Unofficial Preview Changes & discussion v Saints, round 3.

[Tom14]

I love Gallop but he's been a bit lethargic in both games this year and maybe the short pre season on top of his big first year has just proved a bit much at the moment.

Still you wouldn't say Allen has been any better.

Both awful so far but Allen isn't getting beaten easily in the air.

Ty offers more at ground level but at the moment that is a lot of unsuccessful chasing.

 

[Nathan Barley]

It’s interesting, it looks Draper could be our get out, bomb it long target and we have Morris as the lead up or sneak into space tall forward and then preferably Hipwood would be the workhorse getting up the field.

Maybe Allen at his best could be a hybrid of the 3 to cover for when they are off the field or in the ruck

 

[briztoon]

Both awful so far but Allen isn't getting beaten easily in the air.

Because he has been playing behind our target forward, and looking for balls out the back. Has been in far fewer marking contests than Ty.

I haven't watched either replay, but has Allen actually competed in an aerial contest?

Ty offers more at ground level but at the moment that is a lot of unsuccessful chasing.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

I wonder if Allen is carrying something, not necessarily related to his knees. History says that Fagan will play them through injury though.

 

[briztoon]

I wonder if Allen is carrying something, not necessarily related to his knees. History says that Fagan will play them through injury though.

Man I hope so, but the way he moves suggests to me he has a back issue atm.

 

[BuntonRules]

He played 6 senior games, and the VFL has a heap of byes in it, how did he have a big year?

Gallop has a big build, and is reasonable tall. He's a power key forward and has the athletic traits of one. He's not as fast as Jed Walter, and not as nimble.

All of Allen, Gallop and Morris are similar types of forwards, with similar skills and traits. They probably would benefit from entries that Hawkins got at Geelong or Kennedy got at West Coast. But we don't play to create space in the forward 50 for our KPF's to lead in to. What we saw on the weekend is how we kick in to our forward 50, bomb it in and hope for contested mark or bring the ball to ground.

That is one reason Draper is so important to us. They are all under 196, and we need the tall target ruckmen provide.

One reason we lost last week was because Lobb was too tall for any Lion in the marking contests.

 

[martinson]

That is one reason Draper is so important to us. They are all under 196, and we need the tall target ruckmen provide.

One reason we lost last week was because Lobb was too tall for any Lion in the marking contests.

You'd love Draper as a forward target if he could kick. We haven't had that power forward marking target for some time.

 

[Bucking Beads]

We need to remember Allen has missed a lot of football over the last 2 years. Give him time before we really make our minds up on him.

 

[dlanod]

Gallop absolutely has potential but it's not the end of the world for him to drop back and develop in the VFL again.

 

[Thedeftouch]

The inclusions are pretty obvious… Gardiner, McCluggage, Bailey and Morris.

There’s probably about 10 players who could be considered to drop. Coleman, ZZ, Allen, Gallop, Lohmann, McCarthy, Tunstill, Annable, Draper.

I think Tunstill is a pretty clear out, there’s not room for him with our full midfield available. I think Annable showed enough to deserve at least another game.

ZZ is still learning but I lean towards keeping him in the team as he’s showed good signs and we do need to get some games into him. Especially when we are lacking height in defence and when Draper is finding his feet (ZZ can ruck when needed). I prefer to drop Coleman, he has looked off the pace both games this season and I don’t think him and Zorko should both be playing in defence together anyway. Would love to see Coleman back asap when he’s fitter.

Draper was our worst player according to the Player Ratings (negative 0.9!) and looked unfit at times. But I think his potential is obvious and you’d think he should improve. I imagine we will rest him forward as he’s a decent target.

But the issue, especially with Draper resting forward and Morris returning, is we have too much height in the forward line. At least one of Gallop or Allen has to go. Gallop hasn’t played well in either game and as a forward his record is now 4 goals from 8 games. I think he drops. I could see an argument for dropping Allen but I think he deserves at least another game or two to build some form after coming back from injury.

With Bailey coming back, I think one of McCarthy or Lohmann comes out. I think decent arguments for both. Lohmann’s performance yesterday was dreadful, but he played well against the Dogs and I think he has enough credits in the bank for one more chance. I think McCarthy is the unlucky one, at least in part because we are already carrying a lot of players who are returning from long term injuries.


In summary…

McCluggage in, Tunstill out

Gardiner in, Coleman out

Morris in, Gallop out

Bailey in, McCarthy out

 

[Denno]

Man I hope so, but the way he moves suggests to me he has a back issue atm.

During the Syd game they mentioned a hip problem.......

 

[SpecialBruce]

If ZZ is going to get picked the Lions need to pick a position for him. Learning two or three roles at this level is too hard. So if he is a tall defender then he may be better off going back to the reserves and develop in that role because, as has been mentioned, something went awry last night in terms of manning up. Could end up great though.
IMO a reason that Gallop kept his place at the end of last season was that he and Morris looked complementary. Gallop is another that is still learning his role and is now matching up on some of the best key backs in the game. Sending him back to VFL might be a retrograde step at this stage although I have no doubt he would fight his way back through sheer effort if that becomes the case.

He needs to play in the ruck alternating with Fort.

Draper up forward 90% of the time. 10% rucking.

 

[martinson]

During the Syd game they mentioned a hip problem.......

He's got a few issues that we're managing by the look of it.

The only way forward is to work through it with game time so that he ultimately gets confidence in his body back and is able to run and jump better.

We've given him 6 years on top money so the expectation is that he'll come good . At least he's out there .

 

[Dalions]

I would imagine if Fages wants to persist with the 2 Ruck combo atleast for now, when Morris comes back into the team, I think we run with the 2 rucks as rucks (only one on the field at a time) and we run with Allen, Morris and Gallop as the tall forwards.
When Draper gets more up to speed after a long time out of the game, I think I would tend to run with ZZ as second ruck and Fort makes way. I really like Zane’s athleticism in there and jumping ability over Fort.
And I believe we have brought Draper to the club with the intention of playing him as the main ruck (not a forward) Which leaves Fort vulnerable once Draper is fully ready to role.

 

[lionsbotyyyyy]

Draper is rubbish.
Develop Henry smith.

 

[Dalions]

Draper is rubbish.
Develop Henry smith.

Do the centre bounce ruck rules suit him, I am not so sure.
But he needs to be consistently on the park to find out.

 

[lionsbotyyyyy]

Fort, Henry smith and ZZ can alternate doing ruck works.

Draper brings nothing to the game.

 

[M Malice]

Draper is rubbish.
Develop Henry smith.

This is Henry's 6th season on our list, he has already had a lot of development, I have my doubts he is ever going to make it as a consistent AFL level performer. The new ruck rules do not suit him, far too slow around the ground, does not have a good leap in him and from my perspective he is too timid in contests.

He does have an excuse though, his body is not durable resulting in him spending a lot of time in rehab.

 

[Nunez]

Fort, Henry smith and ZZ can alternate doing ruck works.

Draper brings nothing to the game.

I preferred when you hated Joe

 

[lionsbotyyyyy]

Draper not anything different.
I don’t think Draper will play the entire season.

 

[Nunez]

This is Henry's 6th season on our list, he has already had a lot of development, I have my doubts he is ever going to make it as a consistent AFL level performer. The new ruck rules do not suit him, far too slow around the ground, does not have a good leap in him and from my perspective he is too timid in contests.

He does have an excuse though, his body is not durable resulting in him spending a lot of time in rehab.

If Henry gets fit I fully expect us to trial he and Draper as our ruck/23rd man.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Draper is rubbish.
Develop Henry smith.

Smith is only 4 years younger than Draper. He isn't exactly some young prodigy.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

Fort, Henry smith and ZZ can alternate doing ruck works.

Draper brings nothing to the game.

Can you expand on this a bit more?

Draper is an established ruck which is exactly what we needed with Oscar retiring. Smith is still speculative and ZZ is too green to make a judgement on at the moment.

Draper was playing great footy last season until the achilles injury as well.

 

[Elixuh]

Draper not anything different.
I don’t think Draper will play the entire season.

Did Tom make a burner account? What is this

 

[lionsbotyyyyy]

Not sure I agree—Draper’s been way overhyped. He had a decent run before the injury, but he’s still pretty inconsistent and hasn’t shown he can carry a team yet.”