Preview Rd 2, 2014 - Brisbane Lions v Geelong

[dlanod]

Date: Sunday March 30

Time: 12:10pm local time, 1:10pm AEDT

Venue: Gabba

TV: Foxtel; 7mate live into Qld

Weather: Chance of rain. 32C.

Preview by blynd_freddie

Round 2 – Preview -- Brisbane Lions Versus Geelong Cats

Did you know… or DerWayne-esque-ism FACTs!​

• The Brisbane Lions and Geelong have never before played in a round two game against each other – FACT
• Leppa will be the 3rd Lions coach Chris Scott has soldiered arms against over the last dozen home and away rounds - FACT

• Chris Scott has coached the cats in 74 official AFL games and in that time he has only twice, lost 2 games in a row – Leppa has never lost two official AFL games in a row – FACT
• In their entire AFL/VFL history Geelong have lost more ‘away – round 2 games’ than they have won [25W-26L-1D] – FACT
• In recent times they have not fared much better, having only won TWO ‘away – round 2 games’ since 2002 – FACT
• By comparison the Lions [in their post merge history] have won almost 78% of all round 2 matches at the Gabba – FACT
• Oh, you can also note that both the Bears and Fitzroy have NEVER lost a round 2 game at the Gabba. – FACT [make a heritage round anyone?]
• Chris Scott lost to the Lions the last time he coached at the Gabba [Rnd13-2013] AND the last time Leppa coached at the Gabba against Geelong [as a Lions assistant-coach Rnd15-2009] we won. – FACT
• And inclosing, I give you my most relevant Der-Wayne-esque-ism, that being, Round 15 minus Round 13 = Round 2 – FACT

For the record – the Brisbane Lions have played Geelong 26 times for 14wins and 12losses, this is a win ratio of almost 54% - 13 of these games have been at the Gabba [8W-5L-62%]

Recent games against Geelong have thrown up some milestones – [the last 6 years]

• Rnd 23 2013 - Mark Harvey’s 100th and last [to-date] game as a coach.
• Rnd 13 2013 – Ash McGrath 200th
• Rnd 5 2012 – Simon Black 300th
• Rnd 17 2010 – Ryan Harwood debut
• Rnd 15 2009 – Jack Redden debut
• Rnd 5 2009 – Josh Drummond 50th [Joel Selwood 50th]

And of course this week… Rnd 2 2014 - Daniel Rich and Jack Redden’s 100th game – [Mackie – 200th]

Leppitsch knows what it is needed to play pressure football against high quality opponents, he is not on his own. This coming Sunday there will be a reunion of sorts – ex Lions players who have a proud Lions history – men who are now building their football CV’s off field, as coaches, I speak of Leppitsch, Black, Scott and Lappin.

Justin he has played in 23 finals and has been an assistant coach in another 3 more finals. He will need to refer back to these regularly throughout this season – as the Lions play five 2013 finalists, in the first 7 rounds this year, with three of these teams having won a premiership within the last 3 years.

What have we learned from Round 1?

We travelled down to York Park and with 7 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter we had got within 2 points – sadly that was as close as we got. Having said that, statistically - although we slipped to a 48-point defeat against the reigning premiers, this was still 10 points less than the hawks average winning margin at York Park from their last 14 wins there.


Offensively, our score of 91 points was also the equal second highest losing score EVER kicked at York Park against the hawks and our ten goals five behinds in the second half was the highest score EVER in this period at York Park by a losing team against the Hawks.

Other positives? Inside 50’s 50 v 53, centre clearances 19 v 17, Trent West as a forward/ruck and the big picture…

I don’t have a GingerGreatness video to watch [but happy to flog his opening 2014 gif] – I have something I think is even more powerful, your own positiveness. I ask you to put on your headphones, to close your eyes and listen to the voice, the positive voice, the positive voices in your mind!

Can you feel it?



I can feel it! The LIONS by 5 points – AGAIN!!!


GO LIONS!

 

[Haso]

 

[Haso]

I think one of our best bets is that Geelong will melt in the humid 30+ degree heat before Brisbane does.

Midday game in March in Brisbane? WHAT A GREAT IDEA.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Leppa has never lost two official AFL games in a row – FACT

Damm right... Lions wont drop points here!!!!

 

[Balony_pony16]

I really hope Taylor stays in the team. He is a real player for the future and we must get games into him!!!

 

[GingerGreatness]

Best preview of the year so far Freddie

FACT!

 

[Ironmonger]

As Haso says, heat and humidity are our friends on Sunday.

It'll be interesting to see what Leppitsch does about that. Logically, you'd give Taylor a run in the ressies for Bewick, bring in someone experienced for Rocky like Raines or Polks, and make Aish the sub. Then you try and burn off the Cats by running them off the park with the hold-and-switch gameplan.

But I have a suspicion that Leppa is keen to get games into at least a couple of the really raw players whenever he can. I guess we'll find out.

While we're all keen to see Nick Robertson, and Rocky's suspension opens up a possible spot for him, a kid who runs himself into the turf at every chance, who threw up in his first training session and apparently might've been cramping in the reserves last week, probably should make his debut in an evening game if possible.

Anyway, while we might have a bad taste in our mouths about Rocky right now, we should have a lot of pride in our recent performances against Geelong and it's important to the confidence of the club that we keep that going. You can't always beat high quality, professional outfits like the Cats but you can control how you play against them and for the sake of our season we need to put out our absolute best this weekend.

Geelong by 15 points, with Tom Hawkins kicking three goals from dodgy free kicks.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Love the preview Freddy

Lions by 10.

Kezz to get fired on Monday by her 2IC as I've shouted him tickets and I plan to rub the loss in. Wonder if I can get a salt shaker into the game...

 

[Mr Ripper]

Wonder if I can get a salt shaker into the game...

Only if its 200mm or under.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Only if its 200mm or under.

I still think your sig is awesome.

Even though it reminds me of my ex-coworkers ringtone which used to piss us off no end. Bloody oldies

 

[Elixuh]

Another great preview! We have certainly had quite a few milestones against Geelong in the past few years. I am probably wrong on this but wasn't the Rd 13 game last year also a Blacky milestone for the most games played for the BL or he overtook someone or something?

I feel if we can maintain our pressure and clean up our inside 50s we'll notice a world of difference.

 

[chopperduck]

We will miss Rocky, but our midfield performed very well last week pretty much without Rocky, so I think we can match it with them. Just cant let those red time goals in like last week. Bewick might be a good fit to replace Rocky being he mainly played forward v the hawks, Bewick runs hard and kick goals if he isnt respected by his opponent.

 

[chopperduck]

Actually, I think McGuane in for Rocky, Taylor back to the ressies to run out a full game, and Bewick in as the sub is how id do it.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I think Rocky touched the ball about 7-9 times after Quarter time.

So we will be fine without him.

 

[blynd_freddie]

Best preview of the year so far Freddie

FACT!

Yeah but I'm only playing in the NEAFL - you are tops in the major league sir!

 

[blynd_freddie]

Another great preview! We have certainly had quite a few milestones against Geelong in the past few years. I am probably wrong on this but wasn't the Rd 13 game last year also a Blacky milestone for the most games played for the BL or he overtook someone or something?

I feel if we can maintain our pressure and clean up our inside 50s we'll notice a world of difference.

I think it might of been the round before - Simon equalled Marcus Ashcrofts bears/Lions games of 318 in the round 10 game against the pies, then there was the bye in 11 - played his 319th [the Bears/Lions record] against Freo in 12

1	426	Michael Tuck	HW
2	403	Kevin Bartlett	RI
3	383	Robert Harvey	SK
4	379*	Dustin Fletcher	ES
5	378	Simon Madden	ES
6	375	Craig Bradley	CA
7	366	Bernie Quinlan	WB/FI
8	364	Brad Johnson	WB
9	363*	Brent Harvey	NM
10	359	John Blakey	FI/NM
11	356	Bruce Doull	CA
12	356	Paul Roos	FI/SY
13	350	Doug Hawkins	WB/FI
14	341	Chris Grant	WB
15	340	Andrew McLeod	AD
16	336	John Rantall	SY/NM/FI
17	333	David Cloke	RI/CW
18	333	Kevin Murray	FI
19	332	Justin Madden	ES/CA
20	332	Leigh Matthews	HW
21	331	Adam Goodes	SY
22	329	Gary Dempsey	WB/NM
23	328	John Nicholls	CA
24	328	Barry Round	WB/SY
25	325	Jason Akermanis	BB/BL/WB
26	325	Jude Bolton	SY
27	325	Ian Nankervis	GE
28	324	Paul Salmon	ES/HW
29	324	Scott West	WB
30	323	Nathan Burke	SK
31	322	Simon Black	BL
32	321	Tyson Edwards	AD
33	321	Stewart Loewe	SK
34	321	Ted Whitten	WB
35	320	Dick Reynolds	ES
36	318	Marcus Ashcroft	BB/BL

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Another great preview! We have certainly had quite a few milestones against Geelong in the past few years. I am probably wrong on this but wasn't the Rd 13 game last year also a Blacky milestone for the most games played for the BL or he overtook someone or something?

I feel if we can maintain our pressure and clean up our inside 50s we'll notice a world of difference.

Not sure of that one but it was his 300th game against the Cats in 2012 when the ground looked like a lake after a rain storm.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Simon Black beat the record against Freo at Pattersons (also Patsy's 150th) so the Geelong game at home is when they celebrated it along with Boonj's 200th

 

[Elixuh]

Simon Black beat the record against Freo at Pattersons (also Patsy's 150th) so the Geelong game at home is when they celebrated it along with Boonj's 200th

Good memory! I just remember the presentation after the game.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

We will miss Rocky, but our midfield performed very well last week pretty much without Rocky, so I think we can match it with them. Just cant let those red time goals in like last week. Bewick might be a good fit to replace Rocky being he mainly played forward v the hawks, Bewick runs hard and kick goals if he isnt respected by his opponent.

Great preview Dianod, some interesting facts there.
Rocky out so I wouldn't mind Mayes to take his on ball link role that Rocky does for us.
Bewick to take Mayes wing /forward role, if its dry I think he will go well, looses it a bit when the ball is slippery due to his high marking style, but he still is good down that wing. Also if Mcguane fit a definite in, maybe replaces Close or Paps not sure who goes .

On another note if the humidity is high and its 30 degrees I wander if we will have ice vests , cause you can bet they will.

 

[Ceebee]

I love you the same as I love GG

That's a lot
Thank you for another great.positive preview

 

[dlanod]

Great preview Dianod, some interesting facts there.

Full credit to blynd_freddie, I just posted it.

 

[scott_the_man]

I think rocky is a massive loss. not only his ability with the ball, but his leadership around the ground. he could mean the difference between a narrow win and a narrow loss

 

[Fatcat08]

Given Wearden is listed as being 12 weeks on the injury list it certainly opens up the chances of Zac O'Brien getting a game. Had 39 possessions in the reserves game last week which was also at midday. He could be in the mix to come in for Rocky. The other option we could look at is putting Golby down back again and moving Rich and Mayes into the midfield with Bewick coming in for Mayes. McGuane is still listed at 3-4 weeks so it would appear that our forward setup would remain similar to this week I would imagine, which I would be ok with. Hoping Leppitsch gives the new guys a few games in a row. The one exception may be Taylor as they may want him to have a full game in the reserves.

I'm still bullish about this game even with Rocky out, but I think Hanley, Rich and Redden are going to have to stand up for us to be in it.

 

[Davemonkey]

Thoroughly distracted me from my work. FACT

Great review. FACT

I'm late to the Derwayne joke party. FACT