Preview Geelong. Grand Final. You know when. You know where.

[BillyElliott]

Good luck on Saturday. Lions were fantastic in the 2nd half last night & deserved the win.

Amazing the way your club has covered so many injuries to best 22 players. I love Fages, he's a great bloke.

I couldn't stand to see Cats win the premiership, so please beat them a close, hard fought out game.

 

[mpal6]

Still think he’s good for structure and knowing his role. If he says he’s good to go I trust him not to hold anything back. It’s rare a sub has much of an impact if they’re left too late to come on anyways. I think the reward is worth the risk personally

I'd be comfortable with that approach if it was a home n away game or say a qualifying final. This is the big one and I expect Geelong to not be nice. All tactics will be on the table and if they see Berry's name in the line up - there'll be a plan in place to put a fair / legal bump on that shoulder. Not sure if that's worth the risk tactically for us.

If Berry goes down in the first few minutes and we need sub activated, then we are vulnerable for rest of the game for any other injuries. Difficult decision if you ask me.

 

[bairfoot]

 

[3KZ is Football]

John Longmire got burnt last year selecting Logan McDonald who wasn’t fit and who was very quickly out of the game.

I’ve always thought bringing players who are injured or underdone in a Grand Final is a major risk and one not worth taking.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Good luck on Saturday. Lions were fantastic in the 2nd half last night & deserved the win.

Amazing the way your club has covered so many injuries to best 22 players. I love Fages, he's a great bloke.

I couldn't stand to see Cats win the premiership, so please beat them a close, hard fought out game.

Is it ok if we beat them by 10 goals? It’s easier on the nerves.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Lachie could barely walk during the week all last final series and was arguably BOG in the GF

Sometimes the risk is worth it

 

[Bucking Beads]

Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

will play his best game for the season in the Grand Final. It is his time to shine..

 

[Schache_off]

To quote Fages biggest fan David King, "Don't get beat by what you know". Cats really had us in centre clearances a couple of weeks ago and I would be surprised to see that happen again and Hugh might explode with his work rate to get some revenge. The energy of our midfield was a bit off and they will be frothing over making another grand final. Cats are deservedly favourites given our injury list but...bring it on.

Will this game settle the debate for King as to who is the real master coach?

 

[Nunez]

John Longmire got burnt last year selecting Logan McDonald who wasn’t fit and who was very quickly out of the game.

I’ve always thought bringing players who are injured or underdone in a Grand Final is a major risk and one not worth taking.

Zero chance we take any big risks with either, but if they get through training and are fit enough to play, they'll play. McDonald was cooked and shouldn't have been selected but was as they needed him for structure and figured they could get that as a deep forward. Lach and Berry are in heavy running positions so absolutely no chance we take a big risk unless we think it'll be the difference between winning and losing, which we don't. Our system wins games and we have a list full of guys who play our system.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Zero chance we take any big risks with either, but if they get through training and are fit enough to play, they'll play. McDonald was cooked and shouldn't have been selected but was as they needed him for structure and figured they could get that as a deep forward. Lach and Berry are in heavy running positions so absolutely no chance we take a big risk unless we think it'll be the difference between winning and losing, which we don't. Our system wins games and we have a list full of guys who play our system.

Nunez nails it.

 

[BillyElliott]

Is it ok if we beat them by 10 goals? It’s easier on the nerves.

Haha, yes I'm sure as a supporter, that would be your preference & I totally get that.

I'm guess I'm just seeing it as a neutral & close games are always more enjoyable to watch

 

[Nunez]

Nunez nails it.

I was thinking about it and on paper we should lose. We should have lost to the Pies. Probably the Suns. Brutal draw, youngest team in finals and a long list of injuries.

But as we have all year - we keep proving teams and people wrong. Our kids are not overawed by the moment and contribute. Our senior guys know how to win finals. On paper, we are defying the odds. In reality, we are a team who plays for each other, is extremely well coached and has high end talent across the board. Injuries or not, this team breaks the mould.

The biggest question I have is whether we have enough gas in the tank to do it one last time. If we do, I see us getting the win in a close one.

 

[Tom14]

Zero chance we take any big risks with either, but if they get through training and are fit enough to play, they'll play. McDonald was cooked and shouldn't have been selected but was as they needed him for structure and figured they could get that as a deep forward. Lach and Berry are in heavy running positions so absolutely no chance we take a big risk unless we think it'll be the difference between winning and losing, which we don't. Our system wins games and we have a list full of guys who play our system.

Also, mcdonald is #nogood. If he can’t even stand in a goal square and kick a goal out the back, what does he even do?

 

[Nunez]

Also, mcdonald is #nogood. If he can’t even stand in a goal square and kick a goal out the back, what does he even do?

I heard that President #clinton will be there with his wife #hillary

 

[3KZ is Football]

I was thinking about it and on paper we should lose. We should have lost to the Pies. Probably the Suns. Brutal draw, youngest team in finals and a long list of injuries.

But as we have all year - we keep proving teams and people wrong. Our kids are not overawed by the moment and contribute. Our senior guys know how to win finals. On paper, we are defying the odds. In reality, we are a team who plays for each other, is extremely well coached and has high end talent across the board. Injuries or not, this team breaks the mould.

The biggest question I have is whether we have enough gas in the tank to do it one last time. If we do, I see us getting the win in a close one.

This is where our age profile helps us. With eight of our team 22 or under, we have a significant number who are quick, going to play with energy and are not afraid to take the game on. This youthful exuberance appears to be really carrying our team. Harris mentioned it, if I recall correctly, during his post match interview with Lynchie out on the field. I think we are ‘good things’ against Geelong.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I was thinking about it and on paper we should lose. We should have lost to the Pies. Probably the Suns. Brutal draw, youngest team in finals and a long list of injuries.

But as we have all year - we keep proving teams and people wrong. Our kids are not overawed by the moment and contribute. Our senior guys know how to win finals. On paper, we are defying the odds. In reality, we are a team who plays for each other, is extremely well coached and has high end talent across the board. Injuries or not, this team breaks the mould.

The biggest question I have is whether we have enough gas in the tank to do it one last time. If we do, I see us getting the win in a close one.

This 100%

The 'on paper' selection is an intellectual exercise, hence Geelong for all the reasons we know go in as the favourite.
Winning finals is everything other than an intellectual exercise.
That's what makes sport so entertaining; that often enough, the team that shouldn't win 'on paper', does.
And why, as long as it's not our team that should win 'on paper', we like seeing the underdog get up. And why the David and Goliath fable resonates throughout the ages.

Call it 'x' factor, will to win, never say die, this Lions team has it in truck loads.
I'm starting to think that for these Lions, proving the 'on paper' brigade wrong is something they do for their own amusement.

 

[RU_]

I was just thinking about how critical that game was to our developmental journey. Noting it was our first final at the MCG (and we got smoked there the following week), winning that game seems so unlikely after what happened in the last round. And now we've collected both the Collingwood and Geelong MCG final achievement.

I remember watching the Gabba demolition game while travelling for work in Sydney, everyone wanted to watch it when they found out I was a Lions supporter, and it was a terrible couple of hours!

Never thought we were even going to be close in that semi final.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Great win Lions.
All the best for the GF against the oppo...smash them!

 

[BuntonRules]

If Berry is picked, he won't last till half time.

As for Lachie, at 90% he is a street above any other replacement.

As a team - with our youth what a blessing to be able to replace one experienced, hardened player with another.

No brainer, IMO.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Money has been removed from my bank account for two tickets(priority one). When and how do they arrive?
I do have four priority two chances.when will they be decided?

 

[Iva Bigun]

Just wanted to drop by and say I will be cheering you on in the GF, go QLD

 

[Elixuh]

Also, mcdonald is #nogood. If he can’t even stand in a goal square and kick a goal out the back, what does he even do?

He’s a foil for the Amarty party

 

[rye]

the 'not selecting injured players' thing is always a bit of hindsight hero stuff. we still talk about lappin playing through broken ribs and he was commendable on the day, neale obviously played through heavy duress in last years GF. steven may

1

Steven May

Age

34

Ht

193cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

307.3

4star

D

15.5

4star

K

12.1

5star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

0.5

1star

MG

378.4

5star

D

12.4

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.8

4star

played through a hamstring tear in 2021.....on the flip side you have the mcdonald and reid type selections that completely backfire.

think neale is worth taking the risk on if he gets through main training.

 

[McIvor]

I remember Gary Ablett Jnr was picked in that GF the Cats lost to Richmond and he shouldn’t have played with his stuffed shoulder and was a liability but I get why with a player of his calibre he was selected- even though the Cats shouldn’t have.

 

[martinson]

Charlie Cameron will play his best game for the season in the Grand Final. It is his time to shine..

Any logical reason why ?