Unofficial Preview Semi Final Saturday 7:35pm vs Gold Coast @ GABBA

[Full Wingspan]

I feel the inexperienced forward line and the lack of options for our 'get out kick' impacted the decision-making of our mids up the field, which was part of the reason we went for that extra handball and invited the pressure from Geelong which resulted in more turnovers. We really need the likes of Rayner, Berry, Lohman and Cal to start playing taller or at least provide that quicker marking option for or mids.

 

[twhowler]

We did well without them against much, much, much weaker opponents

Reville and Marshall aren't going to cope with the kind of pressure Geelong dished out

By what measure is Hawthorn are a 'much, much, much' weaker opponent?

Those players would not have been inside mid. That's where we got smashed.


Do you think Neale played well?

 

[Nathan Barley]

By what measure is Hawthorn are a 'much, much, much' weaker opponent?

Those players would not have been inside mid. That's where we got smashed.


Do you think Neale played well?

Pressure is the main one. If the Hawks played like they did against us against Geelong the way they played last weekend they would've crumbled like we did

Neale was well below his best but played ok overall

 

[p4p1]

Do the coaches become tempted to go small in the forward line?
Very similar to what 3KZ wrote

FB: Lester Gardiner Zorko
HB: Starcevich Andrews Fletcher
C: Berry McCluggage Marshall
HF: Reville Morris Lohmann
FF: Rayner McInerney Cameron
FOL: Fort, Dunkley, W. Ashcroft
INT: Wilmot, Bailey, McKenna, Ah Chee
SUB: Levi

I'm really tempted to have Charlie as the sub. He is woefully out of form and I believe at this stage, Levi is offering more than he is. Levi doesn't bring the same threat around goals as Charlie in his prime but Charlie isn't bringing that either.

 

[Sproj]

I'm starting to get a bit more confident the closer we get. One or two tweaks and we should be fine. Don't think this side will get caught with its pants down two weeks in a row in finals.

I do wonder whether subconsciously they just didn't turn up knowing they had a get out of jail free card, we've kind of done it all season this way. When you see the game getting away from you knowing you have the double chance and you are beat up, all it takes is to just a couple of players to put the cue in the rack and before you know it, the game is gone. I think that happened last week.

I expect us to come out angry this week with a point to prove.

 

[lions2010]

I'm starting to get a bit more confident the closer we get. One or two tweaks and we should be fine. Don't think this side will get caught with its pants down two weeks in a row in finals.

I do wonder whether subconsciously they just didn't turn up knowing they had a get out of jail free card, we've kind of done it all season this way. When you see the game getting away from you knowing you have the double chance and you are beat up, all it takes is to just a couple of players to put the cue in the rack and before you know it, the game is gone. I think that happened last week.

I expect us to come out angry this week with a point to prove.

#Believe

 

[Nunez]

I thought we'd lose against the Cats.

I feel we'll win v the Suns.

 

[mpal6]

I feel the inexperienced forward line and the lack of options for our 'get out kick' impacted the decision-making of our mids up the field, which was part of the reason we went for that extra handball and invited the pressure from Geelong which resulted in more turnovers. We really need the likes of Rayner, Berry, Lohman and Cal to start playing taller or at least provide that quicker marking option for or mids.

Take turns to lead I guess. Lead to wing or through the middle.

It was too static and everyone was trying to stay still and then jump above the packs.

The entire small forward line needs to work harder - alongside Day, Morris and Gallop.

 

[M Malice]

Do the coaches become tempted to go small in the forward line?
Very similar to what 3KZ wrote

FB: Lester Gardiner Zorko
HB: Starcevich Andrews Fletcher
C: Berry McCluggage Marshall
HF: Reville Morris Lohmann
FF: Rayner McInerney Cameron
FOL: Fort, Dunkley, W. Ashcroft
INT: Wilmot, Bailey, McKenna, Ah Chee
SUB: Levi

I'm really tempted to have Charlie as the sub. He is woefully out of form and I believe at this stage, Levi is offering more than he is. Levi doesn't bring the same threat around goals as Charlie in his prime but Charlie isn't bringing that either.

So you have gone >

Outs- Sam Day, Ty Gallop, Lachie Neale, Levi Ashcroft(to sub).

Ins- Oscar McInerney, Bruce Reville, Sam Marshall, Conor McKenna.

Actually really like it, Reville/Marshall/McKenna gives us a fair bit more run and agility which we will need, Suns a very hard long running side, the Big O will do just as good as a long kick outlet target around the ground and aerial contest in our F50 if not better if he's anywhere near fully fit as Sam Day has.

Can not see Fages going this route though.

 

[GenericUsername202]

So you have gone >

Outs- Sam Day, Ty Gallop, Lachie Neale, Levi Ashcroft(to sub).

Ins- Oscar McInerney, Bruce Reville, Sam Marshall, Conor McKenna.

Actually really like it, Reville/Marshall/McKenna gives us a fair bit more run and agility which we will need, Suns a very hard long running side, the Big O will do just as good as a long kick outlet target around the ground and aerial contest in our F50 if not better if he's anywhere near fully fit as Sam Day has.

Can not see Fages going this route though.

Can't see Fages dropping Day because it's been proven over and over again that Fort and Oscar can't play together. Day is unfortunately the best we have until we get Allen and Draper next year.

 

[M Malice]

 

[SizeMatters]

Chris Fagan mentioned in his post game presser that we over handballed.

Fagan was obviously reading my comments in the game day thread. Get your own content Fagan.

 

[Section 5]

Glad that Neale has been put down as "Season"
Now some players can go forward knowing they will most likely be in the 23

BRISBANE LIONS

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Noah Answerth	Achilles	Season
Keidean Coleman	Quad	Season
Tom Doedee	Wrist	Season
Eric Hipwood	Calf	Season
Lincoln McCarthy	Knee	Season
Lachie Neale	Calf	Season
Jack Payne	Knee	Season
Updated: September 9, 2025

In the mix​

At least one change for Brisbane to face Gold Coast on Saturday night following the injury to Neale. The Lions will likely recall Bruce Reville into their 23, with Zac Bailey, Levi Ashcroft and Cam Rayner to share more midfield minutes. They could also opt to recall Oscar McInerney as a tall forward and back-up ruck at the expense of Sam Day or Ty Gallop following his excellent recent form in the VFL. If Chris Fagan wanted to go even smaller, he could select either Conor McKenna or Will McLachlan to go alongside two tall targets. – Michael Whiting

GOLD COAST SUNS

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Charlie Ballard	Knee	Season
Sam Clohesy	Ankle	Test
Zak Evans	Thumb	1-3 weeks
Will Graham	Shoulder	Test
Elliott Himmelberg	Knee	Season
Max Knobel	Foot	Season
Updated: September 9, 2025

In the mix​

A couple of fresh bodies are in the frame for selection should Damien Hardwick want to tinker with his winning outfit to face Brisbane at the Gabba. Graham, one of the coach’s favourites, will have to pass a test and would loom as an ideal substitute with his midfield and half-forward versatility. But would Hardwick take elimination final hero David Swallow out of his 23? Clohesy was also a regular on the wing before his injury and would come under heavy consideration. – Michael Whiting

 

[bungalow_bill]

From what Dunkley said looks like Levi in the guts to replace Neale.

 

[Squizz89]

Might be still a bit of that sickness going around the team…

 

[Nathan Barley]

Might be still a bit of that sickness going around the team…

We’re definitely cursed this year

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

The biggest challenge facing us could be how we keep Clugga in the game.
Wouldn’t bet against the suns tagging him.
We need his hands on the ball and getting leather poisoning.
We missed that last week,his ability to get out of a tight spot and delivering lace out kicks.
Hopefully he is up to it and if he is targeted there is a plan to combat it.
You know learnings

 

[M Malice]

The biggest challenge facing us could be how we keep Clugga in the game.
Wouldn’t bet against the suns tagging him.
We need his hands on the ball and getting leather poisoning.
We missed that last week,his ability to get out of a tight spot and delivering lace out kicks.
Hopefully he is up to it and if he is targeted there is a plan to combat it.
You know learnings

Touk Miller?

Dimma doesn't usually go the heavy tag, hopefully if he goes against his norm it upsets their system a tad.

I was a bit despondent about this game after the Suns win but I am getting more upbeat about our chances if we can bring our intensity and pressure game, as they say we will know relatively early if we are ON.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Do the coaches become tempted to go small in the forward line?
Very similar to what 3KZ wrote

FB: Lester Gardiner Zorko
HB: Starcevich Andrews Fletcher
C: Berry McCluggage Marshall
HF: Reville Morris Lohmann
FF: Rayner McInerney Cameron
FOL: Fort, Dunkley, W. Ashcroft
INT: Wilmot, Bailey, McKenna, Ah Chee
SUB: Levi

I'm really tempted to have Charlie as the sub. He is woefully out of form and I believe at this stage, Levi is offering more than he is. Levi doesn't bring the same threat around goals as Charlie in his prime but Charlie isn't bringing that either.

Oscar resting forward would be a truly scary option for Gold Coast, especially if he clunks a couple early. Might be a great way to get Cameron into the game, get him crumbing and looking dangerous instead of being one out and getting scragged.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Touk Miller?

Dimma doesn't usually go the heavy tag, hopefully if he goes against his norm it upsets their system a tad.

I was a bit despondent about this game after the Suns win but I am getting more upbeat about our chances if we can bring our intensity and pressure game, as they say we will know relatively early if we are ON.

Touk could get a tight grip on him if he’s not careful

 

[archangel1979au]

Oscar resting forward would be a truly scary option for Gold Coast, especially if he clunks a couple early. Might be a great way to get Cameron into the game, get him crumbing and looking dangerous instead of being one out and getting scragged.

Problem is for a small crumbling forward he appears to rarely do that. Much prefers to try and wrestle or flop for free kicks these days. He should be holding back trying to jump on the loose ball when it spills out.

 

[twhowler]

Pressure is the main one. If the Hawks played like they did against us against Geelong the way they played last weekend they would've crumbled like we did

Neale was well below his best but played ok overall

They ramped it up. But every team does for finals. Well except us last week lol.

Hawks were pretty good against the giants.

I have no idea what factors went in to Neale playing at selection and therefore what view I would have taken, but he looked way off to me. Never seen him miss so many handballs.

 

[Lions2Good]

Looking forward to the lions winning the ACADEMY RORTS FINALS CLASH

 

[3KZ is Football]

Problem is for a small crumbling forward he appears to rarely do that. Much prefers to try and wrestle or flop for free kicks these days. He should be holding back trying to jump on the loose ball when it spills out.

Absolutely correct. His work out the back is great if he can get goal side, but he negates his best assets when he wrestles ‘one out’ with an opponent. We need him running and crumbing, not holding and folding.

 

[eighties]

Quick question if anyone can help...

We are driving up to Brisbane from GC in the arvo maybe 3-4pm plan is to park somewhere, go for a beer/food at a pub before game.

Any advice on where to park and good pub to go to?

thanks