Sausages
HIGH PRIEST IN THE TEMPLE OF GG/SNSD
- Feb 27, 2007
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- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
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- Luton Town
Well, it's a great time to be a Lions fan – that's what we have to keep believing. Our performance against Collingwood was lauded as our best effort yet by the chief and I think most of the stats back this up. Still, we are 0-7 and there's no shying away from the fact we need a win to give some solidity to the stat sheets. We've got a core of developing youngsters who have lately shown some signs of genuine maturity and are a better prospect when they get some support from our older heads. But, it's another big test this week against the Western Bulldogs.
The Dogs
Our opponents this week have had their fair share of struggles this season with form and injury. They are 3 wins, 4 losses, with the wins coming against teams around the bottom of the ladder (Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast). Their superstar midfielder, Bontempelli, was missing last week and needs to pass a fitness test this week to make the team. I think we'd all like to see another week of him resting – get well soon Bont, just not this week
But, even without Bont, they've got some class – Macrae, Johannisen, Dahlhaus, McLean are all putting out some good numbers. The two Macs, Macrae and McLean, are in good form right now - Macrae 40 disposals at 72.5% effectiveness, McLean 33 disposals, 13 tackles, 85% effectiveness last week vs Gold Coast. Pretty solid output. Johannisen provides run from the backline and can also go forward. Suckling deep in defence is also adding to their defensive output (24 disposals last week at 75% effectiveness). Hunter running through the middle drives the ball into the F50 where a forward line of Dahlhaus, Daniel and Boyd await – Daniel and Dahlhaus in particular get a lot of the ball. They are no pushovers, except maybe in the ruck – English has been getting towelled of late. As an interesting tidbit, running around on a half forward flank is Billy Gowers, son of Andy Gowers.
The Verdict
Well, it was a return to some sort of form last week for Zorko. And Beams. And we need them to again provide some on-field leadership for our young guys. Rayner, Bailey, Witherden, Berry, McCluggage all look better prospects when the two elder statesmen are going well. I'm not sure that Zorko will escape a tag this week as he seemed to do against Collingwood, but we'll need another 25+ game from him to stand a chance of getting the points. Martin should be winning this game in the middle and at stoppages around the ground so we can hopefully get our hands to the ball first. Our contested possessions average is slightly ahead of the Dogs, but they get more uncontested possessions. It all comes back to getting points on the board early, putting scoreboard pressure on them and keeping in the game for as long as we can – I don't see a blowout to either team this week and will tip the Lions to take the chocolates by 15 points.
The Dogs
Our opponents this week have had their fair share of struggles this season with form and injury. They are 3 wins, 4 losses, with the wins coming against teams around the bottom of the ladder (Carlton, Essendon, Gold Coast). Their superstar midfielder, Bontempelli, was missing last week and needs to pass a fitness test this week to make the team. I think we'd all like to see another week of him resting – get well soon Bont, just not this week
But, even without Bont, they've got some class – Macrae, Johannisen, Dahlhaus, McLean are all putting out some good numbers. The two Macs, Macrae and McLean, are in good form right now - Macrae 40 disposals at 72.5% effectiveness, McLean 33 disposals, 13 tackles, 85% effectiveness last week vs Gold Coast. Pretty solid output. Johannisen provides run from the backline and can also go forward. Suckling deep in defence is also adding to their defensive output (24 disposals last week at 75% effectiveness). Hunter running through the middle drives the ball into the F50 where a forward line of Dahlhaus, Daniel and Boyd await – Daniel and Dahlhaus in particular get a lot of the ball. They are no pushovers, except maybe in the ruck – English has been getting towelled of late. As an interesting tidbit, running around on a half forward flank is Billy Gowers, son of Andy Gowers.
The Verdict
Well, it was a return to some sort of form last week for Zorko. And Beams. And we need them to again provide some on-field leadership for our young guys. Rayner, Bailey, Witherden, Berry, McCluggage all look better prospects when the two elder statesmen are going well. I'm not sure that Zorko will escape a tag this week as he seemed to do against Collingwood, but we'll need another 25+ game from him to stand a chance of getting the points. Martin should be winning this game in the middle and at stoppages around the ground so we can hopefully get our hands to the ball first. Our contested possessions average is slightly ahead of the Dogs, but they get more uncontested possessions. It all comes back to getting points on the board early, putting scoreboard pressure on them and keeping in the game for as long as we can – I don't see a blowout to either team this week and will tip the Lions to take the chocolates by 15 points.