Unofficial Preview Changes for the Q clash

[buttermuffs]

From what I’ve seen Skinner has been playing up forward mainly so who knows whether he will be considered in defence.

If Skinner is forward then maybe Ballenden or Payne for defence. I think all are capable in the end and would be fine with any being selected.

 

[jackess]

If Skinner is forward then maybe Ballenden or Payne for defence. I think all are capable in the end and would be fine with any being selected.

Hasn't Skinner kicked about 1 goal 10 so far this season in the NEAFL?

 

[martinson]

From what I’ve seen Skinner has been playing up forward mainly so who knows whether he will be considered in defence.

I couldn't possibly play Skinner .

Eagles was good last year and he might find it easier to generate some run out of there against the Suns than the guys have against Essendon ,who btw have towelled up North today ,and Collingwood

 

[martinson]

In fact when you look at how the bombers played today maybe our form against them wasn't too bad.

The good thing about the last two weeks is that it's showed up the areas of our game and the guys who are susceptible against really quick ball movement and quality opposition.

So we have things to work on sure . It was never going to happen overnight

 

[Football Pope]

I couldn't possibly play Skinner .

Eagles was good last year and he might find it easier to generate some run out of there against the Suns than the guys have against Essendon ,who btw have towelled up North today ,and Collingwood

....Is your crystal ball tuned in to Anzac Day?..if so do you have the winning margin?

 

[a mayes ing]

We have a 10 day break, the suns have a 6 day break. If we don't show up with pressure, running and tackles and run the game out better than the suns then there is something seriously wrong with them attitude wise.
Out" Andrews, Matho, Christensen, McStay
In: Eagles, Cutler, Answorth, Wooler.

Bit weary about having 2 debutants. But we really need a small defender that runs it out of defence not kicks it out. Answorth does this. Wooler looks like a really good 3rd tall and has a good tank. We are too tall imo with the 3 big talls up forward.

 

[Tom14]

I like Matt Eagles' story but I think some are overrating how he played in his limited games last year. I don't see the point of bringing him in and I'd probably rather go smaller in defence, play Dizzy on taller players and have the ability to swing McStay back in-game if need be.

 

[Gadzorks]

What we lack:
Backline really miss Bailey off half back or someone with speed. We slow to get it out. Prob best to push Cameron back see if he can play that roll. X factor off backline
Mids: Lyons/Matho cannot be in the same team need someone more hard at it N Robbo put your hand up. Or Speed not sure who
Forwards: Too many specky machines that cannot hold a grab. McStay I feel will replace Andrews so Keays in for me.

Then what do you do with Bundy replace him with Cutler.
I really do not think we can play both the Big O and Martin unless against teams with 2 rucks. Do you replace both go Smith and Fullarton or Wooler. Or Martin and Fullarton or Wooler or Ballenden.

Watched the twos and lots of the young kids have potential although did not play well for a full game.
Another month or two into Berry Jnr, Madden, E Smith, Joyce and see where they are unless we want to rush one.
Allison and C Lyons still good not sure they are a step above you notice Basti, Cutler, Keays and Taylor more.

Cameron moving back interestes me. I have thought that he is chasing personal glory a bit - not intending to just be about him, but because he wants to be as good as betts. And it might be at a cost to the team. Maybe.

Anyway, Moving him back would put the focus on him being totally team oriented. Hodge would see to that.

I like it.

 

[Gadzorks]

Looks cheap, hope he throws a couple of elbows on the 4 lions jumpers who are jogging nearby next time.

Good call

 

[Dylan12]

I like Matt Eagles' story but I think some are overrating how he played in his limited games last year. I don't see the point of bringing him in and I'd probably rather go smaller in defence, play Dizzy on taller players and have the ability to swing McStay back in-game if need be.

I too like the Matty Eagles story, but I'd be leaning towards Ballenden to replace Andrews. Ballenden seems the most obvious choice of those reserve players playing NEAFL that can play a key position, which includes Skinner, Eagles and Payne and to a lesser extent Wooller. Of those, Ballenden is the only one to be named as an emergency in 2019 (four out of five games) and also competed really well in the JLT game against Melbourne at Casey. Obviously my reasoning is pretty simplistic, but again, I thought Ballenden was the pick of the talls today in the NEAFL.

Counter to naming Ballenden is that it becomes a pretty tall team with Martin and McInerney also likely to play. If that is the case, I'd bring in Lester to replace Andrews, primarily due to his versatility to play small or tall. One upside of Ballenden compared to those other key position players I mentioned, is that Ballenden can play second ruck and compete well.

Quite the conundrum though with how we replace Andrews i.e. play Walker and Gardiner as our sole talls with a third tall such as Lester or do we go with another tall, be it swing McStay back or bring in someone such as Ballenden, Eagles etc.

 

[M Malice]

IMO if Connor Ballenden comes in he will quickly become a whipping boy, very good kick for a big man but he has a laconic and laid back way about his game. Certainly not an aggressive hard at it throw his weight around big man.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I’d like Bastinac back in the side for his running / link up work.

 

[mpal6]

Good call

Frustrates me when he can't lead by action but throws cheapie behind play. Need to be reminded that he's got a capital C next to his name.

 

[briztoon]

Andrews and Mathieson's injuries throw a little spanner in the works, as they're two I would have kept in the team.

Gold coast aren't a tall team through KPP's. Their KPD's in Collins and Hombsch are both 194cm, and while Ballard is 195cm, he doesn't really have the body size or play like a KPD. Up forward, they have 203cm Peter Wright, a third tall in Burgess, two smalls in Ainsworth and Mapherson, then three medium forwards in Sexton, Martin and Holman. Lukosius is their swingman who can play as a third tall up forward and in defence or play on the wing.


Before Andrews and Mathieson went down with hamstring injuries, the three players I was most keen to drop were Rayner, Gardiner and Lyons. Rayner is out of shape and either injured, or he's really out of shape.

Lyons played well in the JLT and against the Eagles, but since then has reverted to his Gold Coast, Dews whipping boy days.

Gardiner is obviously playing hurt and is already banged up. He already looks like he needs an offseason to get his body right. He looks slow, possibly due to coming back early from his PCL injury, and he's already staying down on the ground longer when he crashes in to a pack or player and goes down. I don't know if we really need Gardiner against Gold Coast or Sydney.

So out, Andrews, Gardiner, Mathieson, Lyons and Rayner


From the reserves I would want to bring in Eagles, Keays, Cutler, Answerth and Tom Berry.

We really don't need three tall defenders against Gold Coast. Eagles and Walker as the KPD.

I want to move Robertson to the midfield, on the ball if possible. Against the Suns he may be needed to play as a medium defender, or as a third tall if Lukosius plays forward, otherwise he can play through the midfield. Only thing is I don't want to see Robertson as the first link in a chain on a flank from a kick out of the Goal Square.

Keays goes in to the starting line up in the forward line. Cutler on to a wing. Answerth to the bench as a small defender. And Berry can play on a wing, up forward and spot minutes through the midfield.


My team would be:

B: Hodge, Walker, Witherden
HB: Christensen, Eagles, Rich

C: Cutler, J. Berry, McCluggage
Fol: Martin, Neale, Zorko

HF: Robinson, Hipwood, Cameron
F: McCarthy, McStay, Keays

Bench: McInnerney, Robertson, Answerth, T. Berry

 

[archangel1979au]

If Beastmode is out then Bastinac comes in. Apart from a couple of minutes in the reserve game was very good.

Harris' replacement is interesting I don't think any tall defender in the reserves are up to it yet. Eagles has lots of aggression but disposal and decision making was poor I thought. Perhaps Wooler can come in and perhaps McStay back.

I would give Answerth a shot for a big injection of speed in the backline with Witherden making way as he has been pretty poor.

Cutler needs to come in as he was probably BOG in the reserves. Played all over the ground and is big and fast and not afraid to take the game on. Bundy would make way, sadly he is not offering much and seems underdone.

Out: Andrews, Bundy, Witherden, Beast mode
In: Wooler, Answerth, Cutler, Bastinac

Lot of lucky senior plays retain their spot. Only Hodges experience saves him with Harris out. Lewy could replace Rayner.

 

[snooplions]

Jacob Allison was in the 'best' against Aspley. I'd be happy to see him get a crack at providing some of the run we are currently missing from Bailey's absence.

 

[Gadzorks]

I only watched the second half of the NEAFL game. But

eagles seemed to over commit a number of times. Went hard and either overstepped or missed his opponent which left the opponent free to dispose of the ball to his teams advantage. Don’t think he is ready for upgrade.

In general noticed a lot of poor disposal from the newer kids (and others). They’d get the ball, but bomb long in hope, or miss their target by a considerable distance which resulted in a contest rather than a clean possession. Yes it was wet, but it was the disposal decision that was lacking. These errors would instant rebounds at 1’s level.

Playing kids is important for them to develop but right I think a win is important to regain our confidence. I think they’ll bring in Bastinac/cutler/Taylor types who at least bring a known product that can be managed into specific roles.

 

[lionsrules]

Yeah id like to see cutler and lewy get a run.
Happy for lyons to have one more game.

 

[lionsrules]

Yeah id like to see cutler and lewy get a run.
Happy for lyons to have one more game.

Also Keays.

 

[mpal6]

Jacob Allison was in the 'best' against Aspley. I'd be happy to see him get a crack at providing some of the run we are currently missing from Bailey's absence.

He's in rookie list, don't think we have LTI to upgrade him.

 

[Tom14]

He's in rookie list, don't think we have LTI to upgrade him.

Don't need to anymore - they can play at any point. Oscar is still on the rookie list atm.

 

[Tom14]

Andrews and Mathieson's injuries throw a little spanner in the works, as they're two I would have kept in the team.

Gold coast aren't a tall team through KPP's. Their KPD's in Collins and Hombsch are both 194cm, and while Ballard is 195cm, he doesn't really have the body size or play like a KPD. Up forward, they have 203cm Peter Wright, a third tall in Burgess, two smalls in Ainsworth and Mapherson, then three medium forwards in Sexton, Martin and Holman. Lukosius is their swingman who can play as a third tall up forward and in defence or play on the wing.


Before Andrews and Mathieson went down with hamstring injuries, the three players I was most keen to drop were Rayner, Gardiner and Lyons. Rayner is out of shape and either injured, or he's really out of shape.

Lyons played well in the JLT and against the Eagles, but since then has reverted to his Gold Coast, Dews whipping boy days.

Gardiner is obviously playing hurt and is already banged up. He already looks like he needs an offseason to get his body right. He looks slow, possibly due to coming back early from his PCL injury, and he's already staying down on the ground longer when he crashes in to a pack or player and goes down. I don't know if we really need Gardiner against Gold Coast or Sydney.

So out, Andrews, Gardiner, Mathieson, Lyons and Rayner


From the reserves I would want to bring in Eagles, Keays, Cutler, Answerth and Tom Berry.

We really don't need three tall defenders against Gold Coast. Eagles and Walker as the KPD.

I want to move Robertson to the midfield, on the ball if possible. Against the Suns he may be needed to play as a medium defender, or as a third tall if Lukosius plays forward, otherwise he can play through the midfield. Only thing is I don't want to see Robertson as the first link in a chain on a flank from a kick out of the Goal Square.

Keays goes in to the starting line up in the forward line. Cutler on to a wing. Answerth to the bench as a small defender. And Berry can play on a wing, up forward and spot minutes through the midfield.


My team would be:

B: Hodge, Walker, Witherden
HB: Christensen, Eagles, Rich

C: Cutler, J. Berry, McCluggage
Fol: Martin, Neale, Zorko

HF: Robinson, Hipwood, Cameron
F: McCarthy, McStay, Keays

Bench: McInnerney, Robertson, Answerth, T. Berry

Only thing I can't agree with is dropping Gardiner for Eagles. I really don't see the point of Eagles and even dizzy at his current level would offer more than Eagles did in his senior games. I wasn't particularly impressed with him today either, got caught in possession a bit.

I feel like they may go with Basti/Squizzy over Tom Berry but I would like to see him get a run at some point soon too.

Otherwise changes seem reasonable.

 

[Dylan12]

LOL Zorks only got a fine:

Glad Zorko got off with his 150th coming up against the Suns on the Gold Coast, which is a nice twist given he's from the Gold Coast and that they overlooked him and basically handed him to us.

I've had my issues with Zorko over the journey, but you can't fault his persistence and belief to keep fighting for his dream to play AFL and now to notch up 150 games (which is automatic qualification for Life Membership at the Lions) is pretty remarkable an inspiration story to any kid overlooked for multiple drafts.

I reckon Dayne will have a cracker against his bitter rival.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

he has a date with Touk Miller

 

[lionraven]

I think the assessment on Eagles is a bit unfair. He is a Liam Jones type defender. He is overly aggressive at the coalface. Its a gamble but when it does come off it is a serious stopper. The flipside is if he cant make the contest then the opponent gets a leg up. His games last year he made an impact. I think he is a much more like for like fit for Andrews then Payne/Ballenden. Harris Andrews is at his best when he comes over the top as the third man. If we bring in Payne/Ballenden who are very young, they will be more focussed on their man rather than coming up to assist a team-mate. Gardiner and Walker play less aggressively (to the point that at times Walker doesnt crash packs he should) so I think they will gel a lot better with Eagles. Also playing blokes who have dealt with long term injuries like Payne or young blokes like Ballenden is not the norm. We have had to expose the likes of Andrews/Gardiner through trial by fire as a necessity. I would rather these boys spend a good 2-3 years in NEAFL just developing their bodies before having to exert at the AFL level. Finding out how much of a quantity Eagles can be is also very useful. We already know that Ballenden and Payne will be on our list for 3+ years as they develop. We need to find out if Eagles can act as a stop gap for 2 years whilst these boys mature; especially if Adams is going to take a while to recover from his knee. Finally he is a confident enough player to run/take on the game and attack from defense. We know he has the workrate of an AFL standard player (as was exampled last year before his injury) despite his poor disposal.