Coming off the back of a 91-point loss to newly installed flag favourites Carlton, Patersons Stadium is not a place Brisbane would want to be.
Like rubbing salt into a freshly cut wound, the Lions are drawn against a Fremantle side hungry for a win after losing last week to Sydney in what could probably be classified as an upset.
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Lions veteran Ash McGrath candidly admitted during the week that Michael Voss and the coaching staff hadn’t done enough research on Carlton before their big game.
While this is no excuse for a blowout loss of such proportions, it is a reflection of the way Brisbane is travelling.
A win today would be a massive boost for the confidence of Michael Voss and his Brisbane Lions unit. Unfortunately for them, the likeliness of them getting over the line is minimal.
In response to last week’s embarrassment, the selection committee at Brisbane have swung the axe, dropping youngsters Niall McKeever and Rohan Bewick as well as fringe player Cheynee Stiller and veteran recruit Ben Hudson.
The omission of Hudson is sure to have many pundits scratching their heads.
Was he not brought in as an experienced ruckman, a viable backup for Matthew Leuenberger? To have such a prized recruit dropped in Round 3, especially when facing the premier ruckman of the competition in Aaron Sandilands, does not augur well for Brisbane’s future.
However, to at least have the courage to play the youngsters means that there can be some hope.
Fremantle, rather, have just the one inclusion: Jack Anthony is omitted for David Mundy’s return. Mundy had one of his better seasons in 2011 and will line up on a wing today, although his versatility means he could drop into the forward line with ease.
Final Say:
Fremantle to be too good at home for the Lions who have endured a torrid week.
Dockers by 67 points.
TEAMS:
Fremantle
B: Garrick Ibbotson, Zac Dawson, Adam McPhee
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin, Tendai Mzungu
C: David Mundy, Ryan Crowley, Stephen Hill
HF: Matthew de Boer, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Barlow
F: Christopher Mayne, Kepler Bradley, Josh Mellington
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nathan Fyfe, Greg Broughton
IC: Paul Duffield, Nick Suban, Zachary Clarke, Clancee Pearce
EM: Jay van Berlo, Dylan Roberton, Alex Silvagni
IN: David Mundy
OUT: Jack Anthony
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Matt Maguire, Josh Drummond
HB: Mitchell Golby, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
C: Jed Adcock, Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich
HF: Claye Beams, Jonathan Brown, Todd Banfield
F: Ryan Harwood, Matthew Leuenberger, Ryan Lester
Foll: Billy Longer, James Polkinghorne, Jack Redden
IC: Pearce Hanley, Andrew Raines, Jesse O’Brien, Jared Polec
EM: Niall McKeever, Rohan Bewick, Elliot Yeo
IN: Jonathan Brown, Josh Drummond, Andrew Raines, Ryan Harwood, Billy Longer
OUT: Simon Black (Hand), Cheynee Stiller, Niall McKeever, Rohan Bewick, Ben Hudson
New: Billy Longer (Northern Knights (VIC))
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