Review Round 9, 2026 - Brisbane Lions vs. Carlton

[Gadzorks]

Credit deserved for being switched on in the first half. It was fun.

Clearly expected Carlton to fade as per recent form; if they fade against others surely they fade against the permiers.

While the team was caught off guard in the third and deserve a knock for that, i think credit is deserved for the scramble to regroup. That's a hard thing to do - 23 blokes trying not to panic and do to much, but to find the sweet spot of coordinating.

Four points, lesson reinforced and move on to the next game.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Lester played a great game so dont throw things at me when I say that the backline looks far better with Andrews, uninjured, playing to his strength, loose and intercept marking, and Lester manning up and close checking in conjuction with Gardner or Ty Gallop.
This is what they'll go back to with troops back and Andrews recovered. They can get away with this against the likes of Carlton but not the Geelong types.

Fortunate to give Curtin and ZZ a look at the big time for a couple of games. I dont doubt that this hastens development when going back to work in the VFL.

With more than a couple looking to be carrying injuries or form issues they did as well as expected to bank these couple of wins.

 

[Elixuh]

Genuinely this group might sponge whatever grandpa fagan teaches them each week too much. From fagans presser he indicates that he focused them on playing a good first half which is what the group did and then stopped until he gave them some more direction at 3 quarter time.

 

[Nunez]

Levi will be a jet when he finally gets the chance to move into the midfield.

 

[ManeMan]

Am I the only one who never felt all that threatened? Even when they got within 11 points, there was only a couple of minutes left. It would have taken a miracle for them to win, right?

We don't need to be dominant every week, just get the job done. Like last year, it feels like the regular season is just posturing for us. The finals are when you want to play your best, and we have shown that's what we do. Stress less. This is a fantastic team we support.

 

[Macca180]

4 points.

Next

 

[Lazza16]

I hope fages doesn't even show any footage of that match to the players during the week.

If they really are intent of going for a threepeat, the game we played should be be replayed behind their eyelids each time they go to sleep (okay a bit hyperbolic...)

in fact I don't want to see any footage of the match either.

Perhaps Fages can just show Bailey how he just jogs when pretending to chase. Needed a rocket up him with others busting a gut in comparison....weakest link stuff. Speaking of Linc, thought he was fumbling alot tonight.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

My takeaway is that Cripps just seriously loves playing the Lions.

.... I look forward to his next outing against us.

And McKay, maybe even more so.

 

[Clarkythelion]

What he said - Fagan's press conference was how I felt - The season is a marathon, you tuck away the wins and on the points and they get you to the finals. We had enough ball and enough shots to win comfortably so onwards and upwards with a win.

No injuries on the night - Gardnier and Berry back next week, possibly Gallop and I get what **** didn't mention him as he is in protocols still.

Yes we had a little sleep after half time. Sitting at the Gabba it seemed our backline lost its cohesion which is understandable with all the changes so far this year but supply from up the ground into their forward 50 had less pressure on it and for a team with pretty poor disposal they started hitting target and Harris was getting caught out trying to be the leader/organiser and being accountable 1 on 1. Next week he will have some familiarity around him - all good.

Fair weather sailor - when things are going great they are great, times get tough they crumble - Bailey. If he gets offered $1.7 good luck to him. Being at the ground I saw him twice get run around and he just dropped the head and didn't chase, it was very noticeable. Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

33

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

really did put the team on his back in the last Qtr, when you see Lachie running the ball out of the back line (like in the grand finals) you just know we are going to win.

To be there and hear the crowd calling out "Lester" and "Froggy" as he repelled attack after attack and to hear "Bruuuuuce" as he backed himself in was fantastic. They are, respectfully, journey men but god they were great and deserve all the credit they got. In every team you have your stars and you want them surrounded by good role players, in lester and Bruce we have 2 very dependable ones, I cheer them.

Kiddy Coleman was fearless and I feel he is back - playing some very solid dependable footy now he is a pleasure to watch.

All in all, we had a little sleep, were flailing around trying to get our foot back on the accelerator but found it in the end next to the break peddle and pressed it when needed.

Bless and dismiss, one step closer to the finals.

 

[Morbidly_Obese]

Jesus christ I wonder how ppl will react if we actually lose a game.

 

[twhowler]

Curtin - love his aggression. No such thing as an outside key position player. But he's too raw right now. Had a taste of it, back to work on his game

Joyce - does the lock down well and good back-up. But he just has no confidence in his disposal. He really slows us down when he gets it as he won't go for a lead even if a player has 5m.

So for me it's Gallop forward, Gardiner back, at least for now.

Kiddy - would like to see a bit more aggression. Half flew for a few. Failed to punch a couple of times. Maybe still needs confidence with his body.

We really do switch off like few other teams. 100 to zero. Oh well. Did enough when it get genuinely close I guess. Although that Levi too high was rubbish (played well though).

We looked a bit tired late. Glad to have no travel this week. Let's hope the cats have a torrid contest against the pies. I wonder who they rest off the short break?

 

[SRH17]

Highlight of the night was seeing Fages go off at everyone at 3 quarter time. Looked like he even gave the physio and dr a bake. Then seeing him walk back to the bench looking at the ground shaking his head. It’s great theatre, it really is.

The first 3 or 4 Carlton goals in the comeback was pure luck and no system.

No doubt-Cam Bruce got a serve as well. Almost like “get over there and sort this crap out”.

 

[RoyBoy17]

A win is a win and we smashed them first half. Momentum swings happen in games but the worst part of the 3rd qtr was the first 15min. It was similar to the Melbourne game where we had a chance to kill it off completely but wasted some forward entries by being lazy or too cute with disposal. Unfortunately when they had their momentum they made us pay. But good effort in the last to steady.

 

[Nathan Barley]

A win is a win and we smashed them first half. Momentum swings happen in games but the worst part of the 3rd qtr was the first 15min. It was similar to the Melbourne game where we had a chance to kill it off completely but wasted some forward entries by being lazy or too cute with disposal. Unfortunately when they had their momentum they made us pay. But good effort in the last to steady.

Not sure that’s quite true. At one stage in the third Carlton were leading inside 50s 18-6 but we had kicked 3 goals to their 2

They smashed us in the third, it was only our forward efficiency which kept us in it

 

[Lions Flag 2020]

I think Logan Morris is our most important player at the moment. With Oscar and Hippy injured we would be in a world of pain without Logan. Watching his movements last night at the game - he is so smart. 6 disposals for 4 goals 1 behind.

 

[briztoon]

I thought Levi played his best game for us. However I didn’t like his goading of Ainsworth after kicking that goal.

 

[M Malice]

Kiddy - would like to see a bit more aggression. Half flew for a few. Failed to punch a couple of times. Maybe still needs confidence with his body.

He is slowly improving which is understandable after 2 years out, some of his kicking last night was elite, he has such calmness and vision with ball in hand, a couple of his kicks were magical, one that springs to mind was he was on the Vulture St wing spun as he collected the ball, spotted a player in the corridor and delivered it on a dime, all in a split second.

 

[M Malice]

I thought Levi played his best game for us. However I didn’t like his goading of Ainsworth after kicking that goal.

He probably told him he is batting out of his league.

 

[martinson]

It's a momentum game more than ever now and when we came out after half time just going through the motions they obliterated us and we were lucky it wasn't a lot closer. Add that to the sodas they missed in the first half.

Good wake up call that does us more good than harm and still banking 4 points.

The worry is that Choc is still our best most reliable player when we're under the pump . A couple of other high paid 'stars ' usually go best when we're winning.

Draper was outstanding in the first half but seemed to run out of puff and luckily Fort picked up the slack. It's imperative we have one of them resting forward within our current structure.

Dunkley isn't a shadow of last year as yet and since he's always been committed and reliable I put that down to post season ops and lack of prep . McCarthy and Harris were both not moving all that freely.

Bruce is a real find and Froggy can play for as long as he likes .Put on the whiteboard that Kai is a bit selfish and always seems rushed and out of form but he does bob up with a couple of nice things most games.

 

[gapwedge0]

Jesus christ I wonder how ppl will react if we actually lose a game.

Depends how they lose. No one minds if they have a red hot go and lose to a better team. But to lose playing that tripe like last night, everyone has a right to complain.

 

[davemc_lions]

I thought Levi played his best game for us. However I didn’t like his goading of Ainsworth after kicking that goal.

and he really should of taken a deep breathe focus and kicked the second

 

[Squizz89]

Lachie was good last night and deserves the accolades for helping us over the line, but I thought some of his defensive efforts, particularly his attempts to sticking tackles were pretty underwhelming, particularly in the second half when everyone else had pulled up stumps too.

He obviously wasn’t alone in this area but just something he can definitely still improve on in the second half of the year.

 

[Quigley]

I actually liked Kiddy’s game tonight. Still beaten a bit but I loved that he really upped his work rate and showed some desperation. His kicking was elite. Overall he is back on the development path to becoming an elite player I hope after a long period off. I thought he was much better than Zorko.

Curtin was a little lost on occasions but the kicking into him did him no favours. Several times on the lead the ball was kicked over his head or to the man in front giving him no chance. One play from him I loved though was late in the final quarter with Carlton attacking he busted his arse to follow the ball in to be in a position to spoil basically on the goal line. He then turned immediately and hustled outside 50 to get back into position as the ball came out. It was a gut play that showed that winning meant a lot to him.

Like a few I too am waiting to see Levi really get a chance in the midfield. He will be very good.

Marshall’s run would have been handy tonight when the rest of the midfield went to sleep.

 

[davemc_lions]

I really think when we 30 points up at half time and the blues do not normally turn up second half.
We just thought it be a training drill. Then they came with a bit of luck for some goals to start.
We thought thats it still up we just finish them off in the last when they do not turn up again.
Then they turned up again and it became a slog.

Yes every team now has a run.
What you do when they have that run. Harris and Linc seem not be able to run.
We have a few players who are downhill skiers also a few who rather not tackle.
They just wanted it we already thought we won it.
Only thing saved us was having to the 49 point buffer.
Dogs and Demons had only a 3-4 goal buffer then got run down.

Said this for years only Dunkley is a defensive mid week in and week out.
He seems suffering from a late pre season.
The rest of the mids apart from Rayner/Bailey when they on cannot stop someone like Cripps.
So when teams get a run on they get a run on.

Worry about the cats game as they want payback and Danger not had a good game as yet.

 

[Brizzys Squizzy]

Jesus christ I wonder how ppl will react if we actually lose a game.

It's always been like that on here and usually the same culprits. Some compained that we didn't finish the cats off like we should've in the grand final .