3KZ is Football
🏆 🦍
- Jun 17, 2008
- 26,221
- 34,923
- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
- Other Teams
- Fitzroy Football Club
Friday 18th August 7.50pm
Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri
Last Time They Met
Round 4.
Brisbane Lions 18.8.116 def Collingwood 11.17.83
Brisbane Goals: Cameron 6, Rayner 4, Hipwood 2, Daniher 2, Zorko, Wilmot, Prior, Berry
Collingwood Goals: Mihocek 3, Hill 2, N. Daicos 2, Johnson, DeGoey, Crisp and Adams
Brisbane Best: Rayner, Neale, Cameron, Daniher, Dunkley, Ashcroft
Collingwood Best: N. Daicos, Quaynor, Mihocek, Maynard, Pendlebury
"I PREDICT RYAN LESTER
WILL GET A ONE YEAR DEAL FOR 2024"
As a young Fitzroy supporter in the 1970’s and 1980’s, there was nothing sweeter than beating Collingwood, especially if you beat them at Victoria Park. Collingwood were the team you either loved or hated. Black and white, binary and brutal. They also managed to become the ultimate ‘hard luck’ story when it came to winning Premierships. For all the soft fixtures and mollycoddling by the VFL / AFL, those of us that hate Collingwood draw comfort from the fact that they have only won TWO Premierships in the last 60+ years. Collingwood made the Grand Final on sixteen occasions during those years, and only saluted twice. They are the club of false dawns and May Premierships, but they were also a club that had a tradition of playing a brutal, hard, fast and uncompromising brand of football. Collingwood could pull you apart, break your heart, get out of jail or all three in Finals. Collingwood were never to be taken lightly. During the late 70’s and early 80’s Collingwood were Fitzroy’s bête noire when it came to Finals. We had more than our share of memorable wins during those years, but Collingwood was always lurking in September, and they put us out of the Finals in 1979, 1981 and 1984.
This is why winning ‘back to back’ Premierships over Collingwood in 2002 and 2003 was such a definitive act. It was an emphatic FULL STOP on any debate. Those Premierships were the icing and the cake. But just when you thought you couldn’t fit another thing in, the sweets menu is getting passed around again as we move towards an inevitable final between Brisbane Lions and Collingwood in September. When and where is yet to be determined, but it seems to have a feeling of DESTINY about it. This is why I am so excited about our game against Collingwood this week. It is a taste of things to come.
TEAM SELECTION
Always a ‘HOT TOPIC’, here is what I think Fagan will go in with against Collingwood. Not my preferred line up, but close.
FB: Starcevich, Andrews, Payne
HB: McKenna, Lester, Wilmot
W: McCluggage, Robertson, Berry
HF: McCarthy, Hipwood, Ah Chee
F: Rayner, Daniher, Cameron
Foll: McInerney, Neale, Dunkley
I/C: Prior, Bailey, Zorko, Lohmann
SUB: Fletcher or Coleman
OUT OF LEFT FIELD – Lyons, Mathieson, Fort, Tunstill, Fullerton
This is pretty close to our best 22 and answers the question about Fagan’s “Three Talls” forward line. No Gunston, no “Three Talls” and this is not a bad thing. Since 2019, we have looked our best when we have had space in our forward half and players like Cameron, Bailey and McCarthy have had room to move. Daniher and Hipwood are a key part of our forward arsenal, but we look so much better when we are unpredictable, and we are certainly harder to contain. Collingwood were always going to struggle to contain us, which is why losing Darcy Moore
is a major blow. We kicked 18 goals when we last met Collingwood and I am expecting that sort of return again. In a further injury blow, Collingwood supporters are wringing their hands about Nick Daicos, but I don’t think he is as much of an ‘out’ as Moore. Nick Daicos had 38 disposals in Round 4, kicked two goals and still played in a losing side. Maybe I am not paying him his due respects, but I still have him pegged as KING OF THE CHEAPIES. Aside from Nick Daicos and Moore, there are a number of key Collingwood players under an injury cloud. This close to finals, I would expect Collingwood to be conservative in team selection, opting to take fewer risks with important players. There are some ‘big occasion’ players at Collingwood under an injury cloud and this really helps our chances.
Of those Brisbane Lions players that are sure to be selected on Thursday night, Cam Rayner is one who really needs to lift. I don’t think there is a player on our list more likely to divide and frustrate than Rayner. Coming into this game and this finals series, Rayner needs to repay the patience and faith that supporters who have stuck with him have shown. In our Round 4 clash against Collingwood he kicked 4 goals and looked like he was primed up for a big year. Last weekend against Adelaide, Rayner had 3 disposals in the second half, hence the rising levels of frustration amongst many supporters. Let’s hope ‘Good Cam’ turns up on Friday night.
In defence we look ROCK SOLID. With freshly re-signed Ryan Lester
in career best form, Jack Payne and Harris Andrews
teaming beautifully and McKenna and Wilmot providing run and Starcevich the meanest 'lockdown' defender in the business, the backline mix looks just about perfect.
Of course, all eyes will be on the midfield battle and if there is a danger for the Lions, it is that we get smashed in the middle. Fagan may choose to address this at team selection or he might close his eyes, cross his fingers and back Oscar, Neale, Dunkley, Robertson to get it done, with support from McCluggage, McCarthy, Bailey and Zorko in short bursts.
THE VERDICT
I’m expecting the Brisbane Lions to put the football world on notice this Friday night by beating Collingwood soundly. Hawthorn showed us how to beat the Pies, in case we needed any reminding, and I am fully expecting the Lions to come out and dismantle Collingwood. If it doesn’t play out that way and it is a tough grind, I still think we will get the job done.
BRISBANE BY 42 Points
Stroll Down Memory Lane
Watch for the massive haymaker Chris Smith throws at Rene Kink in an attempted ‘square up’ after Kink’s late hit on Peter Keays. If Smith had connected, Rene Kink would have been knocked into the next postcode.
At this one. Collingwood were in front all game, but we ground them down. A win at Victoria Park was always memorable. Collingwood fans were SAVAGE in the last quarter and after the game.
Bernie kicks his FIRST TON in 1983 and it just happened to be against the hapless Magpies. The beautiful thing about his 100th goal was that it was a trademark Superboot roost, kicked from a mile out and sailed through well above the heads of the defenders at the Fitzroy St. end.
ROOS! At this one too. This victory and the 1986 Elimination Final win over Essendon were the most excited I’ve ever been after a game.
#Lester200
#FrogMarch
#LesterArmy
Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri
Last Time They Met
Round 4.
Brisbane Lions 18.8.116 def Collingwood 11.17.83
Brisbane Goals: Cameron 6, Rayner 4, Hipwood 2, Daniher 2, Zorko, Wilmot, Prior, Berry
Collingwood Goals: Mihocek 3, Hill 2, N. Daicos 2, Johnson, DeGoey, Crisp and Adams
Brisbane Best: Rayner, Neale, Cameron, Daniher, Dunkley, Ashcroft
Collingwood Best: N. Daicos, Quaynor, Mihocek, Maynard, Pendlebury
"I PREDICT RYAN LESTER
PLAYERCARDSTART
35
Ryan Lester
- Age
- 31
- Ht
- 192cm
- Wt
- 84kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 14.9
- 4star
- K
- 7.9
- 3star
- HB
- 7.0
- 4star
- M
- 3.9
- 4star
- T
- 2.7
- 4star
- MG
- 170.4
- 3star
- D
- 10.3
- 3star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.7
- 3star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- MG
- 140.7
- 3star
- D
- 12.6
- 4star
- K
- 6.8
- 3star
- HB
- 5.8
- 4star
- M
- 3.8
- 4star
- T
- 0.6
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
As a young Fitzroy supporter in the 1970’s and 1980’s, there was nothing sweeter than beating Collingwood, especially if you beat them at Victoria Park. Collingwood were the team you either loved or hated. Black and white, binary and brutal. They also managed to become the ultimate ‘hard luck’ story when it came to winning Premierships. For all the soft fixtures and mollycoddling by the VFL / AFL, those of us that hate Collingwood draw comfort from the fact that they have only won TWO Premierships in the last 60+ years. Collingwood made the Grand Final on sixteen occasions during those years, and only saluted twice. They are the club of false dawns and May Premierships, but they were also a club that had a tradition of playing a brutal, hard, fast and uncompromising brand of football. Collingwood could pull you apart, break your heart, get out of jail or all three in Finals. Collingwood were never to be taken lightly. During the late 70’s and early 80’s Collingwood were Fitzroy’s bête noire when it came to Finals. We had more than our share of memorable wins during those years, but Collingwood was always lurking in September, and they put us out of the Finals in 1979, 1981 and 1984.
This is why winning ‘back to back’ Premierships over Collingwood in 2002 and 2003 was such a definitive act. It was an emphatic FULL STOP on any debate. Those Premierships were the icing and the cake. But just when you thought you couldn’t fit another thing in, the sweets menu is getting passed around again as we move towards an inevitable final between Brisbane Lions and Collingwood in September. When and where is yet to be determined, but it seems to have a feeling of DESTINY about it. This is why I am so excited about our game against Collingwood this week. It is a taste of things to come.
TEAM SELECTION
Always a ‘HOT TOPIC’, here is what I think Fagan will go in with against Collingwood. Not my preferred line up, but close.
FB: Starcevich, Andrews, Payne
HB: McKenna, Lester, Wilmot
W: McCluggage, Robertson, Berry
HF: McCarthy, Hipwood, Ah Chee
F: Rayner, Daniher, Cameron
Foll: McInerney, Neale, Dunkley
I/C: Prior, Bailey, Zorko, Lohmann
SUB: Fletcher or Coleman
OUT OF LEFT FIELD – Lyons, Mathieson, Fort, Tunstill, Fullerton
This is pretty close to our best 22 and answers the question about Fagan’s “Three Talls” forward line. No Gunston, no “Three Talls” and this is not a bad thing. Since 2019, we have looked our best when we have had space in our forward half and players like Cameron, Bailey and McCarthy have had room to move. Daniher and Hipwood are a key part of our forward arsenal, but we look so much better when we are unpredictable, and we are certainly harder to contain. Collingwood were always going to struggle to contain us, which is why losing Darcy Moore
PLAYERCARDSTART
30
Darcy Moore
- Age
- 28
- Ht
- 203cm
- Wt
- 100kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 11.1
- 3star
- K
- 7.0
- 3star
- HB
- 4.1
- 3star
- M
- 4.8
- 5star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- MG
- 169.1
- 3star
- D
- 13.9
- 3star
- K
- 7.3
- 3star
- HB
- 6.6
- 4star
- M
- 4.9
- 5star
- T
- 0.7
- 1star
- MG
- 182.0
- 3star
- D
- 6.8
- 2star
- K
- 4.2
- 2star
- HB
- 2.6
- 3star
- M
- 2.6
- 3star
- T
- 1.8
- 4star
- MG
- 87.4
- 2star
PLAYERCARDEND
Of those Brisbane Lions players that are sure to be selected on Thursday night, Cam Rayner is one who really needs to lift. I don’t think there is a player on our list more likely to divide and frustrate than Rayner. Coming into this game and this finals series, Rayner needs to repay the patience and faith that supporters who have stuck with him have shown. In our Round 4 clash against Collingwood he kicked 4 goals and looked like he was primed up for a big year. Last weekend against Adelaide, Rayner had 3 disposals in the second half, hence the rising levels of frustration amongst many supporters. Let’s hope ‘Good Cam’ turns up on Friday night.
In defence we look ROCK SOLID. With freshly re-signed Ryan Lester
PLAYERCARDSTART
35
Ryan Lester
- Age
- 31
- Ht
- 192cm
- Wt
- 84kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 14.9
- 4star
- K
- 7.9
- 3star
- HB
- 7.0
- 4star
- M
- 3.9
- 4star
- T
- 2.7
- 4star
- MG
- 170.4
- 3star
- D
- 10.3
- 3star
- K
- 5.8
- 2star
- HB
- 4.5
- 3star
- M
- 2.7
- 3star
- T
- 1.5
- 2star
- MG
- 140.7
- 3star
- D
- 12.6
- 4star
- K
- 6.8
- 3star
- HB
- 5.8
- 4star
- M
- 3.8
- 4star
- T
- 0.6
- 3star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
31
Harris Andrews
- Age
- 27
- Ht
- 202cm
- Wt
- 98kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 12.8
- 3star
- K
- 7.4
- 3star
- HB
- 5.4
- 4star
- M
- 5.6
- 5star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- MG
- 151.7
- 2star
- D
- 17.0
- 4star
- K
- 9.0
- 4star
- HB
- 8.0
- 4star
- M
- 4.0
- 4star
- T
- 2.0
- 3star
- D
- 9.8
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 4.8
- 4star
- M
- 3.4
- 4star
- T
- 1.6
- 4star
- MG
- 94.0
- 2star
PLAYERCARDEND
Of course, all eyes will be on the midfield battle and if there is a danger for the Lions, it is that we get smashed in the middle. Fagan may choose to address this at team selection or he might close his eyes, cross his fingers and back Oscar, Neale, Dunkley, Robertson to get it done, with support from McCluggage, McCarthy, Bailey and Zorko in short bursts.
THE VERDICT
I’m expecting the Brisbane Lions to put the football world on notice this Friday night by beating Collingwood soundly. Hawthorn showed us how to beat the Pies, in case we needed any reminding, and I am fully expecting the Lions to come out and dismantle Collingwood. If it doesn’t play out that way and it is a tough grind, I still think we will get the job done.
BRISBANE BY 42 Points
Stroll Down Memory Lane
Watch for the massive haymaker Chris Smith throws at Rene Kink in an attempted ‘square up’ after Kink’s late hit on Peter Keays. If Smith had connected, Rene Kink would have been knocked into the next postcode.
At this one. Collingwood were in front all game, but we ground them down. A win at Victoria Park was always memorable. Collingwood fans were SAVAGE in the last quarter and after the game.
Bernie kicks his FIRST TON in 1983 and it just happened to be against the hapless Magpies. The beautiful thing about his 100th goal was that it was a trademark Superboot roost, kicked from a mile out and sailed through well above the heads of the defenders at the Fitzroy St. end.
ROOS! At this one too. This victory and the 1986 Elimination Final win over Essendon were the most excited I’ve ever been after a game.
#Lester200
#FrogMarch
#LesterArmy
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