Universal Love Young guns form rise since the Bye

[lionshine]

McCluggage v GWS 27 possessions, 9 contested, 5 tackles, 3 clearances.
McCluggage v Freo 24 possessions, 6 tackles.
McCluggage v Blues 20 possessions, 1 goal, 4 tackles.
McCluggage v Hawks 29 possessions, 1 goal, 14 contested, 4 tackles, 5 clearances.

Berry v GWS 14 possessions, 8 contested, 1 goal, 8 tackles, 5 clearances.
Berry v Freo 24 possessions, 11 contested, 1 goal, 5 tackles, 6 clearances.
Berry v Blues 17 possessions, 7 contested, 4 tackles, 3 clearances.
Berry v Hawks 24 possessions, 15 contested, 1 goal, 6 tackles.

Witherden v GWS 19 possessions.
Witherden v Freo 21 possessions, 1 goal.
Witherden v Blues 31 possessions.
Witherden v Hawks 27 possessions.

Rayner v GWS 10 possessions, 5 contested, 3 clearances.
Rayner v Freo 19 possessions, 11 contested 2 goals, 5 tackles.
Rayner v Blues 15 possessions, 1 goal, 3 clearances.
Rayner v Hawks 19 possessions, 3 goals.

Hipwood v GWS 3 goals, 4 marks.
Hipwood v Freo 2 goals, 6 marks.
Hipwood v Blues 6 goals, 7 marks.
Hipwood v Hawks 3 goals, 7 marks.

These 5 guys have all lifted their output since the bye, the stats back this up, however, a lot of their improvement are in the intangibles and the little things that can not be measured in stats. 5 super exciting talents who have all appeared to have bought into the direction the club is going in and are taking ownership out on the field. All 5 were particularly impressive today and last week. I look forward to these guys and the rest of our young group carrying our club forward.

 

[Elixuh]

It is a nice change. In years past because we have had to play so many young players, we have really needed our experienced players to all be in career best form every single week. It is nice to have a core group of young players who are now as important and carry as much responsibility as our senior players.

The 2016 draft and that trade with GWS which allowed us to get Berry is lookin pretty good.

 

[lionshine]

Early days, however, I think Rayner may buck the trend of number 1 draft picks of the past decade underperforming or failing to become out and out stars of the comp. He just has all the tools to be a star of the comp and at the very least be a quality contested ball winning, goal kicking mid.

 

[M Malice]

Looks like we have our development model right finally. Along with the match day coaching group guys like Paul Henriksen, Zane Littlejohn, Mitch Hahn and Scott Borlace deserve a lot of credit.

 

[Athlonxp]

The thing that sticks out for me from the above stats is that Berry, McCluggage and Rayner are not only generating good possession numbers and tackle numbers, but they are also impacting the scoreboard too!

Opposition teams now have to worry about our young guns also damaging them via the scoreline rather than just with possession/tackle counts as well. It’s a good problem that we are making for opposing teams to consider when they play us! Plus our usual midfield suspects in Zorko, Robinson, Beams also causing havoc at times too!

Hipwood - 20 marks in three weeks!! Kid is showing all the right signs at this stage.

 

[Dom PC]

I'm sure people haven't forgotten, but we really did nail that 2013 draft.

Gardiner, Taylor, Cutler and Robinson* taken all after pick 21 in that draft year. All four are turning into consistent senior players now.

*edit - and McStay!!!

 

[lionshine]

I'm sure people haven't forgotten, but we really did nail that 2013 draft.

Gardiner, Taylor, Cutler and Robinson taken all after pick 21 in that draft year. All four are turning into consistent senior players now.

McStay starting to put it together as well.

 

[Dalions]

McStay starting to put it together as well.

Yep don’t forget poor old McStay, he is playing his role and creating a good contest and making it harder for opposition defenders. And bobbing up and kicking goals as well.

 

[Jivlain]

 

[Tom14]

Hippy has matched his goal tally from last year (30) and has taken more marks already with 6 games to go. Great chance to end up with 40+ goals

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Hippy has matched his goal tally from last year (30) and has taken more marks already with 6 games to go. Great chance to end up with 40+ goals

Hippy really getting amongst the goals.
Should end up with most goals since JB 's 2012 total goals of 47.
Beating
Zorko's 2017 total of 34 goals
Josh Green 2014 toal of 33 goals.
Keep marking as hes done in the past couple of games and just maybe he could get close to Browny's 47 goals.
The great thing about this little delight is that all these guys are selfless and team orientated.

 

[jjami15]

Got this from 'On the Couch'.

 

[luthor]

I knew the Bye would play us back into form.

The Bye are our bunnies

 

[Gadzorks]

View attachment 528538Got this from 'On the Couch'.

Go the young guns!!!!

I reckon Big O has a bit of mongrel in him that is going to be awesome! 204cm hard nut coming at you would be intimidating and guaranteed to make a few hesitate. And there is no escaping those go go gadget arms.

 

[POBT]

I knew the Bye would play us back into form.

The Bye are our bunnies

Need to convince the players that summer is just one long bye round.

 

[lioninthesand]

we always stumble into the bye and get a big bounce out of it.

 

[M Malice]

Look out when we make the 8 if they still have the pre finals bye round, unbeatable.

 

[blynd_freddie]

It has probably been mentioned elsewhere?
But just looking at our games since the bye we are

• 3W - 1L
• averaging almost 105 FOR and just over 73 AG
• and with an amazing percentage of 143%.

It’s no wonder it’s feeling good for us LIONS supporters at the moment, if only we could start a year like this!

*edit - also since the bye!

 

[Berrygood]

Its not just the youth playing in the firsts im excited about but the kids in the neafl with the potential to make us a club with great depth. Cox, keays, bailey, wooller, starc, payne , ballenden, allison, lyons, etc etc. Depth makes a team successful, something we have lacked for many years. I really hope we can keep this group together for many years to come. We could be in for something really special if we do.

 

[Berrygood]

I really wish the cameras wearnt in the sheds to see the team don their jumpers together. It was something born by the players, something private they have used to get the best out of themselves.

 

[cheekyLionsFan]

Its not just the youth playing in the firsts im excited about but the kids in the neafl with the potential to make us a club with great depth. Cox, keays, bailey, wooller, starc, payne , ballenden, allison, lyons, etc etc. Depth makes a team successful, something we have lacked for many years. I really hope we can keep this group together for many years to come. We could be in for something really special if we do.

and Skinner

 

[lioninthesand]

Hate to be rude but our young guns haven't been the only thing on the rise since the bye.

#aroused

 

[M Malice]

Hate to be rude but our young guns haven't been the only thing on the rise since the bye.

#aroused

 

[bungalow_bill]

Incredible how Hipwood has gone from marking fumbler to marking machine in just a handful of games.

 

[LongLion]

Incredible how Hipwood has gone from marking fumbler to marking machine in just a handful of games.

I think he has benefited from improved delivery and a better forward setup with the forwards not competing against each other as much