Bonz
🤺🤺🤺
Originally I was going to write a preview for South Melbourne vs Fitzroy in 1968 at the Lake Oval (A fantastic high scoring match that ended out with South Melbourne 17.15 117 to Fitzroy 13.12 90 with Bob Skilton being awarded best on ground with 35 disposals and 3 goals).
BUT I have decided for once not to write a joke preview as this match up is shaping as one of the defining matches of the season, Brisbane are actually relevant and has the look of being an absolute classic (Plus Ticky009 was originally going to write this one up so felt like I can avoid giving the mods a little bit of noise this week).
Round 7 - Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
Date and Time: Sunday the 1st of May at 4:40PM (GMT+10)
Location: Sydney Cricket Ground
Odds (Sportsbet): Sydney $1.86 Brisbane $1.98 (Gamble responsibly)
Weather: Expected Rain and a top of 19
The Story So Far
Sydney - Our heroes for this wonderful evening/ late afternoon (Twilight is the word I am looking for here) have been in solid touch so far this year, even if you are an impatient negative nancy like a few on this board (Sorry Punts ) if you were offered the chance to be 5 and 1 this season after our first 6 rounds (GWS Away, Geelong at Home, WB Away, North at home, WCE away and Hawthorn at home) you would have taken it in a second. Yes you can argue we haven't put in a full 4 quarter performance but not many clubs have, especially when they have an inexperienced list like ours.
Sydney's youngsters have all taken a strong step on their development with McInerney, Campbell, Blakey, Gulden and McCartin all having taken massive steps forwards, whilst the recruitment of Paddy Mac has helped fill a massive hole in defence. This is before the continued improvement of Heeney and Mills... once you put all of these wonderful flavours into a pot you start to smell the sweet scent of success.
Brisbane - Like it or not Brisbane will be one of our major contenders this season (And are the team I see as the biggest threat to Melbourne going back to back). Incredibly balanced across every line with stars the whole way down their spine (Andrews, McCluggage, Daniher, McInerney, Neale, Lyons, Cameron and Bailey) Brisbane have enough power/ threats to push any team in the league and should be in the top 4 come September.
So far this season Brisbane have had a pretty easy draw, outside of a close loss to Geelong in Geelong they have done what is required of them and put their opposition away with ease most weeks. Yes they have had a few down performances (Collingwood and Port games in particular) but they have still managed to bring in strong results which is the making of any good football team.
The Key Matchups
Sydney Offence vs Brisbane Defence
Let me be frank here, do not expect Franklin to get off the chain and have a massive match this week. Harris Andrews is arguably (Tom McCartin aside) the best defender in the league and is one of the few options across the league with the game to go toe to toe with Franklin at his peak. Ideally we will use Franklin up the ground as much as possible and try to cause some chaos matchups in the 50. In particular Heeney, Ronke and Papley (If he comes in), if Brisbane have a weakness similar to us it is lockdown small defender options so hopefully we can lower our eyes hitting forward 50 and stretch them here.
The midfield battle
This is going to be painful reading, but expect Brisbane to get clearance dominance this weekend. Whilst I hope Ladhams can go toe to toe with McInerney unfortunately I think a midfield of Lyons, Neale, Zorko and McLuggage has a little too much depth on the inside for us. BUT there is always hope and I can see us damaging Brisbane on the outside with pace and fast movement.
If Mills, Parker and Kennedy (Who I expect to play and do a defensive job on Neale) can break to even 40% of Brisbane's clearance dominance then this will go a long way to us winning the match.
Sydney Defence vs Brisbane Offence
If the midfield battle was grim reading then I apologise for what comes next because Brisbane have a versatile forward line on paper that we are likely going to struggle with. We don't have a natural matchup for Daniher (Likely to be Tom McCartin who can be liable when led up the ground) and are going to have to heavily rely on Rampe getting off his man (Most likely McStay) to cover leading lanes. This still pales in comparison to the big problem of their small dynamic forwards who we lack matchups for, Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey, McCarthy and Rayner are all winning options on their day so Campbell, Llyod and Cunningham are going to have their work cut out for them.
It wouldn't surprise me to see maybe Melican or Gould come in for Paddy McCartin so potentially Rampe can play small this weekend, because we lack options here and it scares me.
How Sydney can win
This matchup starts and ends in the midfield, I firmly believe if we can win 40% of the clearances Brisbane won't have the run to match it with us on the outside and this will be our clearest path to victory.
The other key to victory is quick rebounds from defence, if we can rebound from defensive 50 with ease on Sunday this will assist us with getting the win, Bailey, McCarthy, McStay, Daniher and Rayner aren't known for their defensive pressure, so if we can avoid repeated defensive 50 stoppages this will assist us with getting the win.
Final Predictions
Heeney with 5 goals
Charlie Cameron with 3 goals
Franklin with 2
Neale to be held to only 22 disposals by a resurgent JPK
Sydney to finish 11 points ahead on the scoreboard but football to be the real winner!
BUT I have decided for once not to write a joke preview as this match up is shaping as one of the defining matches of the season, Brisbane are actually relevant and has the look of being an absolute classic (Plus Ticky009 was originally going to write this one up so felt like I can avoid giving the mods a little bit of noise this week).
Round 7 - Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions
Date and Time: Sunday the 1st of May at 4:40PM (GMT+10)
Location: Sydney Cricket Ground
Odds (Sportsbet): Sydney $1.86 Brisbane $1.98 (Gamble responsibly)
Weather: Expected Rain and a top of 19
The Story So Far
Sydney - Our heroes for this wonderful evening/ late afternoon (Twilight is the word I am looking for here) have been in solid touch so far this year, even if you are an impatient negative nancy like a few on this board (Sorry Punts ) if you were offered the chance to be 5 and 1 this season after our first 6 rounds (GWS Away, Geelong at Home, WB Away, North at home, WCE away and Hawthorn at home) you would have taken it in a second. Yes you can argue we haven't put in a full 4 quarter performance but not many clubs have, especially when they have an inexperienced list like ours.
Sydney's youngsters have all taken a strong step on their development with McInerney, Campbell, Blakey, Gulden and McCartin all having taken massive steps forwards, whilst the recruitment of Paddy Mac has helped fill a massive hole in defence. This is before the continued improvement of Heeney and Mills... once you put all of these wonderful flavours into a pot you start to smell the sweet scent of success.
Brisbane - Like it or not Brisbane will be one of our major contenders this season (And are the team I see as the biggest threat to Melbourne going back to back). Incredibly balanced across every line with stars the whole way down their spine (Andrews, McCluggage, Daniher, McInerney, Neale, Lyons, Cameron and Bailey) Brisbane have enough power/ threats to push any team in the league and should be in the top 4 come September.
So far this season Brisbane have had a pretty easy draw, outside of a close loss to Geelong in Geelong they have done what is required of them and put their opposition away with ease most weeks. Yes they have had a few down performances (Collingwood and Port games in particular) but they have still managed to bring in strong results which is the making of any good football team.
The Key Matchups
Sydney Offence vs Brisbane Defence
Let me be frank here, do not expect Franklin to get off the chain and have a massive match this week. Harris Andrews is arguably (Tom McCartin aside) the best defender in the league and is one of the few options across the league with the game to go toe to toe with Franklin at his peak. Ideally we will use Franklin up the ground as much as possible and try to cause some chaos matchups in the 50. In particular Heeney, Ronke and Papley (If he comes in), if Brisbane have a weakness similar to us it is lockdown small defender options so hopefully we can lower our eyes hitting forward 50 and stretch them here.
The midfield battle
This is going to be painful reading, but expect Brisbane to get clearance dominance this weekend. Whilst I hope Ladhams can go toe to toe with McInerney unfortunately I think a midfield of Lyons, Neale, Zorko and McLuggage has a little too much depth on the inside for us. BUT there is always hope and I can see us damaging Brisbane on the outside with pace and fast movement.
If Mills, Parker and Kennedy (Who I expect to play and do a defensive job on Neale) can break to even 40% of Brisbane's clearance dominance then this will go a long way to us winning the match.
Sydney Defence vs Brisbane Offence
If the midfield battle was grim reading then I apologise for what comes next because Brisbane have a versatile forward line on paper that we are likely going to struggle with. We don't have a natural matchup for Daniher (Likely to be Tom McCartin who can be liable when led up the ground) and are going to have to heavily rely on Rampe getting off his man (Most likely McStay) to cover leading lanes. This still pales in comparison to the big problem of their small dynamic forwards who we lack matchups for, Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey, McCarthy and Rayner are all winning options on their day so Campbell, Llyod and Cunningham are going to have their work cut out for them.
It wouldn't surprise me to see maybe Melican or Gould come in for Paddy McCartin so potentially Rampe can play small this weekend, because we lack options here and it scares me.
How Sydney can win
This matchup starts and ends in the midfield, I firmly believe if we can win 40% of the clearances Brisbane won't have the run to match it with us on the outside and this will be our clearest path to victory.
The other key to victory is quick rebounds from defence, if we can rebound from defensive 50 with ease on Sunday this will assist us with getting the win, Bailey, McCarthy, McStay, Daniher and Rayner aren't known for their defensive pressure, so if we can avoid repeated defensive 50 stoppages this will assist us with getting the win.
Final Predictions
Heeney with 5 goals
Charlie Cameron with 3 goals
Franklin with 2
Neale to be held to only 22 disposals by a resurgent JPK
Sydney to finish 11 points ahead on the scoreboard but football to be the real winner!
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