Preview Last pre-season match - Brisbane Lions v Essendon

POBT · Mar 13, 2012

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The Lions' Melbourne based fans get to see their boys go around live for the first time this year with this match up at Visy Park.

This is a pretty good test for the Lions - Essendon is a top 8 side which needs another really solid hitout given they missed a week of footy unexpectedly. Essendon were reasonably impressive against a strong Sydney side last week. Watson is still dominating the clearances whenever he hits the field of play - it is hard to believe given his pedigree but I actually think he is underrated by the football public. The Bombers still have plenty of speed but looked like they were trying to play a slightly more measured game than was perhaps the case at times last year. Paddy Ryder was a handful for the Swans up forward and might be starting to get a handle on the CHF role. The Bombers are travelling OK in my opinion but would want another really positive performance against the Lions.

Meanwhile, all reports suggest the Lions completely outclassed the undermanned Blues. Keeping the Carlton side scoreless in a half takes some beating and, if nothing else, showed that the Lions worked very hard to maintain their defensive structure. Other than that, it is hard to take much more out of that performance other than confidence that things are tracking OK. This week will prove to be a much sterner test.

No news of any TV or internet coverage of this match.

mikey127 · Mar 13, 2012

Anyone know if Essendon's flight will be able to land to make it to this game?

Haso · Mar 13, 2012

Good write-up, POBT. I'm calling that it will be a close match, but I'm unsure who to back for the actual win. A strong showing from the Bombers out to prove that they are a top 8 force this year, and a strong contest from our boys, as per usual. I get the feeling that neither team is prepared to play silly buggers with this match, despite its scratch-like nature.

Toffee Lion · Mar 13, 2012

Will be going to the match, Hoping we can keep up the form from the Carlton game.

freq · Mar 13, 2012

Would go down and take a bunch of photos for everyone but unfortunately I start work at 5pm, bummer!

whatboutbob · Mar 15, 2012

Teams announced:

BRISBANE LIONS
2. Ryan Harwood, 3. Sam Sheldon, 4. Jared Polec, 5. Billy Longer, 7. Jed Adcock, 10. Daniel Rich, 11. Pearce Hanley, 17. Claye Beams, 18. Todd Banfield, 20. Simon Black, 21. Daniel Merrett, 23. Matthew Leuenberger, 24. Joel Patfull, 28. Patrick Karnezis, 30. Jack Redden, 31. James Polkinghorne, 32. Cheynee Stiller, 34. Jesse O'Brien, 35. Ryan Lester, 36. Matt Maguire, 38. Tom Rockliff, 40. Niall McKeever, 41. Mitchell Golby, 43. Rohan Bewick, 47. Jack Crisp

ESSENDON
4. Jobe Watson, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Angus Monfries, 7. Leroy Jetta, 10. Mark McVeigh, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Stewart Crameri, 14. Sam Lonergan, 15. Courtenay Dempsey, 16. Tayte Pears, 17. Jake Melksham, 18. Michael Hurley, 19. David Hille, 21. Dyson Heppell, 23. David Myers, 26. Cale Hooker, 30. Patrick Ryder, 31. Dustin Fletcher, 32. Travis Colyer, 34. Kyle Hardingham, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Michael Hibberd, 44. Tom Bellchambers, 47. Cory Dell'Olio

Very interesting. Still no Hudson, Retzlaff, Cornelius, Lisle or Green, but Harwood's getting a crack, as are Bewick, O'Brien and Crisp(!).

Hollow Knight · Mar 15, 2012

No Acorn, Retzy or Lisle.

Have a feeling this thread is about to get interesting.

Nice reward for exceptional reserves performances by Harwood, Bewick and Crisp.

Green a bit stiff again though I would have thought. Not sure what benchmark the coaching squad wants him to meet, but he clearly musn't be meeting it.

Either that or this what genuine competition for spots looks like. Been so long that we've forgotten what it looks like to see good players struggling for spots.

LIONHART · Mar 15, 2012

TheBrownDog said:
No Acorn, Retzy or Lisle.

Have a feeling this thread is about to get interesting.

Nice reward for exceptional reserves performances by Harwood, Bewick and Crisp.

Green a bit stiff again though I would have thought. Not sure what benchmark the coaching squad wants him to meet, but he clearly musn't be meeting it.

Either that or this what genuine competition for spots looks like. Been so long that we've forgotten what it looks like to see good players struggling for spots.

it remains an unanswered mystery why they would not be trialling at least one of lisle, retzlaff & cornelius. all one can conclude is that merrett is going to stay forward until brown returns, makes no sense really from our advantage point of ignorance.

and the fact they are playing crisp ahead of yeo & wearden & the other rookies, does that indicate he has jumped to next in line after mckeever.

can we/should we read anything into that ...

Grimreepah · Mar 15, 2012

If the plan was to play Hudson in round 1, then you'd think he would have played either last week or this week.

GingerGreatness · Mar 15, 2012

Yep, the Longer/Hudson issue seems to be one way traffic. Long live the Longer.

Hollow Knight · Mar 15, 2012

LIONHART said:
it remains an unanswered mystery why they would not be trialling at least one of lisle, retzlaff & cornelius.

I think the answer to the mystery is pretty clear. The coaching staff don't have faith in their current ability to do the job required. They want more from them and they're going to have to demonstrate it in the reserves.

Tassie4ever · Mar 15, 2012

I think Green is a little bit off his best, but not much.

Assuming the NAB is primarily about 2 things: 1] getting minimum minutes into the legs of the guaranteed core and 2] trying out options with the remainder

well for the life of me I can't think why one or even two of Lisle, Rezlaff or Cornelius has been given any real opportunity.

Put it this way- I've just completed the hardest preseason in my career, am much fitter than I've ever been, showed a bit in the 2's and now have been overlooked for even one run. Out of 4 games. Am I feeling good about life? No, I'm not. I know noone is gifted any AFL game just for the sake of it, but there are one or two in last year's 22, and still there, who came close.

Even these issues overlook the obvious point- we don't have any good, reliable forward to kick the pill to apart from JB when he is there. And that includes Karnezis who is still in development mode and realistically hasn't shown too much this preseason. Who is going to kick our goals?

Anyway, finer minds and all that.

jackess · Mar 15, 2012

I would've rested Patfull (automatic rd. 1 selection) and given Lisle a crack at cementing a spot for round 1.

I'm afraid that Sheldon's continuing selection despite doing SFA means that he'll keep his spot for round 1. Vossy must love seeing the number 3 running around for the Lions.

whatboutbob · Mar 15, 2012

GingerGreatness said:
Yep, the Longer/Hudson issue seems to be one way traffic. Long live the Longer.

I'm really uplifted at the thought of Longer (probably) making the Rd 1 team, but after his effort against Carlton I'm not surprised. Must keep my expectations in check. He's still got a ways to go...but I'll be so much happier to see our future developing than using a stop-gap in Hudson (with no disrespect intended to him). Incredible effort for an 18yo ruck.

As for our key forwards...I'm probably reaching, but is it possible that Voss wants to see them develop together, by playing them as a combination in reserves?

Matt_BL · Mar 15, 2012

Have to agree with jackess, no idea why Sheldon is in the team, his impact in games is minimal. Keeping someone out of the side who deserves it more.

Grimreepah · Mar 15, 2012

I wonder what role Harvey is playing in selection?

T Rick · Mar 15, 2012

Matt_BL said:
Have to agree with jackess, no idea why Sheldon is in the team, his impact in games is minimal. Keeping someone out of the side who deserves it more.

I can't get my head around Sammy's continued selection in the team. What is it that Vossy sees that the majority of those who follow the team are missing. I am not interested in being part of a lynch mob but there is something that just doesn't add up and I would love to know what the coach is seeing that I am missing.

lamaros · Mar 15, 2012

So is this your likely round 1 squad, or are you resting any blokes who've had a few games already?

Ours looks to be the round 1 side, with a few guys having to press their case for the best 22. Should be a competitive game.

Hollow Knight · Mar 15, 2012

Sheldon does the defensive pressure stuff pretty well. May not appear to be the speedy little terrier that Banfield is, but he does that tagging of half-back thing pretty well. Also showed that he could start to impact the scorebaord later in the season last year.

He's no world beater and I hope someone overtakes him soon, but I don't think he is quite as bad as people are claiming. He has genuinely shown improvement over the last year or so, and I think people are still judging him on perceptions cemented back 2-3 years ago.

whatboutbob · Mar 15, 2012

lamaros said:
So is this your likely round 1 squad, or are you resting any blokes who've had a few games already?

Ours looks to be the round 1 side, with a few guys having to press their case for the best 22. Should be a competitive game.

I believe it is very close to our Rd 1 side, with only Ash McGrath being 'rested', and obviously a few out with injuries (who probably won't be cherry ripe for Rd 1 anyway: eg Brown & Drummo).

There has been a lot of conjecture about our forward line, but I can't see any other reason why Voss would persist with the same forward line for the last two weeks of the NAB other than that's what he intends to run with in Rd 1.

Thanks for your input on the Bombers team. Should be interesting to see how it unfolds. I'd have thought your height would stretch us...especially if Merrett's up forward again.

Who do you see as battling it out for the last few spots in your team?

chopperduck · Mar 15, 2012

Interesting point Grim. I think it's more of a case that we want longer, karni and Lester in the team. With those there isn't any room for another key forward. Instead of two key forwards and a resting ruck, we are going 1 key forward and 2 more mobile medium type forwards (karni, Lester) and a resting ruck.

mikey127 · Mar 15, 2012

maybe for round 1 mcgrath will come in for Stiller

ZoBlitz · Mar 15, 2012

I think they are worried about going too tall in the forward line and reducing the impact of our forward press. I'm guessing that if they didn't select two ruckmen with one resting forward than they would have picked Luey and Lisle would have played forward while also chipping in with the ruck work. And then play Karnezis and Lester as the other lead up forwards. But that's my speculation. Maybe they'll play Merrett forward again as well?

Also I think Sheldon is getting selected as a speciality defensive forward. While we have other players that offer more offensively, maybe the club feels we lack other options in terms of purely defensive forwards.

It is preaseason so any number of factors could come into the team selection.

Nick Lions · Mar 15, 2012

lamaros said:
So is this your likely round 1 squad, or are you resting any blokes who've had a few games already?

Ours looks to be the round 1 side, with a few guys having to press their case for the best 22. Should be a competitive game.

I'd say the best answer any of us could give you is, NFI. I, for one can't tell what the coaching squad is doing with some of the selections.

Really surprised one of Ace, Retzy or Lisle isn't playing this week. Unless, like was earlier mentioned we want to develop them together in the 2's, I just don't get it. I suppose the reserves are playing Gold Coast's reserves so the quality of opposition should be a little better.

Grimreepah · Mar 15, 2012

chopperduck said:
Interesting point Grim. I think it's more of a case that we want longer, karni and Lester in the team. With those there isn't any room for another key forward. Instead of two key forwards and a resting ruck, we are going 1 key forward and 2 more mobile medium type forwards (karni, Lester) and a resting ruck.

IMO if that was the case, then Merrett wouldn't be there.

I just wonder whether Harvey (being the forward line coach) has convinced Voss that Cornelius, Retzlaff and Lisle simply aren't up to it.

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