Changes vs North Melbourne

[theteamtobeat]

I may be wrong but fairly certain they had up to 20 listed players in that game, was always going to be a tough ask

Wow. No wonder we lost to badly, lol.

 

[DanT7]

Merrett, Zorko in for Bewick and Gardiner.

I don't think Green is ready and no reason to rush back. If he is smashing it at training then maybe for Harwood though this may limit is developing rebound potential.

I think CBeams has huge potential (as in enormous) and wouldn't drop him. CBeams, Cutler, Paparone, Mayes have potential. I don't see it in Bewick and it's only possible in Harwood. I rank them in this order of potential: CBeams, Cutler, Paparone, Mayes, Harwood, Bewick.
Gardiner is behind Andrews, McStay, Merrett, Cutler, Papaeone at the moment and isn't right for team balance.

We genuinely are the worst in the league at getting out of our defensive 50. Seriously, appalling at it. This needs urgent attention.

We also desperately need to learn to shepherd...

 

[LionKing]

Is next Saturday's game at the Gabba a twilight game?

 

[BRAB]

Is next Saturday's game at the Gabba a twilight game?

3:35pm QLD

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Gidday guys and girls, I was wondering if any of you would be willing to jump onto the North Melbourne Podcast for this Thursday night?

 

[cotter101]

Gidday guys and girls, I was wondering if any of you would be willing to jump onto the North Melbourne Podcast for this Thursday night?

To talk about the flogging we will get Saturday?

 

[theteamtobeat]

Merrett, Zorko in for Bewick and Gardiner.

I don't think Green is ready and no reason to rush back. If he is smashing it at training then maybe for Harwood though this may limit is developing rebound potential.

I think CBeams has huge potential (as in enormous) and wouldn't drop him. CBeams, Cutler, Paparone, Mayes have potential. I don't see it in Bewick and it's only possible in Harwood. I rank them in this order of potential: CBeams, Cutler, Paparone, Mayes, Harwood, Bewick.
Gardiner is behind Andrews, McStay, Merrett, Cutler, Papaeone at the moment and isn't right for team balance.

We genuinely are the worst in the league at getting out of our defensive 50. Seriously, appalling at it. This needs urgent attention.

We also desperately need to learn to shepherd...

We need to draft more pure running half backs. Come to think of it, the last time we genuinely recruited a pure running half back is Docherty. Beams, Mayes, Harwood and Bewick were half forwards/midfielders, Paps was a forward turn backmen and Cutler was more of a Utility who played some time down back, but was used on the wing/midfield in his last of under 18 championship.

Like you said, we certainly need to address getting the ball out of our defensive 50. Maybe Dawson can be that guy, but he was nursing a injury through pre-season.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

To talk about the flogging we will get Saturday?

I doubt it'll be a flogging, plus you guys have surprised us more than a few times.

 

[LionKing]

3:35pm QLD

Thanks BRAB

 

[royboys4eva]

Merrett - Zorko and Green all are automatic inclusions. Green has been our leading goal kicker last two years with no decent forwards crashing packs. He is must for me. He might only get 5-6 touches first game back but he is capable of kicking 2 or 3 goals.

Bewick is an obvious out. Paparone i would drop. Needs to work on his skills. Mayes almost deserves to be dropped as well but more likely Harwood or Beams will. I like Claye Beams - think he is a good user of the ball but he looks a bit rusty having missed so much football. Freeman needs to stay in. Can't drop him after one game. Also North is a look a little light down back for tall defenders.

 

[chopperduck]

Bewick for Zorko
Beams for Merrett
not sure who for Green yet.

 

[John_Proctor]

I said Merrett, green, Zorko for freeman, Mayes, Bewick.

Tend to agree with discussion that dropping freeman after 1 game won't help him and Leppa does like a tall team.

I don't see Gardiner being dropped, I wasn't convinced on him last year but last night he was back to being niggly and competitive all game which is what we desperately need in the back line.

I still don't get the Harwood drop factor. I think he almost the only person on our entire list who plays the role "small defender". Claye beams, paparone, Mayes, cutler and others are all running defenders who are converted forwards/mids as theteamtobeat pointed out above. IMO You can't pick 22 players whose first thought is to run forward.

Not sure where that leaves my changes. C beams was the late in for Merritt so might e the one dropped. Or maybe the coaches trust dizzy to play on smalls and will drop Harwood. If they think that way why'd they give him a w year contract though?

 

[jasonrampage2010]

HF: J.Clayton, J.Schache, J.Freeman
FF: J. Green, J.Walker, J.McGrath

Let's keep the forward line all J's

 

[Milux]

HF: J.Clayton, J.Schache, J.Freeman
FF: J. Green, J.Walker, J.McGrath

Let's keep the forward line all J's

Surely jared janson gets first crack.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

We love a Josh don't we

 

[hench]

- Have key defenders stay close to their key forwards
- Don't have Gardiner kick in
- Shave Stef's hair

 

[Full Wingspan]

Stefan's man bun was definitely weighing him down last night.

Defenders cannot stay close to their key forwards as that is not how zones work.

Less silly turnovers in the middle of the ground and we could have had anywhere between a 5 - 10 goal turn around last night.

 

[WA Lion]

- Have key defenders stay close to their key forwards
- Don't have Gardiner kick in
- Shave Stef's hair

Yeah that's even worse up close that cut! That dodgy little bobble thing on his head is weird! (or maybe I am getting old...)

 

[BrizzyBandit]

Gardiner. Merrett. Andrews.
CBeams. McStay. Cutler.

Hanley. Rich. Zorko
Martin. Rockcliff. Bastinac.

Bell. Schache. Christensen.
Green. Walker. Freeman.

Taylor, Robinson, Paparone, Mayes

In Merrett, Green Zorko
Out Harwood Lester and Bewick.

CBeams has a higher ceiling than Harwood or Bewick or Lester so a choice on potential not current form.

Lester a little stiff.... But played forward a lot and would naturally be replaced by Green.

Bewick makes way for Merrett.

I think we go with 3 talls again. Freeman on his night can kick multiple goals and Mark well.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Poor ole Richy had a blinder, I'm expecting Jacobs to come in and play a negative role on him. Will be interesting to see if he can break a tag because he looks the fittest I have ever seen him.

 

[WA Lion]

Stefan's man bun was definitely weighing him down last night.

Defenders cannot stay close to their key forwards as that is not how zones work.

Less silly turnovers in the middle of the ground and we could have had any between a 5 - 10 goal turn around last night.

Yeah I think this above all else sums it up. It also badly exaggerates the free Eagles players out the back of our defence. The majority of the time they were free because the Lions marking them had pushed forward to create an attacking option, but then caught horribly out of position when the ball was turned over

 

[WA Lion]

Poor ole Richy had a blinder, I'm expecting Jacobs to come in and play a negative role on him. Will be interesting to see if he can break a tag because he looks the fittest I have ever seen him.

In theory, that should see Rockliff and Hanley off the leash, but doesn't always play out like that frustratingly

 

[Dylan12]

The Barometer: AFL injury list and selection analysis ahead of AFL Round 2

BRISBANE LIONS
INJURIES
Dayne Beams (knee) indefinite
Justin Clarke (concussion) indefinite
Rhys Mathieson (cheekbone) 5 weeks
Jaden McGrath (shoulder) test
Dayne Zorko (suspended) available

ON THE BLOCK: There were several players who could not get near the ball, including Rohan Bewick, Sam Mayes and Claye Beams, who were among eight Lions to have less than 10 disposals. Mitch Robinson was reported for rough conduct but there appeared to be little in his collision with Xavier Ellis. Tom Rockliff received treatment on his arm during the game and was heavily iced afterwards and Daniel Rich was also sore after falling awkwardly on his wrist in the final quarter, but the Lions say both players will be fine.

ON THE CUSP: Dayne Zorko will be back from suspension and Daniel Merrett, who was sorely missed against a rampaging Josh Kennedy, should also return from a stomach bug.

ANDREW HAMILTON’S FORECAST: This week the Lions return to the Gabba and face another tough assignment against preliminary finalist North Melbourne. Zorko and Merrett will be welcome additions and livewire forward Josh Green will also push for selection but would probably only come into the team at the expense of one of their talls as Allen Christensen and Lewy Taylor booted three goals each against the Eagles.

NORTH MELBOURNE
INJURIES

Jed Anderson (hamstring) TBA
Ed Vickers-Willis (shoulder) 5-7 weeks

ON THE BLOCK: Jed Anderson will have scans on his right hamstring after being sidelined for the second half against Adelaide. Lindsay Thomas (shoulder) and Drew Petrie (knee) finished strongly despite copping heavy knocks. Tough to drop anyone after that performance.

ON THE CUSP: Kayne Turner and Robin Nahas are waiting in the wings to replace Anderson, although Turner is battling hamstring tightness himself. The Kangaroos’ sole VFL affiliate this year Werribee didn’t play on the weekend.

LEO SCHLINK’S FORECAST: Triumphant in a Round 1 contest for the first time since 2009, the Kangas travel to Brisbane on Saturday to face the Lions. Heartened by the return of Daniel Wells and the third-quarter cameo of Brent Harvey, North will look to build early-season momentum created by ruckman Todd Goldstein’s supreme display against the Crows.

 

[cotter101]

Stefan's man bun was definitely weighing him down last night.

Defenders cannot stay close to their key forwards as that is not how zones work.

Less silly turnovers in the middle of the ground and we could have had any between a 5 - 10 goal turn around last night.

Yeah, our game plan has the zone were our defenders push up the field and we lock the ball inside our forward half. It'd work if we didn't make so many costly turnovers. But one turnover when we're all pushing forward is always going to result in a quick goal once they get it over the zone.

Once we turned it over our defenders couldn't push back fast enough to man their opponents and they got easy goals from it. Not exactly a problem with the defenders, more the rest of the side.

Fix that up and we should be a dangerous side. Think our midfield needs a lot of work defensively.

 

[lionshine]

I can't wait to #GetToTheGabba this weekend to watch the boys play North. The feeling watching the boys run out in the home kit for the first time since late August/early September last year will be special.