Review Round 20, 2025 - Gold Coast vs Brisbane Lions

[Saucery]

Wouldn't call it a fluke, but there's no doubt the cards fell absolutely perfectly for us. Yeah, the players don't give a crap is OTT, but again, there have been times this year where the application to the task has been pretty below par.

And as I said, I didn't fully agree with what was said.

As so-called premiership hangovers go this one has been pretty mild so far.

 

[LionsMaw]

I'm not concerned about this loss.

Because it wasn't anywhere near as important as next week will be. I firmly believe the team were not trying that hard because they wanted to be at full strength/energy for the pies game. Losing by 66 pts isn't ideal but doing the bare minimum means our recovery will be faster.

 

[LionsMaw]

A great side that's been there for a while and really needs some rejuvenating got overwhelmed by the youth and endeavor of a side that is heading towards greatness, sick of losing to us and coming off a similar beating last week. Everyone needs a kick in arse every now and again, the greatest enemy of all elite athletes is complacency. They are beginning to believe and will do this to anyone not on their A-game.

Disagree strongly that the suns are "heading towards greatness". They are arriving at the somewhat consistent average side of good stage. They've got a fair way to go to hit greatness.

 

[Saucery]

Disagree strongly that the suns are "heading towards greatness". They are arriving at the somewhat consistent average side of good stage. They've got a fair way to go to hit greatness.

If you say so.

 

[GenericUsername202]

No team has ever lost to the suns, and won the gf. Which means congrats to GWS

 

[twhowler]

Flogged. Rowell & Anderson are close to the best 1-2 in the game, and the rest rose with them .

That said -

Bailey infuriates me, costs us more goals than he scores with defensive lapses and missed opportunities. Even when he kicked 5 he burnt a couple of team mates on prime positions.

Rayner was good, but he kicked 3 points in general play when a champ would nail at least 2 of them.

Charlie butchered a couple of gilt-edged opportunities. Others missed gettable opportunities.

And all at crucial times, changing the momentum.

bailey had a mare. perhaps distracted after his mum

he has mostly put them behind him this year, until the carlton game

 

[LionsMaw]

If you say so.

I do say so.

 

[LionsMaw]

How absurd; did I miss that next weeks game is worth more than four points? If it’s not, how could you say next weeks game is more important? Baffling logic.

Well see.....

 

[Saucery]

Well see.....

We'll

 

[LionsMaw]

We'll

Rather nit picky aren't we? Like yesterday's game not that big a deal in the broader scheme of things.

 

[Saucery]

I remember being in Cairns, then unfortunately one night the rain came down hard and the cane toads just came out of everywhere; like it was raining toads.

 

[Saucery]

Rather nit picky aren't we? Like yesterday's game not that big a deal in the broader scheme of things.

'aren't you'.

 

[On the quiet]

So let me get this right; there’s a different net effect by losing to the Suns and beating the Pies compared to beating the Suns and losing to the Pies because if that the case; you’ve lost me because that’s what you’re implying. Extremely odd logic.

Yesterday was a poor performance, and our percentage for a top 4 team is fairly moderate. Our percentage might be a reflection on our tough draw (to be expected as defending champs), or perhaps it is a reflection of where we are at, and our ladder position is a little misleading.

However, as strange as this might sound, IMO next weeks 4 points are worth more than the Gold Coast game. If we win away, we get to send a 'statement' to the competition leaders a month from the finals, and we also narrow the gap on one of our competitors for a top two spot.

 

[Coastal Lion]

Turned off at half time could see we were not there to play yesterday.
I have been harsh at times on Washy but he seems to let his direct opponent from stoppages run where ever they want if the ball clears the congestion and we lose the stoppage he just jogs along 5 paces behind his man it's becoming tiresome.
No votes as I didn't watch full game.
Tough run home will hurt us and I feel that we won't be playing deep into finals.
Payne and Noah injuries have really hurt the team.
GC out played us yesterday and with got the spanking we deserved.
I miss Joey.
Early finals exit could be a blessing.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I actually think there’s an argument that last year’s flag might be one of the least-fluky, most hard-earned premierships of all time.

We had to beat three top-four teams, all away from home, travelling three weeks in a row.

I’m not sure I can think of a premiership side who had to prove themselves more to get there.

 

[M Malice]

I actually think there’s an argument that last year’s flag might be one of the least-fluky, most hard-earned premierships of all time.

We had to beat three top-four teams, all away from home, travelling three weeks in a row.

I’m not sure I can think of a premiership side who had to prove themselves more to get there.

It felt hard earned even for me as a spectator, particularly being at the ground for the Giants and Cats wins, very hard on the nerves and heart.

Blues win was just too easy, and the GF was pure football ecstasy.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Turned off at half time could see we were not there to play yesterday.
I have been harsh at times on Washy but he seems to let his direct opponent from stoppages run where ever they want if the ball clears the congestion and we lose the stoppage he just jogs along 5 paces behind his man it's becoming tiresome.
No votes as I didn't watch full game.
Tough run home will hurt us and I feel that we won't be playing deep into finals.
Payne and Noah injuries have really hurt the team.
GC out played us yesterday and with got the spanking we deserved.
I miss Joey.
Early finals exit could be a blessing.

You can add Lohman to those two and all of a sudden we are lacking some fight out there.
I think Lohman gives us more cover on the field , he's very mobile and from the stands we were no where near the Suns level when it came to covering space when we lost at the stoppage or when we won at the stoppage.
They were exeptional. When we broke away we had little options , when they broke away they had players in open space .
Lohman is just one player that runs both ways and sometimes one more in the team will make a spark to turn the tide.
I can't even name or think of a particular moment where we lost the fight or when one of our boys didn't man up it just seemed to be all over the park.
I hope we don't just sweep this under the cover because I beleive we need to change the line up to fix this.
Unfortunately Fletch had to go back into Answerth's position and maybe that hurt us on the wings.

This is really for the next match thread , but I'll just add I'd like to see Brain in and that let's Fletch back on the wing.

Just back on the Suns.
It's no surprise they were a tighter outfit with Sam Collins back in, and what a difference he makes to players like Mac, no difference when we have Paine in ,in terms of how that frees up Andrews and our structure down there.
Lastly I like the stadium as a venue , but for some reason we just don't play well there , credit to Gold Coast .
They were just so much more hungrier for the win than our side , that was so clear.
Anyhow.
Stayed down there with our old neighbours and they drove , then back to their place ,onto a small brew house in Burleigh " Black Hops" then the Lifesavers for dinner , great night.

 

[Sunny Land]

I actually think there’s an argument that last year’s flag might be one of the least-fluky, most hard-earned premierships of all time.

We had to beat three top-four teams, all away from home, travelling three weeks in a row.

I’m not sure I can think of a premiership side who had to prove themselves more to get there.

Agree 100%. Some nuffie said it was a fluke but we as supporters were the ones with all the luck having our team win the flag for us…..HOW LUCKY WERE WE!!!
Despite the negativity on here by a few, I think there is a good chance of doing it again….with a bit of luck.

 

[Sunny Land]

Settle down, champ.

Calling the premiership a 'fluke' isn’t an insult, it's a reflection of how unlikely the path was, which is what makes it so special. A fluke is, by definition, an improbable event and coming from 44 points down against the Giants and then pulling off another miracle against the Cats at the MCG isn’t exactly standard fare.

So don’t twist my words into some attack on the club or its achievement. That kind of defensive take is just lazy.

Ironically, you even said yourself we might do it again; with a bit of luck. So by your logic, needing luck to win means it's not entirely repeatable, which is exactly the point I was making in light of the spanking by the Suns.

It’s not disrespectful to say last year’s flag run was improbable. It’s just accurate. Doesn’t make it any less glorious.

Dont know how much footy you have played in your career CHAMP, but to win ANY grand final you need some luck.

To the players, you calling their premiership last year a fluke would be one of the biggest insults you could give.

Moving on now.

 

[LionsMaw]

So let me get this right; there’s a different net effect by losing to the Suns and beating the Pies compared to beating the Suns and losing to the Pies because if that the case; you’ve lost me because that’s what you’re implying. Extremely odd logic.

Losing to the suns we were only going to drop one spot. Cats, freo & suns were not going to leapfrog us if they won.

Pies game is a home game for them. It's going to be in front of a sell out crowd of mostly their fans. It's a time for redemption & to show we're still contenders. We want to be fully rested.

The logic is pretty simple.

 

[twhowler]

Losing to the suns we were only going to drop one spot. Cats, freo & suns were not going to leapfrog us if they won.

Pies game is a home game for them. It's going to be in front of a sell out crowd of mostly their fans. It's a time for redemption & to show we're still contenders. We want to be fully rested.

The logic is pretty simple.

losing to the suns gives them a much stronger chance to pass us on the ladder. would have been much better to lose to pies and beat suns.

we don't need a statement game we need top 4

 

[LionsMaw]

losing to the suns gives them a much stronger chance to pass us on the ladder. would have been much better to lose to pies and beat suns.

we don't need a statement game we need top 4

A "statement game" against the pies is absolutely needed.
And you seem to think the suns will be good enough to win their last 4 games, tigers, blues, giants, & port. At most they might win two of those.

Of our last 4 games, pies, swans, freo & hawks, I'm confident we'll win at least 3 of those, especially since we've already beaten swans & hawks away & this time both those games are at hm. Freo is the only unknown quantity.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Settle down, champ.

Calling the premiership a 'fluke' isn’t an insult, it's a reflection of how unlikely the path was, which is what makes it so special. A fluke is, by definition, an improbable event and coming from 44 points down against the Giants and then pulling off another miracle against the Cats at the MCG isn’t exactly standard fare.

So don’t twist my words into some attack on the club or its achievement. That kind of defensive take is just lazy.

Ironically, you even said yourself we might do it again; with a bit of luck. So by your logic, needing luck to win means it's not entirely repeatable, which is exactly the point I was making in light of the spanking by the Suns.

It’s not disrespectful to say last year’s flag run was improbable. It’s just accurate. Doesn’t make it any less glorious.

Everyone knows a fluke means you completely assed it. Winning two away finals and a neutral grand final is not a fluke. Imagine showing that much heart during the finals only to have your own fans call it that.

 

[Elixuh]

I actually think there’s an argument that last year’s flag might be one of the least-fluky, most hard-earned premierships of all time.

We had to beat three top-four teams, all away from home, travelling three weeks in a row.

I’m not sure I can think of a premiership side who had to prove themselves more to get there.

I think you’re confused. You see we lost on the weekend which therefore jeopardises everything we have done in the past and will do in the future.

The three peat was a hoax.

 

[Elixuh]

Do they? I don't.

Perhaps go look up what the definition of fluke is “a stroke of luck,” “a chance occurrence,” “something unexpected” and you may come to realise you've been misinterpreting the meaning of the word all along.

To suggest that applying the term fluke to a flag run implies the team “assed it” is crude and ignores nuance and insults both the intelligence of those making the observation and the achievement itself.

A fluke doesn’t mean unearned and how you've even reached the conclusion is absurd. It also doesn’t mean lacking in merit or effortless, which is what people like you and Sunny Man are trying to suggest. It simply acknowledges the presence of fortuitous or unlikely events that most, not just Lions fans, would agre upon.

Calling something a fluke doesn’t erase heart, nor does it discredit the sustained effort our players have put in for years on end. It merely situates a moment within the realm of chance and improbability, which, ironically, is precisely what made our finals run so thrilling and memorable and not just to Lions fans.

If your position is that no elements of luck can coexist with effort or courage, then you’re not only being intellectually dishonest, you’re denying the reality of sport itself. Nearly every premiership team has had a bounce go their way, like it did for Collingwood in 2010. Acknowledging that isn't betrayal. It’s honesty.