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

[MSB ROYS]

Until we get eliminated, I am still thinking of 2003's final series.
If our midfield is not badly beaten, I think our backline can hold on. The important thing is that our forwards need to lift big time and also not let the ball just bounce straight to back out.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Agree the phrasing is different but the actual point his making is probably one a lot of people can agree with.

Injuries have hurt us this season and a few of our experienced players we need the rely on have been quite disappointing

We're also capable with a full squad of playing significantly better footy than the Suns.

There's really no need to dwell on the negatives. We've had many incredible performances this season without relying on all of our best 22 to all fire at once

Plus it's a final, anything can happen. As Lions supporters we should know that better than most

 

[Squizz89]

Until we get eliminated, I am still thinking of 2003's final series.
If our midfield is not badly beaten, I think our backline can hold on. The important thing is that our forwards need to lift big time and also not let the ball just bounce straight to back out.

Would set a simple goal for Charlie, Kai, Cal tomorrow. If we can get double digit numbers in tackles combining those 3 they will have down their job; Goals will come off the back of that, but if the ball is pinging straight back outta there like it was last week, they'll carve us up going back the other way.

 

[mattsmob]

We're also capable with a full squad of playing significantly better footy than the Suns.

There's really no need to dwell on the negatives. We've had many incredible performances this season without relying on all of our best 22 to all fire at once

Plus it's a final, anything can happen. As Lions supporters we should know that better than most

I don’t disagree but that’s pretty wishy washy way to preview a final. I think we’ve got enough to get it done but don’t think it’s a doomer take to point out our flaws that could hold us back.

A lot of people, including yourself, point out the exact same stuff once the game starts anyways

 

[twhowler]

I was a bit skeptical of us during the year. Hunger seemed missing at key moments. But the way we were able to win tough games at the end - and that swans loss was disappointing but we had so many defenders out and it ruined our press - that i think in the end we had timed our run well and were in with a red-hot chance of winning another flag.

Unfortunately two things have happened.

Geelong prepared mightily well, using their easy run-in to look absolutely cherry-ripe. Worth noting they did that last year in week one.

And then how poorly we played. It's multi-faceted. Players who came back in who were not in hindsight ready for a final (Neale, Berry), missing too many quality talls (Hipwood, Payne, Oscar in genuine form), and players putting in their worst games for the year (Cameron, McCluggage, Day, Lester).

Now if we were relatively fit I would feel genuinely good about beating the suns and the pies and getting to the granny. The suns are very inexperienced, and the pies are a good team getting by on a very good system, but definitely beatable.

The injuries of themselves are not critical in number. I ignore to a degree Doedee, Linc and Coleman. None of them are regulars from the past year. Albeit it does test your depth.

So our more relevant issues are Neale, Hipwood, Payne, Answerth. I would add Berry to the list. I know nobody is 100% but he is severely restricted. So That's quite a few players to deal with. Not insurmountable.

Players out of form can be turned around. Cameron did play okay before the weekend.

Where i feel it becomes not so much impossible, but beyond having any rational confidence we can win 3 finals, is our key forwards. I am a broken record on this, but how on earth can we win a flag with our 3 KF as Oscar (dodgy back and he is a ruckman) Gallop (never kicked a career afl goal) and Morris (gun but young and not big). No other side is putting out such a complete lack of KF power. And i know we beat Hawthorn with a similar lineup, but their midfield was flogged. So we need to do that to win each final. Without Neale, and a winged Berry.

I will be hoping like hell we knock off the suns. And if we do we would have some confidence and could knock off Collingwood as i don't believe they are as good as they were in 2023. Any grand final is amazing to be in, even if at that point we would be rank outsiders.

But sadly i think the suns will be all over us. They have a lack of finals experience, but are not actually a young side. We are the team with more rookies in it.

Collins can absolutely blanket Logan Morris.

Their ruck / midfield should have no trouble breaking even or going close.

And they have multiple tall forwards who can kick goals.

I think our best hope is they are a bit gassed. They had to play that extra game and had a Perth trip

 

[Nathan Barley]

I don’t disagree but that’s pretty wishy washy way to preview a final. I think we’ve got enough to get it done but don’t think it’s a doomer take to point out our flaws that could hold us back.

A lot of people, including yourself, point out the exact same stuff once the game starts anyways

I don't think people are calling the point of view doomer it's more briztoon in general

 

[GenericUsername202]

I want to beat Gold Coast for the obvious reasons, but look at the players we're missing Payne, Kiddy, Answerth. These 3 players are elite. Then you have hipwood and linc who are structurally important players for us as well. Then you have a severely undermanned forward line. We're relying on Morris (who will be a superstar, but he's young and he will have his hot and cold moments) and you have Gallop. The fact that we've made it this far is astonishing. As long we're able to keep the core of our list, we will be competing for a really long time. Look at the players we're bringing in next year as well. So much to look forward to.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

You watch how hard Gold Coasts small forwards work. None of them are "stars", they're all role players who run and tackle all game long. Same goes for their mids, but some of them are genuine stars.

And then Kingy on First Crack last night pot shotting both Ashcroft boys as one way runners who won't work back defensively. You can add Hughey and Bailey to the joggers list.

This is my concern with our centre bounces, but who would you put in there.
I was thinking only Robertson is the one that could of improved our intensity at the coalface.
He is out of favour and tbh haven't seen him play this year , just know what he brings.
We'll see soon enough if all this hype about Levi being a true inside mid player.
For mind you have to be able to defend as well as you can extract.
I fully expect Bailey to become stronger and more intense tomorrow night , it's in the tea leaves .

 

[Mr Ripper]

Had a dream that GC wins tomorrow night and beats Hawthorn next week and Andrew Raines is being lauded for having an Ablett Sr like finals series.

Take that with a grain of salt.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Bad news guys. David King confirmed to be apart of the fox coverage for this game.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Bad news guys. David King confirmed to be apart of the fox coverage for this game.

Apart from his laptop?

 

[braddsey]

Until we get eliminated, I am still thinking of 2003's final series.
If our midfield is not badly beaten, I think our backline can hold on. The important thing is that our forwards need to lift big time and also not let the ball just bounce straight to back out.

The negatives out there who are bemoaning our list, our injuries or whatever are preparing themselves for the “I told you so” moment to get their own little bit of keyboard warrior glory if we don’t win the whole thing. This was Kingy’s approach last year… bet against one team - the odds are in your favour.

Beat the Suns tomorrow, we get a crack at the Pies next week. Get past the Pies, we’ll be taking on the winner of the other prelim in the GF.

I’ll be barracking hard for our boys tomorrow from my sofa. I hope our supporters who are lucky enough to be at the Gabba tomorrow show some positive support for the team, rather than groaning when Charlie or Bailey inevitably miss an easy goal in the opening term.

 

[twhowler]

I want to beat Gold Coast for the obvious reasons, but look at the players we're missing Payne, Kiddy, Answerth. These 3 players are elite. Then you have hipwood and linc who are structurally important players for us as well. Then you have a severely undermanned forward line. We're relying on Morris (who will be a superstar, but he's young and he will have his hot and cold moments) and you have Gallop. The fact that we've made it this far is astonishing. As long we're able to keep the core of our list, we will be competing for a really long time. Look at the players we're bringing in next year as well. So much to look forward to.

This is basically my TL;DR lol

 

[Elixuh]

Fages was a little cranky in his pre game presser today, I like cranky Fages, reeks of steely determination.

Towards the end - ‘Sam Draper did you say? Never heard of him’

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

I don’t disagree but that’s pretty wishy washy way to preview a final. I think we’ve got enough to get it done but don’t think it’s a doomer take to point out our flaws that could hold us back.

A lot of people, including yourself, point out the exact same stuff once the game starts anyways

Exactly.
Aren't we just disscussing in some form or another what went wrong last week and the season so far and how and if we can change those instances by anilizing moments in games where we were great and those times where we were found wanting.
Just a discussion isn't it.
I always pick up little failures in our players , not because I love bagging them , it's what I want them to become, get better,

Isn't that Fages mantra.
You learn from your mistakes.

 

[braddsey]

Towards the end - ‘Sam Draper did you say? Never heard of him’

Nah, it was “who’s Finlay?”. The journo made up a name, he meant Ridley.

 

[braddsey]

Fages was a little cranky in his pre game presser today, I like cranky Fages, reeks of steely determination.

Admittedly he had good reason to be cranky, some of those questions…

 

[Elixuh]

Nah, it was “who’s Finlay?”. The journo made up a name, he meant Ridley.

I’m not having a good day today. Was just a little joke from me. It’s ok one will hit eventually.

 

[braddsey]

Danny Daly on SEN this morning. The club should schedule a weekly chat with Kingy, he seems to come back to earth after speaking to someone from the club. Maybe a little reminder of whatever was discussed with him in the offseason!

 

[ZoBlitz]

I’m not having a good day today. Was just a little joke from me. It’s ok one will hit eventually.

Try puns, I find them universally popular on here.

 

[Elixuh]

Try puns, I find them universally popular on here.

I’m not as clever as you. I go for lowest common denominator humour.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Bryce Retzlaff >>>>> James Hawksley.

How many Finals did he play?



Hawksley to Bradshaw, GOAL! LIONS IN FRONT!

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I want to beat Gold Coast for the obvious reasons, but look at the players we're missing Payne, Kiddy, Answerth. These 3 players are elite. Then you have hipwood and linc who are structurally important players for us as well. Then you have a severely undermanned forward line. We're relying on Morris (who will be a superstar, but he's young and he will have his hot and cold moments) and you have Gallop. The fact that we've made it this far is astonishing. As long we're able to keep the core of our list, we will be competing for a really long time. Look at the players we're bringing in next year as well. So much to look forward to.

We were missing Kiddy & Linc last year too and won the Grand Final by 10 goals.

Realistically, I don't think Gardiner is a world away from what Payne was able to do last finals series (midway through the third quarter against the Giants, some Lions fans never wanted Payne to play again).

As for Noz, he's definitely a big loss, but the Grand Final last year was only his fourth or fifth game back in the side after being a fringe player for a long time. So it's not entirely accurate to call him a vital cog.

You're absolutely right about the forward line though. That is the biggest difference. Turning Joe & Eric into a battered Oscar and a very green Ty is an enormous downgrade. To make a dent in this finals series, we're going to need something very special from one or more of Logan, Kai, Charlie, Cam or Zac.

Above all else though, it would be humiliating to be knocked out by the Suns. They are a lot better, but they are not a great football side yet. Reckon Collingwood will demolish them if they get through.

 

[Section 5]

David King is a analytical small fry clickbaiter, you could go through vision of just about every game ever played and pick out players apparently not putting in effort.

I think it is time King reviewed some of his own games.

 

[wantok]

‘A landmark moment’: Lions and Suns fans gear up for match billed as biggest in Queensland AFL history

Tens of thousands will pack out the Gabba this Saturday to cheer on two Queensland teams facing off in a final for the first time

www.theguardian.com

This article mentions a book "More of the Kangaroo". I have this book, and is very good regarding the history of Aussie rules in Queensland mostly SEQ.
It is a hard cover glossy book of 1095 pages. I just weighed the book, and it is 5.2kg
.........................................................................................................................

The coach of the other, the Gold Coast Suns’ Damien Hardwick, has billed the match as the biggest in Queensland football history.
So does he reckon Hardwick’s claim stacks up?

Bird chuckles. When Queensland beat Tasmania in 1975, he says, “people thought that pretty big”. Then there was the Lions’ three-peat AFL premierships from 2001-2003.
................
He also wrote or co-wrote several books on the game in his home state, among them: More of the Kangaroo: 150 Years of Australian Football in Queensland – 1866 to 2016.
.............
He is not alone in this ritual – hundreds of punters will cram into the Brisbane German Club, a 143-year-old institution that predates the Gabba.
..............
Boyle will call on all available hands to dish out an express menu in the hour or two before the game, with preparations to serve up to 700 wursts and kranskies, 400 schnitzels, 600 pretzels, 2,500 litres of beer, 30kg of sauerkraut and 100 signature, hulking pork knuckles.

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In 1981 Aussie Rules was hardly a minor sport in SEQ.All the QAFL Clubs had substantial licenced Clubs. Plenty of VFL players were coaching Clubs including Alex Jesalenko at Sandgate,Mick Nolan at Mayne,Ron Wearmouth at Windsor Zillmere, John Blair at Morningside.Gary Dempsey was playing for the newcomers The Southport Sharks. Weekend games would draw a solid 3000 to 4000 with finals 12 to 15000.Murray was Umpiring at the time. League was certainly the main code with Rules a clear second and Union 3rd with their Interstate games drawing a good crowd but a small local comp. The Comp actually went backwards when the Bears started as local clubs lost publicity.