Opinion When did you feel we hit rock bottom?

[Warwick]

We haven’t achieved anything yet but who would have thought we’d even be in this position from where we were 5, 10, 15 years ago?

There have been some dark, dark years and win or lose this weekend, you have to enjoy weeks like these. Who knows when it they will come round again??

There have been moments over the last (almost) 20 years where this week seemed an unattainable pipe dream. When was rock bottom for you?

Go Home 5, 2013

138 point loss against Crows, 2016

Akermanis saga, 2006

Change of jumper and logo to the paddle pop lion, 2010

Vision of a clearly put-out Bradshaw and Rischitelli touring Carlton, 2009

79 point loss to the Giants in front of around 10k at the Gabba, 2016

0 goals to half time, 17 points in total against Richmond, 2018

Angus Johnson’s reign, 2010-2013

Captain Dayne Beams

11

Dayne Beams

Age

34

Ht

187cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.6

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

12.4

5star

M

4.5

4star

T

3.6

5star

CL

4.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

15.6

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

9.0

5star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.6

4star

u-turn, 2018

Sacking of Michael Voss to pursue an uninterested Paul Roos, 2013

Justin Leppitsch

Justin Leppitsch

Age

48

Ht

191cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

8.3

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.2

3star

No current season stats available

D

8.2

2star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

0.6

1star

T

1.0

3star

vs Zac O’Brien, 2017

Any others?

 

[Nathan Barley]

Leppa playing Jordan Lisle

Jordan Lisle

Age

33

Ht

195cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

0.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.2

3star

on Jake Neade

Jake Neade

Age

29

Ht

171cm

Wt

71kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

5.3

4star

M

1.9

2star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

11.6

3star

K

8.2

4star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

G

1.2

4star

He was absolutely clueless and the worst thing Lethal has ever done to the club

 

[CarterS]

2016 we lost consecutive games by 77, 78, 63, 48, 38, 83, 49, 42, 26, 79 between Rounds 7 and 17.
Then later in the season we lost to Adelaide by 138.

That season we lost 19 games at an average losing margin of 60.
Easy to forget how bad we were.

 

[Haso]

2016 was the frontrunner for me, because we had been so poor for so long after Voss's mediocre era made way for Leppa's 'this is a legitimate comedy' era, and then BLAMMO one of the worst seasons by any team in the AFLs modern history.

2013 was also quite s**t.

But also, I remember when we all thought the 3 Rs and Leuey were our fast track to the next dynasty.

 

[dlanod]

So many to choose from.

Organisational I'd say it'd have to be 2013. Sacking someone for a gut feel by the same guy that championed the paddle pop that alienated many. It started the clean out that was needed.

On field... barely finishing above a completely gutted Essendon team would have to be it. We were so far the worst team and we didn't even get pick 1 out of it.

 

[McIvor]

The Voss sacking and the paddlepop debacle were significant low lights for me and I think through the Leppa years were just a feeling of resignation and acceptance that we were just a crap club with too many decision makers that were all about their own self interest particularly when we had that CEO Holmes or somebody who was just clueless.

 

[M Malice]

Running up the backside of a Lion was pretty off putting.

 

[dlanod]

Running up the backside of a Lion was pretty off putting.

How about Swanny wanting a real lion?

 

[Mr Ripper]

I would say the night the club had ZoBlitz escorted from the premises was the bottom of the marianas trench.

 

[ZoBlitz]

I would say the night the club had ZoBlitz escorted from the premises was the bottom of the marianas trench.

I've enjoyed banging on about that for 10 years on little provocation so I'd almost consider that a personal highlight by now.

Also Fatcat08 was booted too even if I usually forget to mention him in my retellings.

That whole season was a train wreck off the field but for some reason it was the AFL moving in to organise a compromise to avoid an EGM that was a low point for me.

On the field, 2016 killed any lingering optimism I had about the club.

 

[Bosh Jootsma]

All of the above, and Jono Brown forced early retirement just to kill what was left of the early 2000s spirit

 

[dlanod]

Turns out rock bottom was tonight where the Brisbane Lions as a whole and that dastardly Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

30

Ht

178cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

in particular unrepentantly stole a Brownlow medal from the deserving Nick Daicos | Marcus Bontempelli

4

Marcus Bontempelli

Age

28

Ht

194cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

10.3

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

4.4

5star

D

18.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.8

4star

| Errol Gulden | Christian Petracca

5

Christian Petracca

Age

28

Ht

187cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.4

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.0

5star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.4

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.5

3star

T

3.6

4star

CL

3.4

4star

D

19.0

5star

K

7.8

3star

HB

11.2

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.0

4star

(please circle whichever may apply).

 

[mighty_lions]

Running up the backside of a Lion was pretty off putting.

I had forgotten about this horror suppressed deep in my memory

 

[Tom14]

Watching us beat Essendon to avoid the spoon in 2016 and having to laugh at how bad the game was and we were. We averaged 130 points against that year, which is absurd.

Leaving a Gabba game at half time because we were down by 70+ already was another low. Respect to those who stick out every match, I’m not that emotionally resilient.

 

[Haso]

Turns out rock bottom was tonight where the Brisbane Lions as a whole and that dastardly Lachie Neale in particular unrepentantly stole a Brownlow medal from the deserving Nick Daicos | Marcus Bontempelli | Errol Gulden | Christian Petracca (please circle whichever may apply).

HE'S A MONSTER

 

[Dizzle]

We haven’t achieved anything yet but who would have thought we’d even be in this position from where we were 5, 10, 15 years ago?

There have been some dark, dark years and win or lose this weekend, you have to enjoy weeks like these. Who knows when it they will come round again??

There have been moments over the last (almost) 20 years where this week seemed an unattainable pipe dream. When was rock bottom for you?

Go Home 5, 2013

138 point loss against Crows, 2016

Akermanis saga, 2006

Change of jumper and logo to the paddle pop lion, 2010

Vision of a clearly put-out Bradshaw and Rischitelli touring Carlton, 2009

79 point loss to the Giants in front of around 10k at the Gabba, 2016

0 goals to half time, 17 points in total against Richmond, 2018

Angus Johnson’s reign, 2010-2013

Captain Dayne Beams u-turn, 2018

Sacking of Michael Voss to pursue an uninterested Paul Roos, 2013

Justin Leppitsch vs Zac O’Brien, 2017

Any others?

When I first saw the thread title my mind instantly went to 'the Adelaide game from 2016'.

I personally had a massive crossroads moment around that time. I was sports mad (far more than now) and watched almost every game of every round. Then I watched hundreds of hours of cricket and NBA each AFL offseason. Of course time in front of the TV was usually accompanied by a beer or plural.

With a 10 year old getting ready for high school and a job which at the time was demanding more hours every year, my wife essentially sat me down and gave me the 'ultimatum'. Something about 'simplifying' although perhaps more about being more available. We were also spending thousands each year going to watch the Lions lose (not on purpose) in either Brisbane or Melbourne - which didn't help even though we managed the finances around it. My swearing loudly at the TV each week likely wasn't a huge positive.

Anyway after that I pretty much gave the Lions one more year. I stopped watching every game and cut back on the NBA. David Warner helped me a while after with sandpapergate and I stopped watching cricket altogether and won't until he retires. Amazingly I haven't really missed it.

Drafting Clugga and Berry helped. We crossed from WA for the player sponsor gig and I remember being impressed with Clug and hoping he would be as good as he was a solid citizen. Rayner and other solid drafting and trading decisions followed. Not all will or have been stars, but they all seem top blokes and great representatives for a club in need of them at the time.

Now I have what I think is the right balance. I watch one - occasionally two - AFL games per week. One or two NBA games a week in season and have found some other interests. Nothing spectacular or particularly interesting, just other stuff that provides me with distraction. I love the games but allow myself only a short period of 'emoting' whether we win or draw. At the end of the day it's a game.

I still swear at the TV during games and still have a few, though usually after games finish. And I still haven't managed to choose wisely in my trips to watch the Lions - though I obviously hope this weekend fixes that.

Anyways that's my bit on this. I think this is likely to be an emotional week and I only hope it ends well for us all.

Soak it up y'all, I remember taking the 2001-2004 (up to the prelim anyway) for granted and wish I appreciated it more.

 

[Toffee Lion]

2016, as many have mentioned previously. Especially pin pointing the back to back beltings at the hands of Adelaide & Port. I'm sure the vent thread got a real workout that day.

What's sad is that from 2010 to 2016, there were so many things that went wrong leading up to that rock bottom moment, as listed in the OP. Fev/Bradshaw, Issues with the board, the paddlepop, chasing Roos, sacking Vossy, Leppa fighting players, Go Home 5 and more.

Chris Fagan, David Noble & Greg Swann really turned a pile of crap into a well oiled machine that could sustain itself off-field and perform on-field.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

While 2016 was obviously so much worse on field, it ended with McCluggage, Berry, and Fages (whose first presser seemed to be a real mark of things changing).

Late 2013 with our second-choice coach behind Roos, an incompetent board, and all of our 'bright' future walking out the door was as low as it gets.

Rob Kerr did the best he could with that saga, but what a demoralising situation on all fronts.

Still, I'm glad now that we got as bad as we did. The AFL were quite involved in sending Nobes up here, which led to Fages. I don't think either likely happen if we were even 10% better. Rock bottom was the gift we needed in the end.

 

[CarterS]

I can't remember exactly when but there was a Friday night game against Collingwood, we were all pumped up for it, it was our biggest game in a while and our first friday night game in donkeys, and we were down about 80 at half time. So deflating.

 

[M Malice]

Watching us beat Essendon to avoid the spoon in 2016 and having to laugh at how bad the game was and we were. We averaged 130 points against that year, which is absurd.

Leaving a Gabba game at half time because we were down by 70+ already was another low. Respect to those who stick out every match, I’m not that emotionally resilient.

Can you remember if that was against the Swans?

We have never left a game earlier than a couple of minutes before the siren... however I do have a memory of discussing it re a game v the Swans(I thinkcould have been v Pies) early in the 3rd quarter many moons ago now, it may have been a rainy day IIRC.

 

[M Malice]

I can't remember exactly when but there was a Friday night game against Collingwood, we were all pumped up for it, it was our biggest game in a while and our first friday night game in donkeys, and we were down about 80 at half time. So deflating.

Edit... that could be the game I was thinking of in my post above.

 

[Squizz89]

2013 was pretty bad and very embarrassing what happened with regards to the whole Roos/Voss etc debacle.

Still reckon 2016 was worse though. I remember travelling back from the GC after the Suns game that year and reading Twitter and * it was grim. To the point which I have said previously, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that if that kept up we wouldn’t still be talking in this forum today, as Brisbane Lions supporters anyway.

Quite the turnaround from that year onwards though. Would be absolutely brilliant to finish that off now with the ultimate prize on Saturday.

 

[CarterS]

Edit... that could be the game I was thinking of in my post above.

It might have been a saturday night, anyway, I also remember 90 point losses to Freo and GWS at the Gabba which were definitely low points.

I'm going to switch it up.

We did have one of my all time high points during this time.

Round 7, 2015. Sunday Twilight game against Port Adelaide.

Easy to play it down because they dropped off a bit later in the season, but Port Adelaide were one of the premiership favourites at the time and we were about 40 point outsiders with the bookies.

Leppa spider web zone defence was a masterstroke. David King did a segment about how "Port Adelaide have been found out". Josh Green and Mitch Robinson kicked 3 each and Beams had 32 disposals.

We kind of take wins for granted now but this one felt like a Grand Final win to me. We did lose 11 straight after it though!

Round 23, 2015. Jed Adcock's last game, captain through the darkest time in the club's history.

Beat the Bulldogs 130-122 at the Gabba, what an exciting game it was. Dogs were 6th and we were last, this got us off the wooden spoon.

Adcock had 4 goals in his last game (for us), Rockliff had 40 touches.

Crowd for both games was only 15,000, felt full though!

I dare say I enjoyed those individual wins as much as I have our finals run this year.

 

[Lionheart182]

The worst part of the Leppa saga was that the board wanted to extend him and had to be talked out of it via the AFL dangling their assistance package in front of us. Imagine missing out on Fagan because we wanted to give a favourite son more time despite conceding 130 points a game. I think back to the 'run and gun' and the 'score 100 points' days under Leppa and cringe so hard.

 

[BRAB]

I can't remember exactly when but there was a Friday night game against Collingwood, we were all pumped up for it, it was our biggest game in a while and our first friday night game in donkeys, and we were down about 80 at half time. So deflating.

This was was horrible. It could have been so much worse but Collingwood didn’t really convert their chances. We could barely get it out of our defensive 50 and just kept bombing it to the same wing at a kick out over and over again.