2026 Pre-Season Thread

[mighty_lions]

not a fan of hearing AI opinion on anything. It's like seeing the results of a Big Footy poll. Just a bunch or random internet opinions synthesised into one. I'd rather hear your opinion.

Ai should be banned it’s horrific

 

[Grasshopper17]

Yep, thought so too. a bit like the 80s and earlier where most teams had an enforcer
Though I remember one wet friday night at the mcg, might have been in the same year, or 2020, as it was before covid, I sat in the rain with my kids just to watch us get monstered by that melbourne midfield. was our worse loss of the season, and just thinking all these blokes are great individually, neale, lyon, but we need a bigger body in there.
thank christ we got dunks. To me it was the greatest trade in the last 20 years. Just the best player for exactly what this particular team needed. That was the extra to put us over the top, Freed up lachie a bit too, having dunks put body or the clamps on opposition mids

Might be this game you're thinking of. Funnily enough, I was there as well and can't remember any rain. Was a miserable night just the same. Hard to believe it was 1st v 2nd at the time. Beating them in that final later in the season was a simply incredible turnaround, just a couple of weeks after copping a similar flogging from them at the Gabba.

 

[briztoon]

I know many of us wouldn't have see a lot of Osca Allen particularly at his best over the last few years - but other people have and they comment and Artificial Intelligence can summarise those comments -

Oscar Allen is known as a highly athletic and versatile tall forward, characterized by intelligent leading patterns, elite endurance for a key position player, and the ability to play as a marking forward or a pinch-hitting ruckman

Key Running Patterns and Playing Style

• Intelligent Leading Patterns: Allen is noted for his smart leading in the forward 50, often separating from defenders to create space.
• High-Volume Lead-Up Forward: He often plays as a mobile, high-target forward, utilizing his running capacity to move up the ground and back into the 50.
• Lateral Movement: Pre-season training has highlighted his focus on lateral, agile movements, allowing him to change direction quickly in tight contests.
• Endurance and Versatility: He has shown the ability to play in the ruck (spending over 40% of game time there in 2020) and in defence, requiring high-intensity running to cover different roles.
• Goal-on-the-Run: While predominantly a set-shot kicker (43 of 46 goals in 2023 were from set shots), he has demonstrated "wheels" and acceleration for running goals.
• Aerial Work: His leading patterns are designed to maximize his ability to mark inside 50, averaging 1.1 marks inside 50 in 2020 and remaining a consistent target

Does AI also tell you that both of Allen’s knees are reportedly shot? That was a common discussion point among WC fans in 2024, before WC lowballed Allen at the end of 2024 season.

If he was fit and healthy, and able to perform, he’s probably still at WC.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Does AI also tell you that both of Allen’s knees are reportedly shot? That was a common discussion point among WC fans in 2024, before WC lowballed Allen at the end of 2024 season.

If he was fit and healthy, and able to perform, he’s probably still at WC.

yes there is a lot about he knees. Mind you i only asked it for his running patterns. you will remember when Brisbane got fevola there was a lot of discussion how he and browny would go running into each other but their heat maps (running patterns) at the time showed they actually rarely crossed paths or should have rarely crossed paths. Pity we never got to see it in action for any period to see if that was actually what happened. Brisbane for a long period always played the coaches box side, maybe Carlton in the Fev days always played the other side.

 

[Elixuh]

Does AI also tell you that both of Allen’s knees are reportedly shot? That was a common discussion point among WC fans in 2024, before WC lowballed Allen at the end of 2024 season.

If he was fit and healthy, and able to perform, he’s probably still at WC.

29 year old Charlie Curnow has at least one stuffed knee and the swans paid through the nose for him. It’s all relative and while there may be some truth to what is reported on here often it is blown out of proportion or one side of the Chinese whispers.

We will have to wait and see.

 

[Maboo]

Ai should be banned it’s horrific

I wouldn't say it is horrific, YET, but it could be in the near future. Check out moltbook, it is a social media platform for ai agents where humans can't participate, only observe, go figure.

 

[mighty_lions]

I wouldn't say it is horrific, YET, but it could be in the near future. Check out moltbook, it is a social media platform for ai agents where humans can't participate, only observe, go figure.

I find it horrific because people use it as fact, oh chat gpt said it it must be true

I’m sure it has its uses but when you combine it with lazy humans who don’t fact check anything it’s horrendous

 

[Grasshopper17]

I find it horrific because people use it as fact, oh chat gpt said it it must be true

I’m sure it has its uses but when you combine it with lazy humans who don’t fact check anything it’s horrendous

To be fair, we've been using Wikipedia in much the same way for 2 decades basically

 

[SonofSuperboot]

Might be this game you're thinking of. Funnily enough, I was there as well and can't remember any rain. Was a miserable night just the same. Hard to believe it was 1st v 2nd at the time. Beating them in that final later in the season was a simply incredible turnaround, just a couple of weeks after copping a similar flogging from them at the Gabba.
View attachment 2534864

Might be this game you're thinking of. Funnily enough, I was there as well and can't remember any rain. Was a miserable night just the same. Hard to believe it was 1st v 2nd at the time. Beating them in that final later in the season was a simply incredible turnaround, just a couple of weeks after copping a similar flogging from them at the Gabb

Might be this game you're thinking of. Funnily enough, I was there as well and can't remember any rain. Was a miserable night just the same. Hard to believe it was 1st v 2nd at the time. Beating them in that final later in the season was a simply incredible turnaround, just a couple of weeks after copping a similar flogging from them at the Gabba.
View attachment 2534864

That's the one. Lyon was playing so it fits. maybe my memory has added the rain in because of how depressing it was.
We did up beating them in the semi that year, so there was some redemption

 

[mighty_lions]

To be fair, we've been using Wikipedia in much the same way for 2 decades basically

yeah but there is a clear difference, wikipedia is inputted by humans and then usually fact checked also, chat gpt is just collecting information to give an answer that could be completely wrong and not even of the right subject sometimes, it once combined Ashcroft and fletcher to tell me a player will fletcher is a father son for the lions, it gets things wrong all the time (way more than wikipedia) and yet people still think its fact

 

[Grasshopper17]

yeah but there is a clear difference, wikipedia is inputted by humans and then usually fact checked also, chat gpt is just collecting information to give an answer that could be completely wrong and not even of the right subject sometimes, it once combined Ashcroft and fletcher to tell me a player will fletcher is a father son for the lions, it gets things wrong all the time (way more than wikipedia) and yet people still think its fact

I'm not so sure; I've been reading heaps about this Will Fletcher guy and he sounds like a gun. We should try to pick him up in the draft this year.

 

[JasRulz63]

Jack Payne Injury Update

The Brisbane Lions confirm defender Jack Payne has undergone surgery today on his left knee.

www.lions.com.au

 

[Dom PC]

Does anyone have any insight into ZZ's development? He wasnt overly impressive in that Carlton game last week. Seemed like he needs to put on a bit more weight still too to be a true key defender.

Hopefully he comes along this year... odds on to get some senior opportunities you'd think.

 

[DarthLehnsherr]

Well that's a blow.

Praying somewhow Doedee can get back to AFL Standard otherwise we may need to use Joyce again if something happens to Andrews/Lester/Gardiner.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Does anyone have any insight into ZZ's development? He wasnt overly impressive in that Carlton game last week. Seemed like he needs to put on a bit more weight still too to be a true key defender.

Hopefully he comes along this year... odds on to get some senior opportunities you'd think.

By the sounds of things, he won't make it as an AFL player.

 

[martinson]

Do we have any other tall defenders to replace him with other than Dizzy?

That's a blow. They'll know what the situation is but I doubt anything will be shared publicly until things are more definitive..

Opportunity for Hipwood ?

 

[Cousin Jed]

Jack Payne Injury Update

The Brisbane Lions confirm defender Jack Payne has undergone surgery today on his left knee.

www.lions.com.au

Season over. Play the kids

 

[martinson]

I absolutely love AI. Saves me hours a day.

But what the longer term economic and social impacts are I don't think anyone knows.

 

[Squizz89]

For a club that that rightfully was lauded with fixing guys, we’ve had a pretty average success rate with the long termers the last few years.

 

[Perrip]

Well that's a blow.

Praying somewhow Doedee can get back to AFL Standard otherwise we may need to use Joyce again if something happens to Andrews/Lester/Gardiner.

Frog is concussed from the game last week. Selection will be interesting tomorrow for QClash.

 

[Section 5]

 

[martinson]

For a club that that rightfully was lauded with fixing guys, we’ve had a pretty average success rate with the long termers the last few years.

Fair enough observation but unless you know the specific circumstances of each case it's not possible to pass judgement definitively.

 

[DevRoboGun]

Any idea as to whether this is setback to the patella or a new injury? Hard to be positive on anything other than full season gone for Jack. Hipwood to CHB!

 

[Squizz89]

Probably makes it more likely that Hipwood comes back into defence given we look a little light on down there. Hopefully he doesn’t have any issues with his rehab.

We do also have till Monday to fill Payne’s spot though if he’s placed on the LTI list. I wonder whether they may wait till mid season to see how we’re tracking.

 

[Perrip]

Any idea as to whether this is setback to the patella or a new injury? Hard to be positive on anything other than full season gone for Jack. Hipwood to CHB!

Doesn't give much info in the update today. Just says he experienced pain and surgery was needed.

The 26-year-old, who ruptured his patellar tendon last season in Round 14 against GWS, had experienced pain during his rehabilitation with further assessment confirming surgery was required