Preview Changes vs North Melbourne (Sunday 11 May 2025 • 4:40 PM)

[Gadzorks]

Poor fella. The story of the second half of his career continues.
Hopefully he's done the job we needed him to do - come in and protect the next in line while they got used to AFL football. A bigger shame that Henry Smith can't take the opportunity.
With that said, I agree - no better opposition than North Melbourne for Gallop to have his first run.

The tall man cupboard is starting to look a little bare... even Brandon Ryan unavailable for an extended period.

... don't know what you've got till it's gone. Paid Sammy Day but put up a Darcy Fort.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Day being out for extended time does not change my opinion of what may happen.
The priority is winning the North game then reassess.

Morris in for McLachlan
Fort in for Day

Sub: McKenna
Omitted: McLachlan

Oscar to spend some time forward when Hippy, Morris and Gardiner are given a break

I would rather see Levi and Bailey spending more time forward that having McKenna/McLachlan.
If Lohmann is available, he makes the side or ease him back via the sub. Have to wait for the named squad

Gardiner and Fort in the team? Bloody hell that's a tall team.

 

[Section 5]

Last year was the same issues with our key forwards in general which is why we threw Gardiner forward. Looking at the stats, Gallop hasn't been quite as good as Morris as was in the VFL early last year but he isn't a million miles away either. No reason why we couldn't get 'lucky' again.

A little different as Joe was playing and filling that F/R position, but we did have a KPF depth issue.

We are all guessing at this point.
Fagan knew Day would be missing at least 1 week.
He would have made his mind up Monday morning on who he was going to play against North.
If it was Gallop, he would have been told and trained in that role. Same applies to if it was to be Fort.
Us BF posters will just have to wait till Friday night to see the final side. Then guess who the sub will be.

 

[bungalow_bill]

I'd almost be inclined to have Fort ruck and Big O play forward/relief. Give Oscar a lighter load for one round.

 

[braddsey]

A little different as Joe was playing and filling that F/R position, but we did have a KPF depth issue.

We are all guessing at this point.
Fagan knew Day would be missing at least 1 week.
He would have made his mind up Monday morning on who he was going to play against North.
If it was Gallop, he would have been told and trained in that role. Same applies to if it was to be Fort.
Us BF posters will just have to wait till Friday night to see the final side. Then guess who the sub will be.

I think you'll need to get yourself down to training and let us all know who's doing what so we can stop guessing. I won't wait until Friday!!

 

[martinson]

I really hope Sam gets back but given his injury history it gives us the chance to try Plan B well before the serious side of the season starts and see what it looks like because we may have to use it.

I've got a feeling Fagan will persist with Dizz in the forward line. Not sure how that works with Morris in but we shall see.

The next run of games we have gives maybe him and someone else every opportunity to show what they can do.

 

[Section 5]

Gardiner and Fort in the team? Bloody hell that's a tall team.

As i mentioned i am a 1 ruck person but i am not a fan of having 2 young KPF and Hippy as our usual 2 talls, 1 F/R relief.
It could happen and work fine but a risk, i think.

Yes, i have one extra tall in the 22 than the usual.
If you go down that path the trick is to have one of Oscar, Fort, Hippy, Morris & Gardiner on the bench at most times.
The defender relief stays the same.

That still leaves a balanced team of tall/small on the field.

However, having an extra tall gives the team less rest/run from the bench than usual.
Our average interchange numbers for the year are 70/75 so a little leeway there to give the usual breaks to the mids.
To make up more rest/bench time for the mids, don't always take off players that kick a goal to make up the remainder.

 

[Section 5]

I think you'll need to get yourself down to training and let us all know who's doing what so we can stop guessing. I won't wait until Friday!!

Nah, not happening for me during the season.
Only preseason training for me.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Surely Gardiner cannot continue to be played forward. He got one lucky free for one goal but never looked like getting a kick.
Could someone put up the stats from his games up forward?
He was terrible up forward against the Tiges at the Punt Road Oval a few weeks ago

 

[Dalions]

Surely Gardiner cannot continue to be played forward. He got one lucky free for one goal but never looked like getting a kick.
Could someone put up the stats from his games up forward?
He was terrible up forward against the Tiges at the Punt Road Oval a few weeks ago

Was playing a bit of a shut down role on Collins.

 

[rye]

Day is a bigger loss than people appreciate IMO. thought he was starting to gel with out forwards.

i think we have to bring gallop in but id prefer hipwood to be ruck chopout. putting a 19 year old in the ruck is a sure fire way to shorten their career.

 

[knaf]

Was playing a bit of a shut down role on Collins.

That’s what I thought. Haven’t looked at his stats but felt Collins had less of an impact as an interceptor

 

[Nathan Barley]

Was playing a bit of a shut down role on Collins.

Why would you lock down on Collins instead of Mac Andrew?

 

[Section 5]

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Sam Day	Hamstring	6 weeks
Kai Lohmann	Shoulder	Test
Lincoln McCarthy	Knee	TBC
Logan Morris	Calf	Test
Bruce Reville	Hamstring	1 week
Brandon Ryan	Facial fracture	TBC
Henry Smith	Foot	8-9 weeks
Brandon Starcevich	Concussion	TBC
Updated: May 6, 2025

In the mix​

There's a lot of intrigue around the Lions team ahead of travelling to Hobart to play North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. Morris should return to replace the injured Day, but Chris Fagan must decide whether he wants to persist with reliable Darcy Gardiner as a forward or look elsewhere. He could opt for Darcy Fort to help Oscar McInerney as a back-up ruckman or promote young Ty Gallop for a debut after an impressive run in the VFL. Lohmann is also expected to return to the forward line. Tom Doedee and Keidean Coleman are also bashing the door down to force their way in, although it's hard to find positions in a rock-solid defensive unit. – Michael Whiting

 

[Dalions]

Why would you lock down on Collins instead of Mac Andrew?

Mac is far too athletic for Gardiner to run with.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Mac is far too athletic for Gardiner to run with.

I think it was more just that Dizzy was trying not to be outmarked because he knows he’s unlikely to win a marking contest

 

[Lazza16]

Any chance of managing some of the older dudes.....one or two of Zorks, Froggy, Charlie dare say Neale?

 

[braddsey]

Any chance of managing some of the older dudes.....one or two of Zorks, Froggy, Charlie dare say Neale?

I can guarantee those guys would want to be "managed". Zorko & Froggy have their replacements knocking down the door to slot into the team, so the last thing they want is someone else getting a chance to show they do it better.
Charlie finally showed some decent form last week and will want the chance to have a day out against an easier opponent.
Neale can probably afford to be rested, but it takes a lot to stop him playing!

 

[On the quiet]

Why would you lock down on Collins instead of Mac Andrew?

Mac Andrew has a terrible attitude, despite that, IMO very likely will end up a very good intercepting defender. Has good closing speed and a long reach. When we play them again, later in the year on their home track, I would be trying to negate Mac Andrew not Collins who plays the deeper lockdown type defender role.

 

[On the quiet]

Mac is far too athletic for Gardiner to run with.

Yep he is. Arguably, the only tall to go with him is Eric, but we don't want our main tall forward target, playing a negating role. Will have to put some work into him when we play them later on their deck

 

[On the quiet]

I can guarantee those guys would want to be "managed". Zorko & Froggy have their replacements knocking down the door to slot into the team, so the last thing they want is someone else getting a chance to show they do it better.
Charlie finally showed some decent form last week and will want the chance to have a day out against an easier opponent.
Neale can probably afford to be rested, but it takes a lot to stop him playing!

It's a hard one, because the team that got in done in late September, is still essentially playing and leading the comp. I agree, for the reasons you have alluded, that players likely don't want to be 'managed', some of the older players may have game bonuses incorporated into their contracts. However, looking 12 to 24months ahead, where we can, we should look at incorporating one or two fringe players for appropriate games.

 

[Elixuh]

Day is a bigger loss than people appreciate IMO. thought he was starting to gel with out forwards.

i think we have to bring gallop in but id prefer hipwood to be ruck chopout. putting a 19 year old in the ruck is a sure fire way to shorten their career.

Day was always going to be a slow build. I thought he has played a valuable role since his first game but has definitely been finding his form over the last few weeks. His first quarter against the suns was the best he’s looked. Shame.

 

[Clarkythelion]

A week to look at the short term future or the long term future.

I prefer we look at this week to try what we will do for the next 3 weeks rather than say what we might ultimately look like starting next year. The desire to try gallop out must be burning the selection panel, they have him learning the ruck role in the reserve garage and his isn't terrible but is no easy role and takes years to master.

We have Melbourne and have Hawthorn coming and North in Tasmania with their midfield and ruck will be no easy game, i wont under estimate that. To go with Gallop against 3 monsters in a row, although it might only be for 5 or 6 times in a match and then their backups outside of that is a big ask for the lad, although he seems the type to crack into the challenge.

Bugger Henry Smith is injured.

I'm leaning to the 2 rucks for the 3 week stint but admit I'd love to see Gallop belting in, his pre-season showed he can go with the big boys in bursts and he loves throwing himself and opponents around.

 

[Berrygood]

AFL app says:

Q3 - Big O was in 22 ruck contests, Hipwood 2.

Q4 - Big O was in 27 ruck contests, Hipwood 3.

That's 10% overall for Hippy. I don't think we're asking more than that from him. I think when Hippy is used in the ruck it should be deep fwd, like Hawkins was. Oscar gets to catch his breath down the line, saves his legs, and he's there for the dump out kick, etc.

We then just need to find another 10 -15% ruck relief somewhere. Gardiner could do it, the centre bounce is mostly grappling n shoving these days. He's pretty strong with that. Maybe Gallop, as raw boned as he is, would just need to do 2 or 3 bounces a qtr. He's aggressive enough to have a good crack, his aggressive multi effort tackling and defensive efforts will make up a bit for his inexperience. I think we can find enough rest for Oscar if it's spread about.

 

[Berrygood]

It's expected to be cold in Tassie. Much colder than we've been use to. Does cold weather increase the chance of hamstrings, calves, those sort of soft tissue injuries happening? Would we be risking some players recovery or gambling with a players soft tissue injury history if we played them? The calf of Morris, or the ageing hamstrings of Charlie as examples. We could rest those susceptible, manage others.