Review Round 13, 2025 - Adelaide vs. Brisbane Lions

[Bucking Beads]

Are we playing that poorly? I thought our game against Adelaide was good. Sure we lost which was not good but they are in form and (for me) we were obviously the better team on the night but didn't get the win which happens more often that people realise. Both Big O & Day will make a difference and (fingers crossed) come back fresh and ready to attack at the important end of the season.
Worth mentioning that clunking marks on Friday night was probably the most difficult challenge this year for any team....not sure why we have higher expectations of our guys when you have terrible conditions such as that was. I walked to the ground and if I looked in the same direction as the rain was coming, it wasn't pretty painful. Can't imagine trying to mark the ball in that. We were rarley outmarked which we should be giving credit to our talls for and maybe look at our smalls not capitalising enough when the ball hit the ground.

I believe we are playing nowhere near our best. Getting by on our system and talent. Nothing seems to be clicking and we seem very sloppy. The Crows were good and our effort was good but overall we can be a lot better.

We dropped some absolute sitters on Friday night. Just the basic easy marks we were dropping and have been for a while. Very frustrating.

 

[Sunny Land]

I am not sure where we play him other than sub this year with our depth.

Even with Kiddy, Starch & Doedee out of the side the club chose Fletcher to fill that back spot
He was trailed forward this year as we had less depth in that area.
McLachlan now likely ahead of him and Reville can come into the wing/forward with Bailey then staying more forward

McKenna OOC next year and i think he may return home to play out his career in Gaelic Football.
He is 29 and had a good AFL career with 127 games.
He got the ultimate prize of playing in 2 GF and winning one.

Why would he return home when he has a very good chance of playing in another grand final this year and into 2026/27. That would be madness in my opinion unless the club decides to move him on.

 

[Sunny Land]

I believe we are playing nowhere near our best. Getting by on our system and talent. Nothing seems to be clicking and we seem very sloppy. The Crows were good and our effort was good but overall we can be a lot better.

We dropped some absolute sitters on Friday night. Just the basic easy marks we were dropping and have been for a while. Very frustrating.

Easy to say that sitting on the couch. The conditions were the worst I've seen as a spectator. Imagine what that would have been like for the players. Both sides dropped what you consider easy marks but on Friday night, they were not easy.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Sam Sheldon and Paddy Dow are the only afl players I’ve ever seen who appeared terrified to be out there.

Izzy Falau comes to mind , talk about out of your depth , like a lost 6 year old at the eckka

 

[Bucking Beads]

Easy to say that sitting on the couch. The conditions were the worst I've seen as a spectator. Imagine what that would have been like for the players. Both sides dropped what you consider easy marks but on Friday night, they were not easy.

Dropping basic marks in all conditions so get off your high horse. You don't need to defend the team blindly all the time. It is ok to be critical. We all love the team and want them to win. I am not hating on them but they're much better than what they have produced so far.

 

[Sunny Land]

Dropping basic marks in all conditions so get off your high horse. You don't need to defend the team blindly all the time. It is ok to be critical. We all love the team and want them to win. I am not hating on them but they're much better than what they have produced so far.

No high horse mate.... dont get your knickers in a knot......just stating common sense. I understand your not hating on them so don't think I am having a crack at you. But I do have a different opinion to yours and giving it as I should be OK to do so.

 

[Nunez]

Are we playing that poorly? I thought our game against Adelaide was good. Sure we lost which was not good but they are in form and (for me) we were obviously the better team on the night but didn't get the win which happens more often that people realise. Both Big O & Day will make a difference and (fingers crossed) come back fresh and ready to attack at the important end of the season.
Worth mentioning that clunking marks on Friday night was probably the most difficult challenge this year for any team....not sure why we have higher expectations of our guys when you have terrible conditions such as that was. I walked to the ground and if I looked in the same direction as the rain was coming, it wasn't pretty painful. Can't imagine trying to mark the ball in that. We were rarley outmarked which we should be giving credit to our talls for and maybe look at our smalls not capitalising enough when the ball hit the ground.

I am very bullish after that performance despite the result. The areas we wanted to see us step up and be good at (contested football, defensive running from our mids, ball movement) were all big ticks. Realistically how often would a team have 10 shots at goal in a fourth quarter for 0.8? Replay that game and it's a different result.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I know what you're doing.

You're just trying to remove everyone from the backline who takes attention away from Lester. He can't do it all himself mate.

They all need to take a leaf out of his book and tighten up.

 

[Sunny Land]

I am very bullish after that performance despite the result. The areas we wanted to see us step up and be good at (contested football, defensive running from our mids, ball movement) were all big ticks. Realistically how often would a team have 10 shots at goal in a fourth quarter for 0.8? Replay that game and it's a different result.

Agree.
You will probably never see Lachie miss an easy shot like he did to give us the lead at the business end of the game.
Defensive running by our mids is critical if we are to win this premiership. I agree that it was good to see significant and much needed improvement there.
Our small forwards need to be more potent coming into the 2nd half of this season. Once that ball hits the ground, they need to be first to the ball. Unfortunately that hasn't happened too often just yet this season.
Like all teams, when the opposition move the ball quickly into their attacking zone after a centre clearance or a rebound, I feel our backline struggle more than others. Keays typifies that with his gut running and creating the extra man that we could not cover. Love Zorko but he was the man they took advantage of when in that position. Have someone like Starc, Dev or even Wilmott cover Keays and I'm confident Keays whould not have had the same impact.

 

[Nunez]

Agree.
You will probably never see Lachie miss an easy shot like he did to give us the lead at the business end of the game.
Defensive running by our mids is critical if we are to win this premiership. I agree that it was good to see significant and much needed improvement there.
Our small forwards need to be more potent coming into the 2nd half of this season. Once that ball hits the ground, they need to be first to the ball. Unfortunately that hasn't happened too often just yet this season.
Like all teams, when the opposition move the ball quickly into their attacking zone after a centre clearance or a rebound, I feel our backline struggle more than others. Keays typifies that with his gut running and creating the extra man that we could not cover. Love Zorko but he was the man they took advantage of when in that position. Have someone like Starc, Dev or even Wilmott cover Keays and I'm confident Keays whould not have had the same impact.

Starce back is going to really balance out our backline, especially when it allows Fletcher to move back to the wing. Personally I'd be putting Levi as the sub when that happens.

 

[knaf]

Gallop was pretty good. Our small forwards have got to learn how to be ready to crumb the ball. Problem is they all think they are tall forwards and try to mark it.

Better first game than some young bloke from Warnambool in the early 2000s. Whatever happened to him?

 

[mpal6]

Starce back is going to really balance out our backline, especially when it allows Fletcher to move back to the wing. Personally I'd be putting Levi as the sub when that happens.

Based on team balance and needs, Levi would be missing out in my view and Bruce playing as sub. Glad I'm not the one making the decision when we still have Coleman, Doedee, Day to fit in as well.

 

[Section 5]

Why would he return home when he has a very good chance of playing in another grand final this year and into 2026/27. That would be madness in my opinion unless the club decides to move him on.

Conor McKenna isn’t ruling out a return to Tyrone following AFL success with Brisbane Lions

The Eglish man became second player to clinch Sam Maguire and AFL Premiership double following Grand Final win over Sydney

www.irishnews.com

In my opinion at present, he has a low chance to play in another GF, not a "very good chance" as you say.
Low meaning the Lions may not make it to start with, and we have lots of player options.

His biggest problem to date is getting a full AFL game in 2025.
He has played sub 3 of his four games this year. His only full game resulted in just 9 disposals.
Played 6 of the 9 VFL games.
Conor turns 30 in March next year and i have no problem with retaining over 30 age players if they are playing well.
And then you have the go home factor and i believe he also has a big interest in horse training.

Some of these guys will have to go and i think Conor could easily be one.
Below taken from Roster Watch

2025: OOC
Darcy Craven (R)
James Tunstill
Darcy Gardiner
Callum Ah Chee
Conor McKenna (R)
Deven Robertson
Brandon Ryan?
Brandon Starcevich
Lincoln McCarthy
Bruce Reville (R)
Dayne Zorko
Ryan Lester (R)
Darragh Joyce (R)
Luke Beecken (R)
Sam Day

 

[knaf]

I would play Fletch & Coleman down back and release Zorks. Zorks can be damaging anywhere, would be a fantastic wildcard / hard matchup if he floats around the ground.

Now Zorko is my idea of a sub.

 

[Sunny Land]

Conor McKenna isn’t ruling out a return to Tyrone following AFL success with Brisbane Lions

The Eglish man became second player to clinch Sam Maguire and AFL Premiership double following Grand Final win over Sydney

www.irishnews.com

In my opinion at present, he has a low chance to play in another GF, not a "very good chance" as you say.
Low meaning the Lions may not make it to start with, and we have lots of player options.

His biggest problem to date is getting a full AFL game in 2025.
He has played sub 3 of his four games this year. His only full game resulted in just 9 disposals.
Played 6 of the 9 VFL games.
Conor turns 30 in March next year and i have no problem with retaining over 30 age players if they are playing well.
And then you have the go home factor and i believe he also has a big interest in horse training.

Some of these guys will have to go and i think Conor could easily be one.
Below taken from Roster Watch

2025: OOC
Darcy Craven (R)
James Tunstill
Darcy Gardiner
Callum Ah Chee
Conor McKenna (R)
Deven Robertson
Brandon Ryan?
Brandon Starcevich
Lincoln McCarthy
Bruce Reville (R)
Dayne Zorko
Ryan Lester (R)
Darragh Joyce (R)
Luke Beecken (R)
Sam Day

Tend to agree with all you say above. In saying that, I would have said he was in a similar position last year yet has a premiership medal. Luck plays it's part in footy. I guess it depends on how Chris and the coaching staff think he fits in the squad not just our best 23.

 

[M Malice]

I'd prefer Zorko and Kiddy both playing out from the back come finals, lot easier to shut down one elite ball user than two. Fletcher to wing, Berry and Fletch are by far our best wing one two punch with Bailey as the most wing minutes relief, Lohmann as well.

 

[JasRulz63]

I'd prefer Zorko and Kiddy both playing out from the back come finals, lot easier to shut down one elite ball user than two. Fletcher to wing, Berry and Fletch are by far our best wing one two punch with Bailey as the most wing minutes relief, Lohmann as well.

Who do you displace out of the back 7 when (hopefully) Starcevich comes back? Answerth?

I thought Andrews, Payne, Lester, Starcevich, Answerth, Wilmot and Zorko was close to the perfect balance in terms of offense vs defense.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Who do you displace out of the back 7 when (hopefully) Starcevich comes back? Answerth?

I thought Andrews, Payne, Lester, Starcevich, Answerth, Wilmot and Zorko was close to the perfect balance in terms of offense vs defense.

Would be comfortable with that and Kiddy as the sub for the rest of this season.

Then especially if we fall short in September maybe look at moving on Zorko and Lester for Kiddy and Doedee or Dizzy

 

[M Malice]

Who do you displace out of the back 7 when (hopefully) Starcevich comes back? Answerth?

I thought Andrews, Payne, Lester, Starcevich, Answerth, Wilmot and Zorko was close to the perfect balance in terms of offense vs defense.

You're right very difficult to fit everyone in, it has got me dumbstruck how to fit them in. Could Starcevich play the Lester/3rd tall role, listed as only 2cm shorter than Froggy on lions.com? And that is without taking into account Tom Doedee.

Ryan Lester, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth.
Darcy Wilmot, Harris Andrews, Keidean Coleman.

Bench/7th defender- Dayne Zorko
____________________________
I am glad it is the match committees call and not mine.

 

[martinson]

You're right very difficult to fit everyone in, it has got me dumbstruck how to fit them in. Could Starcevich play the Lester/3rd tall role, listed as only 2cm shorter than Froggy on lions.com? And that is without taking into account Tom Doedee.

Ryan Lester, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth.
Darcy Wilmot, Harris Andrews, Keidean Coleman.

Bench/7th defender- Dayne Zorko
____________________________
I am glad it is the match committees call and not mine.

It has a lot to do with who is fit doesn't it MM.

I wouldn't be banking anything on Doedee or Coleman until we know that they're good to go and what sort of form/condition they're in.

Starcevich is an automatic in if he's overcome his concussion issues. By that time one of those in there could be struggling with fitness.

Just cross those bridges if and when we come to them.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Easy to say that sitting on the couch. The conditions were the worst I've seen as a spectator. Imagine what that would have been like for the players. Both sides dropped what you consider easy marks but on Friday night, they were not easy.

Absolutely. I thought the skills were phenomenal for such atrocious conditions.
Check out the wind speeds, 35-63kph, in Adelaide Friday night, not to mention the apparent temperature indicative of the wind chill and the wet and slippery surface.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I went to the Crows v Giants game on easter Saturday at the Adelaide Oval.
It was similarly bad conditions, windy and wet, but nowhere near as cold.
It was extremely difficult to kick goals at the Cathedral end which was the end we were kicking to in the last quarter. In that Crows Giants game only 2 goals were kicked to that end for the entire game.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Friday night's combined scores to either end were:
Cathedral end 5.15
City end 13.8

Don't forget, the Crows on their home deck were
0.6 in the 1st quarter to that end

 

[martinson]

Friday night's combined scores to either end were:
Cathedral end 5.15
City end 13.8

Don't forget, the Crows on their home deck were
0.6 in the 1st quarter to that end

Good point actually. I think it was evident that we dominated mostly ,the effort was there, most things worked except them getting off the chain at the start of the last quarter and Keays tearing up Zorko in the first half which was all that kept them in the game.

We did everything you could ask except win the game and we had ample opportunities to do so. It happens sometimes.

 

[T Rick]

Not sure if it is accurate but Kane Cornes says that the Crows managed 9 high frees from ducking and lifting the arm with Peatling getting 6 high frees.