Unofficial Preview Round 21, 2025 v Collingwood @ MCG, August 3rd, 7.35pm.

[Nathan Barley]

Smith is not ready to solo ruck at AFL level. He was comprehensively beaten by Moyle in the ruck yesterday.

And the only teams that I can think of, that don’t have an AFL quality ruck are West Coast, and Essendon due to injuries.

West Coast, Essendon and Brisbane

 

[3KZ is Football]

I went to yesterday’s VFL game.

Reville was disinterested and played lazy football for most of the day. He’s capable, but just not putting in.

Joyce is several rungs below Gardiner in terms of quality and game sense.

Brain has gone backwards a bit. He’s as willing as they come, but he needs to work on his disposal.

The best players in our reserves are Marshall and Day, followed by Henry Smith.

Coleman is a mile off it at the moment. I believe he possibly needs to gain more confidence in his body, then his game will follow.

Doedee is even further away. At the moment, he hasn’t shown he’s regained his leap or agility. Currently, there’s not a chance in hell he could cover for Starcevich.

Edit: Yes I’m aware Marshall didn’t play reserves yesterday.

Thanks briztoon - you do have the advantage of being closer to, and having better insight into the reserves players and their form. I saw in the online reports that Brain and Coleman both played well down back. How did Joyce go? I would prefer him playing the ‘Payne Role’ ahead of Gardiner.

 

[M Malice]

Thanks briztoon - you do have the advantage of being closer to, and having better insight into the reserves players and their form. I saw in the online reports that Brain and Coleman both played well down back. How did Joyce go? I would prefer him playing the ‘Payne Role’ ahead of Gardiner.

Those online reports of our reserves games are totally useless 3KZ, the so called "reporters" just regurgitate stats they themselves see online.

Very obvious to anyone actually at the game or watching the live feed, not even worth reading.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Those online reports of our reserves games are totally useless 3KZ, the so called "reporters" just regurgitate stats they themselves see online.

Very obvious to anyone actually at the game or watching the live feed, not even worth reading.

I agree.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Thanks briztoon - you do have the advantage of being closer to, and having better insight into the reserves players and their form. I saw in the online reports that Brain and Coleman both played well down back. How did Joyce go? I would prefer him playing the ‘Payne Role’ ahead of Gardiner.

Brain was massive in the last quarter (not in an encephalitis way) and was instrumental in the win.

 

[BuntonRules]

Jaspa back to the HBF, to stiffen our defence. Marshall to start on the wing - he is best 22 now.

Henry for O - he is just not up to it at the present.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Brain was massive in the last quarter (not in an encephalitis way) and was instrumental in the win.

Get him into the seniors then. He could come in for McKenna, or if we were really going to roll the dice, Reville and Brain could come in for McKenna and Starcevich.

That said, we need to fit Lohmann back into the side.

 

[Section 5]

Get him into the seniors then. He could come in for McKenna, or if we were really going to roll the dice, Reville and Brain could come in for McKenna and Starcevich.

That said, we need to fit Lohmann back into the side.

I doubt Lohmann plays next week.
Fagan said 1-2 weeks and i recon it is 2 weeks minimum.
They rushed him back early in the season only to miss games again so they should be cautious.

Noticed him in the rooms after the Suns game and had a compression bandage on his left leg.

 

[Comeback Lions]

I went to yesterday’s VFL game.

Reville was disinterested and played lazy football for most of the day. He’s capable, but just not putting in.

Joyce is several rungs below Gardiner in terms of quality and game sense.

Brain has gone backwards a bit. He’s as willing as they come, but he needs to work on his disposal.

The best players in our reserves are Marshall and Day, followed by Henry Smith.

Coleman is a mile off it at the moment. I believe he possibly needs to gain more confidence in his body, then his game will follow.

Doedee is even further away. At the moment, he hasn’t shown he’s regained his leap or agility. Currently, there’s not a chance in hell he could cover for Starcevich.

Edit: Yes I’m aware Marshall didn’t play reserves yesterday.

Have to agree with this. Coleman and Doedee not close to playing seniors on current form. Joyce also seems to lack desperation and the defence certainly hadn’t played 4 quarters in the last couple of games. Brain however does play with intensity and is the one closest for mine, along with Beecken. Smith and Day could both come in… but probably not both of them together. I’d be inclined to go Fort and Smith, but reckon Fagan will go with the more experienced Day against the Pies.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Who has the linsfrac sprain ?

 

[twhowler]

Who has the linsfrac sprain ?

apparently the broadcast mentioned zorko which makes sense.

he only had 17 possessions

reasons are stacking up against us it seems

 

[M Malice]

apparently the broadcast mentioned zorko which makes sense.

he only had 17 possessions

reasons are stacking up against us it seems

If Zorko goes out we are just about done for 2025, we would have no one to provide that elite line breaking kick out of the back half, unless Kiddy suddenly turned his form around... unlikely sadly.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

apparently the broadcast mentioned zorko which makes sense.

he only had 17 possessions

reasons are stacking up against us it seems

If it was a linsfrac sprain there's no way he'd be running around. Couple month injury. Kalyn Ponga from the NRL has the sprain and wont play again this year.

 

[Nathan Barley]

If it was a linsfrac sprain there's no way he'd be running around. Couple month injury. Kalyn Ponga from the NRL has the sprain and wont play again this year.

What did Lachie play through last year?

 

[Beware The Wounded Lion]

What did Lachie play through last year?

Plantar Fascia

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Plantar Fascia

Probably what Zorko has. He was playing around with the arch of his foot in the dogs game.

 

[Tom14]

Not looking forward to this one.

 

[Elixuh]

Not looking forward to this one.

This is the mental litmus test. The capacity is there, its just a mental test.

Swans, Freo and Hawks - who gives a shit.

 

[MSB ROYS]

My expectations are low but we've turned it around several times this year.

 

[Sunny Land]

Probably what Zorko has. He was playing around with the arch of his foot in the dogs game.

He has a slightly bruised heel. Nothing serious.

 

[M Malice]

He has a slightly bruised heel. Nothing serious.

I really would like to know who you are Sunny L , you seem to have some serious inside info.

There have been rumours in the past of certain players/staff/media types being posters on here, most of them have never been unmasked.

Whoever you are in the flesh and blood world please keep up the posting, I enjoy your insights.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

He has a slightly bruised heel. Nothing serious.

Thanks Eel

 

[BangyBangy]

Gonna be a cracker of a game.

Weather looks like it will be nice (for winter in Melbourne).

Big game. We're clearly the underdogs even though it's at our home ground.

Perfect!!!

Lions by 5 goals.

 

[RoyBoy17]

I think we will make limited changes but if we play injured players then we are asking for it. Zorko looked like he couldn't run on the weekend so whilst it may not be a serious issue surely a couple of weeks off is better than just aggravating it. But who knows, if it's an issue that won't go away with rest then he's going to struggle for the rest of the year.

I suspect Day comes in for one of the rucks. But Fagan can be pretty stubborn with the two ruck option.

Doedee also has to be close, I think expectations of him at reserve level are unrealistic, I remember when Jack Payne was playing VFL he sometimes looked way off the pace and then when he came in at AFL level he looked a lot better. His last three weeks have been fine. He hasn't been amazing but it's certainly been a lot better than the start of the year and no different to what Gardiner has produced at that level either. We should try him at some stage.

Kiddy can also play forward remember, his class around the goals would be handy. He won't waste his chances.

 

[briztoon]

I think we will make limited changes but if we play injured players then we are asking for it. Zorko looked like he couldn't run on the weekend so whilst it may not be a serious issue surely a couple of weeks off is better than just aggravating it. But who knows, if it's an issue that won't go away with rest then he's going to struggle for the rest of the year.

I suspect Day comes in for one of the rucks. But Fagan can be pretty stubborn with the two ruck option.

Doedee also has to be close, I think expectations of him at reserve level are unrealistic,

It's not about expectations. Concerns are about what he's capable of physically. He's not the same player as he was pre injury. Doesn't have the leap, speed, agility or mobility. He will be badly exposed at AFL level.

Doedee wasn't a lock down defender before his injury. He was an undersized, intercepting third tall defender. He has not been capable of playing that role in the reserves.

What he currently is, is a contracted senior player, so he gets games ahead of VFL top ups.

I remember when Jack Payne was playing VFL he sometimes looked way off the pace and then when he came in at AFL level he looked a lot better. His last three weeks have been fine. He hasn't been amazing but it's certainly been a lot better than the start of the year and no different to what Gardiner has produced at that level either. We should try him at some stage.

Kiddy can also play forward remember, his class around the goals would be handy. He won't waste his chances.