Review Preliminary Final, 2020 - Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong

Who were your five best players against Geelong?


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youneverknow22

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Oct 9, 2020
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I think the oiling up narrative is pretty disrespectful to the way Geelong played. They should have beaten us by 10 goals. The fact of the matter is that we played an awful game on saturday night. This wasn't a GWS game where we lost honorably, we lowered our colors and were beaten by a side clearly better than us.
 
I think the oiling up narrative is pretty disrespectful to the way Geelong played. They should have beaten us by 10 goals. The fact of the matter is that we played an awful game on saturday night. This wasn't a GWS game where we lost honorably, we lowered our colors and were beaten by a side clearly better than us.

Just to confirm, you thought gws lost honorably in the grand final???
 

youneverknow22

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Oct 9, 2020
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Just to confirm, you thought gws lost honorably in the grand final???

I meant our loss to GWS last year. That was a game where we clearly gave it all, but lost to a team who wanted it more that night. Our game against Geelong had none of that. I don't know what happened, but we didn't play like we wanted to make the grand final. Look at Zorko's game, or Mcstay's. Even Rayner didn't compete in every contest. It was easily our worst performance of the year (bar maybe the north melbourne game). It was the complete opposite of the Richmond game, and had we played like we did in that game we could have/and should have won it.
 

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universalmagnetic
Jun 13, 2020
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I think the oiling up narrative is pretty disrespectful to the way Geelong played. They should have beaten us by 10 goals. The fact of the matter is that we played an awful game on saturday night. This wasn't a GWS game where we lost honorably, we lowered our colors and were beaten by a side clearly better than us.
I would disagree with you saying this is a dishonorable loss. Far from it. Yes the players weren't able to impact the game as they all would've liked, but they didn't give up and also unfortunately missed a few of the opportunities that they did get. Yes Geelong did too, but that's not the point.

I meant our loss to GWS last year. That was a game where we clearly gave it all, but lost to a team who wanted it more that night. Our game against Geelong had none of that. I don't know what happened, but we didn't play like we wanted to make the grand final. Look at Zorko's game, or Mcstay's. Even Rayner didn't compete in every contest. It was easily our worst performance of the year (bar maybe the north melbourne game). It was the complete opposite of the Richmond game, and had we played like we did in that game we could have/and should have won it.
Zorko has been playing injured others have said, McStay hasn't played a good game in months, and Rayner got what sort of delivery to play his role as the link to goal? It was not easily our worst game of the year, we gave only 40 points after rolling the dice late and fluffing some gimmes, against a side who just about did the pies by a ton last week.
 

youneverknow22

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Oct 9, 2020
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Brisbane Lions
I would disagree with you saying this is a dishonorable loss. Far from it. Yes the players weren't able to impact the game as they all would've liked, but they didn't give up and also unfortunately missed a few of the opportunities that they did get. Yes Geelong did too, but that's not the point.


Zorko has been playing injured others have said, McStay hasn't played a good game in months, and Rayner got what sort of delivery to play his role as the link to goal? It was not easily our worst game of the year, we gave only 40 points after rolling the dice late and fluffing some gimmes, against a side who just about did the pies by a ton last week.

Therein lies the issue. Why was Zorko playing? Didn't Noble state that he didn't play players who were clearly not 100%? We didn't play Gardiner who was 90%, despite probably being less of a liability than Zorko. I know Zorko was carrying an injury, but his decision to ignore surgery resulted in him having an average season and being a liability out there. I know he's our captain, but he shouldn't have been out there if he knew he couldn't contribute to the level that he knew he was capable of.
 
Jan 9, 2019
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Therein lies the issue. Why was Zorko playing? Didn't Noble state that he didn't play players who were clearly not 100%? We didn't play Gardiner who was 90%, despite probably being less of a liability than Zorko. I know Zorko was carrying an injury, but his decision to ignore surgery resulted in him having an average season and being a liability out there. I know he's our captain, but he shouldn't have been out there if he knew he couldn't contribute to the level that he knew he was capable of.
WOW...do you seriously think Zorko made a decision to ignore surgery? You really think its his decision to make all on his own?
 

youneverknow22

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Oct 9, 2020
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WOW...do you seriously think Zorko made a decision to ignore surgery? You really think its his decision to make all on his own?

I don't think Fagan would ever tell Zorko (or any player for that matter) not to have surgery. That isn't like him at all, and I think the decision was his in the end. Either way, Zorko has been playing injured all season and it goes against Noble stating we won't play injured players.
 
I don't think Fagan would ever tell Zorko (or any player for that matter) not to have surgery. That isn't like him at all, and I think the decision was his in the end. Either way, Zorko has been playing injured all season and it goes against Noble stating we won't play injured players.

Do you genuinely think players don't play through minor niggles?
 

jackess

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Therein lies the issue. Why was Zorko playing? Didn't Noble state that he didn't play players who were clearly not 100%? We didn't play Gardiner who was 90%, despite probably being less of a liability than Zorko. I know Zorko was carrying an injury, but his decision to ignore surgery resulted in him having an average season and being a liability out there. I know he's our captain, but he shouldn't have been out there if he knew he couldn't contribute to the level that he knew he was capable of.

Sounds like a very toxic narrative about Noble and Zorko. I hope someone steps up and corrects this like some brace person did when some people suggested trading Witherden might be a win-win
 

youneverknow22

Cancelled
Oct 9, 2020
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Brisbane Lions
Sounds like a very toxic narrative about Noble and Zorko. I hope someone steps up and corrects this like some brace person did when some people suggested trading Witherden might be a win-win
I don't think making jokes against mental health bullying is a joke anyone should be making
 

FLVanLandingham

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 3, 2017
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Ahh, the freshness of a new BigFooty account, all ready to jump into constructive debates and enjoyable commentary :)


I've really mellowed after the game now. I think the player I was most surprised in was Berry. Berry did have a lapse in form earlier in the season but had really got into his groove and seemingly had found what was working well leading up to the finals. I think it was more my hype and high expectations really so in the end it was nearly inevitable I got disappointed unless he blew the game apart :p. Also a few weeks ago I was loving Starc's balance and so on, but so often he lost his footing. Guess he was more nervous so felt he had to put more into his efforts, all or nothing
 

Tassie4ever

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I meant our loss to GWS last year. That was a game where we clearly gave it all, but lost to a team who wanted it more that night. Our game against Geelong had none of that. I don't know what happened, but we didn't play like we wanted to make the grand final. Look at Zorko's game, or Mcstay's. Even Rayner didn't compete in every contest. It was easily our worst performance of the year (bar maybe the north melbourne game). It was the complete opposite of the Richmond game, and had we played like we did in that game we could have/and should have won it.

All the above is 100% correct. If, IF, we'd brought the determination, full-court pressure that we have shown we are capable of, we'd have been a chance. We aren't as big, or experienced, or skilled. Attitude is optional. As we demonstrated.

IMHO, the additional week off wasn't to our advantage. I also strongly dislike the mid week promo about how we're gunna do this, gunna do that etc etc. Even Fagan got involved. Just STFU. And as Leigh eloquently put it, just get a kick. Too few actually did- get a kick, that is. Leave it to the Melbourne media mafia to self-flagellate about Gazza, Hawk, Selwood, etc. Just leave us out.

Plus- the obvious about McStay was eventually going to hurt us , and it did, bad. And please explain how an obviously overweight Birchall can get through an entire season without specialised assistance and support- extra training maybe?- from the myriad Club dietary experts, etc etc. Doesn't exactly show a lot of commitment to the cause. And as for him adding to our HB kicking and distribution skills etc- not on the evidence of Saturday night he doesn't anyway.
 

wantok

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Jan 3, 2012
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The centre clearances killed us along with their superior run and spread. By getting that first use they dictated the game would be played on their terms. Our backline tried admirably and our forwards just lacked for opportunities. All down to the midfield dominance unfortunately. The thing is we didn't learn much from our mistakes during the game and kept repeating the same centre set up. Just rotating personnell. We could have possibly tried a few hard punches forward or to the side to clear their larger bodies and break it up. Maybe go with a smaller ruck wildcard like Robbo. Just anything different to throw them out of their well drilled patterns.Big O kept trying to play Hawkins from behind at clearances and we left them with an offensive spare at most clearances.Oh well I am sure it will be covered in the review.
All up outplayed by a bigger and stronger side and in hindsight we have come a long way in a short time. A few missteps are like the selection and failure of CEY to deliver are inevitable and I sure already recognised. I look forward to our next final series with Robertson and Bailey through the middle and a Joey led forward line.

On CPH1920 using BigFooty.com mobile app
 

TheZork

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Apr 11, 2014
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I don't think Fagan would ever tell Zorko (or any player for that matter) not to have surgery. That isn't like him at all, and I think the decision was his in the end. Either way, Zorko has been playing injured all season and it goes against Noble stating we won't play injured players.
You should probably do your research and educate yourself before spouting utter rubbish on something you literally have no idea about.

Zorko ruptured his Plantaris, which is one of the few muscles in the body that humans have evolutionary outgrown and no longer need. The ruptured Plantaris has been rubbing on his achilles causing a bit of tendonitis. There is NO surgery for this. All you can do is rest up for a few months. There is also a very very low chance of injury while playing on it, it just needs to be managed and may be uncomfortable. So either Zorko doesn't play all season, or he plays through the season and rests up for a few months at the end. Pretty easy decision don't you think? Seeing as though no one outside the 22 would've been better than Zorko anyway. That's very different to the bone bruising Gardiner has, which is what Cameron also had mid year. I think we all saw how bone bruising affected Cameron so Gardiner would've been no better. Stop being so ignorant.
 
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I think the oiling up narrative is pretty disrespectful to the way Geelong played. They should have beaten us by 10 goals. The fact of the matter is that we played an awful game on saturday night. This wasn't a GWS game where we lost honorably, we lowered our colors and were beaten by a side clearly better than us.

We were a Lester and Zorko goals from starting to push Geelong seriously.

We missed ours and they kicked theirs, then it just dropped off for our team. Bad kicking is bad footy, even more so in finals.
 
Apr 11, 2016
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During the post game presser Fagan said at about 5:40 Gardiner was able to run at about 85% but couldn't get that extra 15% that you need so we couldn't pick him.

If it was 85% mobility in his shoulder he would of played, not being able to run when he's not super quick is a whole different story.

Didn't cost us the game and hopefully Gardiner gets a crack at a prelim in 2021
 
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