MSB ROYS
Brownlow Medallist
Match details
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats
Thursday 24 June 2021 @7.40 7.32 pm at The Gabba - Tickets here.
Match will be shown around the country on 7/7Mate and via FoxFooty/Kayo. Details here.
History
Geelong and Fitzroy have been playing against each other since Fitzroy entered the VFA in 1884. After these two were part of the eight teams that broke away from the VFA in 1897 to form the VFL, Fitzroy were only of the early powerhouses winning 7 premierships in the first 25 years. Unfortunately, it was slim pickings afterwards except for 1944 until the merger and three-peat. Let’s not forget our unbelievable team and victory in this year’s AFLW Grand Final.
Geelong on the other hand, it took until 1925 to win a premiership, but in the last 15 years they have been a perennial finals team with flags in 2007, 2009 and 2011. They should have won at least won one subsequently and got totally ‘dusted’ in last year’s GF after their excellent first half.
VFL/AFL BBFFC overall premierships: 11. Fitzroy 1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944. Brisbane Lions 2001, 2002, 2003. AFLW: 1. Brisbane Lions 2021.
VFL/AFL GFC 9: 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009 and 2011. AFLW: 0.
My conclusion is that BBFFC > GFC.
What is at stake?
If the Lions beat Geelong, then they will move ahead of them into 3rd place on percentage. A loss will put the Lions under pressure to remain in the top 4. Probably the same for Geelong, but I am more confident that Geelong will finish Top 4.
Head to Head Last 5 matches – Geelong 4, Lions 1.
R2 2021. Geelong 12.9 (81) df Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) in Geelong. Lions outplayed for the first half but came home strongly. As discussed ad nauseum, the umpires lost their bottle in the last minute and refused to pay HTB to Bailey. Not for the first time, Geelong got over the line at Kardinia Park.
Preliminary Final 2020. PF Geelong 11.16 (82) df Brisbane Lions 6.6 (42) at the Gabba. Lions totally outplayed and never looked like winning IMO. You can read about it here as it's game I try to forget, especially after the joy of beating Richmond the previous game.
R6 2020. Geelong 11.7 (73) df Brisbane Lions 6.10 (46) at the SCG. In the game for quarters 1,2 and 4 but totally outplayed in the third. Ablett was amazing in this quarter.
R22 2019. Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) df Geelong 10.14 (74) at the Gabba. This is the game that Lincoln McCarthy took that specie and kicked the winning goal. I was there and the stands were literally shaking (see the video below). Pandemonium at the Gabba, what a day!
R19 2018. Geelong 18.12 (120) df Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78) in Geelong. Can’t remember much about this game and, looking at the scores, I have no interest in reliving it.
Possible ins and outs
Geelong’s midfielder Mitch Duncan did his knee and will miss this game. Selwood got two fines from theVFL AFL but is free to play.
I don’t think that there any Lions injuries from the game in Hobart. Zorko will come in and it’s likely that Matho will be omitted; however, Zorko could come in for Coleman if they want to keep the bigger bodied Matho in the team. I would bring Berry Snr though the VFL if he is fit to play. I haven’t been a fan of having Lester, Rich and Birchall in the same team. However, with Lester out injured, that leaves Rich and Birchall with at least some speed in Madden. I thought that Birchall was much better against the Roos, but I want to see him perform better against top teams. I think that the backline needs to get more defensive pressure from the midfield/wingers during the opposition’s transition into their forward line.
If I was on the match committee: Zorko in, Coleman out.
How it could play out
Both Geelong and the Lions forward lines are very strong and playing well. Both backlines are also playing well, and Stewart from Geelong was clearly best on ground against the Dogs. I am more nervous about the Lions backline. The Lions must make Geelong’s key defenders more accountable and not allow too many intercept marks. The same goes for Geelong with Harris Andrews. Our wings with Mitch Robbo and McCluggage are in relatively good form and will have to play well, as in the last match Menagola was too strong for Harry Sharp.
In the last few weeks, when the Lions midfield is not getting the ball, especially in the second half of the Melbourne game and even in first half against the Roos, they have looked slow and defensively poor. As cliched as it seems, the game is likely to come down to midfield dominance. Accuracy when kicking for goal will also be critical.
Obligatory picture of Ash's goal to win the miracle on grass game.
As an aside, Chris Scott was one of my favourite players at the Lions. I admire his passion for Geelong, and I loved that passion when he played for the Lions. However, sometimes he comes across as a sook now as he is not in our organisation. Scott really needs to win another GF with his team and then become more than just a good home and away coach. Happily, he will live on memes for many years.
Conclusion
The Lions have improved their form considerably against most teams in the last 3 year except for Geelong. As a consequence, Geelong will be confident of winning and it will probably occur unless the Lions play well in all four quarters and kick straight.
Will the Lions form improve on the big stage? My (biased) opinion is yes. The Lions will step up and win by 13 pts after the scores are even at 3Q time.
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats
Thursday 24 June 2021 @
Match will be shown around the country on 7/7Mate and via FoxFooty/Kayo. Details here.
History
Geelong and Fitzroy have been playing against each other since Fitzroy entered the VFA in 1884. After these two were part of the eight teams that broke away from the VFA in 1897 to form the VFL, Fitzroy were only of the early powerhouses winning 7 premierships in the first 25 years. Unfortunately, it was slim pickings afterwards except for 1944 until the merger and three-peat. Let’s not forget our unbelievable team and victory in this year’s AFLW Grand Final.
Geelong on the other hand, it took until 1925 to win a premiership, but in the last 15 years they have been a perennial finals team with flags in 2007, 2009 and 2011. They should have won at least won one subsequently and got totally ‘dusted’ in last year’s GF after their excellent first half.
VFL/AFL BBFFC overall premierships: 11. Fitzroy 1898, 1899, 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922, 1944. Brisbane Lions 2001, 2002, 2003. AFLW: 1. Brisbane Lions 2021.
VFL/AFL GFC 9: 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009 and 2011. AFLW: 0.
My conclusion is that BBFFC > GFC.
What is at stake?
If the Lions beat Geelong, then they will move ahead of them into 3rd place on percentage. A loss will put the Lions under pressure to remain in the top 4. Probably the same for Geelong, but I am more confident that Geelong will finish Top 4.
Head to Head Last 5 matches – Geelong 4, Lions 1.
R2 2021. Geelong 12.9 (81) df Brisbane Lions 11.14 (80) in Geelong. Lions outplayed for the first half but came home strongly. As discussed ad nauseum, the umpires lost their bottle in the last minute and refused to pay HTB to Bailey. Not for the first time, Geelong got over the line at Kardinia Park.
Preliminary Final 2020. PF Geelong 11.16 (82) df Brisbane Lions 6.6 (42) at the Gabba. Lions totally outplayed and never looked like winning IMO. You can read about it here as it's game I try to forget, especially after the joy of beating Richmond the previous game.
R6 2020. Geelong 11.7 (73) df Brisbane Lions 6.10 (46) at the SCG. In the game for quarters 1,2 and 4 but totally outplayed in the third. Ablett was amazing in this quarter.
R22 2019. Brisbane Lions 10.15 (75) df Geelong 10.14 (74) at the Gabba. This is the game that Lincoln McCarthy took that specie and kicked the winning goal. I was there and the stands were literally shaking (see the video below). Pandemonium at the Gabba, what a day!
R19 2018. Geelong 18.12 (120) df Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78) in Geelong. Can’t remember much about this game and, looking at the scores, I have no interest in reliving it.
Possible ins and outs
Geelong’s midfielder Mitch Duncan did his knee and will miss this game. Selwood got two fines from the
I don’t think that there any Lions injuries from the game in Hobart. Zorko will come in and it’s likely that Matho will be omitted; however, Zorko could come in for Coleman if they want to keep the bigger bodied Matho in the team. I would bring Berry Snr though the VFL if he is fit to play. I haven’t been a fan of having Lester, Rich and Birchall in the same team. However, with Lester out injured, that leaves Rich and Birchall with at least some speed in Madden. I thought that Birchall was much better against the Roos, but I want to see him perform better against top teams. I think that the backline needs to get more defensive pressure from the midfield/wingers during the opposition’s transition into their forward line.
If I was on the match committee: Zorko in, Coleman out.
How it could play out
Both Geelong and the Lions forward lines are very strong and playing well. Both backlines are also playing well, and Stewart from Geelong was clearly best on ground against the Dogs. I am more nervous about the Lions backline. The Lions must make Geelong’s key defenders more accountable and not allow too many intercept marks. The same goes for Geelong with Harris Andrews. Our wings with Mitch Robbo and McCluggage are in relatively good form and will have to play well, as in the last match Menagola was too strong for Harry Sharp.
In the last few weeks, when the Lions midfield is not getting the ball, especially in the second half of the Melbourne game and even in first half against the Roos, they have looked slow and defensively poor. As cliched as it seems, the game is likely to come down to midfield dominance. Accuracy when kicking for goal will also be critical.
Obligatory picture of Ash's goal to win the miracle on grass game.
As an aside, Chris Scott was one of my favourite players at the Lions. I admire his passion for Geelong, and I loved that passion when he played for the Lions. However, sometimes he comes across as a sook now as he is not in our organisation. Scott really needs to win another GF with his team and then become more than just a good home and away coach. Happily, he will live on memes for many years.
Conclusion
The Lions have improved their form considerably against most teams in the last 3 year except for Geelong. As a consequence, Geelong will be confident of winning and it will probably occur unless the Lions play well in all four quarters and kick straight.
Will the Lions form improve on the big stage? My (biased) opinion is yes. The Lions will step up and win by 13 pts after the scores are even at 3Q time.
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