Unofficial Preview Round 23, Friday, August 15th 8.20pm AEST @Optus v Dockers.

[mpal6]

If we go with minimal changes mode
In : Starcevich, Lester
Out : Reville, Doedee

If we want to select for opposition matchups
In : Starcevich, Lester, Day
Out: Reville, Doedee, Smith

If we go for all possible changes
In: Starcevich, Lester, Day, Lohmann
Out: Reville, Doedee, Smith, Marshall

Sub will be Marshall or Reville depending on who all come out.

 

[Thedeftouch]

I have a sneaky suspicion 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

might come back earlier than expected, either this week or next.

Assuming it’s a grade 2 injury which is typically 2-4 weeks off and the 3 week estimate earlier in the week would be at the higher end of the range.

The upset loss last night changes the outlook and the remaining games are more important now.

Also Lachie will be chomping at the bit after watching that loss.

 

[Thedeftouch]

We are screwed.

Get a grip man. It’s a legit 50/50 game

 

[Clarkythelion]

Is there a reason why we aren’t speaking about Ty Gallop as the answer? I was lucky enough to be at the Crows game this year for his debut, and he covered the ground like a gazelle and barely made a mistake. Just seems to have far fewer critical deficiencies than Smith.

I'm a big fan of Ty but I'm not thinking we quite have the players fit to go around him yet. There is no doubt he loves to tackle and add pressure and he tackles like a front row forward and huts people. He also crashes packs, knock the people over like 10 pins. he also has good hands and takes contested marks. He is just learning the ruck trade, we often talk about ruckman hitting their peak in their mid 20s so it early for someone just learning to help out. Fagan himself has said our issue against the swan was ground ball inside our 50, we just are not locking it in there and our small forwards are not getting loose ball and snapping goals. If Charlie, Lohman, McCarthy were there and in form, if our midfielders went in deep under the big guys feet in Rayner, Bailey, Ashcroft's etc and got 1 each then great we could ease Ty in. With Lachie out our midfield were shooting from further out it seems but no stats on that. Others are right in that Freo have 2 very good ruckman that would tear young Ty apart when he was helping out. His time will come, his pre-season trials were great. He is just a kid that was very good in juniors because he was so big and so aggressive, he will mature a bit like Jed Walter at the Suns, he is getting there just slower than the little guys.

But, But - it would not surprise me if he does some training with the backs come pre-season. If we get the trade targets we are supposed to get Ty may look at putting extra strings in his bow and I could see him like Jack Payne with time.

 

[M Malice]

Aside from the ruck issue, he does drop in and out of games a bit too much, which is to be expected as a first year player. He had a strong future with us and I love, absolutely love, his efforts around the ball…which tbh based on some of our forwards efforts might be a good thing.

But I simply cannot trust someone with a username DevRoboGun.

Sadly we have a couple of regulars who are doing that at the moment, as well as Henry Smith, his goal was great but besides that 2 disposals, 1 mark, 0 tackles.

 

[DevRoboGun]

Aside from the ruck issue, he does drop in and out of games a bit too much, which is to be expected as a first year player. He had a strong future with us and I love, absolutely love, his efforts around the ball…which tbh based on some of our forwards efforts might be a good thing.

But I simply cannot trust someone with a username DevRoboGun.

To be fair, I made the username when Dev Robo was actually our most promising young inside midfielder

 

[Bucking Beads]

The Big Red flag for Henry Smith was when Blakey easily beat him in a contested situation and took the mark. That just can't happen

 

[Nathan Barley]

The Big Red flag for Henry Smith was when Blakey easily beat him in a contested situation and took the mark. That just can't happen

It happens. If it becomes a trend then it's an issue

See Francis Evans outmark Mac Andrew? That was a classic

 

[braddsey]

Yeah feel like this is probably our best team until Lohmann and Neale return. I’d probably stick go with Smith or Gallop as the 3rd tall forward, Smith has shown an ability to hit the scoreboard and Gallop would help with our forward pressure which has lacked a bit at times. I’d also be tempted to give Doedee another chance if we want to give Starce another week off. Going into finals I just think he’ll make less mistakes than Gardiner but there probably not much in it.

Kai in for Marshall and Neale in for Beecken with Jaspa going back once they’re ready and that’s our finals team imo

You can’t pick Doedee over Gardiner. Gardiner may make a few mistakes, but he’s always in the contest. Doedee was pretty much nowhere against the Swans and to expect him to improve enough in 2 critical games to surpass Gardiner is fanciful.

 

[braddsey]

Dockers done what we should do beat the teams you needed to beat.
Port was way ahead they found a way.
I worry about the Talls against our backline. Ports backs not bad and got out marked in the last.

 

[BangyBangy]

I have a sneaky suspicion that Lachie Neale might come back earlier than expected, either this week or next.

Assuming it’s a grade 2 injury which is typically 2-4 weeks off and the 3 week estimate earlier in the week would be at the higher end of the range.

The upset loss last night changes the outlook and the remaining games are more important now.

Also Lachie will be chomping at the bit after watching that loss.

If the final week comes down to making the finals or not then maybe. Couldn't see it this week. Not worth the worst case scenario risk.

If we make the 8 I'll be happy enough. This team can win the flag from any position if we get our best team available through the finals (Neale, Lohmann etc).

 

[M Malice]

No way I would risk Lachie this week, as BB says if we have to win in Round 24 maybe.

Fages has a history of backing players in after an unexpected loss/poor performance so apart from Starcevich and Lester coming back in and possibly Day for Smith there wont be any left field omissions or inclusions IMO.

 

[mpal6]

I have a sneaky suspicion that Lachie Neale might come back earlier than expected, either this week or next.

Assuming it’s a grade 2 injury which is typically 2-4 weeks off and the 3 week estimate earlier in the week would be at the higher end of the range.

The upset loss last night changes the outlook and the remaining games are more important now.

Also Lachie will be chomping at the bit after watching that loss.

If he's ready I'll save him a trip to Perth and see if he can come in for Hawks.

Hawks game is the last one of the round on Sunday so there is a higher chance of him making it too hopefully.

 

[mpal6]

Whose buying that?

To be fair, Freo's record at Optus stadium looks like below. They haven't blown anyone away except the genuine bottom ones - as long as we play with right intent and bring pressure, this would be a 50/50 game for sure.

Round 21

Sun 3 Aug 3:10pm

Blues

Optus Stadium

39358​

Win 94-67

27​

Round 20

Sat 26 Jul 2:15pm

Eagles

Optus Stadium

46018​

Win 126-77

49​

Round 18

Sat 12 Jul 6:10pm

Hawks

Optus Stadium

49460​

Win 77-64

13​

Round 16

Sun 29 Jun 3:10pm

Saints

Optus Stadium

41600​

Win 81-69

12​

Round 15

Thu 19 Jun 6:10pm

Bombers

Optus Stadium

37570​

Win 104-63

41​

Round 14

Sat 14 Jun 5:35pm

Kangaroos

Optus Stadium

31408​

Win 73-67

6​

 

[3KZ is Football]

They will flog us.

Plenty to drop. Smith and Doedee are miles off it but the games this year will serve them well. Revillle has been big average. The shit unprofessional attitudes and feeling like you can turn up whenever you want hopefully will be out but Fagan hasn’t been able to get that out of them all year, so that’s unlikely.

Hopefully Charlie is dropped. As others have said, but for his name, he’d be gone.

Cupboard is bare. Frog and probably Day in (let’s be honest, Darcy and Jackson will annihilate whoever is in the ruck). Could care less if Starcevich is in (we need to get used to being without him anyway) so give Brain a go (Beecken isn’t being picked). Hopefully Kai in for Charlie. Dev in the 22 and perhaps either drop Marshall or put him on as sub.

It really doesn’t matter anyway.

Lots of common sense here. Don’t agree with everything, but I would go with:

In: Lester, Day, Brain
Out: Doedee, McLachlan, Smith

I would start with Robertson and Reville in the 22 and Brain as Sub.

If Starcevich is fit, he comes in rather than Brain and we play Marshall as Sub.

 

[3KZ is Football]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1382068

IN THIS week's Things We Learned, we discover the Dockers don't lie down, Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

continues to rise plus much, much more.

Check out what we learned from round 22 of the 2025 season.

1) Brisbane needs the best of Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

With a lengthy injury list and the Lions still needing another win to lock in their place in September, one man they'd love to find some consistency is Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

. The dynamic small forward went goalless for a third straight game on Saturday night against Sydney, continuing a season that has struggled to reach the lofty standards he's set for so much of his career. When Cameron plays well, he impacts winning, and although it's not all about goals – as evidenced by his high-involvement output in the previous win over Collingwood – finding that spark, and the big sticks, is a fire starter for the premiers. When he's buzzing around defensively, Cameron is a genuine leader in Brisbane's forward line, and they need it against Fremantle and Hawthorn in the next fortnight. - Michael Whiting

Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

looks on during Brisbane's clash against Gold Coast in round 20, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

Michael Whiting is a little slow to catch on. We learned this before this week.

 

[davemc_lions]

View attachment 2391505
View attachment 2391510

With Freo as said they won the games you think they win
Freo won 10-2 at home lost to Pies/Swans vs 5-4 away
We won 6-4 at the Gabba this year vs 8-2 and a draw away.
Gabba not the fortress it was. Why I said we lost games we should not off. GWS we kicked ourselves out of it
Melb we fell to sleep. Pies smashed us and Swans honestly they should have won by more yesterday.
We could have easily lost both our games to Swans like Freo did.
Swans on their day and Heeneys day can beat most teams

 

[M Malice]

With Freo as said they won the games you think they win
Freo won 10-2 at home lost to Pies/Swans vs 5-4 away
We won 6-4 at the Gabba this year vs 8-2 and a draw away.
Gabba not the fortress it was. Why I said we lost games we should not off. GWS we kicked ourselves out of it
Melb we fell to sleep. Pies smashed us and Swans honestly they should have won by more yesterday.
We could have easily lost both our games to Swans like Freo did.
Swans on their day and Heeneys day can beat most teams

The Crows loss was the worst one for me, apart from that 5 minute spell where they kicked IIRC 5 goals on the bounce we dominated the game in general play, it's why I am confident if we meet them in finals we definitely have the game to beat them.

 

[Nathan Barley]

The Crows loss was the worst one for me, apart from that 5 minute spell where they kicked IIRC 5 goals on the bounce we dominated the game in general play, it's why I am confident if we meet them in finals we definitely have the game to beat them.

Our injuries since that game will make it harder

 

[BangyBangy]

Sooo, I guess this weeks game is the extreme ultimate real 8 point game ....

 

[3KZ is Football]

“Meanwhile, the Brisbane Lions’ loss to Sydney was their fourth loss in their past eight appearances at their Gabba home. It virtually ruins their hopes of hosting a qualifying final, but also puts a top-eight spot at risk.

The Lions in 2025 have morphed into your typical teenager: better away from home than at home.

The premiership coach has plenty to contemplateCREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

But the reigning premier has not done much wrong, beyond losing ground balls and being inaccurate, as their coach Chris Fagan pointed out after the shattering loss.

Injuries to key players have hurt, with 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

’s absence not as dramatic as losing premiership defenders Brandon Starcevich

37

Brandon Starcevich

Age

26

Ht

188cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.2

2star

K

6.5

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

185.3

3star

D

9.5

2star

K

7.3

3star

HB

2.3

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.1

3star

MG

187.9

3star

D

8.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

1.4

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

181.2

3star

, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth

43

Noah Answerth

Age

26

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

and Ryan Lester

35

Ryan Lester

Age

33

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

from their backline on Saturday. Their forward line is weaker, too, without Joe Daniher, and with Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

and Eric Hipwood

30

Eric Hipwood

Age

28

Ht

204cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.5

5star

D

11.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.1

2star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.4

5star

out of form.

The Lions remain a contender, however, as their draw has been tougher than anyone, having played the top nine teams 11 times so far with matches against Fremantle and Hawthorn to come, making it 13.

They twice beat the Cats, who will have played top-nine teams just 10 times by season’s end.

Adelaide have played top-nine teams 11 times and face Collingwood – which has played the top-nine teams 10 times so far – in a blockbuster Saturday night match in Adelaide.

Fremantle have only played the top-nine teams eight times so far, with the Lions and the Bulldogs to come. Even the Gold Coast will finish the season with 11 matches against top-nine teams.

In the first season ever where 15 wins might be required merely to make finals, the Lions’ task has shone a fiercer light than ever on how the distorted fixture has real ramifications for the ladder and, potentially, the finals.”

- From ‘The Age’ today.

 

[martinson]

Our injuries since that game will make it harder

We were really up for that game . Things have changed .We looked done at times yesterday.

I don't have a lot of confidence that we can reproduce some of our earlier best efforts against reasonably good teams that have a sniff of a flag and are hungry for success. We went for 15 minutes yesterday and then stopped stone dead so it's a fatigue/motivation/effort factor that makes it harder one you've won a flag and have a half beaten up list.

 

[twhowler]

Look I won't be tipping us. We have a patchy record in Perth.

But I don't the talk of us being pumped, nor the dockers being in great form.

Yes they are winning but it's pretty ugly. Beat port with the last goal of the game. Best Carlton at home after trailing at 3qt. They are keeping teams in it.

We have responded well after poor losses this year. No doubt we need players back. The missing backline synergy was clear last week.

The must-in is Day. Gives us shape and doesn't get outmarked. Anyone know if his wrist is keeping him out? Wouldn't make sense given he is playing 2s

Just seems the obvious player to go with.

If they play 2 rucks again I'll spew up!

 

[Nathan Barley]

We were really up for that game . Things have changed .We looked done at times yesterday.

I don't have a lot of confidence that we can reproduce some of our earlier best efforts against reasonably good teams that have a sniff of a flag and are hungry for success. We went for 15 minutes yesterday and then stopped stone dead so it's a fatigue/motivation/effort factor that makes it harder one you've won a flag and have a half beaten up list.

Our form leading into that Adelaide game was worse

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'll be tipping us for sure. We will be up and about but not sure we've got the depth