Preview Round 7: Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows Sunday 26 April 2026 3:15 PM

[Nathan Barley]

Also, the Crows have followed Melbourne's lead and gone in very tall

 

[Nunez]

I'd almost forgotten about McKenna until his name was mentioned earlier this week. Had a great pre season, very fit and experienced. Playing good footy in the VFL (albeit half forward).

Can see him coming in and locking down a spot.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I'd be tempted to bring in ZZ at the last minute

 

[M Malice]

Who plays back Tunstill or McKenna, does one of them spend some time on the wing? McKenna been playing forward in the VFL.

 

[Section 5]

Who plays back Tunstill or McKenna, does one of them spend some time on the wing? McKenna been playing forward in the VFL.

Reville

 

[Section 5]

McKenna chance to impress at AFL level again.

Only had 1 full game in 2025 - 9 disposals, 1 mark, 1 goal, 5 tackles & 3 clangers. (had 4 sub affected games)

Lest hope McKenna and Tunstill have solid games

 

[Section 5]

Crows
In: - J.Dawson, T.Murray

Out: - A.Neal-Bullen (Injured), L.Nankervis (omitted)

EMG: J.Borlase, L.Nankervis, B.Dowling

 

[Saucery]

I'd almost forgotten about McKenna until his name was mentioned earlier this week. Had a great pre season, very fit and experienced. Playing good footy in the VFL (albeit half forward).

Can see him coming in and locking down a spot.

He's one of the few who can play the Cal Ah Chee role when needed and a truly unique style and flare which can catch sides off balance. I have always admired his peripheral vision and dummy kicks.

 

[BangyBangy]

Anyone else feeling like Sunday is a huge fork in the road for us?

Nope, absolutely not.

Without injuries, this team is so good, even if we finish 11th after the home & away season we could still win the premiership.

 

[BangyBangy]

You couldn’t not select Marshall on the basis that he needs more ‘mongrel’ and then pick Tunstill.

Fagan’s last two years have yielded two Premierships and we’ve played finals every season since 2019. Fagan has earned the right to do as he pleases with his calls, but that doesn’t make him infallible. What we are seeing with Marshall is a reflection of Fagan when he is not at his best. It’s where he makes a virtue of sticking with players for weeks and seasons, no matter how poor their form is. They become his ‘undroppable’ players and it doesn’t matter how much you stink it up you will be selected. Then you have players that get flagrantly overlooked and it looks like Marshall is one of those, just like Ryan Lester, Lyons, and Dev Robertson were at different stages.

Now people will respond along the lines that there must be a deficiency or some aspect of his game that Marshall needs to work on and supporters will kind of make it about something Marshall has done wrong. If only he did what he was asked he would be selected.

Well let’s look at the flip side, were Fletcher, Wilmot, Coleman and Answerth playing to instructions when they refused to man up and only run one way last weekend against Melbourne? Is this what keeps them in the Seniors? When Cam Rayner has eleven disposals for a game and is unsighted for quarters and halves, week after week, is his spot assured because that what Fagan wants. Does Tunstill’s 5 disposal game (at 40% DE) against Collingwood, a game where he had a single disposal in the second half qualify him to be selected or on the cusp of selection this weekend because he’s playing the way Fagan wants him to?

Meanwhile, Marshall is running around in the Reserves, having played in a winning Grand Final last year. Marshall is a 185cm tall, quick, skilled in the air and on the ground. He’s a good kick and has high Football IQ. He’s also out of contract at the end of this season and after he’s left, he’ll end up at a club that is going to pay him very well and where he won’t be kept out of the senior side by the Tunstills and Brains of this world.

Good luck to him. Looks like there is no reason to stay. I think he’d look good in a Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Geelong or even a Footscray jumper. We took him with Pick 25 in 2024 and we’ll lose him and get nothing.

That’s sport, I guess.

Lol, what were your posts like pre 2017?

Constantly shitcanning a two time premiership coach who has been an integral part of the team that has turned us from a joke to a dynasty team.

I really think your talents are wasted here. You would really shine on the Saints board.

 

[davemc_lions]

Maybe they could watch the last two grand finals

Went to the last two GF we were not that team on Sunday.
Struggled for most of the game against the Saints to the last 10 mins so too against North.
We seem not as hungry as we were.

 

[BangyBangy]

Went to the last two GF we were not that team on Sunday.
Struggled for most of the game against the Saints to the last 10 mins so too against North.
We seem not as hungry as we were.

But we don't need to be that team week in & out, and no team, no matter how good is ever going to be.

We just need to get to the Grand Final & then bring that level which no one can go with.

I reckon any back to back team will have a tendency to pick and choose when they want to play & when they want to coast. Human nature.

Edit: It's a great challenge for the club as a whole. As big as the one to get the top of the mountain to start with. Awesome times. I enjoy watching it & appreciate it.

 

[M Malice]

But we don't need to be that team week in & out, and no team, no matter how good is ever going to be.

We just need to get to the Grand Final & then bring that level which no one can go with.

I reckon any back to back team will have a tendency to pick and choose when they want to play & when they want to coast. Human nature.

Edit: It's a great challenge for the club as a whole. As big as the one to get the top of the mountain to start with. Awesome times. I enjoy watching it & appreciate it.

Spot on BB.

The 2 teams that 3Peated this century the Lions and Hawks, it is never smooth sailing >

Lions 2003- Lost 7 H&A games and finished 3rd, also lost their Qualifying Final.

Hawks 2015- Lost 6 H&A games and finished 3rd, also lost their Qualifying Final.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Lol, what were your posts like pre 2017?

Constantly shitcanning a two time premiership coach who has been an integral part of the team that has turned us from a joke to a dynasty team.

I really think your talents are wasted here. You would really shine on the Saints board.

Not shitcanning anyone.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I’m happy to see Connor McKenna back in the side. Hope he has a big one. Tunstill is “in” - so let’s hope he has an impactful game.

 

[BangyBangy]

Not shitcanning anyone.

Fair enough. Just the term that came to my mind reading your posts about Fagan's shortcomings year on year, despite making finals continuously, making grand finals for the last three years, being premiers the last two years.......

 

[twhowler]

Crows playing 2 rucks, good result for us I think, as we more than match them with our rucks and now they are less likely to outrun us.

Murray's only game so far was 32% tog for 2 possessions and 7 hit outs so he is basically a ZZ at this of his career.

 

[davemc_lions]

Spot on BB.

The 2 teams that 3Peated this century the Lions and Hawks, it is never smooth sailing >

Lions 2003- Lost 7 H&A games and finished 3rd, also lost their Qualifying Final.

Hawks 2015- Lost 6 H&A games and finished 3rd, also lost their Qualifying Final.

I still think we can beat any team on our day. Just have a few one way running mids and Berry out we lack some defensive running. We responded after losses before hope we do again.
Although lost 3 and teams hunting us.. We really need to bring our A game Sunday.

 

[Saucery]

Nope, absolutely not.

Without injuries, this team is so good, even if we finish 11th after the home & away season we could still win the premiership.

Yes apparently this years inner walls slogan is "Taking the piss"

 

[BangyBangy]

I still think we can beat any team on our day. Just have a few one way running mids and Berry out we lack some defensive running. We responded after losses before hope we do again.
Although lost 3 and teams hunting us.. We really need to bring our A game Sunday.

I love games like this for us. Real rubber hits the road stuff. Can't wait.

Like the Cats game at GMHBA last year. Real plan execute stuff.

 

[Gadzorks]

Last week defence was weak and the mids didn't stand up.

Mids played like they were exhausted, maybe sick, maybe just an off week.

The mids will redeem themselves, ball will spend 65% of game time in our forward half and we win by 4 goals. Because more behind than goals.

 

[davemc_lions]

I love games like this for us. Real rubber hits the road stuff. Can't wait.

Like the Cats game at GMHBA last year. Real plan execute stuff.

That game we hunted was a few last year we pull our finger out and hunted.

Hope we do Sunday

 

[pod17]

Last week defence was weak and the mids didn't stand up.

Mids played like they were exhausted, maybe sick, maybe just an off week.

The mids will redeem themselves, ball will spend 65% of game time in our forward half and we win by 4 goals. Because more behind than goals.

Agree with this.

Dunkley looks a touch off his best (which is understandable given surgery and a short pre season) which I think has impacted our midfield’s ability to negate run-ons in the clearances. Just goes to show how much we need him.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Fair enough. Just the term that came to my mind reading your posts about Fagan's shortcomings year on year, despite making finals continuously, making grand finals for the last three years, being premiers the last two years.......

I did mention those fantastic achievements and said he is entitled to pick his own side. He’s earned that right. The way Chris Fagan has written himself into AFL history is amazing.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Crows playing 2 rucks, good result for us I think, as we more than match them with our rucks and now they are less likely to outrun us.

Murray's only game so far was 32% tog for 2 possessions and 7 hit outs so he is basically a ZZ at this of his career.

It was the same with Melbourne last week playing 2 rucks and 3 genuine tall forwards