Preview Geelong. Grand Final. You know when. You know where.

[braddsey]

I have just received something from Ticketek. It has six tickets on it but no bar codes are there. I would like to print the tickets out but cannot do so. What is happening to others?

If i remember correctly, barcodes are released very late in the week. It probably helps prevent scalpers, scammers and theft.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I have just received something from Ticketek. It has six tickets on it but no bar codes are there. I would like to print the tickets out but cannot do so. What is happening to others?

I’ve got two tickets in my Ticketek App, one adult / one concession - so that’s me and 3KZ Junior covered. The money came out of my account. Just waiting for delivery.

 

[3KZ is Football]

This!
Both Lachie and Jarrod know what they have to do.
Model themselves on Oscar and be an inspiration to the team.
I suspect all the Lachie talk is just a smokescreen.
Fagan playing 3D chess

I also think both Marshall and Reville were sensational against Collingwood. Reville’s composure and field kicking are elite. Go back and watch the replay in the last quarter where he kicks it 50 metres inside 50 (City End / Members side) and delivers it to Logan Morris. Perfectly weighted. Marshall’s field positioning shows him to be an absolute natural. He knows exactly where to be. Neither deserves to be out of the team. I also like the idea of giving Tunstill a run as Sub. He has been a ‘model citizen’ on the fringes of the team. Working hard and trying to be his best.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I feel that our undoing will be loyalty to guys like Lachie and Oscar.

I love Oscar and what he's done for our team and his infectious nature, but his fitness and ability is already concerning me. I guess what is the alternative, Sam Day, or go smaller? I'd go smaller and play McKenna, but I don't see the club having the guts to make such a call given Oscar's narrative, which isn't undeserved. Its a tough one.

As for Lachie, look I get why he wants to play, but to me he's putting himself ahead of the team for the reasons you mentioned and how little he has played in the past 6 weeks, all because he understandably doesn't want to miss out.

Not many are corageous like the Simon Prestiagicomo's of the world and rule themselves out when the coach admitted he would have played him but for the player putting the club ahead of himself.

I'm not entirely sold on the Oscar selection either, but I really don't think we have another option. The cupboard is so bare at this point of the year. McKenna has barely played seniors all year, so it would be a big punt to bring him in for a grand final, and the only other option really would be McLachlan, who would be an even bigger punt.

Maybe Linc should have stuck at his aggressive rehab timeline after all. We could've used him!

 

[braddsey]

I'm not entirely sold on the Oscar selection either, but I really don't think we have another option. The cupboard is so bare at this point of the year. McKenna has barely played seniors all year, so it would be a big punt to bring him in for a grand final, and the only other option really would be McLachlan, who would be an even bigger punt.

Maybe Linc should have stuck at his aggressive rehab timeline after all. We could've used him!

No offence to Linc, but the entire VFL team would have to be on their year-end footy trip to Bali for him to come into consideration.

 

[Dizzle]

If he plays he probably won’t have much feeling in that arm. So whatever position is best suited to playing with 1 arm

Goal umpire at the Geelong end

 

[Section 5]

I just see one change as i don't think they select 2 suspect players for a GF.
That change is Neale in as long as he trains fully this week and still undergoes a separate fitness test.
So just Neale for the unlucky Berry

Sub either Neal or Reville. They are unlikely to play Neale as sub, but it should be considered.
I would rather Neale came on at the start of the last quarter and help win us the game.
Prefer that over playing a tagged, struggling Neale and the team falls behind as they did early against the Cats a few weeks ago and we did not recover.

It is a big selection decision. Neal could play and win the Norm Smith too.

If they roll the dice on both Neale and Berry, they will have to drop one of Reville (likely), Levi or Marshall.
All three are fit and playing well enough to make a GF side.

 

[Sproj]

Normally, you'd say no to Lachie but his injury was not as recent as Berry's. You can't take in both, therefore I'm taking Neale. You know the bloke can play through extreme pain, all we need is him to go 100% for as long as he can because if he does, we are a better side than we would be if say Tunstill plays and he is probably the only realistic other option.

 

[DevRoboGun]

There's no doubt after our QF that we will lose this game if our defensive spread and pressure is not 100%. Could lachie let us down here if he plays or do we think he will be able to sustain pressure?

For some reason our midfied looks more balanced without him, Ashcroft and Clug the last two weeks have been incredible. Neale if anything should be coming in as the 3rd/4th string midfielder.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I just see one change as i don't think they select 2 suspect players for a GF.
That change is Neale in as long as he trains fully this week and still undergoes a separate fitness test.
So just Neale for the unlucky Berry

Sub either Neal or Reville. They are unlikely to play Neale as sub, but it should be considered.
I would rather Neale came on at the start of the last quarter and help win us the game.
Prefer that over playing a tagged, struggling Neale and the team falls behind as they did early against the Cats a few weeks ago and we did not recover.

It is a big selection decision. Neal could play and win the Norm Smith too.

If they roll the dice on both Neale and Berry, they will have to drop one of Reville (likely), Levi or Marshall.
All three are fit and playing well enough to make a GF side.

Yeah, you don't play Neale as sub in a GF.
That's like yelling 'he's not fit (to play)' !

I'd be more inclined to start him on the bench and then come on once the initial frenzy and heat has settled a little.
Still, if you're rolling the dice and everyone including himself, says he's fit and confident of performing his role, then I reckon you're best to start him in the centre. Then, possibly bring him off at the first interchange after 5 mins or so.

 

[Nunez]

Lachie Wing Neale baby

 

[martinson]

The issue with Lachie is what the risk of breakdown again is. He can get through any pain with some jabs ,as long as he has freedom of movement then he could play I suppose. But the risk of his calf and quad just not holding up would have to be high on the basis of the recovery time needed for anyone else with comparable injuries .Unless we've found some secret cure . Or it wasn't that bad in the first place , which seems unlikely.

 

[Elixuh]

The other thing with Lachie is he looked pretty rusty against Geelong.

 

[martinson]

If you were confident that he could get through the game then whatever he delivered would be better than whoever else we could play. I guess that's the issue we're dealing with.

 

[Tom14]

There's no doubt after our QF that we will lose this game if our defensive spread and pressure is not 100%. Could lachie let us down here if he plays or do we think he will be able to sustain pressure?

For some reason our midfied looks more balanced without him, Ashcroft and Clug the last two weeks have been incredible. Neale if anything should be coming in as the 3rd/4th string midfielder.

Clug's getting Mullin again, and I'm not confident he can break free of the scragging and holding. Would be an incredible performance if he did.

I think we need Lachie but he'd clearly be playing a smaller role with less game time so it is a big risk.

 

[martinson]

The other thing with Lachie is he looked pretty rusty against Geelong.

A bit slow and basically just not right. Then he does his calf. . That's only10 days ago.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Relating to Lachie, Grand Final history is strewn with these kinds of decisions and you can find examples both ways of it working or failing.

I don't know what the right answer is apart from the thought that if there's one player who's able to play to a high standard hampered by pain and injury, it's Lachie. Only player I'd rate higher on that scale is Voss.

 

[Nuggo]

Geelong I think will be in a tagging mood so Neale in for me. Being a GF he will go hard, no question. Berry unfortunately is a no for me. Can see that shoulder going again early. Sub ready for Neale if needed.

 

[mattsmob]

Cam and Hughie will be tagged again you would think. I think Hughie will be ok but Cam will need some help - Gallop to crash a pack and take out a tagger or two.

Wonder if they change it up a bit and go O’Connor to Bailey instead. Think Hughie is a given though

 

[mattsmob]

Relating to Lachie, Grand Final history is strewn with these kinds of decisions and you can find examples both ways of it working or failing.

I don't know what the right answer is apart from the thought that if there's one player who's able to play to a high standard hampered by pain and injury, it's Lachie. Only player I'd rate higher on that scale is Voss.

The other factor is just quality of the player, guys like Neale and Lappin who have played through injury and worked out are just far better players than recent examples like McDonald and Reid.

I trust Neale and to a lesser extent Berry to perform if they put their hands up to be picked

 

[mpal6]

A bit slow and basically just not right. Then he does his calf. . That's only10 days ago.

Neale can warm up on the other non-dempsey wing and see if he wants to get into mid rotations later. We need Marshall on Dempsey's wing to stay with him every step of the way.

More importantly, Neale needs to let the current midfield rotations (for last 2 rounds) stay as-is. It's important for continuity there and we don't shuffle around focusing on an hampered Lachie to save the day.

It's basically Neale vs Tunstill or Robertson. I'm leaning towards playing Neale and taking my chances.

 

[Nathan Barley]

The other thing with Lachie is he looked pretty rusty against Geelong.

So did most of the team but they didn’t have the excuse of missing the last month

 

[M Malice]

If you were confident that he could get through the game then whatever he delivered would be better than whoever else we could play. I guess that's the issue we're dealing with.

Has our midfield looked more balanced with Lachie out, spreading the load a little more, Bailey makes a difference in there, Will with more time. If selected I can't see Lachie playing a prime Lachie form game off such an interrupted preparation.

Really liked Bruce Reville's game in the Prelim once Jarrod Berry went off, Marshall was bloody good as well.

 

[13Beast]

Let’s say Neale and Berry miss next week, is anyone nervous about Tunstill coming in as the sub? I don’t think he’s good enough for a grand final. I hate to say that as I’ll always back any player in a Lions guernsey and I will back Jimmy if selected but I’m worried he’ll be a liability if he had to come on early (touchwood). He struggles to adapt to the pace and intensity of AFL level in H&A games let alone a grand final.

I’d feel better about McKenna being named sub in that scenario.

I like Tunstill, but he still needs developing and is not ready for this sort of match. I'd lean towards a Dev Robertson; finals experience, can step up for the occasion despite being in the 2s for a long period, will play hard and bring inside grunt - which is where this game will be won/lost against a team like Geelong.

 

[mpal6]

Clug's getting Mullin again, and I'm not confident he can break free of the scragging and holding. Would be an incredible performance if he did.

I think we need Lachie but he'd clearly be playing a smaller role with less game time so it is a big risk.

Mullin may not be ready when elbows get thrown in his way to release Clug. Our midfield would come in more switched on this time. Mullin is going to have an interesting game as a targeted player getting past other Lions in traffic.