Unofficial Preview Round 21, 2025 v Collingwood @ MCG, August 3rd, 7.35pm.

[Bucking Beads]

Play Levi up forward and let Marshall play on the wing. Berry to play a bit of halfback or play a run with role on Daicos.

 

[wantok]

Injuries are cutting deep but we have some good depth except in the Key talls. I see Day (or Smith) in for Oscar. Marshall full game in for McKenna and McLachlan or Bruce to Sub. Or Levi has a rest at Sub and One of those two get a full game. McLachlan is our best Lohmann replacement. I am confident with Gardiner to Mihochek,Harris to McStay and Lester on Elliot and Wilmot on the spare Daicos.Hippy can do a job by keeping Moore busy up front and hopefully Sneezy can be dangerous.

 

[janty]

Are we still trying to make Henry Smith a thing?

 

[M Malice]

Houston & Howe out with DeGoey and Frampton a test. Hopefully they miss also.
We also have our own problems.

BRISBANE

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Noah Answerth	Achilles	Season
Keidean Coleman	Quad	6-8 weeks
Kai Lohmann	Calf	3-4 weeks
Lincoln McCarthy	Knee	Season
Conor McKenna	Hamstring	4 weeks
Jack Payne	Knee	Season
Updated: July 29, 2025

In the mix​

The Lions will need to make a minimum of one change to face Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night following the injury suffered by McKenna. With Lohmann sidelined for a while, Will McLachlan looks a good option at half-forward, while Bruce Reville could also come under consideration for the 23. The two-pronged ruck approach struggled against Gold Coast last week, with either Sam Day or youngster Henry Smith strong chances to replace Oscar McInerney, who appears to be battling his body, and play as a key forward that back-up Darcy Fort. – Michael Whiting

COLLINGWOOD

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Jordan De Goey	Achilles/concussion	Test
Billy Frampton	Calf	Test
Harvey Harrison	Knee	Season
Dan Houston	Abdominal	1 week
Jeremy Howe	Groin	1 week
Tew Jiath	Quad	1-2 weeks
Fin Macrae	Shoulder	1-2 weeks
Reef McInnes	Knee	Season
Jakob Ryan	Foot	8-10 weeks
Charlie West	Foot	2-3 weeks
Updated: July 22, 2025

In the mix​

Collingwood will be without Howe and Houston this Sunday, but Frampton is on track to return against Richmond at the MCG. Bobby Hill could be available after returning to full training last weekend. Tom Mitchell was managed on the weekend and didn’t play at either level. Roan Steele went back to the VFL and kicked four goals after a taste of league football. Harry DeMattia was busy again with 28 touches and 11 clearances against Geelong’s reserves, where Oscar Steene impressed again. – Josh Gabelich

That injury update for Collingwood is from July 22... ours is updated today.

So all of Houston, Howe and De Goey could and will likely play.

 

[twhowler]

That injury update for Collingwood is from July 22... ours is updated today.

So all of Houston, Howe and De Goey could and will likely play.

yep

houston played last week

jdg played 70% vfl and is 50/50

Hill played vfl and sounds a likely in

they are getting troops back as we lose them!

i am surprised we are not longer odds. would be one of our better home and away wins for a while if we somehow got up

i am struggling to see it given Answerth is out and starce is struggling, just as they get an extra small forward back alongside elliott.

Maybe starce can take elliott - his weapon is in the air and starce has the strength. i completely understand his hesitance and just have sympathy for him as a human. But i guess there is some chance he decides he can't play timid forever and just flicks a switch. suspect it will be after he has signed for wce.

 

[twhowler]

yep

houston played last week

jdg played 70% vfl and is 50/50

Hill played vfl and sounds a likely in

they are getting troops back as we lose them!

i am surprised we are not longer odds. would be one of our better home and away wins for a while if we somehow got up

i am struggling to see it given Answerth is out and starce is struggling, just as they get an extra small forward back alongside elliott.

Maybe starce can take elliott - his weapon is in the air and starce has the strength. i completely understand his hesitance and just have sympathy for him as a human. But i guess there is some chance he decides he can't play timid forever and just flicks a switch. suspect it will be after he has signed for wce.

edit - Howe is out. but he is their only best 22 not available

pendles had a break last week so fresh against us

maybe fly can remember his roots and rest nick daicos, he looked very tired!

 

[M Malice]

It will be a hell of a win if we can pull it off, would top the Cats and Hawks away wins earlier in the season IMO.

 

[Lazza16]

I should know(DOH!) but who is this from the training photos today? McLachlan?
View attachment 2380480

Seeing tatts.....Torrent i would say.

 

[mpal6]

It will be a hell of a win if we can pull it off, would top the Cats and Hawks away wins earlier in the season IMO.

Need a lot from midfield. Here's hoping.

 

[Sproj]

So I'd like to see us do something like last year and do a bit of 'play the youth' again:

Out: McKenna, McInerney, Zorko (rested), Gardiner

In: McLachlan, Smith, Gallop, Brain

Swing Hipwood to defense.

 

[briztoon]

Hipwood to defense is a last resort, break class in case of extreme emergency, for me.

I don't trust his marking in the forward line. I'd be petrified of his attempted marking in the back line.

 

[notliondown]

Talent. We oooze it. Watch nearly any other team and you realise just how lucky we are to have the players we have. Some of the natural ability these guys possess is so amazing to watch, and Fages philosophy of using your weapons has meant we have built a team that is shaped around those skills. And, as it's evolved, a game plan to match.

But we have some structural flaws that I think we have covered with that talent - and more crucially - effort. Moreover our game plan is taxing and requires a full team contribution or it's easy to hurt us. When we don't fully apply ourselves, or have a few down players, it seems we are an easy team to exploit if the opposition is halfway decent.

This year feels like it's conspiring to highlight our flaws.

Unlike others, I don't think not having Joe is the biggest problem. I think we have more than enough avenues to goal. Sure, he'd be nice, but when we actually play Day, he gives us a similar structure, even if he doesn't have the same talent. It was common for our triple premiership team to have a dozen goal kickers even with our big men.

Our midfield is still out of balance. Too much outside, too much show. Too many wanting to be the receiver and not wanting to be in and under. Too few wanting to tackle and pressure on a regular and consistent basis.

Our defence is now so weakened it's going to be nigh on impossible to cover it. The loss of Payne has exposed our lack of tall stocks and Answerth our smalls. This depth that people tout is a very general statement. We have very few dedicated role players to fall back on. Injured players coming back that haven't and may not ever reach their previous bests exacerbate the issue.

Our rucks... well it's just a problem. It's not a lack of endevour, but versatility. It's not being able to win your position outside of the ruck. It's a liability to carry 2 when neither really win their roles, regardless of where they are on the ground. And the lack of nous at times is super costly.

Some of these are not new problems. And when things are going well with a full contigent of players we have covered them with talent. But they have been exposed when we are required to be at 110% over and over and over with a weakend list. No one can do that. Not for every game.

I'm not writing us off.

But I have come to the conclusion to go deep into finals this year will take a super human effort. Moreso than any other year. And it will take everyone maximising that talent to it's fullest to compensate for our weaknesses. Our game plan leaves us little room for error and we will get tired.

I'm so proud of this team (I know it may not seem like it after that), the football they can play astonishes the whole footy world at times. Myself included. And no matter what happens or where we finish I'll wear these colours proudly. Thier achievements deserve recognition.

I just have a sneaking suspision however we need some tweaks. And I'm not sure we have the time or cattle to do that this year.

Fly will know our weaknesses. He will select a team to highlight them. This is one big test.

We can beat the Pies... but it will be one hell of mission to get it done. Lions by 4

 

[3KZ is Football]

The idea of Starcevich on Bobby Hill fills me with dread.

 

[Nunez]

The idea of Starcevich on Bobby Hill fills me with dread.

I'm the opposite. Starce has struggled the last few weeks but like any proud player, will be looking for redemption. This is the matchup to do it. He'll be hellbent on blanketing Bobby.

 

[Sunny Land]

I'm the opposite. Starce has struggled the last few weeks but like any proud player, will be looking for redemption. This is the matchup to do it. He'll be hellbent on blanketing Bobby.

Agree 100%. Like any decent footballer, he would have really suffered a lot of mental anguish re-living the 2023 Grand Final with Hill's performance. Any chance to give himself some sort of redemption would be gladly accepted. If supporters keep re-living it, what do people think the player is doing?

 

[martinson]

Only hopeful given our injury woes but one thing we can bet on is the guys coming out with fire after last week's effort and sustaining it throughout the game.

I don't think Collingwood's the team to beat this year like others. We've got some hope without getting caried away.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I think we need to focus on us and not what the opposition have. If we can get our Pressure and intensity to where it needs to be we can beat anyone. Collingwood are good but we are also a very good side.

 

[3KZ is Football]

I'm the opposite. Starce has struggled the last few weeks but like any proud player, will be looking for redemption. This is the matchup to do it. He'll be hellbent on blanketing Bobby.

Hope you are right Nunez.

 

[Sunny Land]

Hope you are right Nunez.

Seems like your glass is more 1/2 empty rather than 1/2 full with Starc's challenge. I'm a little more concerned with how we keep their key forwards quieter and that depends on Harris, Froggy & Dizzy. Whatever the outcome, we can be assured 100% that our backline will give it their best effort as always.
For me we win the game if our midfield play well. Last week was pretty awful and having Big O there in obvious pain was a real handicap to winning a centre clearance. We cant have that this week.

 

[Section 5]

This is a team that is a combination of the players that played against the Cats and Dogs. Those 2 selected sides below
I would try Joyce over Gardiner.
Either way it is a team capable of beating anyone.
We might be getting short on depth players, but we are not there yet.

Players that did not play in last week's thrashing but were in the Dogs & Cats games.

Lohmann the only player that played in both games but is not available.
He did play well in those 2 games so what was his basic stats.
Cats: 13 D, 7 M, 4 T, 2 goals 2 behinds
Dogs: 10 D, 2 M, 8 T, 2 goals 2 behinds

LIONS

B: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester

HB: J Fletcher H.Andrews, B.Starcevich

C: L.Ashcroft, H.McCluggage, J.Berry

HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, Z.Bailey

F: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah-Chee

FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, L.Neale (c)

I/C: D.Wilmot, S.Day, W. Ashcroft, S.Marshall, McLachlan (sub)

..........................................................................................

Just 5 rounds ago the below team beat the Cats at Geelong.
We went small in defense, and it worked that day. But Answerth not available this time.




Three rounds ago this was the team that beat the Dogs

 

[GenericUsername202]

I know it's a cliche, but this game is genuinely a must win. We lose this and we could drop to 7th. You could almost rule us out after that. Also, there's the obvious that needs to be said here. We were absolutely embarrased last week against Gold Coast. It's not just losing, its the fact that a reigning premier got belted on the scoreboard. If the players don't show any spark against collingwood this week, and if there's no response, that will tell you where their heads are at. If you can't get up for this game, you won't get up for anymore for the rest of the season. The club needs to do what they did last year and treat every game like an elimination final

 

[KissKiss]

PLAYER	INJURY	ESTIMATED RETURN
Harvey Harrison	Knee	Season
Jeremy Howe	Groin	1 week
Tew Jiath	Quad	Season
Beau McCreery	Hamstring	2 weeks
Reef McInnes	Knee	Season
Jakob Ryan	Foot	7-9 weeks
Iliro Smit	Foot	4-5 weeks
Lachie Sullivan	Knee	Season
Charlie West	Foot	4-5 weeks
Updated: July 29, 2025

In the mix​

Scott Pendlebury will return against Brisbane on Saturday night after being managed due to a corked quad last weekend. Howe has been ruled out for another week after his rehab was delayed due to illness. Sullivan will miss the rest of the season after suffering a high-grade PCL injury against Richmond, requiring 12 weeks on the sidelines. Bobby Hill, Jordan De Goey and Billy Frampton all made successful returns in the VFL on Saturday night and could face the Lions this weekend. – Josh Gabelich

Im pretty happy McCreery is out and Hill is likely a little underdone. Obviously Elliot has been their main weapon but McCreery's pace and pressure is underrated and would expose Zorko (who does look tender again).

Replacing McKenna (Lohman) is an interesting one.

• I like the idea of pushing Levi to that flank role as he has a good knack of popping up in the forward line. Allows us to give a full game to Marshall.
• More likely a straight swap for McLachlan who has shown signs but really would like a little more pressure from him

 

[twhowler]

Undefeated in vic this year

Has that ever happened?

There's a hoodoo for us lol

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Im pretty happy McCreery is out and Hill is likely a little underdone. Obviously Elliot has been their main weapon but McCreery's pace and pressure is underrated and would expose Zorko (who does look tender again).

Agree - definitely rate McCreery as a dangerous, potentially damaging player.
Seems to always hurt the opposition if I happen to be watching them.

 

[Mr Ripper]

My concern from last week's game was that after such a poor second quarter, there was absolutely no response from the opening bounce of the third. Raises my suspicions that the tank might be empty. We'll see how Saturday pans out.