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Rookie defender Jordon Bourke had his hands full with assignments that included Suns captain Tom Lynch, but showed the Lions have something to work with, with his tenacity and diligent style.
Inside Football Player Rating - BLvGCS - NAB Challenge 2.
4/10 – Didn't disgrace himself with 13 disposals. Could he be a father-son that bites Cats on the bum?
-- Ben Casanella, Inside Football Thursday, February 27, 2014, Match Review BLvGCS
Rookie Jordon Bourke or first-year player Darcy Gardiner loom as contenders for the backline spot expected to be vacated by Daniel Merrett, who could spend between two to four weeks on the sidelines after making high contact with Suns midfielder David Swallow.
Jordon Bourke: Had a big pre-season and was a chance of being elevated following Daniel Rich's injury, but the improvement of Darcy Gardiner may have snuffed out that option. Impressive in one-on-one contests, the key defender still has a bit to work on to play senior footy.
The Brisbane Lions will unveil their 10th debutant for the season on Saturday night, when rookie Jordon Bourke makes his first AFL appearance against Geelong. A Queenslander and son of former Bears ruckman Damian Bourke, he becomes the second player recruited from the Hyundai Lions Academy to play a senior AFL game. Bourke grew up in Coorparoo, only a stone's throw from the Gabba, and after progressing through the Hyundai Lions Academy, he made history by becoming the first ever Lions Academy member to graduate onto the Lions' official playing list.cInterestingly, Bourke will make his debut against the Club who could have selected him under the Father/Son rule at the 2012 National Draft. The Cats passed up the opportunity to draft the AIS-AFL Academy graduate, who landed at the Lions with Pick No. 63 overall in the 2012 Rookie Draft.
The irony of playing his senior AFL debut at Simonds Stadium against Geelong won’t be lost on first-gamer Jordon Bourke. Bourke, the son of former Geelong skipper and Bears ruckman Damian Bourke, always looked likely to land at the ‘Cattery’ under the Father/Son rule – particularly after he was voted the best player in Division Two of the 2011 U16 National Championships. Geelong even went so far as to seek AFL permission for him to play a couple of games with their VFL side.
Despite being a local Queenslander, Bourke was excited by the opportunity to potentially follow in his famous father’s footsteps. “I just want to play the best footy I can to be able to be in a position where options will come up,” Bourke said. “To stay in Queensland would be good, but to go where dad played and go to the club I support (Geelong) would be awesome as well.” He was thrilled with the opportunity to kick-start his career with the Lions, particularly as he lived just a stone’s throw away at Coorparoo.
Rookies can be upgraded through the pre-season, happens all the time.Not upgraded prior to first list lodgement which is a bit surprising. According to Patrick Keane rookies can't be upgraded now (presumably until after the season starts).
Probably his third quarter was his best quarter. He should certainly bottle this intensity. We had a couple of great efforts to spoil and get back on it. He’s still working on his field kicking, which has let him down the last couple of weeks but hopefully a big improvement ready for Rd1. We certainly need his ability to play as a key defender for us against some quality opposition the next couple of weeks.
Probably poor in the first quarter, took some intercept marks, spoiled really well. Again it is about his urgency for a full game and not lapsing in concentration will be his next step if he is to go to another level.
In and out of the game again this week, Jordon. There was a couple of good things in defence with his spoiling and his contest work, he then drifted out of the game. Probably got marked on a bit late in the game, so we just need to try to find some consistency with Bourkey.
Bourkey was solid as our gate keeper for the day. He has some really strong spoils again, got beaten on a couple of contests but certainly improved on his performance in the previous weeks. It’s about now consistency with Bourkey week to week.
Best game this year for Jordon, probably our best player on the day as a key back. A couple of contests he got marked on but overall his ability to play gate keeper at times and come forward to defend and spoil the ball along with front half turnovers was really good. Played with real urgency and intensity, our best player I thought.