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

[Thedeftouch]

Answerth as "TBC" on today's injury report, 9 days after his concussion seems a bit ominous.

My prediction is ZZ for Allen as a straight swap (could swing Gallop forwards but I think it's better to continue exploring his potential as a defender).

I would prefer to give Zorko another week off but if we do bring him back I think Tunstill is probably the unlucky one.

We could see some interesting competition for spots in a few weeks with players like Berry, Gardiner, Hipwood, Answerth potentially coming back in.

 

[Gammalite]

Anyone remember the BIG Dance between these 2 ?
One of my favourites , with the 2001 Grand Final the one and only for Essendon v Brisbane Lions.

Coach lethal Leigh Matthews, commentators Bruce and Sandy doing a Sterling job. Aker was the Brownlow Medallist that week with Shaun Hart

Shaun Hart

Age

55

Ht

175cm

Wt

74kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.1

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

24.2

5star

K

15.2

5star

HB

9.0

5star

M

5.0

5star

T

2.6

4star

getting the Norm.
we have the 'Inspector Gadget ' these days in Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

29

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

, while the Bombers had the original = Dustin Fletcher

Dustin Fletcher

Age

51

Ht

198cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

12.3

5star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

301.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.2

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

. LLoyddy kicked 5 goals and had the Bombers in front at half time.

and Gamma broke stuff around the house kicking a ball around furiously with anxiety for most of the match lol. luckily the Mrs was out so could clean up while having celebration drinks

 

[Thedeftouch]

Anyone remember the BIG Dance between these 2 ?
One of my favourites , with the 2001 Grand Final the one and only for Essendon v Brisbane Lions.

Coach lethal Leigh Matthews, commentators Bruce and Sandy doing a Sterling job. Aker was the Brownlow Medallist that week with Shaun Hart getting the Norm.
we have the 'Inspector Gadget ' these days in Harris Andrews , while the Bombers had the original = Dustin Fletcher. LLoyddy kicked 5 goals and had the Bombers in front at half time.

and Gamma broke stuff around the house kicking a ball around furiously with anxiety for most of the match lol. luckily the Mrs was out so could clean up while having celebration drinks

Dustin Fletcher --> Ben McKay.... talk about a decline

 

[Pride of lions]

What about Linc playing the Jamie Elliott role out of the goal square? He’s quick, good overhead and applies good defensive pressure.

 

[Nathan Barley]

What about Linc playing the Jamie Elliott role out of the goal square? He’s quick, good overhead and applies good defensive pressure.

I don't think hes that quick or that good overhead

 

[JasRulz63]

Two years in a row we've thrown in a young first year KPF taken in the middle of the draft, and they've played a role in getting us to a flag.

Just saying...

(I'm also in the camp of Gallop forward and Joyce into defense until Dizzy is back).

 

[Gadzorks]

After close inspection of the image of Jack Payne from yesterday I'd be surprised if he makes it back this season at all.

Why? What did you see?

 

[Gadzorks]

Only the one fixture this year without an injury or suspension to one or more Lions players

Need to bank wins the next two games in case this bad luck continues

Allen came to us injury prone, so we have to take our medicine for 3 months.
At least it is a different injury to what he has had previously, i think.

Hopefully he progresses well as he was just starting to fit into our game style

Cross fingers on Draper now.

I always associate injury prone with soft tissue injuries, and broken bones as bad luck.

 

[Thedeftouch]

Just following up about potential competition for spots in a few weeks, I count about 15 "locks":

Andrews, Lester, Fletcher, Wilmot, Coleman, Zorko, Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, W Ashcroft, Rayner, Bailey, Morris, Cameron, Draper


Then you have the next 7 who might not be locks but something would have to happen for them to drop out if healthy:

Berry, L Ashcroft, Reville, Fort, Answerth, Gardiner, Gallop, McCarthy


With the players above you have exactly 22 players which (ignoring positions) would mean the following players should be competing for spots:

Lohmann, Hipwood, McKenna, Tunstill, Marshall, ZZ, Joyce, and a handful of others more.

 

[twhowler]

Looking at the injury list, in 4 weeks we should have a very best 25 (ish) player available except Payne, Hipwood and Allen. That's obviously 3 talls, but given we are going with 2 rucks this year, I think it's something we can cover.

Key things will be:

• no more long term injuries - especially to talls. That will really start to bite. If we have no more than the best 25 list should shrink a lot in the short term
• win at least 5 our next 7. I think that's reasonable aim but also would be a good result. Gets us to the bye at 9-5 at worst and hopefully having most of our side back and fit
• Oscar Allen back before the finals
• Payne I think it's 2027 at this stage. We just have to put a line through him and consider him a bonus

If Allen doesn't make it back I wonder if Hippy could put the bit between his teeth. 2 really good finals in 2022. Horror gf in 2023. Played injured in 2024. Missed 2025. He had 2 absolute purple patches in 24 and 25, I wonder if he could surprise a few. He's a tricky match-up when he's on

 

[SpecialBruce]

Play ZZ up forward

 

[martinson]

McCarthy really seemed to relish the role of hunting down guys rather than be the one that's hunted.

He's a tough nut who on the face of it looks suited to the backline at this stage of his career.

 

[M Malice]

Why? What did you see?

His left thigh/leg looks smaller than his right, notice how loose his shorts look on the left compared to the right, muscle wastage >

 

[3KZ is Football]

Carefull 3KZ you might be entering Dan McStay level of obsession with Cam

Nah, McStay was a spud. Were you on the site when I was obsessed with how bad Sam Sheldon was. He was infuriatingly bad and kept getting selected.

I actually think Cam has talent and he seems like a great guy. I’d just like him to play better. When you think about where we are at as a team, there are not many obvious improvement areas, but getting Cam to play 4 quarters is definitely one.

 

[3KZ is Football]

We could play Gardiner as a forward!

 

[Thedeftouch]

We could play Gardiner as a forward!

View attachment 2596341

lol I couldn't stand Gardiner as a forward.

 

[Clarkythelion]

He'll be heading back to the forwardline:

yep, Hippy is a way off yet and our cupboard is getting bare, Ty back to his grand final position and Joyce into the back line - we are still good.

 

[Elixuh]

yep, Hippy is a way off yet and our cupboard is getting bare, Ty back to his grand final position and Joyce into the back line - we are still good.

We are still good but we are now out of KPP depth.

 

[mpal6]

Play ZZ up forward

Nope, Curtin should get his chance. He's the One ! Just like Morris debut all over again !

 

[Tom14]

Good point too, I’d forgotten about Gardiner. Gallop is great at making a contest and certainly adds something forward, I just feel he’s growing week by week down back which is remarkable given it’s his first time playing there at any level.

The key position stocks are looking a little thin either way. I wouldn’t have minded going a little harder at McGovern given he’s serviceable at both ends. I still wouldn’t be surprised if, the plan is to play Gallop forward, we place Payne on the LTI and select the best available KPD at state level (or even Liam Jones pending eligibility).

It’s probably better for Ty’s long term development to give him one position to just learn. Unfortunately for him it’s definitely better for the team this year to put him forward again as we are trying to 3-peat.

Gallop down back means playing curtain or zz as a forward, no thanks.

 

[Paul Mac]

Only the one fixture this year without an injury or suspension to one or more Lions players

Need to bank wins the next two games in case this bad luck continues

Allen came to us injury prone, so we have to take our medicine for 3 months.
At least it is a different injury to what he has had previously, i think.

Hopefully he progresses well as he was just starting to fit into our game style

Cross fingers on Draper now.

Understand about Draper with his previous injury but for me cross fingers on Harris Andrews that this bloke does not get a serious injury. ( I'm touching my head at the same time for touch wood)

 

[Sproj]

Give Curtin a shot I say.

 

[dlanod]

Because we'll have Curtins, Drapes, basically a full window dressings store!

 

[dlanod]

Nah, McStay was a spud. Were you on the site when I was obsessed with how bad Sam Sheldon was. He was infuriatingly bad and kept getting selected.

It's a shame Hawksley never picked up that Brownlow...

 

[3KZ is Football]

It's a shame Hawksley never picked up that Brownlow...

I don’t think I was ever thinking he was in Brownlow contention, but I still maintain Voss didn’t treat him well. He could have had a better run with us. He should have played more than his 32 games at Brisbane.