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

[Nunez]

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

The difference will hopefully be our midfields commitment to team defence this week.

 

[twhowler]

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

True in that Heath did very little with little tog

Melbourne have a some very good runners though, and we were down a rotation early. Maybe it bez played the game it would have made a difference

Melbourne also had Gawn and we had ZZ. Very different ruck battle this week

It's interesting that other teams are adding a ruck against us, and given Fort is a quality number 2 I see it as a positive

 

[M Malice]

Raining steadily here this morning(I'm around 3km from the Gabba), hope it disappears by tomorrow.

 

[Nathan Barley]

True in that Heath did very little with little tog

Melbourne have a some very good runners though, and we were down a rotation early. Maybe it bez played the game it would have made a difference

Melbourne also had Gawn and we had ZZ. Very different ruck battle this week

It's interesting that other teams are adding a ruck against us, and given Fort is a quality number 2 I see it as a positive

It's more the 3 tall forwards that concerns me given how raw Gallop is, Lester's patchy form and the lack of a small that can play tall.

We've seen that in the last 2 weeks

 

[M Malice]

It's more the 3 tall forwards that concerns me given how raw Gallop is, Lester's patchy form and the lack of a small that can play tall.

We've seen that in the last 2 weeks

Agree... don't mention it to 3KZ NB.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Agree... don't mention it to 3KZ NB.

Lester is currently polling equal first in the prestigious Roar Deal Medal on 11 votes with Charlie Cameron. Absolutely no problem with his form this season. He would be right up there in the best and fairest at this early stage of the year.

Speaking of ‘The Roar Deal’, this would have to be one of the most intelligent and insightful pieces of football media going around. Their analysis of the the loss against Melbourne was absolutely spot on. Michael Whiting and Dom Fay nailed it this week, particularly in terms of their comments on the ordinary form of Jasper Fletcher and Cam Rayner.

Their insights into the Brisbane Lions are first rate. I also agree with them that Brain should be in the seniors. Their comments on Sam Marshall were also spot on and their hesitation around Tunstill is well founded.

 

[M Malice]

Lester is currently polling equal first in the prestigious Roar Deal Medal on 11 votes with Charlie Cameron. Absolutely no problem with his form this season. He would be right up there in the best and fairest at this early stage of the year.

Speaking of ‘The Roar Deal’, this would have to be one of the most intelligent and insightful pieces of football media going around. Their analysis of the the loss against Melbourne was absolutely spot on. Michael Whiting and Dom Fay nailed it this week, particularly in terms of their comments on the ordinary form of Jasper Fletcher and Cam Rayner.

Their insights into the Brisbane Lions are first rate. I also agree with them that Brain should be in the seniors. Their comments on Sam Marshall were also spot on and their hesitation around Tunstill is well founded.

I would say Froggy has been passable this season but to my viewing well down on his elite form from 2024-25, still deserving of his spot in the side btw.

I listen to the Roar Deal and I like their pure footy analysis but I fast forward through the drivel they go on with during most shows.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I would say Froggy has been passable this season but to my viewing well down on his elite form from 2024-25, still deserving of his spot in the side btw.

I listen to the Roar Deal and I like their pure footy analysis but I fast forward through the drivel they go on with during most shows.

The analysis of the game that has happened and the game to come is the quality football component. The balance is ‘entertainment’.

 

[braddsey]

I would say Froggy has been passable this season but to my viewing well down on his elite form from 2024-25, still deserving of his spot in the side btw.

To be fair on Froggy, he’s been leading a backline missing Harris, Gardner, Zorko, Answerth & Starce at various stages over the first 6 weeks. Expecting him to play his best elite football while doing the job of many while coaching some of the replacements is asking a lot.

 

[M Malice]

To be fair on Froggy, he’s been leading a backline missing Harris, Gardner, Zorko, Answerth & Starce at various stages over the first 6 weeks. Expecting him to play his best elite football while doing the job of many while coaching some of the replacements is asking a lot.

Excellent point, it's a wonder 3KZ didn't think of that.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Excellent point, it's a wonder 3KZ didn't think of that.

The minions are out there. We all
Play our part.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Excellent point, it's a wonder 3KZ didn't think of that.

I’m a bit slow today. Came home from hospital yesterday and I’m on a steady diet of tea and opioids. Very comfortable, which is the whole idea, because otherwise, this hurts like crazy.

 

[Gadzorks]

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I’m a bit slow today. Came home from hospital yesterday and I’m on a steady diet of tea and opioids. Very comfortable, which is the whole idea, because otherwise, this hurts like crazy.

Oh no. You have a platypus in your toe. That's a weird injury.

Hope it stops hurting soon.

 

[PertRoosOsborne]

Waiting for a Sunday game is such a drag

 

[twhowler]

It's more the 3 tall forwards that concerns me given how raw Gallop is, Lester's patchy form and the lack of a small that can play tall.

We've seen that in the last 2 weeks

Not sure I'd call Murray genuine tall forward, and there is nothing to say he is any sort of goal threat.

I guess though playing a taller bloke might force us to play Harris on TT but to be honest he seems by far the best match-up anyway. Gallop would be a real risk

Therefore if it ends up Gallop on Murray that's a pretty good match-up for us I think

 

[Nathan Barley]

Not sure I'd call Murray genuine tall forward, and there is nothing to say he is any sort of goal threat.

I guess though playing a taller bloke might force us to play Harris on TT but to be honest he seems by far the best match-up anyway. Gallop would be a real risk

Therefore if it ends up Gallop on Murray that's a pretty good match-up for us I think

Maley

 

[Go the Guts]

Not sure I'd call Murray genuine tall forward, and there is nothing to say he is any sort of goal threat.

I guess though playing a taller bloke might force us to play Harris on TT but to be honest he seems by far the best match-up anyway. Gallop would be a real risk

Therefore if it ends up Gallop on Murray that's a pretty good match-up for us I think

Thilthorpe Walker Maley are the 3 forwards

 

[3KZ is Football]

Andrews needs to go to Thilthorpe
Lester to Walker
Gallop to Maley

I’m confident that Andrews and Lester can beat Thilthorpe and Walker and I think the Gallop v Maley match up is a coin toss.

The key factor on how we go in defence will be how much pressure our Mids and Half Backs can exert on Adelaide when they are attempting to enter their fifty. If they are consistently goal side and running off us, the way Melbourne were, we will lose.

Fletcher, Wilmot and Coleman will absolutely be under the microscope tomorrow when it comes to their defensive running and pressure. Rayner also needs to lift. Dom Fay asked the same question I asked after the Melbourne loss, is this as good as it gets for Rayner after 8 years of Senior Football? If the answer to that is “yes”, the fact that he is on good money and signed until 2031 is going to come back to bite us. Agsinst Melbourne, Rayner kicked 2.3 from 11 disposals. His disposal splits were

Q1 4 at 100% DE
Q2 2 at 50% DE
Q3 3 at 33% DE
Q4 2 at 50% DE

He had 1 tackle for the game, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50’s and 0 Goal Assists.

Tomorrow we can’t afford him to go missing for a quarter or a half. He is in the Leadership Group, on a long term deal and quite frankly, it’s time he grew up.

Of course, it’s all been said before, but it would be nice to not have to keep saying it.

 

[LongLion]

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I’m a bit slow today. Came home from hospital yesterday and I’m on a steady diet of tea and opioids. Very comfortable, which is the whole idea, because otherwise, this hurts like crazy.

Kicked the dog or was it the cat?

 

[martinson]

Andrews needs to go to Thilthorpe
Lester to Walker
Gallop to Maley

I’m confident that Andrews and Lester can beat Thilthorpe and Walker and I think the Gallop v Maley match up is a coin toss.

The key factor on how we go in defence will be how much pressure our Mids and Half Backs can exert on Adelaide when they are attempting to enter their fifty. If they are consistently goal side and running off us, the way Melbourne were, we will lose.

Fletcher, Wilmot and Coleman will absolutely be under the microscope tomorrow when it comes to their defensive running and pressure. Rayner also needs to lift. Dom Fay asked the same question I asked after the Melbourne loss, is this as good as it gets for Rayner after 9 years of Senior Football? If the answer to that is “yes”, the fact that he is on good money and signed until 2031 is going to come back to bite us. Agsinst Melbourne, Rayner kicked 2.3 from 11 disposals. His disposal splits were

Q1 4 at 100% DE
Q2 2 at 50% DE
Q3 3 at 33% DE
Q4 2 at 50% DE

He had 1 tackle for the game, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50’s and 0 Goal Assists.

Tomorrow we can’t afford him to go missing for a quarter or a half. He is in the Leadership Group, on a long term deal and quite frankly, it’s time he grew up.

Of course, it’s all been said before, but it would be nice to not have to keep saying it.

I accepted long ago that Rayner was going to rip a game apart occasionally for more than a quarter.

And hoping it's in a big final. If so he's worth the money.

When things click in for him he looks unbeatable but he just doesn't have the skill level , tank or the goal sense to do it consistently.

That's no huge knock , not many do. He's very handy physically when he's around the ball charging in, but when the opposition have the ball it's not his go.

Just accept what he is . He was in the AA Squad ( surprisingly ) recently , everyone loves him, I still think he's imposing when he's on. He's also been resilient injury wise since he did his knee.

 

[twhowler]

Maley

I stand corrected!

They really seem too tall to me.

I guess Maley has at least been a goal threat.

But given they have the 3 talls and 2 genuine rucks, Murray is going to get seriously low minutes.

I wonder if it's all set up to be TT or Walker rested...

 

[3KZ is Football]

Kicked the dog or was it the cat?

I know. I’m grumpy. It’s been a long hard day. Arthritis rather than canine or feline mistreatment.

 

[martinson]

I know. I’m grumpy. It’s been a long hard day. Arthritis rather than canine or feline mistreatment.

Keep your chin up 3KZ.

A win tomorrow and you'll be fine.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I accepted long ago that Rayner was going to rip a game apart occasionally for more than a quarter.

And hoping it's in a big final. If so he's worth the money.

When things click in for him he looks unbeatable but he just doesn't have the skill level , tank or the goal sense to do it consistently.

That's no huge knock , not many do. He's very handy physically when he's around the ball charging in, but when the opposition have the ball it's not his go.

Just accept what he is . He was in the AA Squad ( surprisingly ) recently , everyone loves him, I still think he's imposing when he's on. He's also been resilient injury wise since he did his

Yep, my concern is that he’s signed until 2031 and that’s a long time to accept mediocrity, with occasional flashes of brilliance. The deeper we go and the older he gets, the more likely he is to completely fall off a form cliff.

Anyway, fingers crossed and hopefully he plays a blinder tomorrow.

 

[martinson]

Yep, my concern is that he’s signed until 2031 and that’s a long time to accept mediocrity, with occasional flashes of brilliance. The deeper we go and the older he gets, the more likely he is to completely fall off a form cliff.

Anyway, fingers crossed and hopefully he plays a blinder tomorrow.

He's a really frustrating player but there seems to be an expectation there that he should be doing what he just can't do.

He hit a purple patch for him a couple of years ago and he still has that or more in him I believe.

But yeah , he probably needs to be doing more now given his experience.