Section 5
Norm Smith Medallist
- Nov 26, 2018
- 6,001
- 9,154
- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions v Carlton Blues: The Gabba, 5.15pm Saturday 23rd September 2023
We have been in this position twice in the last 4 finals appearances.
Both times a loss to the Cats. At least they are not our opponent this time.
Can we take the next step?
Members registered in the Grand final Ballot will be hoping so.
Especially those with P1 membership as they have a guaranteed seat.
Our most recent form is what matters going into this finals series.
As the saying goes, you are only as good as your last performance.
We easily accounted for Port and prior to that the Saints, Pies & Crows. So, good recent form.
I am not going to mention any Lions players names in this preview.
This game will require a team effort with some players standing up big time in this PF and hopefully the following game.
Lions
Midfield excluding the wings.
We can mix it with the best but sometimes the group struggles.
When they struggle a bit in games, we tend to have either a close win or lose the game.
We need at a minimum to break even in this area.
The Lions do have a great mix of midfield players.
When they all fire, we are very good.
Forwards
The most potent in the AFL when given enough opportunity.
They are all very mobile so often take the opposition defenders out of their comfort zone.
However, if our midfield struggles, the forwards get less opportunity.
Defenders
This group has been far better than previous years in my opinion.
A good mix of defending well and attacking from our defense area.
If our midfield struggles it will have to be the attack from half back that generates enough forward fifty entries to keep us in the game.
Wings
At the start of the year this was our weak point in my opinion. Has been for a few years.
Fagan experimented with various midfielders filling in on a rotating basis.
This was always a bit of a gamble as I believe you need to settle on your wing structure.
It took till round 14 for things to change.
However, it was not till round 19 that our 3 wing positions were settled.
We have only lost 1 game since then and that was to the Suns. Go figure!
Substitute
I think they should stick to a mobile player against Carlton as Melbourne are now Gawn.
Lyons would be the logical choice. Experienced player with finals experience. Will easily fit into various types of rotations.
However, I would not be surprised if they went Gunston assuming he passes a fitness test.
Team Selection
Baring a training accident, i think the team pretty much goes in unchanged.
However, the Gunston talk will continue up until selection time.
Carlton
They just snuck home in the dying minute for a 2-point win over the Demons.
Just going on that game both teams played a similar brand of football.
Keep it moving forward as fast as they can.
This does create some quick shots on goal but not necessarily the type you want.
Also turns the game into a bit of to and fro with intercept balls reasonably regular.
Not necessarily just intercept marks even though there were quite a few of those.
The margin was 2 points, their previous encounter being just 4 points.
Melbourne kicked badly and it cost them dearly.
I won’t go into all the stats but the one that kept Carlton in the game was center clearances.
They won center clearances 13 - 8.
The Lions play a different type of game so it will be interesting to see if coaches adjust or change their game style at some stage during the game.
Carlton gets back Martin and McKay, but I doubt they include Silvagni.
Injuries from this game:
Docherty dislocated shoulder. He played on and played well.
Most likely Docherty fronts up next week.
Jacob Weitering clearly should have had a concussion test. I wonder if the AFL fines Carlton as that's about all they can do.
Most likely Weitering insists on playing as it is a PF.
Then later in life he joins the class action against the AFL and Carlton for showing no concern for his safety.
Off Topic - MCG Finals Crowd Attendance
GWS v Saints 68,465, with the other 3 games all over 90K
The 4-game average being 87,385. Thats some impressive crowd numbers.
A huge increase in prices for the PF but with the Pies playing it should be another bumper crowd at the G. The AFL loves the big clubs.
Summary
Like any finals game they are hard to win.
Can the Lions players with a little more finals experience under their belt take the next step?
We need to have a solid first quarter and withstand the pressure that comes from playing in a PF.
From there on I hope we can just find a way to slowly get the upper hand.
Hopefully after the game we are all talking about how good or bad our seats might be for the grand final.
We have been in this position twice in the last 4 finals appearances.
Both times a loss to the Cats. At least they are not our opponent this time.
Can we take the next step?
Members registered in the Grand final Ballot will be hoping so.
Especially those with P1 membership as they have a guaranteed seat.
Our most recent form is what matters going into this finals series.
As the saying goes, you are only as good as your last performance.
We easily accounted for Port and prior to that the Saints, Pies & Crows. So, good recent form.
I am not going to mention any Lions players names in this preview.
This game will require a team effort with some players standing up big time in this PF and hopefully the following game.
Lions
Midfield excluding the wings.
We can mix it with the best but sometimes the group struggles.
When they struggle a bit in games, we tend to have either a close win or lose the game.
We need at a minimum to break even in this area.
The Lions do have a great mix of midfield players.
When they all fire, we are very good.
Forwards
The most potent in the AFL when given enough opportunity.
They are all very mobile so often take the opposition defenders out of their comfort zone.
However, if our midfield struggles, the forwards get less opportunity.
Defenders
This group has been far better than previous years in my opinion.
A good mix of defending well and attacking from our defense area.
If our midfield struggles it will have to be the attack from half back that generates enough forward fifty entries to keep us in the game.
Wings
At the start of the year this was our weak point in my opinion. Has been for a few years.
Fagan experimented with various midfielders filling in on a rotating basis.
This was always a bit of a gamble as I believe you need to settle on your wing structure.
It took till round 14 for things to change.
However, it was not till round 19 that our 3 wing positions were settled.
We have only lost 1 game since then and that was to the Suns. Go figure!
Substitute
I think they should stick to a mobile player against Carlton as Melbourne are now Gawn.
Lyons would be the logical choice. Experienced player with finals experience. Will easily fit into various types of rotations.
However, I would not be surprised if they went Gunston assuming he passes a fitness test.
Team Selection
Baring a training accident, i think the team pretty much goes in unchanged.
However, the Gunston talk will continue up until selection time.
Carlton
They just snuck home in the dying minute for a 2-point win over the Demons.
Just going on that game both teams played a similar brand of football.
Keep it moving forward as fast as they can.
This does create some quick shots on goal but not necessarily the type you want.
Also turns the game into a bit of to and fro with intercept balls reasonably regular.
Not necessarily just intercept marks even though there were quite a few of those.
The margin was 2 points, their previous encounter being just 4 points.
Melbourne kicked badly and it cost them dearly.
I won’t go into all the stats but the one that kept Carlton in the game was center clearances.
They won center clearances 13 - 8.
The Lions play a different type of game so it will be interesting to see if coaches adjust or change their game style at some stage during the game.
Carlton gets back Martin and McKay, but I doubt they include Silvagni.
Injuries from this game:
Docherty dislocated shoulder. He played on and played well.
Most likely Docherty fronts up next week.
Jacob Weitering clearly should have had a concussion test. I wonder if the AFL fines Carlton as that's about all they can do.
Most likely Weitering insists on playing as it is a PF.
Then later in life he joins the class action against the AFL and Carlton for showing no concern for his safety.
Off Topic - MCG Finals Crowd Attendance
GWS v Saints 68,465, with the other 3 games all over 90K
The 4-game average being 87,385. Thats some impressive crowd numbers.
A huge increase in prices for the PF but with the Pies playing it should be another bumper crowd at the G. The AFL loves the big clubs.
Summary
Like any finals game they are hard to win.
Can the Lions players with a little more finals experience under their belt take the next step?
We need to have a solid first quarter and withstand the pressure that comes from playing in a PF.
From there on I hope we can just find a way to slowly get the upper hand.
Hopefully after the game we are all talking about how good or bad our seats might be for the grand final.
Last edited:
