Media alert

[SizeMatters]

Something else is definitely wrong...but playing kids at key posts doesn't help. It's not so bad when they are mids, but when you have Schache as the main key forward and Andrews (currently injured) as our CHB - well it is a reason, but probably not an excuse for the effort on Saturday night.

We need our best 22 out there most weeks to be competitive - and those need to be switched on for us to compete.

it starts with our midfield and forward flankers... they just don't want to run defensively when there is a turnover or we lose the stoppage/centre clearance. Every game it's the same story.

 

[royboys4eva]

Yeah credit to Swann for continuing to face up to the music. He must sometimes think the players and coach get off lightly. I think he sounded a bit defeated and had run out of answers and excuses. He has made the point about our plight many times but it falls on deaf ears when the players play like they did on sat night. I honestly think our club would get more public support if we put in efforts like we did against the Swans. When we put up performances as pathetic as sat nights the football public just think we are poorly coached and the players don't try or care so why should they get extra money.

 

[deklares]

Love carro's narrative lately. Instead of the VFL media's "it's all self inflicted" go to line carro can see that there are inherent disadvantages that need to be acknowledged and addressed. Seems like the only melbourne journo prepared to take an unbiased look over the state border.

 

[Harris Specter]

Youth is no excuse, especially it's the likes of Andrews, Schache, Gardiner and Keays who play like they care and bleed for the jumper. Aside from Zorko, Robinson and Merrett, not many in the team can say that they do. Last 2 weeks of Lions football pretty much gave the entire competition that we're easybeats, whether at home or away. Rightfully so that we are getting blasted in the media this week, not enough IMO.

 

[lionshine]

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2016-05-16/weekly-update-round-9

Looking forward to the "Life after footy" segment with Chris Johnson coming out on Wednesday

 

[Jman78]

Rich, Hanley, Taylor and Green are getting smashed by the media. Wonder how they will respond? Players of this quality not performing is a issue for us, hopefully they have some anger inside and will dig in which I think they do, and I'm going to call it, I think they will.... God I hope I'm right!!!!!

 

[Harris Specter]

Rich, Hanley, Taylor and Green are getting smashed by the media. Wonder how they will respond? Players of this quality not performing is a issue for us, hopefully they have some anger inside and will dig in which I think they do, and I'm going to call it, I think they will.... God I hope I'm right!!!!!

I'd add in Bell and Bastinac to that list too. Shocking work-rate around the ground.

 

[M Malice]

Rich, Hanley, Taylor and Green are getting smashed by the media. Wonder how they will respond? Players of this quality not performing is a issue for us, hopefully they have some anger inside and will dig in which I think they do, and I'm going to call it, I think they will.... God I hope I'm right!!!!!

agree with you, although experienced players like this shouldn't need this sort of stimulation to perform. maybe this as motivation-

1. you are playing a game you love, lets face it these fellas are just extending their childhood and the love of kicking a footy around.
2. getting very well remunerated for your services.
3. playing for your mates, club and pride in performance.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Yeah I agree. Hats off to Swan for doing the rounds and putting himself out there but the injury alibi is tiresome. Our injury list is actually good in comparison to previous years.

In numbers maybe but in terms of talent missing it is similar or arguably worse when you consider these are missing or have been for large parts of the season and we are only 7 games in - Rockliff, D Beams, Harris, Clarke, Merrett, Mathieson, Cutler, Green, McGrath.

 

[royboys4eva]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/who-can-leppa-look-to-with-any-faith

Good to see Rich coming under the spotlight.

 

[adey115]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/who-can-leppa-look-to-with-any-faith

Good to see Rich coming under the spotlight.

"Daniel Rich signed a five-year deal just a month ago and is playing like a man secure in the knowledge he has a wage no matter what he dishes up. Rich has become the epitome of this team – a footballer of quality who too often lacks the intensity to thrive at AFL level."

I really can not argue with any of that. Yes it points the finger solely at Daniel, but reality is, if you're getting a 5 year deal the club is viewing you as a marquee player. If you're willing to sign that agreement, then you must accept that it comes with a certain level of effort expectation, on every occasion.

The focus on him is entirely valid. He needs to raise his levels, if he's willing to take the rewards of signing a 5 year deal.

 

[Ironmonger]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/who-can-leppa-look-to-with-any-faith

Good to see Rich coming under the spotlight.

I think it's a bit unfair, to be honest. His tackling numbers are well up and he seems to be really working on that aspect of the game. He has things to work on, but so does everyone.

In fact, the whole article is based on a false premise, that the playing group can be divided into those who do and don't care. The main problems clearly cut across the entire team.

And this line:

Rich has become the epitome of this team – a footballer of quality who too often lacks the intensity to thrive at AFL level.

Obviously there's a lot of room for argument, but I don't think that describes us at all. It's an odd label to apply to a team that keeps losing high draft picks.

 

[SizeMatters]

ab

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/who-can-leppa-look-to-with-any-faith

Good to see Rich coming under the spotlight.

about bloody time too. been a passenger for years now.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Rich is the cream of this team. If the rest of the team is doing their job he just can't contribute consistently. If Rich was in a team like the Hawks he'd have won a Brownlow.

 

[adey115]

I disagree in this case Ironmonger. Twenty two blokes were selected last weekend. Be they high picks, or low picks, or (in the case of Essendon) backup picks way out of left field, the expectation is effort - win, lose, draw, A grader or D grader - effort.

The effort was not there from many in relation to this specific game. There seemed to be players selected who seemed like they did not care as to the result in that first half specifically. Otherwise their effort to the challenge would have been evident, regardless of the scoreboard. Let's remember, the scoreboard read 0-0 at the start of the match.

Some of these articles in the last few days are hardly outlining in-depth tactical analysis. But what they are providing is a burning spotlight the basic premise of providing effort to the contest. That spotlight is required, and even though we may not like the journalistic style of some of these guys, I'm quite happy for the basics of that spotlight that we are getting at the moment. It's thoroughly deserved.

 

[SizeMatters]

Rich is the cream of this team. If the rest of the team is doing their job he just can't contribute consistently. If Rich was in a team like the Hawks he'd have won a Brownlow.

There comes a point in time when he has to realise he is a leader of the club. We shouldn't as supporters think his output the past few years is acceptable... he is on big money and the least we should expect is some bloody effort. If he wants to think he is the cream then good on him, he can be the cream in the reserves for all I care. IMO if he played for a club like the Hawks he would be playing for their VFL team.

 

[Kevvo]

I think it's a bit unfair, to be honest. His tackling numbers are well up and he seems to be really working on that aspect of the game. He has things to work on, but so does everyone.

In fact, the whole article is based on a false premise, that the playing group can be divided into those who do and don't care. The main problems clearly cut across the entire team.

And this line:



Obviously there's a lot of room for argument, but I don't think that describes us at all. It's an odd label to apply to a team that keeps losing high draft picks.

I think I see it along these lines too, although I was bitterly disappointed in Rich (and Hanley) on the weekend.

I know drafting is an inexact science, but I think that draft ordering is not a bad proxy for 'quality' considered across a lot of players over time. Casting an eye over our mids:

Rockliff- overachiever through the PSD
Hanley- intermittent overachiever off the international rookie list
Zorko- overachieving mature age recruit
Robinson- good hard worker (drafted at pick 40)
Rich- underachieving top 10 pick
Bastinac- pick 21, probably roundabout par in terms of output I reckon
Christensen- pick 40, arguably overachieving, maybe par

We've managed to coax some good performances out of these guys, but suggesting that we have an abundance of quality is a bit off the mark. At the end of the day, it's hard to believe that our player development is/was so good that we should get comparable results out of those picks compared to other sides in the comp who would uniformly have more innate quality (inasmuch as that is reflected through higher draft picks).

No disagreements that our effort was horrible on the weekend though.

 

[Bucking Beads]

There comes a point in time when he has to realise he is a leader of the club. We shouldn't as supporters think his output the past few years is acceptable... he is on big money and the least we should expect is some bloody effort. If he wants to think he is the cream then good on him, he can be the cream in the reserves for all I care. IMO if he played for a club like the Hawks he would be playing for their VFL team.

I am not saying it is acceptable but it is what it is. He is what he is. He has always been the same.

 

[Panthera]

Funnily enough, with Mathieson to debut this week; I think Example A will be there for the rest of the midfield to see quite clearly

I don't think he's the type to keep quiet and will demand help if he's not getting it in the centre square (presuming he's played there).

Can't wait!

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

This may sound harsh but it may just be that Rich is not as good as we had believed/hoped. Certainly his kicking is but it tends to cloud an objective assessment of his other talents. His tackling numbers may have gone up but his tackling intensity lags behind others in what is a fairly poor tackling side. His endurance would be quite average when compared to midfielders which is why he probably will never be an elite midfielder and is more at home in defence. He wins more outside ball than hard ball. And when did you last see him kick or handball on his right side? I would rather have him in the team than not but I don't believe he will ever measure up to the great expectations we all had at the outset - which for most of us were based almost entirely on his high draft selection.

 

[brizrider]

The Lions round 8 social media roundup: http://www.lions.com.au/news/2016-05-17/social-roundup

To see those happy, smiling, excited faces and read the words of encouragement and confidence while knowing what happened to these poor, poor people just a short time later. It's just so sad.

 

[Wounded Lion]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-17/who-can-leppa-look-to-with-any-faith

Good to see Rich coming under the spotlight.

I'm happier that Green got a mention.

This bloke does a lot of smack talk to the opposition on game day and acts like he is already an established A grader both on and off the field.

He's weak as piss, he can't lay an aggressive tackle anymore and that's on the rarity that he does so, so much corralling but he never gets to his position quick enough to hurt the opposition.

He does not accept his role, instead he always leads at the ball carrier trying to be a main forward and chooses to do rushed scrappy kicks out of forward 50 congestion instead of setting up another team mate.

Please cut him this week Leppa, he is a player who has been this way for a while, it's a shame he was our leading goal kicker last year, it doesn't reflect his attitude to the team.

 

[captainrich]

I think I see it along these lines too, although I was bitterly disappointed in Rich (and Hanley) on the weekend.

I know drafting is an inexact science, but I think that draft ordering is not a bad proxy for 'quality' considered across a lot of players over time. Casting an eye over our mids:

Rockliff- overachiever through the PSD
Hanley- intermittent overachiever off the international rookie list
Zorko- overachieving mature age recruit
Robinson- good hard worker (drafted at pick 40)
Rich- underachieving top 10 pick
Bastinac- pick 21, probably roundabout par in terms of output I reckon
Christensen- pick 40, arguably overachieving, maybe par

We've managed to coax some good performances out of these guys, but suggesting that we have an abundance of quality is a bit off the mark. At the end of the day, it's hard to believe that our player development is/was so good that we should get comparable results out of those picks compared to other sides in the comp who would uniformly have more innate quality (inasmuch as that is reflected through higher draft picks).

No disagreements that our effort was horrible on the weekend though.

really good breakdown, though we should be looking at some of those players in terms of what we paid for them.

Robinson- came from free as a delisted agent, what we have achieved with him is quite ridiculoius

Christensen (drafted at pick 40, btw he was due to go in the first round but fell cause of his size and no outstanding attributes), we paid pick 21 for him and at this stage probably not performing to that standard

We really drop off when we look beyond these guys, normally guys at this level are the 2nd tier players behind the bonafide stars of a team which we dont really have at the moment besides Beams

 

[royboys4eva]

This may sound harsh but it may just be that Rich is not as good as we had believed/hoped. Certainly his kicking is but it tends to cloud an objective assessment of his other talents. His tackling numbers may have gone up but his tackling intensity lags behind others in what is a fairly poor tackling side. His endurance would be quite average when compared to midfielders which is why he probably will never be an elite midfielder and is more at home in defence. He wins more outside ball than hard ball. And when did you last see him kick or handball on his right side? I would rather have him in the team than not but I don't believe he will ever measure up to the great expectations we all had at the outset - which for most of us were based almost entirely on his high draft selection.

That's a fair assessment. But i do wonder under the coaching of Clarkson or one of the Scott boys whether his output would be different. I think he has got away with being one of the elite talents in a club that has been devoid of talent in the last ten years. Therefore he has served up the odd good game but rarely have we seen him play 3-4 solid games in a row. I am looking forward to seeing his reaction this weekend.

 

[CarterS]

I'm happier that Green got a mention.

This bloke does a lot of smack talk to the opposition on game day and acts like he is already an established A grader both on and off the field.

He's weak as piss, he can't lay an aggressive tackle anymore and that's on the rarity that he does so, so much corralling but he never gets to his position quick enough to hurt the opposition.

He does not accept his role, instead he always leads at the ball carrier trying to be a main forward and chooses to do rushed scrappy kicks out of forward 50 congestion instead of setting up another team mate.

Please cut him this week Leppa, he is a player who has been this way for a while, it's a shame he was our leading goal kicker last year, it doesn't reflect his attitude to the team.

Harsh but fair. I've got a mate who has is a member but supports another team - every week he tells me "Green is a myth" and I am starting to agree. Selfishness of Stevie J without the talent!