The positives thread

[karix]

Our guys are hard nuts. Harwood and Brown come to mind off the top of my head... they're so tough when they get taken high the umpire can't even tell cos they don't hit the deck and call for a kleenix.

That knee Browny took to the back of the head would've left most forwards out for the rest of the match, he didn't even go down, just planted his hands on his knee's shook off the trainer and then ran next context to crash the pack and unleash a bit of revenge on some unsuspecting McDrone. Great stuff.

And Harwood gets hit high twice and keeps going, can't believe a free didn't come from either of those.

 

[Bert Man]

Rhino getting a start, and taking full advantage. That run where he bust through a couple of them was a thing of beauty.

Which one? He did that a few times

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

Which one? He did that a few times

The one where the bitch slapping thug kicked a goal on the end of it.

 

[Clackers]

Go to the ladder predictor and give it a shot. I had us finishing in 8th spot 2 games clear (with two losses to Richmond and Geelong). Not only do we have a good draw in our remaining games, those around us seem to have poor draws. Dare to dream!

 

[PTizzle]

Go to the ladder predictor and give it a shot. I had us finishing in 8th spot 2 games clear (with two losses to Richmond and Geelong). Not only do we have a good draw in our remaining games, those around us seem to have poor draws. Dare to dream!

I did a fairly pessimistic predictor and I still had us with 9 wins finishing 12th - you'd hope we'd sneak another upset in there somewhere. If we get our percentage a bit higher, avoid beltings and take another scalp I'd be happy with another 10 win season. The best part is the continuing progress we're seeing and I'm feeling a bit of genuine excitement about the group this year. Can't wait to see how it unfolds.

 

[BuntonRules]

Not really relevant, but well rid of

Melbourne's final tally of 19 inside-50s was a new record low; breaking the previous mark of 20, set by the Brisbane Lions against Fremantle last season.

 

[whatboutbob]

Mayes stamped himself as a senior player tonight.

Hanley's goals were reminiscent of Aker's goals against the Cats in the wet. The guy drilled home that he plays on another level.

Bewick's continuing to be the quiet achiever. Love his attacking instinct.

Speaking of which...Harwood should play out the year in the seniors. Couldn't have a more apt nickname than Rhino.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Winning 2 games in a row!

 

[lionshine]

Getting sweet revenge for the Round 4 loss. It is great that the boys got a second chance against the Roos at the Gabba and they capitalised. Now to get revenge vs the Bulldogs.

 

[POBT]

Outside midfielders. Finally!

 

[Harris Specter]

Back to normal.

 

[Harris Specter]

Outside midfielders. Finally!

Definitely. Additionally, it was really pleasing to see our younger brigade of inside midfielders step up in the absence of Moloney and Black. Lester, Harwood, Rockliff, Rich just some of the players who were fantastic.

 

[AFLQLD]

More and more you can see a finals worthy team taking form. They just need games under their belts but most of the keys are there. And so is the hunger.

 

[luthor]

Hanley's goals were reminiscent of Aker's goals against the Cats in the wet. The guy drilled home that he plays on another level.

If he's not elite he's so damn close as to not matter and the comparison to Aker is exactly what I was thinking (and saying) after tonight's performance.....that blistering turn of speed and the ability to shrug off and run past would-be tacklers really are Aker-like.

Re-signing him asap has got to be a priority for us.

 

[Betty Noir]

More and more you can see a finals worthy team taking form. They just need games under their belts but most of the keys are there. And so is the hunger.

The resilience and hunger is phenomenal. Those last quarter stampedes are a thing of beauty. I don't like talk of finals... just one week at a time please! But by god, we have to totally own Melbourne.

 

[dlanod]

Phew, not just me on the Aker-Hanley similarities.

 

[Ceebee]

Amost expecting we will have a good last quarter .

 

[Dan12]

We now have a potent forward set up!

 

[AFLQLD]

Watching the replay and noticed just how dangerous Rich is virtually every time he gets the ball. That 70m monster shot he had!!

And Harwood - he is only going to get better. Going to be a good one I think!

 

[Slax]

Consistency, I word I haven't dared use in a long time, but one I've wanted too.

Since the break I think we have shown what we didn't in the first part of the season, yes the losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn look lagre on paper, but both were away and both of them I thought we were a lot better than the scoreboard showed.

Just keep it going and we can silence the negativity some are saying about certain positions inside the club and look to 2014 as a unified club.

 

[Luke Kathutian]

Consistency, I word I haven't dared use in a long time, but one I've wanted too.

Since the break I think we have shown what we didn't in the first part of the season, yes the losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn look lagre on paper, but both were away and both of them I thought we were a lot better than the scoreboard showed.

Just keep it going and we can silence the negativity some are saying about certain positions inside the club and look to 2014 as a unified club.

Yeah I've been one of the negative ones, mainly around mystifying coaching decisions. But very optimistic now! Particularly with our current KPP setup of Clarke, Maguire, Patful, Brown, Merrett and Staker. Just looks so solid up forward and so versatile. Amazing that one of the lions biggest weaknesses suddenly appears to be becoming a strength! Structure and consistency are so important for a football club and now we seem to be getting that some of the players who've been up and down form-wise like Harwood, Green, Zorko, Redden, McGrath, Adcock etc appear to be settling into their positions and flourishing.

You never know with away form Vs home form but I can see the lions having a very, very strong finish to the season. We wont beat geelong again but with the team we played against north minus polks and raines and plus two of Moloney, Black, Karnezis, Polec we could definatley come away with wins against Port and even Richmond. Probably finish with a few teams on 44 points in the end and miss finals on percentage but you never know, they have knocked off essendon, geelong and north after all!

 

[Dylan12]

I'm no sport science expert, but with the way we have been running out games, I reckon a lot of credit must go to Burton, Hass and co.

Our fourth quarter is by far our best (won 8, lost 7 (+6 points)) although someone needs to work out our problem with the first quarters (won 3, lost 10, drawn 2 (-199)).

 

[dlanod]

I'm no sport science expert, but with the way we have been running out games, I reckon a lot of credit must go to Burton, Hass and co.

Our fourth quarter is by far our best (won 8, lost 7 (+6 points)) although someone needs to work out our problem with the first quarters (won 3, lost 10, drawn 2 (-199)).

Compare our injury lists and our final quarters from today to a couple of years ago and it's like night and day. It really is amazing how improved the club has been in that area since Burton's come on board.

 

[Haso]

It didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.

 

[Ceebee]

I realised Drew Petrie is not my favourite non Lion player.