Preview Round 8: Essendon v Brisbane Lions Saturday 2nd May, 12:35pm

[M Malice]

 

[LongLion]

Comes across as very grounded and quietly confident young bloke.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Gallop is going to be great for us. A little self stroking for me here - August 27th last year I first suggested he become a backman and then when Gardnier was injured a few weeks back I again suggested he was the best long term option we have and should move him. If we get a player of his size, when he is all grown up, that can play back and forward and switch within a match, that would be even better.

 

[Tom14]

Gallop is going to be great for us. A little self stroking for me here - August 27th last year I first suggested he become a backman and then when Gardnier was injured a few weeks back I again suggested he was the best long term option we have and should move him. If we get a player of his size, when he is all grown up, that can play back and forward and switch within a match, that would be even better.

He'll be heading back to the forwardline:

 

[Nathan Barley]

That's just rotten luck

 

[Tom14]

That's just rotten luck

Some blokes are just pure injury prone without any fault of their own. Shame, he was looking really good the last month.

 

[Perrip]

So... Gallop, Curtin, Lloyd, who we replacing Allen with?

 

[Tom14]

So... Gallop, Curtin, Lloyd, who we replacing Allen with?

Joyce into backline, Gallop forward.

 

[KissKiss]

I think its probably a simple Gallop forward and Joyce to the back line.

 

[irel]

---

With Allen sidelined for the next three months, it presents both challenges and opportunities for our structure going forward.

There are a few clear options on the table. One approach would be to move Gallop into Allen’s role in the forward line, while bringing Joyce into Gallop’s position down back. That maintains balance across the ground but does require a degree of positional reshuffling.

Alternatively, we could largely hold our existing structure and simply replace Allen directly. That could open the door for someone like Zakostelsky, or possibly Curtin, (perhaps a touch early in his development,) but he showed plenty during the pre‑season games. Another option is to go smaller and inject pace and pressure with McLachlan.

Each option carries different risks and rewards, and the decision will likely come down to whether the coaching group prioritises continuity and stability, or sees this as an opportunity to experiment and fast‑track development.

 

[Perrip]

Joyce into backline, Gallop forward.

Gallop hasn't been scoring much though when he was in the forward line

 

[Tom14]

Gallop hasn't been scoring much though when he was in the forward line

I trust him to score more than ZZ, Curtain or Luke Lloyd.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Might just play Draper and Fort forward for longer

 

[Tom14]

12-14 weeks for Allen per the Lions website:

Qscan Injury Report: Zorko set to return, Allen sidelined

The Brisbane Lions are set to welcome back premiership defender Dayne Zorko this week, though will be without star forward Oscar Allen who requires foot surgery.

www.lions.com.au

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'd play Rayner as CHF forward and make him do a bit more..

 

[JasRulz63]

Qscan Injury Report: Zorko set to return, Allen sidelined

The Brisbane Lions are set to welcome back premiership defender Dayne Zorko this week, though will be without star forward Oscar Allen who requires foot surgery.

www.lions.com.au

 

[martinson]

We've got more tall KPP's out than we have available.

I don't want to move Gallop right now but Joyce as a defender is better than any other tall option as a forward barring Gallop. Allen is one player we didn't want to lose given our other outs.

 

[Tom14]

We've got more tall KPP's out than we have available.

I don't want to move Gallop right now but Joyce as a defender is better than any other tall option as a forward barring Gallop. Allen is one player we didn't want to lose given our other outs.

Gotta hold on until Eric is back and able to play basically. Gallop forward, Joyce back until Dizzy returns is the best option.

 

[M Malice]

Ins- Darragh Joyce

41

Darragh Joyce

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.4

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.6

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.4

3star

MG

207.6

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.4

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.4

4star

MG

207.6

4star

, Dayne Zorko

15

Dayne Zorko

Age

37

Ht

175cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.4

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

8.2

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

6.0

5star

MG

440.5

5star

D

14.0

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

5.0

5star

MG

291.0

4star

D

16.4

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

6.6

5star

.

Outs- Oscar Allen

4

Oscar Allen

Age

27

Ht

196cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.2

4star

, James Tunstill.

I'd be giving Zorks another week off, but the drums are beating that he will play.

Gallop up front and Joyce down back is the bleedingly obvious move, Kiddy spends more time up the ground with Zorks coming in.

 

[mpal6]

Lets bring Curtin in to our forward line and give him a debut. We can even go small and mobile in forward line with McLachlan instead of moving Gallop.

 

[Tom14]

Lets bring Curtin in to our forward line and give him a debut.

 

[Elixuh]

I think they’ll have to do gallop and Joyce. I can’t see us going small, unless we decide to replace OA with a ruck. Drapes has looked MENACING forward, except when he needs to kick for goal.

 

[Tom14]

I think they’ll have to do gallop and Joyce. I can’t see us going small, unless we decide to replace OA with a ruck. Drapes has looked MENACING forward, except when he needs to kick for goal.

We don't even have a third fit ruck because Henry Smith has been missing in action all year.

 

[Elixuh]

We don't even have a third fit ruck because Henry Smith has been missing in action all year.

It makes sense to get Joyce in. He can get accustomed against Essendon and Carlton before we hit a harder stretch of games.

 

[carry on]

Lets bring Curtin in to our forward line and give him a debut. We can even go small and mobile in forward line with McLachlan instead of moving Gallop.

lets me honest we have a fairly soft draw the next few weeks, even though it includes Geelong at the GABBA. I would take the opportunity to play ZZ and put Tye forward. Tye has been going OK down back and will only improve, but a chance to see ZZ for the next few weeks. IF Payne comes back to anywhere near 2024 and 2025 form, he is an absolute lock and Tye probably develops down back as the third tall (Assuming Eric is playing forward). Payne, Andrews, Tye are our 3 talls, for the next few years, and arguably next 5 years.