Preview Swans v Lions SCG Saturday 15th March 3.15 pm AEST.

[Section 5]

No Cunningham so Charlie would be licking his lips after a 9 goal 32 disposal practice hit out.

Wicks, previously a forward has a new role with the Swans, and he will have a hard tag on Charlie.

 

[Dalions]

We need to get this win because they are just not that good, IMO.

They will be very hungry after last years Grand Final and not a great start last week.
They will have a serious crack, but hopefully we will be too good.

 

[Nunez]

I've felt Sydney will win given the lack of prep, but their midfield is paper thin without Gulden and Adams. Should be able to get it done.

 

[paullions]

I've felt Sydney will win given the lack of prep, but their midfield is paper thin without Gulden and Adams. Should be able to get it done.

There isn't much left of thier backline either.

 

[Grasshopper17]

Wicks, previously a forward has a new role with the Swans, and he will have a hard tag on Charlie.

He'll certainly have a hard tag on someone. If he marked up on Watson he may get Lohmann as more of a "like type".

 

[mpal6]

Wicks, previously a forward has a new role with the Swans, and he will have a hard tag on Charlie.

I believe Watson got outworked by Wicks and he was looking for frees, cheap high contact etc. I watched that game in full, the amount of times Watson will go for a lunge at pace with outstretched neck trying to get that high free was pretty funny. Seems Hawks are training for it, I saw a few do it.

Charlie would be a totally different kettle in terms of speed, fitness, experience and small forward craft. I can see Wicks getting a lesson if that matchup eventuates.

 

[Denno]

Taylor Adams out for 4 weeks

Bummer.

Don't rate. At all.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Lions to pull their pants down. This time in Sydney.

 

[Gadzorks]

In the grand final we were purring - everything clicked and the team functioned as one.

I'm hoping that playing Sydney gets us back into that mode. Be good to start the season playing like we did in the premiership game.

 

[Lace Out]

Can’t see it being anything like the granny but we’d be having an off day if couldn’t squeak past them by 1-3 goals

Lions by 11

 

[Berrygood]

First of all, keep safe everyone.
Seeing just about all arears around me have no power i will put this preview up now.
Hopefully the power stays on, but just in case it doesn't, a preview for some discussion for those that can.

View attachment 2244215View attachment 2244276​

Recent history in favor of the Lions since we became relevant in 2019
Lions have 6 wins to Sydney's 1 being an upset win round 1 in 2021 at The Gabba. Also beat them in the preseason game in 2024.

The Lions v Cats game postponed to round 3 so we missed out playing this week. Maybe a blessing, time will tell.

The Swans lost the opening round by 20 to the Hawks at the SCG. They trailed by 21 points at half time.
Swans fought their way back in the third quarter with a tag on Day (2 disposals for the quarter) and Hayman a defensive role on Sicily.
Both were effective moves by new coach Cox for that quarter anyhow.
They sent Wicks to tag the Wizard for the whole game, also effective.
After the Cox pressor i think Wicks goes to Cameron next week.
A dry game till about 7 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter when it was wet for the rest of the game.
However, in the 4th quarter Mitchell made his own change and moved Sicily forward to negate that defensive role on him.
Will the Swans go with some tagging roles against the Lions next week.
Both Swans halfbacks notched up good disposal numbers. Blakey & Roberts 26 each.
Warner looked more damaging in the first half but still played well with 2 goals and 21 disposals.
Warner did break a lot of tackles in that first half, so our guys need to stick most of them next week.
Heeney was okay with 21 disposals,10 clearances (6 centre). 7 tackles but i just don’t think he had much of an impact.
A bit hash i know with those stats. I suppose if you can keep him from scoring it is a reasonable win.
Swans have a new forward in their ex-defender McCartin. He had 7 marks and 7 disposals for 1 goal 1 behind.
We will have to keep an eye on him, but he is still new to playing forward.
Amartey chimed in with 3 goals 1 behind. They lost some height and leap in the forwards when Amartey went into the ruck though.
It was a fairly quick game and the skill level before the rain came was pretty good for the first game of the season.

The Swans have two advantages going into the Lions game. Playing at home and one game under their belt.
How the Hawks defeat effects their mindset and playing the grand final replay, we will find out next week.

Now to the Lions who likely fly to Sydney on Tuesday so they can get in some training.
With Starcevich likely to return who gets that last couple of spots and who is sub.

I think the side below is about 98% correct barring any training injuries.

B: D.Zorko, H.Andrews, N.Answerth

HB: B.Starcevich, J.Payne, R.Lester

C: J.Fletcher, J.Dunkley. J.Berry

HF: C.Rayner, E.Hipwood, C.Ah-Chee

F: C.Cameron, S.Day (F/R), L.Morris

FOLL: O.McInerney, L.Neale, H.McCluggage

I/C: K.Lohmann (F), W.Ashcroft (F/M/W), Z.Bailey (W/F/M), D.Wilmot (D)
Sub: L Ashcroft (toss-up between Bailey and Levi)

EMG: H.Smith, T.Gallop, L.McCarthy/C.McKenna

At this early stage i am not too worried about a possible Grand Final hangover.
However, playing the Swans away, a team after revenge for the grand final loss, and having 1 game under their belt makes it a bit of a challenge to get the win.
We are good enough to get the win, but our first game of recent past seasons has not always gone well either.
The Swans were okay against the Hawks but missing Gulden was telling in the end. Not sure when Mills is due to return.
Will the Swans do some tagging and have a defense focused forward go to Andrews like they did in the Hawks game.
The only one i think will happen initially, is Wicks to Cameron.
Someone may go to Neale but i noticed Neale spent a reasonable amount of time forward especially the Crows game.
That will break the tag, but he is used to it anyhow. Maybe it’s time Neale broke his season goal record of 16 from 24 games in 2015.
He kicked 13 last year but that was from 27 games.

Last year when we played our best, teams could not get near us.
Unfortunately, we were not at our best for quite a few games.

Listed below the players that got a game in 2024 and what i expect may occur in 2025.
Looking at our side an overall improvement from 2024 should be expected
Does not mean anything until we produce the goods though.

Improvement could be expected from:
Answerth, Wilmot, Payne, W. Ashcroft, Lohmann, Reville, Fletcher, Brain, Morris, Smith
Slight improvement:
McCluggage, Ah-Chee, Rayner, Starcevich, Bailey, Hippy
About the same:
Dunkley, Berry, McInerney, Neale, Fort, Robertson, Ryan
Possible decline:
Zorko, Cameron, Lester, McKenna
Unknown but AFL capable and return from injury players:
Day, Levi (the only one i listed without AFL game experience), McCarthy, Gardiner, Doedee.
The old "on paper we have a great side" is true for the Lions. We just need to do it on the field.

Our midfield is pretty flexible in Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, Will Ashcroft, Rayner, Bailey & Levi when he gets a run.
It has taken a few years to get the correct wing combination. Fletcher starting his third year and will improve in 2025.
Our combination of Berry and Fletcher could move into the very good AFL rank wingers category in 2025.
Berry excellent in 2024 and no strapping this year, and Fletcher had a good year.
Our defense is a solid team unit and should stay the same.
Forwards still good but as we all know Joe is a big loss.
I think Day gets first crack at the ruck/KPF role. Time will tell if it is an okay decision. If not, then they move to other options.

Lions by 19 points.

I think you nailed the team. Right down to the sub. Very happy to start with that. Bailey in the 22, he has declared he's fit and firing, he's a confidence player, got a feeling he's in for a big season. I'd like to give him the opportunity to prove it.

Devastated for Linc. I was hoping his return would allow Charlie to be more attacking this season. Gotta be a tough call for him to make about his career. He's a bloke that I'd hate to see lost to the club. If not a player, I'd hope another role within the club could be found. If he wanted of course.

For the squad, I guess Linc being put on the longterm injury list again, opens up a spot on the list at the midseason draft. Or is there a mechanism that allows an earlier list replacement? I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion here about who that player should be and what position is needed.

Back to the game v Swans. We should have their measure. A new coach, a few injuries and coming off a loss that would foster some doubt in themselves. Sure they will come out strong and hard early, but I reckon there'll be doubt in the back of their minds. We've just got to be strong defensively, back and fwd, and I think we can grind out a win. We won't be sharp, there will be errors, some will be rusty, it won't be a pretty win, but a win nonetheless.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Not sure if anyone here is aware (I wasn't until just now) but the Lions are running a poll to ask when they should have the flag ceremony, R2 v Eagles or R3 v Geelong. Very little time left. Not sure if this is going to be taken into account by the Lions or if it's just a social media engagement thing.

It's very close so might be worth getting on to this now if you haven't already

(Link deleted as it appears to link to my own vote)

If the link doesn't work, you can find the link in a recent Instagram story.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Lions by 27 pts. More misery for the swans.

 

[BrainOfMorbius]

Did you vote for WCE? IDK if that is a specific link to you only. I clicked try again and voted Geelong.

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Elixuh]

Thanks for the heads-up.

Please respect my privacy and vote Geelong

I deleted my post replying to you so your link is safe

 

[Viceregal]

Can’t see it being anything like the granny but we’d be having an off day if couldn’t squeak past them by 1-3 goals

Lions by 11

Sadly the first real game of the season for any team could be construed as an off day...

That being said I still expect us to win both on our skill and thier got-slaughtered-last-time worm in their brains!

 

[Perrip]

Lashcroft confirmed as a debut on 7 News just before by Daly in an interview.

 

[martinson]

Lashcroft confirmed as a debut on 7 News just before by Daly in an interview.

It was always going to happen. Who for is the issue.

 

[Section 5]

It was always going to happen. Who for is the issue.

With Starch back it has to be McKenna.

 

[martinson]

Sadly the first real game of the season for any team could be construed as an off day...

That being said I still expect us to win both on our skill and thier got-slaughtered-last-time worm in their brains!

I just don't think they're as good as us.

First up for us with them fired up after last week is the main problem but Andrews Payne and to a lesser extent Hipwood should be dominant considering the lack of depth in their M/F.

 

[Miluxx]

Pumped to see levi. What a squeeze on positions we have. Imagine when kiddy and doedee are fit.

 

[martinson]

Pumped to see levi. What a squeeze on positions we have. Imagine when kiddy and doedee are fit.

I'm happy to imagine.

Happier still when I see it.

We seem to be taking a conservative approach which is the only course of action with 2 players who could be very valuable. No hurry.

 

[Nunez]

Best depth in the comp as it stands. Let's hope we don't need to test it and the players stay fit.

 

[Tom14]

Skipped through the first crack preview of the round on Kayo. As far as I could see there was literally no time spent on the grand final rematch, lol.

 

[martinson]

Best depth in the comp as it stands. Let's hope we don't need to test it and the players stay fit.

That's always the issue isn't it. Linc is as good a depth player as you'd get in the AFL which is how he would've likely started the year.

Hoping Beecken might be a smokey. Like what we've seen so far. Even Dev is pure depth but he'd get a game in most other teams.