Review Round 1, 2026 - Sydney vs. Brisbane Lions

[Happy_Neale]

Surprised so many have ZZ coming out for Gardiner, I would have thought he would play at least until Harris is back. Looks ready

 

[wantok]

I thought Tunstill showed a bit last night once he got used to the pace of the game. He was ok on the wing and even seemed to be playing a forward defensive role on Blakey at times. I think he should get another shot next week.

He is an emergency option at his best. Just a touch off the level. I can't think that he could ever be a match winner but he can be serviceable. I think if he worked on his defensive efforts he'd warrant more games. If he was on Blakey i rest my case. He will make way next game with the return of Bailey and Mcluggage.

 

[irel]

Surprised so many have ZZ coming out for Gardiner, I would have thought he would play at least until Harris is back. Looks ready

I’d really like to see Zane get some genuine continuity next to Andrews for the rest of the year, or at least until Payne is fully ready to return. The development of Zakostelsky paired with Andrews could make a significant difference, and giving him an uninterrupted run might be exactly what our backline needs with an eye for the future.

 

[Nunez]

We have seen this script before. We will bounce back.

Two weeks to train and get ready for the season proper to begin.

 

[BuntonRules]

Got game time in to a lot that needed it, or will benefit long term.

ZZ did a couple of things that showed class, and read the game until he ran out of gas. Just needs more experience - potential Blitsavs - @ Nathan Barley.

Concerned about Allen. Just plods. No jump, no acceleration. Must admit, if at any stage he re-committed to the Weagles I would not have been worried.

Result as expected agin a red hot opposition.

 

[briztoon]

Rumour getting around that Gulden might be done for the season.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Surprised so many have ZZ coming out for Gardiner, I would have thought he would play at least until Harris is back. Looks ready

I think we must have been watching a different game

 

[Happy_Neale]

I think we must have been watching a different game

Okay

 

[Section 5]

Surprised so many have ZZ coming out for Gardiner, I would have thought he would play at least until Harris is back. Looks ready

Not completely against that idea as it fits into our last 3 GF selections of 2 talls and Lester
ZZ being just the 3rd defense tall will take a lot of pressure off a new player who's only AFL game was ruck relief.
ZZ jumped from 44% TOG to 90% the equal 2nd highest player on the field behind McCartin 95% & Lester 94%.
No wonder he slowed down and found himself out of position in the 2nd half.
The Saints tall selection will be either ZZ or Joyce. Joyce probably a better pick if you want to win but
One looks like he could be part of our future the other is a fill gap choice which is fine

Andrews and Lester played in all the 3 GF.
Payne played in 2024 but injured for the other 2.
Gardiner played in 2 but injured in 2024 when Payne played

The other defense issue
Starch played in all 3 GF and now missing. Answerth and Starch played in 2024 with Answerth not available in 2025
The Starch replacement is the spot that is still up for grabs in my opinion. But that's hard to fill with like for like

I don't see Answerth as a Starch replacement. They both played together in 2024.
Kiddy is not like for like but Fagan will keep playing him somewhere.
Kiddy would have to change his mind set to replicate that Starch role. Or Fagan has to insist on a more defensive game.
Same would apply to Wilmott & Fletcher or the club has to find a newer structure.

Maybe Bruce is a better fit for the Starch role freeing Kiddy up with Fletcher moving to wing which he played in the 2024 GF

 

[Mooch]

Would you believe we just got a 50m against for dissent? Zorko.

Now that I can absolutely believe.

 

[dlanod]

He is an emergency option at his best. Just a touch off the level. I can't think that he could ever be a match winner but he can be serviceable. I think if he worked on his defensive efforts he'd warrant more games. If he was on Blakey i rest my case. He will make way next game with the return of Bailey and Mcluggage.

Tunstill wasn't noticeably forward or on Blakey until the second half based off what I noticed at the game (pluses and minuses on visibility there).

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

Rumour getting around that Gulden might be done for the season.

Sucks to be him, I guess.

 

[Elixuh]

We have seen this script before. We will bounce back.

Two weeks to train and get ready for the season proper to begin.

The season proper doesn’t start until trade week.

 

[Pns_blister]

Only watched spurts of the game due to not being able to catch it live… but from what I have seen in the first two weeks our connection/ball use forward of centre has been horrendous. Been getting torched off turnover because of this. As has our defensive press. We have been allowing teams to just walk it out of their D50 from kick ins.

 

[luthor]

Yep; Dev Robertson showed way more. NFI how Tunstill was kept over Dev. Either way, with a full compliment to choose from, Tunstill doesn’t get close. In all honesty, would’ve liked to have seen Torrent tried at this level, we know what Tunstill offers and it isn’t much despite his obvious effort.

Worst yet, is the fact that since his debut in 22, he’s played 13 games and we’ve only won 5 times when he’s played for a 38% winning record when he’s in.

I hate those kind of selective stats.

Sounds an awful lot like scapegoating

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Yep; Dev Robertson showed way more. NFI how Tunstill was kept over Dev. Either way, with a full compliment to choose from, Tunstill doesn’t get close. In all honesty, would’ve liked to have seen Torrent tried at this level, we know what Tunstill offers and it isn’t much despite his obvious effort.

Worst yet, is the fact that since his debut in 22, he’s played 13 games and we’ve only won 5 times when he’s played for a 38% winning record when he’s in.

Maybe Torrent does show something at AFL level but he hasn't yet shown anything at VFL level. Unlike Tunstill.

 

[dlanod]

I hate those kind of selective stats.

Sounds an awful lot like scapegoating

Hmmm given where he lines up he usually replaces one of our top line mids. So the stat is basically "how many games do we win missing an elite mid?" A lot less interesting when you bear that in mind.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Not completely against that idea as it fits into our last 3 GF selections of 2 talls and Lester
ZZ being just the 3rd defense tall will take a lot of pressure off a new player who's only AFL game was ruck relief.
ZZ jumped from 44% TOG to 90% the equal 2nd highest player on the field behind McCartin 95% & Lester 94%.
No wonder he slowed down and found himself out of position in the 2nd half.
The Saints tall selection will be either ZZ or Joyce. Joyce probably a better pick if you want to win but
One looks like he could be part of our future the other is a fill gap choice which is fine

Andrews and Lester played in all the 3 GF.
Payne played in 2024 but injured for the other 2.
Gardiner played in 2 but injured in 2024 when Payne played

The other defense issue
Starch played in all 3 GF and now missing. Answerth and Starch played in 2024 with Answerth not available in 2025
The Starch replacement is the spot that is still up for grabs in my opinion. But that's hard to fill with like for like

I don't see Answerth as a Starch replacement. They both played together in 2024.
Kiddy is not like for like but Fagan will keep playing him somewhere.
Kiddy would have to change his mind set to replicate that Starch role. Or Fagan has to insist on a more defensive game.
Same would apply to Wilmott & Fletcher or the club has to find a newer structure.

Maybe Bruce is a better fit for the Starch role freeing Kiddy up with Fletcher moving to wing which he played in the 2024 GF

Gardiner coming back in which allows he or Lester to play more hybrid defender type roles…I think Fletcher is the only one who could play the Starce roll in our current backline but I think he’s too valuable to be a pure lockdown. So I can see Gardiner being the new Starc which he has done in the past with ZZ and Lester our talls until Harris is back. Can’t see the value of playing Joyce unless there’s another unavailability.

The problem remains the same though - how do you fit Zorko and Coleman into that backline with 2 KPD, hybrid defender, Answerth, Fletcher and Wilmot? 8 doesn’t go into 7

 

[twhowler]

Not surprised at the loss at all, but the start of that match was truly dire.

Glass half-full is that we had a lot of players out, therefore matched some synergy and connection, and also had some less experienced players panic when the heat was on.

Glass half-empty is that we still had plenty of experience out there, and that there were a lot of experienced players just coughing the ball up.

I think the MC / coaching left a bit do be desired. We looked big and slow up front and yet too small in defence. Lester did a ripping job on Curnow but it was all undone by letting Amartey get such an easy match-up. And given our pactchy backline we just had to shift one of Zorko or Coleman out of their to get more genuine defence.

Happy to be labeled a bed-wetter but i do think there are some things we need to address

- Opposition transition from defence. They are just waltzing it out. Is there something structural? have teams changed what they are doing? needs to be a major focus

- The game feels quicker. Need to bite the bullet and play one genuine ruck, however that is to happen.

- Coleman and Zorko can't be in the same backline, or at least playing the same role. Can Kiddy lock down more while he is getting his confidence back? Does Zorko have another role in him? It's just too attacking with Wilmot also have some attacking flair. He plays a perfect mix between defence and offence and i don't want to change his role, so it has to be one of Zorks or Coleman

 

[M Malice]

- Opposition transition from defence. They are just waltzing it out. Is there something structural? have teams changed what they are doing? needs to be a major focus

- The game feels quicker. Need to bite the bullet and play one genuine ruck, however that is to happen.

I don't think opposition strolling out of their defence is a major worry (yet), we were a goal away from beating a red hot Bulldogs side and the game v the Swans I'm happy to give the team a mulligan.

100% on the game feeling quicker, have not checked the stats but are the games higher scoring as well? IMO the game being played quicker will suit us if we are at or near full strength and in our best form, we are elite at going quick on turnover.

We can not afford to be 0-4, top 4 almost certainly gone if that is how it unfolds(we were 3rd H&A in 2025 with 6 losses), Saints and Pies coming up are early season "must wins".

 

[twhowler]

I don't think opposition strolling out of their defence is a major worry (yet), we were a goal away from beating a red hot Bulldogs side and the game v the Swans I'm happy to give the team a mulligan.

100% on the game feeling quicker, have not checked the stats but are the games higher scoring as well? IMO the game being played quicker will suit us if we are at or near full strength and in our best form, we are elite at going quick on turnover.

We can not afford to be 0-4, top 4 almost certainly gone if that is how it unfolds(we were 3rd H&A in 2025 with 6 losses), Saints and Pies coming up are early season "must wins".

If i had no job i would love to watch the behind the goals vision from last year and this year. Just seems like something has changed from turnover and kick-in.

I felt like the dogs game for the second half it was more individual brilliance from us that got our goals, and the dogs ones were systematic. the 26 point lead happened in the blink of the eye and then we were outplayed by 40 minutes. Now yes that could easily be fitness, at least in part. But we were still sliced open pretty easily.

We seem to be strugging to stop teams getting a run-on as well.

Given our turnovers would love to be playing more at the mcg, honestly seems to suit us these days.

I am hoping the Pies game is easier this year - we have a 5 day break vs 6 day break, same as last year. BUT last year we had played 5 in a row and played in very steamy conditions. THIS year we will have had bye then one game against the saints. And a few blokes have had 2 weeks off!

 

[M Malice]

If i had no job i would love to watch the behind the goals vision from last year and this year. Just seems like something has changed from turnover and kick-in.

I felt like the dogs game for the second half it was more individual brilliance from us that got our goals, and the dogs ones were systematic. the 26 point lead happened in the blink of the eye and then we were outplayed by 40 minutes. Now yes that could easily be fitness, at least in part. But we were still sliced open pretty easily.

We seem to be strugging to stop teams getting a run-on as well.

Given our turnovers would love to be playing more at the mcg, honestly seems to suit us these days.

I am hoping the Pies game is easier this year - we have a 5 day break vs 6 day break, same as last year. BUT last year we had played 5 in a row and played in very steamy conditions. THIS year we will have had bye then one game against the saints. And a few blokes have had 2 weeks off!

I'd put the look of the Bulldogs game down to them having a 5 week longer off season and hence a better endurance base, we looked absolutely shot physically a few times, we did so well to almost snatch the game in the end.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I didnt see an issue with Kiddy and Zorko defensively on the weekend but I do think Fletcher should go back to the wing with Noz playing.

 

[twhowler]

I'd put the look of the Bulldogs game down to them having a 5 week longer off season and hence a better endurance base, we looked absolutely shot physically a few times, we did so well to almost snatch the game in the end.

Fair enough. Let's hope so.

It was hot and steamy.

 

[twhowler]

I didnt see an issue with Kiddy and Zorko defensively on the weekend but I do think Fletcher should go back to the wing with Noz playing.

To me is wasn't an individual moment, and Kiddy cracks in pretty hard. it is more the structure of the backline and how much space players get.

Agree I would like to see Fletcher on the wing. He is a gun and we will get more out of him there.