Preview Round 11, 2025 - Hawthorn vs. Brisbane Lions (thanks, Saucery!)

[Sunny Land]

Oscar has reportedly had an epidural in his back. That is an injection of cortisone into the middle of his spin, the hole bit in vertebra. As I myself was advised this week, they use a local antiseptic to put the needle in but it still apparently hurts like hell. Then you can wait days or even weeks to feel the effects if it works. If as it seems he has an inflamed joint in his back they will be waiting for it to settle, as my specialist told me, everyone is different in how fast it works, if it works and so on.

Fake news…not true

 

[Dalions]

Really like the Dev selection feeling he will bring in engery defensive aggressiveness and accountability this cannot be underestimated.
Ressie watchers has his disposal by foot improved?....was really his only glaring weakness i hope he has a cracker of a game personally always liked him.

All while playing half of the last quarter, as per our usual sub call.
I agree though after the mids getting pounded in the last quarter in the last 2 games it is a good call but maybe the call needs to be made earlier for it to have any benefit.

 

[Sunny Land]

Really like the Dev selection feeling he will bring in engery defensive aggressiveness and accountability this cannot be underestimated.
Ressie watchers has his disposal by foot improved?....was really his only glaring weakness i hope he has a cracker of a game personally always liked him.

His disposal by foot is his weakness.

 

[Nathan Barley]

His disposal by foot is his weakness.

Handballing isn't great either

 

[3KZ is Football]

His disposal by foot is his weakness.

He can't be as bad as Answerth was against Melbourne. He had 11 disposals (7 kicks / 4 Handballs) for the game and six were turnovers. I don't think I've ever seen such a bad performance.

 

[Nunez]

He can't be as bad as Answerth was against Melbourne. He had 11 disposals (7 kicks / 4 Handballs) for the game and six were turnovers. I don't think I've ever seen such a bad performance.

Noah has been surprisingly good with his ball use this year, but that game v Melbourne was an all time stinker with his ball use. I think he'll bounce back though.

 

[dlanod]

In previous years Answerth was a massive liability by foot.

Last year and most of this year he's shown both significant improvement and also sensible playing within his abilities. IMO that improvement is a big part of why he's stayed up this time. One bad game doesn't invalidate all the previous acceptable games.

 

[Nuggo]

I thought last year in the finals Answerth was excellent but has been slowly been deteriorating this years. Weight of being the hunted not the hunter?

 

[martinson]

I thought last year in the finals Answerth was excellent but has been slowly been deteriorating this years. Weight of being the hunted not the hunter?

He's been good , occasionally excellent this year until last week.

 

[Section 5]

He can't be as bad as Answerth was against Melbourne. He had 11 disposals (7 kicks / 4 Handballs) for the game and six were turnovers. I don't think I've ever seen such a bad performance.

Answerth had an off day, but he was not on his own regarding turnovers.

The more disposals you have the more likely there will be turnovers.
Our top 5 turnover players are also the top 5 disposals players being all midfielders bar Zorko.

In this game Levi had 22 disposals and also 6 turnovers equal most with Answerth. Dunkley 28 and 5.

It is when you have low disposals and turnovers that's a problem, like the players on the list below.

I will also include Coleman even though he had 19 disposals seeing we all know he is a great kick

Player	Disposals	Turnovers
Answerth	11	6
Rayner	15	5
Hipwood	9	4
Fort	11	4
Payne	10	3
Lohmann	5	2
Coleman	19	4

 

[Nunez]

Answerth had an off day, but he was not on his own regarding turnovers.

The more disposals you have the more likely there will be turnovers.
Our top 5 turnover players are also the top 5 disposals players being all midfielders bar Zorko.

In this game Levi had 22 disposals and also 6 turnovers equal most with Answerth. Dunkley 28 and 5.

It is when you have low disposals and turnovers that's a problem, like the players on the list below.

I will also include Coleman even though he had 19 disposals seeing we all know he is a great kick

Player	Disposals	Turnovers
Answerth	11	6
Rayner	15	5
Hipwood	9	4
Fort	11	4
Payne	10	3
Lohmann	5	2
Coleman	19	4

Neale and WAshcroft combined for 9 turnovers too.

 

[Dalions]

I thought last year in the finals Answerth was excellent but has been slowly been deteriorating this years. Weight of being the hunted not the hunter?

More likely, just missing his partner in crime in Starce.
His role is different this year without him in the team but he has been good in all bar 1 game.

 

[Section 5]

Neale and WAshcroft combined for 9 turnovers too.

But that is just 1 less than their average being 4.3 (Neale) + 3.7 (WAshcroft) = 8.
So not unusual for them combined

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I think people forget that Dev Robertson is still only 23 years old (turning 24 on the 30th June) and he has plenty of good football in him and an ability to go ‘next level’.

In the selected side, only Morris, both Ashcrofts, Wilmott, Fletcher and Lohmann are younger than him. Competition for spots in our side is tight, but there have been plenty of highlights and finals experience in his 43 games. He has stuck with the club and been patient. He gets his reward this weekend and I hope he has a great game.

I don't have an issue with Dev coming into the side or anything, he does deserve an opportunity. The timing is a little strange to me though. Although he's been playing in defence in the VFL a lot this year, to me he is a midfielder first and foremost, that's his forte. So I thought it would have been more logical for him to come in last week to cover Berry. Now that Berry's back, it feels like Dev has been brought in to cover Kiddy and McKenna in defence. I probably would have brought in Beecken to do that, he's played better as a rebounding defender.

I know that Fletcher is flexible and moved to wing last week to cover Berry and will probably go back to defence this week, so maybe there's a bit more midfield time available than we might think at first. I just don't feel it's giving Dev the best opportunity to prove himself compared to if he'd been included last week.

 

[pod17]

Answerth and Starce are our two best close-checking defenders. With one already out, there’s no chance we drop Answerth. .

That said, he did have a poor game with ball in hand. He wasn’t alone though. I do think it’s taken a little while for us to adjust to the tightening on the 15m kick rule which is causing us to at times choose longer, more ambitious kicks resulting in more turnovers. Then there’s just the shanks…

Tipping a big response from our back 6 tomorrow, regardless.

 

[StevoJenkins]

In previous years Answerth was a massive liability by foot.

Last year and most of this year he's shown both significant improvement and also sensible playing within his abilities. IMO that improvement is a big part of why he's stayed up this time. One bad game doesn't invalidate all the previous acceptable games.

Pretty much everyone was bad via foot last week, aside from Kiddy. Answorth has become the scapegoat for that game. Not deserved.

 

[knaf]

I don't have an issue with Dev coming into the side or anything, he does deserve an opportunity. The timing is a little strange to me though. Although he's been playing in defence in the VFL a lot this year, to me he is a midfielder first and foremost, that's his forte. So I thought it would have been more logical for him to come in last week to cover Berry. Now that Berry's back, it feels like Dev has been brought in to cover Kiddy and McKenna in defence. I probably would have brought in Beecken to do that, he's played better as a rebounding defender.

I know that Fletcher is flexible and moved to wing last week to cover Berry and will probably go back to defence this week, so maybe there's a bit more midfield time available than we might think at first. I just don't feel it's giving Dev the best opportunity to prove himself compared to if he'd been included last week.

Yes Dev has been playing down back abit. I have to admit that it is difficult for me to assess the quality of players one on one defensive effort in the vfl as I often don’t recognise the player they are on. Beecken stands out as a rebounding defender who gains meters through his running and kicking. However iirc Dev seems to be a bit invisible when playing in defence ( my impression only). It may be that he is doing a great job on a player the coaches have identified as very dangerous. When released into the midfield Dev seems to become more influencial. Again my impression.

In general, again my impression, Dev seems to be losing confidence and this makes his disposal worse. He seems to get down on himself with any mistakes. However his commitment to the contest remains. Glad to see him selected and I hope he smashes it.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Fake news…not true

Then you know nothing, my specialist in Dr David Brooks MBBS FRACS, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, you can get an education from him.

 

[Nunez]

Then you know nothing, my specialist in Dr David Brooks MBBS FRACS, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, you can get an education from him.

I think he's referring to the rumour RE Oscar Clarky.

 

[twhowler]

Noah has been surprisingly good with his ball use this year, but that game v Melbourne was an all time stinker with his ball use. I think he'll bounce back though.

I have now calmed down enough from Sunday and he clearly deserves a mulligan

But the turnovers were so bad, kicking it straight to the opposition - is there such a stat as turnovers leading to oppo goals? I swear he gave them 3-4

 

[Nathan Barley]

Yes Dev has been playing down back abit. I have to admit that it is difficult for me to assess the quality of players one on one defensive effort in the vfl as I often don’t recognise the player they are on. Beecken stands out as a rebounding defender who gains meters through his running and kicking. However iirc Dev seems to be a bit invisible when playing in defence ( my impression only). It may be that he is doing a great job on a player the coaches have identified as very dangerous. When released into the midfield Dev seems to become more influencial. Again my impression.

In general, again my impression, Dev seems to be losing confidence and this makes his disposal worse. He seems to get down on himself with any mistakes. However his commitment to the contest remains. Glad to see him selected and I hope he smashes it.

Pretty sure Dev has been playing midfield ever since the first VFL game

 

[Nunez]

I have now calmed down enough from Sunday and he clearly deserves a mulligan

But the turnovers were so bad, kicking it straight to the opposition - is there such a stat as turnovers leading to oppo goals? I swear he gave them 3-4

We've all had days at work where we can't do anything right. To quote 1960s batman, some days you just can't get rid of a bomb.

 

[FFB1]

Expecting to walk out of the G with another loss to the Hawks, unfortunately. Nothing we’ve dished up in the past two games (arguably more) fills me with any confidence whatsoever.

 

[Clarkythelion]

I think he's referring to the rumour RE Oscar Clarky.

AFL 2025: Brisbane using back injections to treat Oscar McInerney's mystery soreness

Sammy Edmund has the latest.

sportnation.nz

 

[Coastal Lion]

Pretty sure Dev has been playing midfield ever since the first VFL game

Honestly I would like nothing more to see Dev play as a defensive forward and stifle either Amon or Impey both are very damaging and gather many meters with there kicking.
Coaching panel knows best but I believe Dev could really win a battle with either of them.