Preview Gold Coast Suns vs Brisbane Lions Saturday 27 April 2019 - 1.45 pm

[briztoon]

I've never been a fan of Lester and the only reason I wondered if I was wrong was because the club has always seemed to value him highly so there must be a reason for that .

Taylor had some good games last year and at least provides a bit more bite . Cutler I would play every time because he has what we currently lack and really think he played some great games last year. Would probably be the longest kick on our list bar Hipwood when he's on the run .

Answerth. Dunno ,he's just a kid , does some nice things. Overall a freshen up of the playing group can often do wonders and gets the guys in there a bit more motivated.

On a broader level we'd have to be disappointed if the Suns were winning more games than us after 6 rounds

Genuinely, the only knock on Lester is that he's one paced.

He really does all the team things, is versatile and can play multiple roles, though he prefers playing behind the ball, and would possibly be the smartest player out there after Hodge.

 

[3KZ is Football]

The thing with McStay is that he is the classic "project player" and they tend to be heart breakers and sometimes coach breakers.

McStay started as a forward with limited success, shifted to defence where he quite didn't work out, has now switched forward again and still struggling there.

After 84 games and plenty of opportunity his biggest 'bag' in a single game is 4 goals (against Carlton) and he has kicked 3 goals on only three other occasions. Hardly inspiring stuff. This year he is averaging a goal a game, but he hasn't kicked a goal in 2 out of 5 games.

I'd love to see him come good, but on what we have seen so far, it is not looking promising. I would have said he was worth another shot in defence, but with Walker in career best form, there really isn't a place for McStay in defence.

 

[Comeback Lions]

Picture this place if Lester takes out BOG.

Or takes a screamer and kicks the match winner, as he has done in the past.

 

[Gadzorks]

Like I said we won’t win a game with bundy in the team. Bloke is cooked. Changed my tip to Brisbane now he’s been dropped. Excited for the game and our new debutant

Tbh I think he’s checked out. Ready to move on and let his body recover from the past decade of bashing. Don’t want to see him in the ones again, let the hungrier ones take possession and move the club forward

 

[martinson]

Yeah I remember that . I was watching the game with my family and we were in total shock because he was the last player out there we thought could do that.

 

[carnthemlions]

Lester's generally composed in possession and can be counted on to do the right things (within his limitations). Any chance Hodge will be a late out? Based on his role in pre-season I thought Lester was pretty much our Hodge understudy.

I call Josh Corbett superior Burgess.

Burgess will be a bit of a loss for us, he doesn't do anything.

 

[briztoon]

Lester's generally composed in possession and can be counted on to do the right things (within his limitations). Any chance Hodge will be a late out? Based on his role in pre-season I thought Lester was pretty much our Hodge understudy.

Burgess will be a bit of a loss for us, he doesn't do anything.

I have been thinking the same thing. We don’t really have anyone in defence who can run with Lukosius if he plays as a high half forward and roams up the wing or through the midfield.

 

[dr731]

I’m hoping Lester takes a few of Mathieson’s midfield rotations.

 

[martinson]

I have been thinking the same thing. We don’t really have anyone in defence who can run with Lukosius if he plays as a high half forward and roams up the wing or through the midfield.

Hodge and Lester together ,with Walker not exactly quick could be a big liability unless we win contested possession further up the ground.

I'm sure the coaching staff have come up with what they think is our best mix for this game

 

[3KZ is Football]

I’m hoping Lester takes a few of Mathieson’s midfield rotations.

Does well in the middle.

 

[RU_]

Which game did Lester take a screamer and kick the winner?

 

[3KZ is Football]

Which game did Lester take a screamer and kick the winner?

Wait for it ...
https://www.lions.com.au/video/2017-10-11/player-review-lester

Perhaps it wasn't a screamer, but I was up that end and it was THE SEALER!

 

[StevoJenkins]

I see some using the old runs around in circles with Lewie and pre Fagan it was spot on. But I thought that post Fagan Lewie had moved on and was playing more instinctive and direct football.

It’s part of that whipping boy mentality where you don’t like a player and bring up everything he’s ever done wrong, even if they’ve improved.

If they don’t improve, then it’s justified, but Lewy has improved and I think he should’ve gotten a game last week. Adding speed to the team last week should’ve been priority against a team like Collingwood.

 

[briztoon]

The thing with McStay is that he is the classic "project player" and they tend to be heart breakers and sometimes coach breakers.

McStay started as a forward with limited success, shifted to defence where he quite didn't work out, has now switched forward again and still struggling there.

After 84 games and plenty of opportunity his biggest 'bag' in a single game is 4 goals (against Carlton) and he has kicked 3 goals on only three other occasions. Hardly inspiring stuff. This year he is averaging a goal a game, but he hasn't kicked a goal in 2 out of 5 games.

I'd love to see him come good, but on what we have seen so far, it is not looking promising. I would have said he was worth another shot in defence, but with Walker in career best form, there really isn't a place for McStay in defence.

McStay was one of the higher rated tall defenders at U18 level in 2013.

Gardiner was considered the best lock down tall defender.

Nick Robertson was talked about as a tall inside midfielder.

 

[martinson]

Totally agree . He was much better last year compared to previous years.

Cutler and Taylor are no brainers on current form and given areas where we've been lacking the last 3 or 4 weeks so at least the selectors have seen the light.

And let's hope people don't overreact if it's just one ordinary performance this week

 

[martinson]

And even if he runs around in circles a bit at least he's got it , some of the guys in there are very low on the possession count

 

[a mayes ing]

McStay was one of the higher rated tall defenders at U18 level in 2013.

Gardiner was considered the best lock down tall defender.

Nick Robertson was talked about as a tall inside midfielder.

Sometimes players just dont turn out the way we want them tho. Salem for example, Watts etc etc.
Gardiner l think will be very servicable for us. Same with McStay, still very much hoping for a breakout year.

 

[3KZ is Football]

McStay was one of the higher rated tall defenders at U18 level in 2013.

Gardiner was considered the best lock down tall defender.

Nick Robertson was talked about as a tall inside midfielder.

I thought Aaron Cornelius was alright too. In 25 games he managed 4 goals on three occasions and he averaged 1.4 goals a game.

But sometimes players just don't come on.

 

[BangyBangy]

Pretty happy with the changes to be honest. There's a lot of talk around here about speed & pace. Sure, a bit of run & carry is nice, but I think we can go overboard with it a bit. If you win the midfield, get first hands on it & are up in the game, funny how much faster you look. Don't care how fast you run, you can't outrun a good kick or 20 metre handball. How many greats of the game were instrumental in fast plays while still being dare i say it 'slow as treacle'. Fast brain, evasive skills, foresight to know / see where the play was going, lightning hands etc. When you're not in the game & chasing tail, you always look slow. Look at Melbourne right now lol.

 

[Thedeftouch]

Like I said we won’t win a game with bundy in the team. Bloke is cooked. Changed my tip to Brisbane now he’s been dropped. Excited for the game and our new debutant

TBH, Christensen has stood out as one of our weaker players in recent time. If you have access to the Kayo replay from the Collingwood game, see the following from the first half:

58:18 (minimal effort to lock ball inside 50)
1:00:30 (no real attempt to spoil mark)
1:19:14 (if he sprinted he could have been in position to receive a handball in space on the wing)
1:25:40 (didn't attack the loose ball and then allowed himself to get horribly out of position)
1:29:35 (losing sight of his man, who cuts back for an easy mark)
1:36:08 (poor positioning at the contest, allowing his man to receive an easy handball)


To be fair, Christensen did some good things in this game but I do feel he lacks the pace and energy that we need.

 

[martinson]

I thought Aaron Cornelius was alright too. In 25 games he managed 4 goals on three occasions and he averaged 1.4 goals a game.

Sometimes players just don't come on.

Seen it dozens of times over the years.

Clubs invest so much time and hope into certain players they start seeing things that aren't there.

McStay always looked a straight ahead backman to me and never really performed consistently in the forward line.

I think the guy is maybe a bit down on confidence overall for a couple of years actually , and you usually send blokes like that to the backline

 

[BangyBangy]

I thought Aaron Cornelius was alright too. In 25 games he managed 4 goals on three occasions and he averaged 1.4 goals a game.

But sometimes players just don't come on.

Totally agree. I loved Acorn. What great hands. Always thought he could've been anything. Unfortunately he didn't make it. Which I guess comes under the banner of 'anything' lol.

 

[3KZ is Football]

That said, Cornelius played 25 more games of AFL footy than me. All of these blokes that get 'potted' by us arm chair specialists are super athletes and much more capable than most of us were as players (if you played). The thing is that not all are cut out for long careers in the AFL and it's reasonable to question their contribution when they are out of form or keeping someone else out of the team. I just think on current form, McStay is lucky to be in the side and I doubt that he is ever going to be a successful forward.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Totally agree. I loved Acorn. What great hands. Always thought he could've been anything. Unfortunately he didn't make it. Which I guess comes under the banner of 'anything' lol.

His hands were nearly as good as Doc Wheildon's

 

[mpal6]

Wait for it ...
https://www.lions.com.au/video/2017-10-11/player-review-lester

Perhaps it wasn't a screamer, but I was up that end and it was THE SEALER!

Had a chance to kick the sealer in Vossy's last match as coach too !!

https://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2013/23/geel-v-bl

"
Late in the final term, key forward Jordan Lisle kicked a goal to reduce the margin to two points with three minutes to go, and the Lions' season was still alive.

Joel Selwood then produced a classy banana goal before Lisle again stood up, taking a strong contested mark and converting to make the margin two points again.

In a hectic final minute, Ryan Lester had a chance to win the game for the Lions, but his snap shot was rushed over the line with two seconds to go.
"