Review Round 10, 2025 - Brisbane Lions vs. Narrm

[Nathan Barley]

McKenna's 1 kick had a higher rating than these guys lol

Kicked more goals in half a quarter than Kai has in his 5 games

 

[NotQuiteJezza]

Our small forwards have been really poor this apart from Bailey. Charlie and Cam (both have concrete hands) deserve to get dropped but they won’t because they protected species.
Kai needs a few of continuity I think.

We do miss Joe but I miss smalls kicking goals more.

 

[LionCub29]

With Bez returning and the return of Kiddy, I think it’s time to consider replacing some Washcroft minutes in the midfield with Fletcher. Better user by foot, more athletic and far better defensive mindset - also could be a useful little clip to focus Washcroft (whose short career has been stellar, but better to learn some little lessons earlier rather than later).

 

[StevoJenkins]

Our small forwards have been really poor this apart from Bailey. Charlie and Cam (both have concrete hands) deserve to get dropped but they won’t because they protected species.
Kai needs a few of continuity I think.

We do miss Joe but I miss smalls kicking goals more.

Who do you drop them for?

Only smalls we have left are Shagga and other mids playing that role.
Small forwards are probably our weakest area of the ground.

 

[Gabba Gate 33]

I got to admit, I am one to have doubted Gardiner’s ability in the front half. I stand corrected and was humbled by his impressive display. The way he played was inspiring.

Not too worried with a loss, it helps to reset a team and get them focused on improvement.

 

[braddsey]

Kicked more goals in half a quarter than Kai has in his 5 games

Kai hasn't exactly had a good run at it... but I question why he's been brought straight back in after his 2nd and 3rd injuries, when we have fit players ready to go in the 2nd's.
he got 10 minutes in first game, don't recall his second game, but pretty sure he didn't make it through to half time, and smashed in the first quarter against the Saints.

 

[jfn]

It’s obvious Kai isn’t right at the moment. He needs a rest to regain confidence. His injuries seem to have both a physical and psychological impact on him. A short run for a week or two in the seconds could rejuvenate him.

I found problems in the Ashcroft boys on the weekend. Will has great hand speed, but his kicking is chaotic. Often puts forwards under pressure when going forward.
Levi still kicks like a junior. He gives the ball too much air and puts it on top of players downfield rather than kicking to position, and allowing teammates to run onto it.

Answerth is as ferocious and fearless as they come, but he is not instinctively quick by in the fast paced modern game. Doesn’t use the first option when pressured.

Charlie needs a stable set shot routine. You can see his lack of confidence on his face when he is kicking for goal. Constantly twirling the ball and moving it from side to side when in his run up approach for goal. Poor ball drop because of this.

Cam needs to simplify his game. To much focus on power acts which looks great when it works, but he also needs to do more of the basic teams things. 20 good possessions are better than 3 spectacular ones. He could benefit from watching Dangerfield or Petracca to see the work they put in. He has equal power and could easily step up to their level. It could help if he pulled back on the media he does. Could be distracting.

I have been disappointed with Harris this year. Great intercept mark, and the 1% spoils, but he allows his opponent to much latitude to gain easy possessions.

The good is, Kiddy looked great first up. Can only get better. Bailey is having a great year. Fletcher have taken the next step and plays with a lot of confidence. And Logan Morris, this boy really has some footy smarts. Reminds me of Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

30

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

, but potentially better.

 

[Sunny Land]

you have to find the cause of the issue though. We have the most talented list in the league (i believe) and we won the flag last year, so we're obviously capable of being the best team in the comp. But skills and having the right gameplan means nothing if the players aren't hungry for it. And they simply aren't, and if Fagan can't make them hungry quickly, then it will tell us what kind of season we will have.

Dis-agree with everything you say above and last years performance at the same stage should give you a little more gratitide and confidence we are in this season as a real contender even if the next couple of games dont go our way.
Admittedly we havent yet played 2 /3/4 quarters of good footy this season but dont panic. Now is not the time to be dominating games.
It was only 2-3 games ago that the media "experts" were all saying we are flag favourites. I'd like to think our supporters aren't as fickle and can be more positive about our start to the year thus far.

 

[Happy_Neale]

It’s obvious Kai isn’t right at the moment. He needs a rest to regain confidence. His injuries seem to have both a physical and psychological impact on him. A short run for a week or two in the seconds could rejuvenate him.

I found problems in the Ashcroft boys on the weekend. Will has great hand speed, but his kicking is chaotic. Often puts forwards under pressure when going forward.
Levi still kicks like a junior. He gives the ball too much air and puts it on top of players downfield rather than kicking to position, and allowing teammates to run onto it.

Answerth is as ferocious and fearless as they come, but he is not instinctively quick by in the fast paced modern game. Doesn’t use the first option when pressured.

Charlie needs a stable set shot routine. You can see his lack of confidence on his face when he is kicking for goal. Constantly twirling the ball and moving it from side to side when in his run up approach for goal. Poor ball drop because of this.

Cam needs to simplify his game. To much focus on power acts which looks great when it works, but he also needs to do more of the basic teams things. 20 good possessions are better than 3 spectacular ones. He could benefit from watching Dangerfield or Petracca to see the work they put in. He has equal power and could easily step up to their level. It could help if he pulled back on the media he does. Could be distracting.

I have been disappointed with Harris this year. Great intercept mark, and the 1% spoils, but he allows his opponent to much latitude to gain easy possessions.

The good is, Kiddy looked great first up. Can only get better. Bailey is having a great year. Fletcher have taken the next step and plays with a lot of confidence. And Logan Morris, this boy really has some footy smarts. Reminds me of Jesse Hogan, but potentially better.

‘Easily step up’ to the level of Dangerfield is crazy, he’s on the podium of best players of his generation IMO. I agree Cam can get better though

 

[Bucking Beads]

I might be wrong but I feel that Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

is struggling to impact the games for us at the moment. He is still getting touches but I reckon his clearance numbers are down and his disposal efficiency is pretty poor too. It would explain why we are copping a hiding out of the middle a lot this season. I think he may need to adapt to a more half forward role moving forward.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Our small forwards have been really poor this apart from Bailey. Charlie and Cam (both have concrete hands) deserve to get dropped but they won’t because they protected species.
Kai needs a few of continuity I think.

We do miss Joe but I miss smalls kicking goals more.

Step up McKenna

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

‘Easily step up’ to the level of Dangerfield is crazy, he’s on the podium of best players of his generation IMO. I agree Cam can get better though

Agree Danger is a rare commodity.
Has explosive speed in a very short distance , two or three meters . then high end speed.
Cam has explosive power , can bust through a pack , but that speed is not there and it is Dangers advantage over other players.
Combine that with a big solid body and he is going to break tackles and break into space.
Just don't see Cam in that light.
He has other gifts though, ability to climb a pack or almost like slides up the pack and marks.
Definetly has power but not genuine speed.
Maybe Cam needs to build on skills, who knows, or maybe just smarts , probably that's it.
And I think that is using your gifts .

 

[M Malice]

Agree Danger is a rare commodity.
Has explosive speed in a very short distance , two or three meters . then high end speed.
Cam has explosive power , can bust through a pack , but that speed is not there and it is Dangers advantage over other players.
Combine that with a big solid body and he is going to break tackles and break into space.
Just don't see Cam in that light.
He has other gifts though, ability to climb a pack or almost like slides up the pack and marks.
Definetly has power but not genuine speed.
Maybe Cam needs to build on skills, who knows, or maybe just smarts , probably that's it.
And I think that is using your gifts .

Consistency is what Cam needs to work on... consistent effort to raise is low end games closer to his ceiling.

 

[StevoJenkins]

I might be wrong but I feel that Lachie Neale is struggling to impact the games for us at the moment. He is still getting touches but I reckon his clearance numbers are down and his disposal efficiency is pretty poor too. It would explain why we are copping a hiding out of the middle a lot this season. I think he may need to adapt to a more half forward role moving forward.

Mentioned this in my mini review of this game, but he, Zorko and Charlie were just bombing it into the 50 over the weekend, against the worst team in the comp to do that to.

Arguably could've won that game if we were smarter with the ball. Not by a lot, but 8-10 entries turning into scores could've locked the game away.

Could be injuries, could be lack of resting, but something is up. Earlier in the season I claimed that we were being coached to be bad in the first half, then slam our opponents in the second half. I think with hindsight, we're just knackered. Takes a lot to win back-to-back, and less than a handful of teams this century have managed to do it.

 

[NotQuiteJezza]

Who do you drop them for?

Only smalls we have left are Shagga and other mids playing that role.
Small forwards are probably our weakest area of the ground.

Just spit-balling(whatever that means). Now Kiddy is back, maybe Zorko. If Lauchie is quiet, try him.

 

[Nuggo]

Sometimes bombing into the forward 50 is resultant of the forwards not being in the right position or getting outplayed by a switched on defensive unit.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Just spit-balling(whatever that means). Now Kiddy is back, maybe Zorko. If Lauchie is quiet, try him.

Yeah, I did a line-up in the changes thread with this in mind. I moved Zorko to half forward, then got Fletcher and Kiddy as the movers from the back half, dropped Charlie and Fort, brought in Berry and Omac. Left McKenna as the sub. Have a look if you want to learn more.

Don't like that idea, but it's all we got.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yeah, I did a line-up in the changes thread with this in mind. I moved Zorko to half forward, then got Fletcher and Kiddy as the movers from the back half, dropped Charlie and Fort, brought in Berry and Omac. Left McKenna as the sub. Have a look if you want to learn more.

Don't like that idea, but it's all we got.

Zorko up forward IMO would be absolutely elite. Pressure and ball use would generally be amazing and he can find a goal.

 

[twhowler]

Thinking to last year, with a lot of posters saying how far back we came from.

Pre bye last year we were genuinely (mostly) playing quite well, with our goalkicking terrible

This year seems opposite

And the big worry for me is last year we had the benefit of an easy draw post bye - we had 11 games and only 4 finalists

We have 13 games left and 8 of them are in the top 8

Clearly we are a gun side at our best, and even without Daniher i think that’s the case

But i don’t think it’s crazy to say we are no guarantee at finals right now

This week feels massive, especially with a 5 day break after

 

[On the quiet]

Noah has been great this season but ball in hand tonight he was way off... along with a few others, he just stood out to me, being a defender they were costly errors.

Absolutely his worst game this year, but has been pretty good all year and is a premiership player who should keep his spot this week.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Consistency is what Cam needs to work on... consistent effort to raise is low end games closer to his ceiling.

I actually think he has done this, for the most part. Seems to be getting more of the ball in games where he isnt dominating, outside of the two stinkers he’s put in this season. Gotta remember he’s a half forward at heart, he’s not going to have midfield numbers most weeks

 

[On the quiet]

First half of the season is about banking wins and finding your best 23 for finals. Not too worried about stats outside of our lack of defensive accountability in the middle.

I believe in about 4 to 5 weeks will have our best 23 after adding a few very good players and will start building some consistency and momentum and barring no more injuries will be firing come finals.

A couple poster believe we wont win a final. I back us to beat the Suns at the GABBA in a big final... should it eventuate.

 

[M Malice]

I am open to maybe moving Zorko forward to get some pressure on the ball in our F50, however I wouldn't like Fletcher to be his replacement in the backline(even though he does a great job of it) IMO Jasps's best position to optimise our strengths is on the wing, he gut runs both ways, him and Berry should be our biggest minutes wingers, they are vital to our defensive setup.

If Zorko was to move forward our back 7 could look like this, not including Starc ATM.

Ryan Lester

35

Ryan Lester

Age

32

Ht

190cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.9

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

170.4

3star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

140.7

3star

D

12.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

0.6

3star

, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth

43

Noah Answerth

Age

25

Ht

182cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.0

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.9

4star

MG

208.9

3star

D

15.0

4star

K

15.0

5star

HB

0.0

1star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

MG

357.0

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.0

5star

MG

179.2

3star

.
Darcy Wilmot, Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

, Keidean Coleman.

Bench- Luke Beecken.

From my viewing of the reserves although a very good running offensive player Beecken is no slouch when it comes to the defensive aspects of the game.

 

[martinson]

‘Easily step up’ to the level of Dangerfield is crazy, he’s on the podium of best players of his generation IMO. I agree Cam can get better though

When Danger was injury free at Adelaide he was gobsmackingly good and imo one of the best young players I'd ever seen.

I don't see Cam being near his class but if he just focused on doing the basics well he can be an impactful player which he has been on occasions. To my eye he's now working a bit harder team wise than he has in the past and over time this will bring benefits even if it's not as obvious this season so far.

 

[briztoon]

Can all the expert bf critics of Dizzy please be brave enough to say they were wrong & apologise

100% you are Mighty Lions.