelaide and could so easily have won the last 2 games we lost against the Saints and Carlton.

Throw our best 4 defenders back in to the side in Merrett, Patfull, Drummond, and Selwood, add Johnstone and Dalziell to the midfield and play with a ruck division (Charman and Leuenberger) and who knows what will happen.

 

[iluvdanielkerr]

I'm not sure about that, I don't think many people would have penciled in this win, nor penciled them in for top 4.

Well no offence but ur pretty new around these parts so i'll take ur answer with a grain of salt lol

you'll learn mate you'll learn!

 

[Pigdog]

Probably not, but we have some big names to come back into that side...

Drummond, Merrett, Patfull, Dalziell...

I don't see any big names amongst that list (besides Drummond)... they might be important players, but they aren't exactly in the big name category.

 

[Warwick]

I don't see any big names amongst that list (besides Drummond)... they might be important players, but they aren't exactly in the big name category.

lol.

Merrett and Patfull not big names? Guess who doesn't watch Brisbane play.

Welcome to 2005.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

That may be so but we have beaten top 4 contenders in Hawthorn, Essendon, and Adelaide and could so easily have won the last 2 games we lost against the Saints and Carlton.

Throw our best 4 defenders back in to the side in Merrett, Patfull, Drummond, and Selwood, add Johnstone and Dalziell to the midfield and play with a ruck division (Charman and Leuenberger) and who knows what will happen.

Fair enough that you're pumped up but Essendon and Adelaide were never top four contenders, and Hawthorns year is being ruined by injury.

You have lost to Geelong, Carlton, Collingwood, StKilda (two of those losses at home) and you havent played the Dogs yet.

Not top four material just yet. Not until you rack up a win or two against your immediate rivals.

 

[Waterman]

Merret = Lake
Patful = Williams
Drummond = Gilbee

How would the Bulldogs be going without those three

 

[Hollow Knight]

Merret = Lake
Patful = Williams
Drummond = Gilbee

How would the Bulldogs be going without those three

Patfull = Morris.

 

[Hap Hapablap]

nope i betted theyd be in top 4. carlton look the surprise packet to be honest.

 

[Chezzalenko Reborn]

Early days. The rate we're losing players due to injuries has me a bit worried with Selwood and Clark going down today

 

[William C]

Carlton are playing good footy and even Collingwood looks the goods for 4th.

iirc, Last year, we were 8-5 heading into the Melbourne game...
This year, currently 7-5 heading into the Melbourne game

Hopefully the Lions don't have their typical end of season fade outs.. nevertheless, Vossy is doing a great job and with guys like Merrett, Patful, Drummond, Dalziell, Leuey and Charmo to come back .. things don't look too bad for us.

 

[Mazza44]

Fair enough that you're pumped up but Essendon and Adelaide were never top four contenders, and Hawthorns year is being ruined by injury.

You have lost to Geelong, Carlton, Collingwood, StKilda (two of those losses at home) and you havent played the Dogs yet.

Not top four material just yet. Not until you rack up a win or two against your immediate rivals.

Oh boo hoo Hawks have injuries. We don't have a backline either and we are missing our ruckmen. We played 90% of the game one player down and were without another for most of the final quarter.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I picked them to be the suprise top 4 team for 2008, guess I was a year too early.

 

[konstas_87]

I don't see any big names amongst that list (besides Drummond)... they might be important players, but they aren't exactly in the big name category.

theyre big names in the context of our structure. Merrett is one of the form full backs of the comp and most would struggle to find a more underrated defender than Patfull.

obviously i wouldnt expect you to know much about them watching one Lions game a year (against the Dogs).

 

[Jeebus]

Not top four material just yet.

The AFL ladder disagrees with you.

 

[Warwick]

Fair enough that you're pumped up but Essendon and Adelaide were never top four contenders, and Hawthorns year is being ruined by injury.

You have lost to Geelong, Carlton, Collingwood, StKilda (two of those losses at home) and you havent played the Dogs yet.

Not top four material just yet. Not until you rack up a win or two against your immediate rivals.

We have games against Geelong and the Bulldogs to go - both at home.

We are yet to play Melbourne or Fremantle, and have two games against Port, and games against North, Collingwood, Essendon, and Sydney remaining - those are all very winnable depending on whether we get some of our guns back.

That Collingwood game looks to be the key one. And the Carlton loss last week could come back to hurt us by season end.

However, i'm not too fussed finishing top 4. Even this far out I don't like our chances of beating Geelong or the Saints in the first week away from home. A 5th or 6th place finish and a home semi could give us the momentum to do some damage. We just have to get there first. As someone else mentioned, we have been in a similiar position in recent years. And that injury list seems to be getting worse.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

The AFL ladder disagrees with you.

The round isnt complete.

And finals arent until 22 rounds have been completed.