PREGAME: Rd 05 vs Brisbane

[Redjacket 696]

We're really going to miss Kozzy but I'm loving the decision to blood the Kolt. That's 3 debutants in 6 games. Very unlike Goody with the exception perhaps of 2020 with Jacko, Kozzy and Rivers.

Reckon Lachie Neale has a dodgy ankle. They'll play him and he'll get a heap of the ball but that ankle could buckle at any time.

[Monocology 1,108]

4 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

If we win the midfield battle

.....the trailing department this year for mine. 

[picket fence 15,180]

Sub Woey I think!

[Dee Zephyr 17,519]

45,000 would be a very good crowd tomorrow night considering the 38,000 last year was the biggest H & A crowd between us and the Lions.

[Gawndy the Great 7,398]

9 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Lachie Neale's 250th.

He's 4/4 in milestone games.

I’ll take that - statistically he’s due for a loss. 

[kev martin 9,199]

2 hours ago, layzie said:

Got $5 on Tholstrup to kick 3.

Bag a hatful Dirk! 

 Not Kolt's strong suit. I've noticed his disposals seems to let him down, occasionally. However he hates missing the target and there won't be two in a row.

8 tackles, 18 pressure acts, in and under everything. If support for his team-mates was also a stat, he will be on top for that.

Will stand up for himself and his mates. Look out Dorko.

His enthusiasm is infectious. His first 10 minutes will be manic. He'll wear himself out and Woey will replace him in the 4th.

Go get em Tholstrup. 

[Storm Boy 250]

2 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

45,000 would be a very good crowd tomorrow night considering the 38,000 last year was the biggest H & A crowd between us and the Lions.

45,000 would be an excellent crowd and during the school holidays as well. Koltyn Tholstrup making his debut as well so hopefully young children will be asking their parents to come to the match on Thursday night. 

[Red and Bluebeard 2,034]

It will be great to see the Kolt in action, and being school holidays should help increase the crowd. But Thursday night football is still [censored].

[titan_uranus 22,368]

8 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

This will be a close game. Our form is not quite as strong as it looks and our last four wins have been big overs on Expected Score and we have lost the inside 50s in the last two weeks. We won't want to lose the territory battle again this week because Daniher and Hipwood have a height advantage and Cameron is a nightmare matchup.

I would start with Oliver on Neale at stoppages, especially in the centre. Oliver is struggling with his hand and Neale is key for the Lions' midfield. We really need a better performance from Clarrie in the clearances to beat Brisbane IMO.

Kossie is a big out, especially given the poor forward pressure we are are getting from Brown. Petty has been average in this regard too this season off the back of limited preseason and Fritsch doesn't ever like getting his hands too dirty. These weaknesses have been covered by our superior efficiency over the last month.

If we win the midfield battle, I doubt the Lions can play well enough to transition the ball through our defensive system enough times. That said, we have not been as strong defensively all over the ground this year and have relied on our back six to defend too much this year.

I agree that this will be a close game. I actually think our form is precisely as strong as it looks - we've looked amazing at times over the four wins but also have had patches of struggling with clearances and territory, and as much as we want to embrace learning to score from our defensive half, Goodwin's said multiple times now that we're not happy with how much we're having to play from our defensive half and it's clearly something we can't keep up for too much longer. 

Having said that, Brisbane has won the territory battle in all of its three losses (+13 inside 50s to Carlton but lost, +8 to Fremantle but lost, +13 to Collingwood but lost). 

[rjay 23,922]

On 09/04/2024 at 18:43, Gawndy the Great said:

According to master statistician Champion Data’s own Daniel Hoine who some on here laud in all his greatness:

I must have missed that...