Review Rd 15 vs Sydney: Post-game views and reviews

[king and i]

I missed this game... gotta work occasionally, but sounds like Polks will be under the microscope this week. I thought his disposal last week was poor... hospital kicks, usually to the opposition. His flaws are magnified along sides such beautiful kicks as Rich, Drummond, Golby, Brown, Adcock etc.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Some ABC commentator just said our effort was poor tonight on twitter. Was it poor?

 

[patfullfankezz]

Some ABC commentator just said our effort was poor tonight on twitter. Was it poor?

It was sorta like a kangaroo caught in the headlights sorta thing. Not quite sure how to explain it.

 

[Monkey Daniel]

Probably already discussed somewhere... a couple of what ifs.
Crisp actually passes to leading Rich ( maybe goals ) instead of long bomb for a point
Cannot remember who, but we have ball on the wing and is fumbled, recovery made but handballed to Swans, they rebound and get their second goal. If it was a clear possesion, Brown was one out, maybe marks and goals.
Scoreboard pressure, Lions could have been 5 goals to 1... football it's all about the 1%ers

 

[whatboutbob]

Cannot remember who, but we have ball on the wing and is fumbled, recovery made but handballed to Swans, they rebound and get their second goal. If it was a clear possesion, Brown was one out, maybe marks and goals.

Polks lost his feet then handballed (poorly) to Bewick.

 

[Paulborracho]

We were rushed and lacked composition. Went to the old " bomb it in long to Browny" play which when double and triple teamed WILL NEVER WORK. Vossy and crew coached very poorly IMO. I welcome other comments !!

 

[whatboutbob]

We were rushed and lacked composition. Went to the old " bomb it in long to Browny" play which when double and triple teamed WILL NEVER WORK. Vossy and crew coached very poorly IMO. I welcome other comments !!

It feels a bit like you're trying to have it both ways. Gripe when Merrett's not used down back, then gripe when he's moved back and Brown's left as the only big target up forward.

Gameday moves felt like shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic. I question team selection. Leaving McKeever the only recognisable (and I use the term loosely) KPD meant we were always going to be spread thin down back. However, having said that, we didn't lose it down back. Our mids were creamed. Pure and simple. Unfortunately it is still going to be a while before our midfield is mature enough to perform consistently. I think we'll just have to ride the rollercoaster until then.

 

[Judge]

Does anyone here think Polks deserves to play against the Saints?

Not me. I actually think (or at least hope) that stint in the ressies will help him regain some confidence. Something's fundamentally wrong, as I can't remember him making such simple skill errors, consistently, in the past

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

It feels a bit like you're trying to have it both ways. Gripe when Merrett's not used down back, then gripe when he's moved back and Brown's left as the only big target up forward.

Spot on. Merrett down back was good. It also helped demonstrate why he's been playing forward. Can't blame the coaches for Goose being injured. Amazes me how quickly people are prepared to attack the coaches.

I doubt we were counting on not having Black, thus being murdered in the middle.

 

[Haso]

We all felt pessimistic about this game. We genuinely didn't have a huge chance, and we all knew that. It's different just knowing it than watching it happen on front of us (RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME). We would have been smashed by far more than that at the start of the season. Think Carlton. It wasn't under 30 like we would have wanted. But for Polks's kick that fell short into our 50 in the last few seconds, it could have been a 41 point deficit. 8 goals isn't so bad. We can regroup, and I hope that our momentum doesn't suffer for the Saints next weekend. They look ok tonight.

Polkinghorne tried his heart out, but he clearly can't handle a wet ball, and he turned the ball over quite a bit. He and a number of other Lions slipped over way too much as well. Was it a boot problem? Maybe they were expecting a dryer ground?

Hanley and Zorko shared BOG, I think. Neither were perfect but their effort was there, and they provided the pressure and run that was needed. I feel safer knowing that Zorko has the ball, or that he is on the chase. Every time. That's quality for a dude who has played 8 senior games. Rich was also very impressive early, but he did fall away when his tag tightened. His goals from outside the 50 will be the stuff of legend in a few years. In the same league as Voss's hardness, Brownie's courageous marks and Merrett's spoils.

Redden and Rocky were too quiet for too long. They tried to lift in the third, and made up for their possessions in the fourth, but their run was a bit too late. We know what pressure they put on themselves to perform, and I think we can expect a big game from them next week.

Chinny wasn't too bad, I thought. Not pretty early, but he stayed the course, always went for the percentage play, and gave his all for the team again. He is far from our most skilled player, and has already been overtaken by the very young Mitch Golby, but he doesn't deserve any derision for his effort tonight. Copped a huge falcon from Reddo after being pushed into it. Had to have hurt, and I felt so bad for him. Copping a falcon tends to make you look like a bit of a joke, even if it isn't your fault.

Merrett didn't take any time at all to readjust to a defensive position. I think this may be due to various short stints back there in games here and there to keep his touch. He totally dominated Reid as soon as the move was made. With Maguire still out and Reiwoldt and Kosi up front for the Saints, he may also spend some time down there next week. Merrett's subsequent disposal was not bad either. Possibly a result of spending some time forward? Somebody (maybe TomFC?) noted that this has been happening as early as last year. I can't quite remember that, but I will take his word for it.

Jed is a bit of an unsing hero tonight as well. Threw everything at the contest. Didn't always come off for him, but he was once again a general down back.

I think we have what it takes to knock off the Saints next week at home. The boys will want to lift from that performance. They have come too far to let their form slip now.

Go Lions.

 

[policegetthatman]

Great summary Ian

 

[radiotron]

Our mids were creamed.

this. no backline will ever look good under these circumstances

 

[Bucking Beads]

Hudson has been huge for us but I feel he is due for a rest. I think Longer is a chance of coming in against the Saints.

 

[Paulborracho]

Spot on. Merrett down back was good. It also helped demonstrate why he's been playing forward. Can't blame the coaches for Goose being injured. Amazes me how quickly people are prepared to attack the coaches.

I doubt we were counting on not having Black, thus being murdered in the middle.

Give me a break. The coaching panel should be ashamed of how their team performed ultimately due to poor team selection. Weak back line, yes due to injury.
Even with Sauce in the back line there is NOTHING TO BE GAINED FROM BOMBING THE BALL TO A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAMED BROWN!!!!!
If Brown is doubled or triple teamed, where are the Lions spares????
Vossy has been coaching well lately and I am for giving him a red hot go.
Poorly coached before, during and after this game.

 

[iBeng]

Cant honestly see Polks lasting much longer.

Pretty sure that was Stillers Swansong to.

 

[chopperduck]

The bomb it long to Brown is a product of the midfield getting smashed into oblivion and our players not having the time or space to deliver the ball well. With our mids not winning the ball, it means our players aren't spreading from the contest as well either, so less players pushing forward into open space. It's a flow on effect, but it all starts in the engine room. You can't do anything while you are getting dominated that badly. We could have had a great defense, it wouldn't have mattered, because we still wouldn't have kicked a winning score.

We've been playing well because our midfield has been working well, and the forward line has functioned, this didn't happen tonight and our score shows that. Hopefully there is a lot of tape review of that game, and our mids get something out of it.

 

[jackess]

Give me a break. The coaching panel should be ashamed of how their team performed ultimately due to poor team selection. Weak back line, yes due to injury.
Even with Sauce in the back line there is NOTHING TO BE GAINED FROM BOMBING THE BALL TO A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAMED BROWN!!!!!
If Brown is doubled or triple teamed, where are the Lions spares????
Vossy has been coaching well lately and I am for giving him a red hot go.
Poorly coached before, during and after this game.

Because it was the coaching out there on the field bombing the ball to Browny.

 

[stuyd1]

Zorko with 31 touches and 9 tackles... continues his great improvement Hanley,Raines and Adcock were good.....Polkinghorne, Berwick and Green are battling at this level.
In the ressies, Cornelius jagged 6, Hawksley was bog. Am a fan of Hawksley... should be in the ones. Need Banfield to get some form, and return to the ones.

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

Give me a break.

Indeed.

Seriously, we had 3 forced changes as it was, and one last minute bit of shit luck. Find me a coaching panel that would role out another couple of changes on top of that. We carried in winning form, and the coaches were right to reward the blockers that won their battle last weekend, having done so in response to the Goose injury.

 

[chopperduck]

Give me a break. The coaching panel should be ashamed of how their team performed ultimately due to poor team selection. Weak back line, yes due to injury.
Even with Sauce in the back line there is NOTHING TO BE GAINED FROM BOMBING THE BALL TO A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAMED BROWN!!!!!
If Brown is doubled or triple teamed, where are the Lions spares????
Vossy has been coaching well lately and I am for giving him a red hot go.
Poorly coached before, during and after this game.

You wont' find too many that will agree with you. There is only so much the coaches can do sitting up in the box. Too many players simply didn't play well today.

 

[chopperduck]

Cant honestly see Polks lasting much longer.

Pretty sure that was Stillers Swansong to.

Both players probably wont' be on the list long term. Short term, they still serve a purpose. Polks needs to go back to the 2s and find some form. The only word that can describe his game tonight is Sherman-like. 2 10m handballs to the players feet, and a kick that went half the distance it needed too. Isn't contributing enough for the position he plays.

I have memories of him being a hard leading medium forward who marks strong and kicks goals from 55m. What happened to this player?

 

[whatboutbob]

Seriously, we had 3 forced changes as it was, and one last minute bit of shit luck. Find me a coaching panel that would role out another couple of changes on top of that. We carried in winning form, and the coaches were right to reward the blockers that won their battle last weekend, having done so in response to the Goose injury.

It'll be interesting to see if the axe is wielded this week.

My inclination certainly would be to do so, but I'm often thankful I'm not coach.

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

It'll be interesting to see if the axe is wielded this week.

My inclination certainly would be to do so, but I'm often thankful I'm not coach.

I'd certainly be sending Polks back. Seriously doubt it will happen though.

 

[jackess]

Polks and Green will be lucky to hold their spot IMO.

 

[Bucking Beads]

This night gets worse, Bombers playing the Saints into form.