Bears have been a perennial top 4-6 side for the last five or so years?

That's the definition of being in a premiership window I would’ve thought; very different to the aints one finals appearance every couple of years making them think they need to bring in high priced experience to ‘take them over the top’

Bears are pretty good in my book; the question is, are they good enough? So far over the last half decade, they haven’t proven to be 

2 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

...So the point is they're not in the premiership frame, and never even were this year or last. 2020 is debatable but they were also roughed up by a bigger bodied Geelong in a similar prelim belting. Either way, them being in the premiership frame next year is debatable.

Brisbane making these moves is more akin to St Kilda topping up on trades because they think they're in the window, when fundamentally there are deeper issues with personnel, desire and gameplan that will never get them a premiership. Putting aside that they got us at our weakest in the semi.

That's just my opinion anyway

They're absolutely premiership window.

Adding Dunkley is a significant get for them. Not only has he fill a need for them, it gives Neale a much needed chop out and Dunkley himself is a gun footballer.

His final against Freo this year clearly showed that.

His the exact same age as Clayton Oliver and is now coming into his prime. He makes Brisbane better and you can't deny that.

How you can openly say they have game plan and desire issues is laughable especially when our game plan and forward connection was just as worse. Geelong has just proven this year that you can change everything you mentioned in a space of 6 months. Can't see why Brisbane can't especially with the personal they're bringing in.

The red and blue grasses on some..

12 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

They're absolutely premiership window.

Adding Dunkley is a significant get for them. Not only has he fill a need for them, it gives Neale a much needed chop out and Dunkley himself is a gun footballer.

His final against Freo this year clearly showed that.

His the exact same age as Clayton Oliver and is now coming into his prime. He makes Brisbane better and you can't deny that.

How you can openly say they have game plan and desire issues is laughable especially when our game plan and forward connection was just as worse. Geelong has just proven this year that you can change everything you mentioned in a space of 6 months. Can't see why Brisbane can't especially with the personal they're bringing in.

The red and blue grasses on some..

We will see. Hitch your wagon to the Daniher train at your own peril.

I can see the [censored] falling out from under them with a higher probability, than I can see them lifting up the cup or being competitive on a Grand Final day.

They've been up for awhile now, while in my opinion, never truely being a premiership threat. But you are correct, the perennial chokers can turn it around.

Do you not feel an intuitive soft underbelly to their squad? It would take a miraculous turn around for Dunkley, Ashcroft and Gunston and the rest to be in serious premiership calculations/the frame next year. 

As I said just my opinion. And as for the glasses. We have a far higher upside. You can't deny that.

Edited September 28, 20222 yr by John Demonic

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Wow..

Out if all players you'd think would think the club be chasing Gunston hard it would be us..

Massive disappointment once again that we didn't throw our hat in the ring for a player that fits a significant need for us.

This whole putting our eggs in the Grundy basket isn't that impressive one bit.

Poor decision, if he's after success Brisbane isn't it.

8 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

We will see. Hitch your wagon to the Daniher train at your own peril.

I can see the [censored] falling out from under them with a higher probability, than I can see them lifting up the cup or being competitive on a Grand Final day.

They've been up for awhile now, while in my opinion, never truely being a premiership threat. But you are correct, the perennial chokers can turn it around.

Do you not feel an intuitive soft underbelly to their squad? It would take a miraculous turn around for Dunkley, Ashcroft and Gunston and the rest to be in serious premiership calculations/the frame next year. 

As I said just my opinion. And as for the glasses. We have a far higher upside. You can't deny that.

This 

18 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

They're absolutely premiership window.

Adding Dunkley is a significant get for them. Not only has he fill a need for them, it gives Neale a much needed chop out and Dunkley himself is a gun footballer.

His final against Freo this year clearly showed that.

His the exact same age as Clayton Oliver and is now coming into his prime. He makes Brisbane better and you can't deny that.

How you can openly say they have game plan and desire issues is laughable especially when our game plan and forward connection was just as worse. Geelong has just proven this year that you can change everything you mentioned in a space of 6 months. Can't see why Brisbane can't especially with the personal they're bringing in.

The red and blue grasses on some..

There's a reason we smashed them twice 

5 minutes ago, loges said:

There's a reason we smashed them twice 

Yep, and when it came to the sudden death game that matter the most, they got us good.

7 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yep, and when it came to the sudden death game that matter the most, they got us good.

Disagree that 'they got us' - I feel it's a bit more nuanced than mrerely that Dazzle, I attribute it to, our injuries caught up finally, as they had being  doing in game for most of the last 2.5 months.

The output from the injury toll incrementally got worse... some more significant than others (Oliver thumb and eye socket, Petracca fractured tibia)... etc etc.

Brisbane are a 7-5 side at best....

Edited September 28, 20222 yr by Engorged Onion

4 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Disagree that 'they got us' - I feel it's a bit more nuanced than mrerely that Dazzle, I attribute it to, our injuries caught up finally, as they had being  doing in game for most of the last 2.5 months.

The output from the injury toll incrementally got worse... some more significant than others (Oliver thumb and eye socket, Petracca fractured tibia)... etc etc.

Brisbane are a 7-5 side at best....

Even with our injuries I still tipped us to beat them comfortably. 

I've never rated Brisbane this year at all. I thought they lacked the midfield depth and relied too much on Neale.

But bringing in Gunston for McStay is a win for them, Dunkley gives them that Josh Kennedy like big midfielder and Ashcroft will adds class.

They'll be better next year then they have the last 2 years.

11 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Disagree that 'they got us' - I feel it's a bit more nuanced than mrerely that Dazzle, I attribute it to, our injuries caught up finally, as they had being  doing in game for most of the last 2.5 months.

The output from the injury toll incrementally got worse... some more significant than others (Oliver thumb and eye socket, Petracca fractured tibia)... etc etc.

Brisbane are a 7-5 side at best....

All true EO but they did manage to perform on the big stage, against their bogey team, at a ground they hadn't won at since 2014. It's no mean feat at the end of the day. 

I think the onus is on the Lion's to fight to the death in a prelim next year to be taken seriously, despite how good a regular season they've had each year, or any players they add. Let's not forget they're at the equivalent stage to us if the furthest we'd gone was: TWO v WCE preliminarily final beltings.

Their biggest weakness is defence, and while Dunkley is an upgrade on Lyon, Gardiner is apparently out the door and (Edit: Marcus Adams) is battling concussion. I don't see the fundamental structure radically changing on that end. And we haven't even mentioned Fagan.

Edited September 28, 20222 yr by John Demonic

Just now, John Demonic said:

I think the onus is on the Lion's to fight to the death in a prelim next year to be taken seriously, despite how good a regular season they've had each year, or any players they add. Let's not forget they're at the equivalent stage to us if the furthest we've done was: TWO v WCE preliminarily final beltings.

 

Their biggest weakness is defense, and while Dunkley is an upgrade on Lyon, Gardiner is apparently out the door and Ashcroft is brittle. I don't see the fundamental structure radically changing.. and we haven't even mentioned Fagan.

The Lions biggest weakness is having Zorko as captain - surely they change this.

Gunston will not improve their shoddy team defence/two way running and poor backline, not really stressed about this move 

1 hour ago, MrFreeze said:

Gunston will not improve their shoddy team defence/two way running and poor backline, not really stressed about this move 

But Dunkley and Ashcroft will. Gunston will improve their forward line and that helps the backline.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yep, and when it came to the sudden death game that matter the most, they got us good.

Yep, with a banged up side and only just hung on.

Think a few people are underselling the 2023 version of Brisbane here.

Gunston has averaged 2 goals a game this year coming off an entire year off. (32 from 16)

Dunkley has just won the dogs BnF. He's also very capable defensively.

Ashcroft has been the number 1 pick from miles out, he's been getting it done in every game he has played, including VFL against bigger bodies.

Adding 3 best 10-15 players over one off season is enormous, particularly when two of them would comfortably be between 1-5 on the list.

 

Edited September 29, 20222 yr by BW511

Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston - not exactly robust.

1 minute ago, old55 said:

Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston - not exactly robust.

They were the highest scoring team of the competition..

Adding Gunston for McStay is a win for them.

7 minutes ago, old55 said:

Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston - not exactly robust.

Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston, Cameron, Rayner, McCarthy & Bailey are all very capable goal kickers, plus Zorko will be parked there too.

There's a bit to manage in that forward line from an opposition point of view

Edited September 29, 20222 yr by BW511

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yep, and when it came to the sudden death game that matter the most, they got us good.

Give it a rest every one knows we were banged up

Gunston was either a Hawk or moving to Brisbane, you don’t chase players hard who don’t want to play for you

If Daniher stays in their forward line, with his lack of desire and hunger at aerial contests they are still no good

Their defence is their weakness and I don’t see where that improves 

They will be entertaining and score freely but won’t win it

10 minutes ago, old55 said:

Daniher, Hipwood, Gunston - not exactly robust.

they looked heaps better with daniher out and a more mobile quick forward line in the finals, mcstay out for gunstan adds more zip and craftiness around goal which will make them a slicker and more high scoring unit overall

6 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No..

Because none of those players really fit a required need lol..

Amon maybe but his price tag was way too much.

C'mon mate.. he's going up to a club right on a premiership window. There's absolutely no other way to disguise this. Great lifestyle as well yoy can add.

Brisbane adding Gunston, Dunkley who's just won a BnF and entering his prime, along with Ashcroft as put them right into premiership frame already.

Whether or not this is good for Brisbane is irrelevant.

I don't know what you think I'm "disguising" here. You are upset we aren't bringing Gunston in. Which in my argument is a silly thing to be upset about because you don't know:

1. whether we enquired; or
2. whether he would have been interested in moving to another Melbourne club (given he is quoted as saying he's looking for a "change of lifestyle").

Brisbane are instantly better with the acquisition of Dunkley (reigning best and fairest and in the prime of his career ) and a champion goal kicker in Gunstan (with the proviso he's healthy).

 

Norman was never coming to the MFC

He wants a new lifestyle, i would be suprised if they get more than 1 year out of him up there. He has had serious back issues. 
We cannot draft everybody…

22 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Brisbane are instantly better with the acquisition of Dunkley (reigning best and fairest and in the prime of his career ) and a champion goal kicker in Gunstan (with the proviso he's healthy).

Dunkley yes.

Gunston is an interesting one. They're not short of goalkickers. Losing McStay barely changes that. Their major problem is defence. Dunkley helps but I don't think he elevates them from a terrible defensive side to one which can win a flag.

They get Ashcroft too, but unless I'm missing something they are short of picks/points and are going to have to do some trading to get them in (and any compensation for McStay gets cancelled/watered down by bringing Gunston in). Does that mean they have to give a player or two up?