Summer Question #5 - What will be our most successful area of the ground in 2013?

[POBT]

I'll keep this fairly simple but where do you think we'll have the most success in 2013? Forward, Midfield or Defence? We've got a pretty settled defensive line up, our midfield looks to have some depth and is hopefully ready to shine and our forward structures were substantially improved as 2012 went on.

 

[Caiphus]

I'm thinking it will continue to be or defence. It still feels as though our midfield is short on top end class and we lose a lot to rotations. If the midfield does taller the next step our defence will really stand out as one of the best in the comp though. It just hasn't received dir praise from the footy world due to the amount of ball that comes in.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Our defense is awesome, and has been our best asset for a long time. I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Defence by a mile, Merrett and Patfull both AA potential next year.

Add the return of Golby and the rise of Docherty/Harwood.

 

[dlanod]

Same here - defence. It's been our strength and was a large part of the reason we made the finals back in '09. Our midfield got repeatedly beaten, but our rebound out of the defensive 50 lead to some obscene percentage of our scoring shots. Drummond is a loss but he's been out so much it's hard to say how much impact it will really have. As our midfield improves, it should hopefully be under less pressure but I don't think anything's going to change in terms of being the best area of the ground for us.

 

[Dylan12]

I said defence too. Definitely the most settled and IMO the most consistent. I think 5 of the 6 positions are just about locks comprising Merrett, Maguire, Patfull, Adcock and Golby and then you could make the case that the sixth spot either goes to McGrath or Hanley and if both are played further afield, then one of the developing players such as Harwood, Lester, Docherty or Yeo could capably assume the position.

 

[mish33]

Both the midfield and forward line could make big improvements next year but we are blessed with so many good defensive options, it's hard to see our best area slipping behind in 2013.

 

[jjami15]

I really feel that our midfield is going to make a big jump next year the 3 R's are no longer boys but young men and are also identifying the fact that they are leaders within the club. Moloney is going to be a massive asset with his extra big body. Then There are the peripheral players that will add extra: Polec, Hanley, Beams, Zorko and hopefully Karnezis and others. Then with Leuy and Martin rotating will make a massive difference as well. Lastly, the fine wine of one S Black to round it off.

 

[chopperduck]

With our young mids starting to come of age, we should start seeing some improvement there, but defensive will still be our strong point. Our ruck division is the only other area that has the potential to be one of the best next season.

 

[GoTheLions]

I feel the back line will once again be our most successful area, with the experience of Merrett, Goose, Patfull and Adcock, the evasive line breaker Hanley and the youngsters who stepped up last season in Golby, Harwood and Lester. As depth we also have McKeever, Docherty, Staker, Clarke and Martin.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Defence followed by the hot chips seller.

 

[pauldrc]

No love for our ruck combo?

Leuey, Longer and Martin could soon be right up there with the best combo's going round....

 

[lionshine]

I think defence for sure but I voted midfield mainly because I see that as the area we will really make in roads in next year and improve.

 

[JasRulz63]

I'll go for defence too. Today on SEN one of the contributors to the AFL Prospectus was on, and I think I caught him saying that our defence was 4th in the league at not conceding a score (or goal, I'm not too sure) when the ball was inside 50. Something along those lines anyway.

 

[Dylan12]

Like most teams, our midfield is our barometer, so I'd hazrd to guess that if our midfield is our most successful area of the ground in 2013 that it will coincide with a significant improvement in our overall ladder position.

 

[Skoob]

Like most teams, our midfield is our barometer, so I'd hazrd to guess that if our midfield is our most successful area of the ground in 2013 that it will coincide with a significant improvement in our overall ladder position.

I agree with this as we really had a hard working successful backline last year. They performed exceptionally well under some extreme pressure conceded by the midfield. So working up the ground, if the backline continues its endeavours and the midfield improves markedly, we will indeed enjoy much more success. If the forwardline can manage to improve its defensive efforts, the Lions will be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[GabbaMan]

In recent poor seasons our backline has easily been our strength!
(except early 2010 when forwards fev & brown were dominant until injured)
but last season the defence was average and weakened by the great Merritt experiment,
henceforth I thought our good games were set going by our improving midfield.

 

[karix]

I said midfield.

Our midfield in 2012 was weak on winning clearance, but once they had the ball the delivery into the forward line from the likes of Rich was breath taking.

I think with the addition of Moloney and Martin, the return of Luey and the continued development of mids + Beams will result in our midfield getting first use. With first use our midfield will carve up and really let some of our outside mids shine so that the defence won't have to work as hard as it did this year and it may end up stealing some of the lime light and hopefully a few brownlow votes

 

[3KZ is Football]

Like most teams, our midfield is our barometer, so I'd hazrd to guess that if our midfield is our most successful area of the ground in 2013 that it will coincide with a significant improvement in our overall ladder position.

That, and our sensational draw. Seriously, if we don't finish well inside the 8 in 2013 heads should roll.

 

[blynd_freddie]

And another for the defence being the most successful area on the ground again in 2013 - I think the old cliche of defences win premierships still rings true but nowadays defence, or more correctly defensive pressure is required all over the ground. From the forward pressure to the mids spreading to create then finding a man or zoning on the turn-over to assist the defenders by creating a 'dirty ball' during the opposition's offensive thrusts... [Geez, God love the media/assistant coaches for the modern day vernacular... lol]

Oh, and if heads are to roll @3KZ we'd give the job to Karen O, yeah, yeah, yeah?

 

[3KZ is Football]

And another for the defence being the most successful area on the ground again in 2013 - I think the old cliche of defences win premierships still rings true but nowadays defence, or more correctly defensive pressure is required all over the ground. From the forward pressure to the mids spreading to create then finding a man or zoning on the turn-over to assist the defenders by creating a 'dirty ball' during the opposition's offensive thrusts... [Geez, God love the media/assistant coaches for the modern day vernacular... lol]

Oh, and if heads are to roll @3KZ we'd give the job to Karen O, yeah, yeah, yeah?

Yeah!