Review Rd 15 vs Sydney: Post-game views and reviews

[Baby_Jenks]

On the bright side Kezz, he'll have the opportunity to make St Nick cry this weekend Or better yet, punching the living crap out of that little snide, cheating, lying, dirty piece of shit called Milne.

 

[patfullfankezz]

On the bright side Kezz, he'll have the opportunity to make St Nick cry this weekend Or better yet, punching the living crap out of that little snide, cheating, lying, dirty piece of shit called Milne.

Don't hold back mate, tell us what you really think of Milne lol

Guilty secret: I find Nick moderately attractive, and as such have been looking forward to this match up all year lol

 

[whatboutbob]

Don't hold back mate, tell us what you really think of Milne lol

Guilty secret: I find Nick moderately attractive, and as such have been looking forward to this match up all year lol

Have you had your eyes checked recently Kezz?

 

[Baby_Jenks]

As much as you love Patfull with all your heart, I hate Milne with the same passion. I would gladly sacrifice Patfull (or even Brown for that matter) to the MRP for the rest of the season to see that little maggot get his face broken into 8 or 9 different pieces.

 

[patfullfankezz]

Have you had your eyes checked recently Kezz?

It's the blonde hair and the blue eyes that get me.

As much as you love Patfull with all your heart, I hate Milne with the same passion. I would gladly sacrifice Patfull (or even Brown for that matter) to the MRP for the rest of the season to see that little maggot get his face broken into 8 or 9 different pieces.

Brown v Milne in a marking contest. I can hear the crunch already...

 

[Baby_Jenks]

I would much prefer to hear a snap, crackle and pop.

P.S. We really need an evil smiley just doesn't cut it.

 

[BuntonRules]

We do, he just decided it was all too hard and didn't bother!

(Not mad...disappointed!)

Pathetic comment Kezz

 

[whatboutbob]

I'd have hoped we were better than wishing injury on the opposition.

 

[Haso]

Have to admit, Nick, Kosi and Milne up front ain't pretty, from an aesthetic perspective.

 

[Ceebee]

I would love Milne to play for us.
Love how he goes about his stuff.has everybody hating him.
Not likable, but gee what a great player to have in your team.

 

[dmac_55]

I always had the opinion that Riewoldt was one of the ugliest players in the league (i mean look at his forehead), but have talked to a number of different women who think he quite the looker! Could not believe it

 

[Ironmonger]

Have to admit, Nick, Kosi and Milne up front ain't pretty, from an aesthetic perspective.

Don't forget Adam Schneider.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I always had the opinion that Riewoldt was one of the ugliest players in the league (i mean look at his forehead), but have talked to a number of different women who think he quite the looker! Could not believe it

He just looks like a whinging girl. Does he even shave??? Hasn't hit puberty yet surely

 

[BrisLions3]

Hi guys, new member long time Lions fan, just joined from the recently deleted Brisbane Lions United forum.

Sadly it was the same old story, Brown was trying to take contested marks with 3 on him and Black was sorely missed. The game on the weekend showed we took 1 step forward and 3 steps back over the past month. One issue seemed like a lack of a hard body in the contest to really rip the ball out and get us going forward but for mine the main issue since the start of the season has been our young "utilities", Crisp, Polkinghorne, Lester were all woeful again and guys like Bartlett, Docherty, Yeo must be scratching their heads. I mean I know a couple of years ago we drafted for versatility (and speed) but it really hasn't paid off, Karnezis (and I say this as a huge fan) has been promising for a while but in reality hasn't had the breakthrough game, Lester continues to butcher the ball and also lacks the real size for a KPP and Polec well I've almost started to call him tampon (One week in, 3 weeks out). The McKeever experiment has also obviously failed but no one wants to damage their own ego by standing up and saying "He has no ability and very little potential". Much of next year depends on Brent Staker unfortunately, but a KPD is a must come draft time.

 

[dlanod]

Have to admit, Nick, Kosi and Milne up front ain't pretty, from an aesthetic perspective.

It could be worse. At least Gehrig has retired.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Hi guys, new member long time Lions fan, just joined from the recently deleted Brisbane Lions United forum.

Sadly it was the same old story, Brown was trying to take contested marks with 3 on him and Black was sorely missed. The game on the weekend showed we took 1 step forward and 3 steps back over the past month. One issue seemed like a lack of a hard body in the contest to really rip the ball out and get us going forward but for mine the main issue since the start of the season has been our young "utilities", Crisp, Polkinghorne, Lester were all woeful again and guys like Bartlett, Docherty, Yeo must be scratching their heads. I mean I know a couple of years ago we drafted for versatility (and speed) but it really hasn't paid off, Karnezis (and I say this as a huge fan) has been promising for a while but in reality hasn't had the breakthrough game, Lester continues to butcher the ball and also lacks the real size for a KPP and Polec well I've almost started to call him tampon (One week in, 3 weeks out). The McKeever experiment has also obviously failed but no one wants to damage their own ego by standing up and saying "He has no ability and very little potential". Much of next year depends on Brent Staker unfortunately, but a KPD is a must come draft time.

Welcome aboard.

I don't think we've taken 3 steps back, why do you think we have? We were never going to win but our team 10 weeks ago or last year would have allowed that to be an 80+ point win. We were down Maguire, Black, Golby and McGrath on the weekend, if we had at least 2 of those guys I'm confident the game wouldn't have blown out in the 3rd quarter like it did.

 

[Dylan12]

Whilst the result was what I expected, I was probably more disappointed with certain aspects of how we set up and a couple of individuals.

No doubt it has been commented upon, but Polkinghorne's performance was nothing short but inept. If he doesn't get dropped, the conspiraticst in me will inevitably question the double standards in selection policy. Green was another that was poor as was Bewick. I feared our slighlty bodied team was going to be exposed against the hardened Swans and it was, although I'm not sure we had many other options.

I have been going on about it for years, but Brown needs a permanent and competent forward alongside him. When Merrett went into the middle, it created all sorts of issues and plus I'd prefer him just being left back, especially in light of Maguire's absence. When McGrath went out, I thought it would be a given that Cornelius plays and now that we have learned McGrath is gone, I hope Cornelius is just left to play the last 8 games. I'm of the opinion that Karnezis offers something different and can also be left there.

Whilst it would have been going backwards in development, I would have liked to see Hawksley and/or even Buchanan at the expense of Bewick, Green, Crisp etc against the Swans, unless that it we had conceded the win from the outset.

I have read a little on here, and whilst it wouldn't have changed the result, it was good to see the umps give us the usual raw deal. If one or two of the frees against Reid are paid, then surely Brown would be entitled to half a dozen frees per game, again double standards clearly apply to forward infringement interpretations when it comes to Brown and no doubt will apply this week to Riewoldt.

 

[Caiphus]

We weathered a storm in the first 10mins very well and I thought we did well to take control of the game for the majority of the first quarter. Polky slipping over and then hand-balling to Bewicks feet seemed to destroy our confidence in the game plan that day and we started going back to old habits. Sydney had enough class to take advantage of our shaken confidence and for the rest of the game our boys just had no idea about where to spread too on that congested ground. Our half-forwards were being sucked into the contest too much and left much space for Sydneys rebound on our odd forays into attack. It meant that there was not enough spread, or options other than kicking it to a contest and hoping Browny would be able to take a mark.

I'd like to think that this game was a bit of an experiment in much the same way as when we tried to play a lock-down defensive style against Freo. It wasn't about winning the game it seemed to be about putting responsibility on different players to try to improve our depth.

I expected to lose this game, and it sucks when it seems like our development from previous weeks didn't continue. I just want to see a good performance against St Kilda at the Gabba to help bring more home fans back to the game and continue building some hope for the next few years.

The positive that I take from this game is that distracting talk of finals should be stopped by the media now and we can concentrate on continuing to develop.

 

[chopperduck]

Hi guys, new member long time Lions fan, just joined from the recently deleted Brisbane Lions United forum.

Sadly it was the same old story, Brown was trying to take contested marks with 3 on him and Black was sorely missed. The game on the weekend showed we took 1 step forward and 3 steps back over the past month. One issue seemed like a lack of a hard body in the contest to really rip the ball out and get us going forward but for mine the main issue since the start of the season has been our young "utilities", Crisp, Polkinghorne, Lester were all woeful again and guys like Bartlett, Docherty, Yeo must be scratching their heads. I mean I know a couple of years ago we drafted for versatility (and speed) but it really hasn't paid off, Karnezis (and I say this as a huge fan) has been promising for a while but in reality hasn't had the breakthrough game, Lester continues to butcher the ball and also lacks the real size for a KPP and Polec well I've almost started to call him tampon (One week in, 3 weeks out). The McKeever experiment has also obviously failed but no one wants to damage their own ego by standing up and saying "He has no ability and very little potential". Much of next year depends on Brent Staker unfortunately, but a KPD is a must come draft time.

Bit harsh i think, to say we've gone 3 steps backwards isn't looking at the big picture. We came up against a very good side, there is no shame in being beaten by Sydney, especially at the SCG. This stage in our development, i think it's important that we remain competitive against the better sides, whilst being able to beat sides around us or below us. Sydney are a fairly big bodied side as well, very even all over the field and they don't give up any speed to get this. Their midfield, as a group, were just much better than ours, and there is no harm in that. We have talented young players, but they are all still very early in their development. What is pleasing is that we again, started pretty well in the first quarter, which has been a big issue for us in the past having slow starts. We also had patches against Sydney that was good, we just couldn't maintain it for the entire game. Looking back at games against Carlton and the Hawks, it's a similar pattern, we fought hard, but just couldn't do it long enough, but we didn't get entirely put to the sword. We've also done pretty well away from home this year, which is another big tick i think.

The usual Brown v 3 opponents comes from a bigger problem with structures than just simply kicking it to him 1 v 3. We don't have time or space to deliver the ball well due to Sydney's pressure, and as a result, look for the quick kick forward to our bigger guys. This is very easy for the Sydney defenders to read. We don't have other options to kick to either, because our players are continuously caught out of position due to us not winning a decent amount of ball. It's very hard to push hard forward to get open when the other team is winning the ball in tight. It sucks the confidence of the side, and everything breaks down. Add to this Ash missing up forward, who's experience has been invaluable up forward in creating space for Brown, as well as being a good leading option himself, and Merrett being shifted in the 3rd quarter back.

Having young players like Lester and Crisp in the side isn't a problem, especially when their competition are just other young players. Polka is the exception, i think he has to be close to getting dropped, i believe the only thing saving him is the fact he is a bigger body who can run out a full game, too many young bodies and we will get smashed in 'Suns' proportions. Docherty and Bartlett are also coming from a long way back. Karni is showing plenty, sure he hasn't exploded like we would like, but he is only a 2nd year player, you can't expect these guys to be superstars. Polec is another who has struggled with fitness after a limited preseason, he is often the sub or players subbed out, which i think indicates the coaching staff want him in the seniors to learn, but he can't yet run out a full game. 2nd, 3rd and 4th preseasons is when you will see these guys get a lot of improvement, and our side will improve a lot just from having a bigger proportion of the selected side being able to run out a full game and stand up in one on one contests.

McKeever still offers a lot, but still has a long way to go. I don't think the club is in no way expecting him to be our CHB for the next 10 years, he needs to be tested out. With some good draft picks coming up, i think another tall defender will be on the cards. Clarke sounds like he is going very well in the 2nds, but the cupboard is bare after that, so there is definitely some room for another good sized defender, maybe even mature age if there are any targets out there.

Anyway, this post is getting a bit long, so i'll finish up with a welcome to the forums. Hope you don't take my post as an attack on yours, it's always good to have other posters to can create a bit of a discussion .

 

[chopperduck]

We weathered a storm in the first 10mins very well and I thought we did well to take control of the game for the majority of the first quarter. Polky slipping over and then hand-balling to Bewicks feet seemed to destroy our confidence in the game plan that day and we started going back to old habits. Sydney had enough class to take advantage of our shaken confidence and for the rest of the game our boys just had no idea about where to spread too on that congested ground. Our half-forwards were being sucked into the contest too much and left much space for Sydneys rebound on our odd forays into attack. It meant that there was not enough spread, or options other than kicking it to a contest and hoping Browny would be able to take a mark.

I'd like to think that this game was a bit of an experiment in much the same way as when we tried to play a lock-down defensive style against Freo. It wasn't about winning the game it seemed to be about putting responsibility on different players to try to improve our depth.

I expected to lose this game, and it sucks when it seems like our development from previous weeks didn't continue. I just want to see a good performance against St Kilda at the Gabba to help bring more home fans back to the game and continue building some hope for the next few years.

The positive that I take from this game is that distracting talk of finals should be stopped by the media now and we can concentrate on continuing to develop.

Good sum up of the game Caiphus, pretty much exactly what i saw as well and tried to express (poorly) in my post above. The midfield is just so important now, it has such an impact over the ground with how the modern day is all about wining and spreading from contests, you gotta have the confidence that your team mates will be in the correct spot, and that's why structures are just so important.

 

[Dylan12]

Polky slipping over and then hand-balling to Bewicks feet seemed to destroy our confidence in the game plan that day and we started going back to old habits.

It was amazing the shift in momentum after that point and it was inevtiable. A couple of Polkinghorne's efforts shortly after were terrible and at the time I recall thinking that that one incident wreaked havoc on his confidence.

 

[chopperduck]

It was amazing the shift in momentum after that point and it was inevtiable. A couple of Polkinghorne's efforts shortly after were terrible and at the time I recall thinking that that one incident wreaked havoc on his confidence.

It turns running forward and a certain goal, into scrambling, running back and getting scored on. That happens a couple of times in a quarter, it can put the team on the back foot and kill the confidence. Certainly need better from a senior player like Polka.

 

[BrisLions3]

Bit harsh i think, to say we've gone 3 steps backwards isn't looking at the big picture. We came up against a very good side, there is no shame in being beaten by Sydney, especially at the SCG. This stage in our development, i think it's important that we remain competitive against the better sides, whilst being able to beat sides around us or below us. Sydney are a fairly big bodied side as well, very even all over the field and they don't give up any speed to get this. Their midfield, as a group, were just much better than ours, and there is no harm in that. We have talented young players, but they are all still very early in their development. What is pleasing is that we again, started pretty well in the first quarter, which has been a big issue for us in the past having slow starts. We also had patches against Sydney that was good, we just couldn't maintain it for the entire game. Looking back at games against Carlton and the Hawks, it's a similar pattern, we fought hard, but just couldn't do it long enough, but we didn't get entirely put to the sword. We've also done pretty well away from home this year, which is another big tick i think.

The usual Brown v 3 opponents comes from a bigger problem with structures than just simply kicking it to him 1 v 3. We don't have time or space to deliver the ball well due to Sydney's pressure, and as a result, look for the quick kick forward to our bigger guys. This is very easy for the Sydney defenders to read. We don't have other options to kick to either, because our players are continuously caught out of position due to us not winning a decent amount of ball. It's very hard to push hard forward to get open when the other team is winning the ball in tight. It sucks the confidence of the side, and everything breaks down. Add to this Ash missing up forward, who's experience has been invaluable up forward in creating space for Brown, as well as being a good leading option himself, and Merrett being shifted in the 3rd quarter back.

Having young players like Lester and Crisp in the side isn't a problem, especially when their competition are just other young players. Polka is the exception, i think he has to be close to getting dropped, i believe the only thing saving him is the fact he is a bigger body who can run out a full game, too many young bodies and we will get smashed in 'Suns' proportions. Docherty and Bartlett are also coming from a long way back. Karni is showing plenty, sure he hasn't exploded like we would like, but he is only a 2nd year player, you can't expect these guys to be superstars. Polec is another who has struggled with fitness after a limited preseason, he is often the sub or players subbed out, which i think indicates the coaching staff want him in the seniors to learn, but he can't yet run out a full game. 2nd, 3rd and 4th preseasons is when you will see these guys get a lot of improvement, and our side will improve a lot just from having a bigger proportion of the selected side being able to run out a full game and stand up in one on one contests.

McKeever still offers a lot, but still has a long way to go. I don't think the club is in no way expecting him to be our CHB for the next 10 years, he needs to be tested out. With some good draft picks coming up, i think another tall defender will be on the cards. Clarke sounds like he is going very well in the 2nds, but the cupboard is bare after that, so there is definitely some room for another good sized defender, maybe even mature age if there are any targets out there.

Anyway, this post is getting a bit long, so i'll finish up with a welcome to the forums. Hope you don't take my post as an attack on yours, it's always good to have other posters to can create a bit of a discussion .

I don't mean 3 steps back as in one loss means we've lost all hope, but in the sense that we're kicking to brown in a contested situation and our game plan from the last few weeks went out the door. Our lack of speed and run was evident and Black was again missed and our midfield didn't stand up. The reason we've taken 3 steps back is these are the issues we were talking about last year, the year before that etc. 2 or 3 years ago I would of thought by now (2012) that our midfield would stand up by itself without Black, Power and our forward line would be non-reliant on Brown. It's the same issue again and again that we rely on too few. Also let's face it, the margin was 47 but realistically it should have been 60-85, Sydney missed some very gettable goals as well as not turning their dominance into points.

My problem isn't young players, my problem is these 189-192 cm utilities Lester, Crisp etc. They still look lost for a position and it almost seemed like Lester played on the wing for most of the game. He was drafted on the back of two good games for vic metro as a tall back, he often bullied and out positioned medium forwards and looked a class act. AFL is a different story, realistically he will never have the size to play a Joel Patfull type role in defence and I'm still lost as to where he should go and what are his attributes? Docherty, I will agree on I was just using him as an example but Bartlett is another story, surely he has served his apprenticeship now even after both knee injuries? I will agree that too many young players will spoil our side and we will turn into GWS 2.0 but I'm talking about Lester, Crisp coming out of the side, these guys are still young, it's not as though we are throwing out their experience, they have none. I'm also not saying we should chuck in the kids for the hell of it, I really do think that Bartlett is not only a better prospect than say a Crisp, but also has more talent right now.

In terms of the tall defender thing, thats why I think Brent Staker will play an integral role next year. Imagine if Merrett and Patfull did their acl's right now, sure the chances are a long shot, but we'd be stuffed in tall's down back for some time. One in trade/draft time is a must. Clarke also seems a bit of a long shot, fair enough he's been doing a good shut down job in the 2's but there aren't many franklin, reiwoldt, goodes types in the two's are there.

 

[jackess]

Might need to watch the Hawthorn and West Coast games again to see what Lester can do in the middle despite not a lot of experience playing there.

 

[whatboutbob]

My problem isn't young players, my problem is these 189-192 cm utilities Lester, Crisp etc. They still look lost for a position and it almost seemed like Lester played on the wing for most of the game. He was drafted on the back of two good games for vic metro as a tall back, he often bullied and out positioned medium forwards and looked a class act. AFL is a different story, realistically he will never have the size to play a Joel Patfull type role in defence and I'm still lost as to where he should go and what are his attributes?

Don't have time to add more just now, but briefly:

Patfull = 190cm
Lester = 191cm