Unofficial Preview Round 22, 2025 v Swans @ Gabba, Saturday August 9th 4.15pm

[Mr Ripper]

Been a slow metamorphosis in Shagga’s game over recent weeks: playing farther up the ground; starting at centre bounces; even laying a couple of tackles.

Stand-by for Shagga Neale, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[LionsOrDieTrion]

Oh yes forgot we have a game on Saturday after tonight’s festivities. Go team!

 

[Sproj]

Injuries are really piling up for both Lions and Broncs, it sucks.

Still so grumpy over the Broncs halves going down at the same time. Cost us the game. Hopefully Neale and Lester out won’t do the same here. Top 1 or 2 is still possible if we win all remaining games.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Injuries are really piling up for both Lions and Broncs, it sucks.

Still so grumpy over the Broncs halves going down at the same time. Cost us the game. Hopefully Neale and Lester out won’t do the same here. Top 1 or 2 is still possible if we win all remaining games.

I may never recover. Lions IMO have the depth to cover the midfield but how Doedee plays is anyone's guess really.

 

[LongLion]

Injuries are really piling up for both Lions and Broncs, it sucks.

Still so grumpy over the Broncs halves going down at the same time. Cost us the game. Hopefully Neale and Lester out won’t do the same here. Top 1 or 2 is still possible if we win all remaining games.

Not a big fan of BT however he has all year had us as his flag favourites for one main reason. The depth of our player list. At this stage this is proving to be on the mark. Time will tell though.

 

[BrisVegasDru]

Just been on the ladder predictor, am really nervous about this game. Swans so much stronger with Gulden and Mills back playing well, and Grundy in the form of his life. I reckon if we drop even one of our last 3 games we will finish in 6th and like last year be on the road after 1 home final (Should we prevail).

The hawks game suddenly looks tougher too, the good news in my little mind is the silver lining from Lachie's absence means there will be zero complacency within the team, and everyone should be switched on from the start.

Even though we are in a better position on paper this year it shows just had darn hard it is to win a flag, let alone go back to back.

Go Lions give 100% and if the result is in doubt late in the final quarter surely we will want it more...

 

[mattsmob]

I may never recover. Lions IMO have the depth to cover the midfield but how Doedee plays is anyone's guess really.

I’m strangely confident Doedee won’t let us down, he may be a little scratchy but he’s just a smart and courageous footballer. He was a great interceptor but I don’t think his game ever relied on athleticism. I think he’ll slot in nicely

 

[Son of Superboot]

You really have to wonder how much attention the Vic based journo's pay attention to the Lions.
This morning's click-bait "Sliding doors" by D Barrett.

"the Lions may just be nearing breaking point. Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

the latest to go down, out for the remainder of the home and away season with quad damage. Coleman, Payne, Lohmann, Answerth, Lester, McCarthy, McKenna are all big outs".

Seriously! Coleman hasn't played for nearly 2 yrs, similar for McCarthy (1.5 yrs) McKenna has only been a bit player/sub (5 games in 2025). Yes Payne and Answerth are big outs, but every team has to deal with injuries and having good depth to cover them.

 

[RandomPest]

Few people in here haven't gotten over his Guernsey being ripped off a few years ago. They're probably hoping for a round 2.

I don't know what you're talking about

 

[Dalions]

You really have to wonder how much attention the Vic based journo's pay attention to the Lions.
This morning's click-bait "Sliding doors" by D Barrett.

"the Lions may just be nearing breaking point. Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale the latest to go down, out for the remainder of the home and away season with quad damage. Coleman, Payne, Lohmann, Answerth, Lester, McCarthy, McKenna are all big outs".

Seriously! Coleman hasn't played for nearly 2 yrs, similar for McCarthy (1.5 yrs) McKenna has only been a bit player/sub (5 games in 2025). Yes Payne and Answerth are big outs, but every team has to deal with injuries and having good depth to cover them.

Yes and no, all of those players are really good depth at a minimum and when talking about depth they are about the best of them, making us weaker when thinking of the available list.

 

[Gadzorks]

Few people in here haven't gotten over his Guernsey being ripped off a few years ago. They're probably hoping for a round 2.

I wish i had an equivalent photo of me young, looking in that good a shape. Not a premiership medal, but still a bloody good trophy.

How does photoshop work?

 

[Ceebee]

Hopefully Fages has the boys totally primed for this game .

 

[JasRulz63]

Yes and no, all of those players are really good depth at a minimum and when talking about depth they are about the best of them, making us weaker when thinking of the available list.

I agree. Take four best 22 defenders, no. 2 (only recently not no. 1) midfielder and close to best small forward out of every side and they'd struggle. Not to mention the depth out as well.

It's a good test for us. I suspect every other team would struggle.

 

[M Malice]

You really have to wonder how much attention the Vic based journo's pay attention to the Lions.
This morning's click-bait "Sliding doors" by D Barrett.

"the Lions may just be nearing breaking point. Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale the latest to go down, out for the remainder of the home and away season with quad damage. Coleman, Payne, Lohmann, Answerth, Lester, McCarthy, McKenna are all big outs".

Seriously! Coleman hasn't played for nearly 2 yrs, similar for McCarthy (1.5 yrs) McKenna has only been a bit player/sub (5 games in 2025). Yes Payne and Answerth are big outs, but every team has to deal with injuries and having good depth to cover them.

We can cover most of those outs, only one I'm really a tad worried about is being without Jack Payne against the taller forward line ups ie. Crows, Bulldogs, Dockers.

We can cover Lachie for a few weeks but need him for finals, and as you say Linc and Kiddy were never going to figure in finals this year anyway.

We do not want anymore injuries to vital players though, eg. Harris, Clugga, Zac, Cam, Logan, Josh, Jarrod, Will.

 

[davemc_lions]

We do not want anymore injuries to vital players though, eg. Harris, Clugga, Zac, Cam, Logan, Josh, Jarrod, Will.

Now you done it...
I think we can cover everyone this year apart from Harris now Payne gone.

 

[braddsey]

We can cover most of those outs, only one I'm really a tad worried about is being without Jack Payne against the taller forward line ups ie. Crows, Bulldogs, Dockers.

We can cover Lachie for a few weeks but need him for finals, and as you say Linc and Kiddy were never going to figure in finals this year anyway.

We do not want anymore injuries to vital players though, eg. Harris, Clugga, Zac, Cam, Logan, Josh, Jarrod, Will.

Which shows why we struggle when our midfield is off. We rely on midfield to prevent the opposition getting easy entries to our D50.
When midfield is on and applies pressure our weaker backline can manage.

 

[TopUpFan]

Which shows why we struggle when our midfield is off. We rely on midfield to prevent the opposition getting easy entries to our D50.
When midfield is on and applies pressure our weaker backline can manage.

I don't know of many defensive units that can manage well when their midfield is off

 

[Ironmonger]

You really have to wonder how much attention the Vic based journo's pay attention to the Lions.
This morning's click-bait "Sliding doors" by D Barrett.

"the Lions may just be nearing breaking point. Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale the latest to go down, out for the remainder of the home and away season with quad damage. Coleman, Payne, Lohmann, Answerth, Lester, McCarthy, McKenna are all big outs".

Seriously! Coleman hasn't played for nearly 2 yrs, similar for McCarthy (1.5 yrs) McKenna has only been a bit player/sub (5 games in 2025). Yes Payne and Answerth are big outs, but every team has to deal with injuries and having good depth to cover them.

Sliding Doors is awful, but I think that's a pretty neat compliment. I get more huffy when Vic journos forget about our injuries.

 

[Gadzorks]

You really have to wonder how much attention the Vic based journo's pay attention to the Lions.
This morning's click-bait "Sliding doors" by D Barrett.

"the Lions may just be nearing breaking point. Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale the latest to go down, out for the remainder of the home and away season with quad damage. Coleman, Payne, Lohmann, Answerth, Lester, McCarthy, McKenna are all big outs".

Seriously! Coleman hasn't played for nearly 2 yrs, similar for McCarthy (1.5 yrs) McKenna has only been a bit player/sub (5 games in 2025). Yes Payne and Answerth are big outs, but every team has to deal with injuries and having good depth to cover them.

He's just giving opposition supporters a slither of hope. Didn't want to just say the obvious.

 

[M Malice]

Fages in his pre game presser saying that Kai Lohmann is a possibility of being back next week, although more likely it will be for the final H&A game.

 

[Saucery]

I’m strangely confident Doedee won’t let us down, he may be a little scratchy but he’s just a smart and courageous footballer. He was a great interceptor but I don’t think his game ever relied on athleticism. I think he’ll slot in nicely

Some players just don't shine at lower levels. He may need the speed and stronger structures of AFL play to bring out his best. Even just having big crowds can help.

 

[Section 5]

Thats a big welcome change in rain levels from a day or two ago

Happy about that as our last game in real wet conditions was pretty bad

1 to 5 mm but windy

 

[Grasshopper17]

Thats a big welcome change in rain levels from a day or two ago

Happy about that as our last game in real wet conditions was pretty bad

1 to 5 mm but windy

View attachment 2389754

Not so bothered about the weather having an adverse effect on our playing style. The wet weather suited Gold Coast's modus operandi right down to the ground. Sydney play quite differently tho and I imagine any wet weather will not lend itself to the possession-based way they generally like to move the ball.

More concerning tomorrow is our attitude to any inclement weather. The lads looked like they genuinely did not want to be out there down at Carrara. We need to be better, emotionally stronger, in this aspect tomorrow.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Seems like everytime we play at the gabba, the weather is shit.

 

[Ceebee]

I wanted Cal to have a good game last week , didn’t happen , hopefully tomorrow is his time .