And just like that, we’re Narrm again.

Even though the annual AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round which commemorates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to our game has been a welcome addition to our calendar for ten years, more lately it has been a portent of tough times ahead for we beleaguered Narrm supporters.

Ever since the club broke through for its historic 2021 premiership, this has become a troubling time of the year for the club. For example, it all began when Melbourne rebranded itself as Narrm across the two rounds of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to become the first club to adopt an Indigenous club name especially for the occasion. It won its first outing under the brand against lowly North Melbourne to go to 10 wins and no losses but not without a struggle or a major injury to  star winger Ed Langdon who broke his ribs and missed several weeks. In the following week, still as Narrm, the team’s 17 game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Dockers. That came along with more injuries, a plague that remained with them for the remainder of the season until, beset by injuries, the Dees were eliminated from the finals in straight sets. It was even worse last year, when Narrm inexplicably lowered its colours in Perth to the Waalit Marawar Eagles. Oh, the shame of it all!

At least this year, if there is a corner to turn around, it has to be in the direction of something better. To that end, I produced a special pre-game chant in the local Narrm language - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb” which roughly translated is “every heart beats true for the red and the blue.” My belief is that if all of the Narrm faithful recite it long enough, then it might prove to be the only way to beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw in Tasmania against a North Melbourne team that lacks the ability and know how to win games (except when playing Melbourne). Brisbane are, however, a different kettle of fish at home and have very few positional weaknesses. They are a midfield powerhouse, strong in defence and have plenty of forward options, particularly their small and medium sized players, to kick a winning score this week after the sting of last week’s below par performance.

This is in contrast to Narrm’s shortcomings which were exposed so clearly last week against Hawthorn when, despite holding the advantage in general play for three quarters, it folded like a pack of cards in the end with half a dozen players contributing absolutely nothing to the team effort. And I mean “effort.” The fans are sick and tired of watching opposition defenders intercepting kicks from downfield with consummate ease. Sick of players not chasing or tackling inside forward fifty. The offenders have to be culled and replaced with players who have enough pride in themselves or their jumper to effectively play out their roles in the team.

There is however, no cavalry of top line players to immediately replace them and some untried players will need to stand up along with some of the club’s promising you and the experienced hands like the skipper and Tracc.

It all points to a Brisbane victory. I expect the Lions to run the game out comfortably by 40 points after a close battle until the 27 minute mark of the third quarter, at which time I will be silently chanting these words in my head top myself - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb”.

THE GAME

Brisbane Lions v Narrm at The Gabba, Sunday 18 May 2025 at 3.20pm

HEAD TO HEAD *

Overall Brisbane Lions 26 wins Narrm 30 wins

At The Gabba Brisbane Lions 16 wins Narrm 9 wins

Last Five Meetings Brisbane Lions 4 wins Narrm 1 win

The Coaches Fagan 6 wins Goodwin 8 wins

* does not include Brisbane Bears or Fitzroy games

LAST TIME THEY MET

Brisbane Lions 11.20.86 defeated Narrm 11.15.81 at The Gabba, Round 16 2024

The Demons’ proved that they could play football with a dominant eight goal second quarter on the Gabba. It still wasn’t enough and they succumbed to the fast finishing Lions, courtesy of a goal from the boundary line after Alex Neal-Bullen gave away a free kick late in the game.

THE TEAMS

BRISBANE LIONS

B D. Zorko, J. Payne, R. Lester

HB N. Answerth, H. Andrews, D. Wilmot

C J. Fletcher, H. McCluggage, Z. Bailey

HF C. Cameron, E. Hipwood, W. Ashcroft

F C. Rayner, L. Morris, C. Ah Chee

FOLL O. McInerney, J. Dunkley, L. Neale

I/C L. Ashcroft, K. Coleman, D. Gardiner, K. Lohmann, C. McKenna

EMG D. Fort, T. Gallop, D. Robertson

IN K. Coleman, C. McKenna

OUT J. Berry (concussion), D. Fort (omitted)

NARRM

B J. Bowey, S. May, C. Salem

HB J. McVee, T. McDonald, T. Rivers

C C. Windsor, C. Petracca, E. Langdon

HF H. Sharp, B. Fritsch, T. Sparrow

F C. Spargo, J. Melksham, K. Pickett

FOLL M. Gawn, C. Oliver, H. Langford

I/C K. Chandler, A. Johnson, X. Lindsay, H. Petty, D. Turner

EMG T. Fullarton, B. Howes, B. Laurie

IN A. Johnson, J. Melksham, H. Petty

OUT M. Jefferson (omitted), K. Tholstrup (omitted), J. van Rooyen (omitted)

Injury List: Round 10

Jack Billings — calf / available

Jake Lever  — ankle / available

Jake Melksham — soreness / available

Ricky Mentha  — concussion / Test

Harrison Petty  — concussion / Test

Taj Woewodin — ankle / Test

Jack Viney  — concussion / 1 - 2 weeks

Marty Hore — calf / 3 - 4 weeks

Shane McAdam — Achilles / next season

Andy Moniz-Wakefield — knee / next season

We haven't won a game as Narrm yet.

Expect this trend to continue.

13 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

We haven't won a game as Narrm yet.

Expect this trend to continue.

Best we ditch it

2 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

We haven't won a game as Narrm yet.

Expect this trend to continue.

Not true! I've not gone and checked every game we've played as Narrm, but googling "Narrm wins" literally shows we've won as Narrm as recently as last year (against Euro Yroke in Rd 11, 2024) and earlier before that against the Roos.

Edited May 14May 14 by DeelightfulPlay
Edit to add screenshot

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw at Marvel Stadium against a North Melbourne

Actually Ninja stadium in Hobart would you belief it. Not that it matters, perhaps the Lions are turning japanese, I think so...

Dees to get belted.

2 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Not true! I've not gone and checked every game we've played as Narrm, but googling "Narrm wins" literally shows we've won as Narrm as recently as last year (against Euro Yroke in Rd 11, 2024) and earlier before that against the Roos.

Oh really? I been conditioned to feel like we lose everytime NARRM rolls around.

Edited May 14May 14 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

12 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

Actually Ninja stadium in Hobart would you belief it. Not that it matters, perhaps the Lions are turning japanese, I think so...

Dees to get belted.

Fixed. We have to forgive Mr. Bananabender. He comes from far north Queensland and doesn’t even know that Tasmania is a real place. Sorry Nasher.

11 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Oh really? I been conditioned to feel like we lose everytime NARRM rolls around.

I think it's a bit of a myth because we often have a form slump around this time (for instance, in 2022 we lost in Rd 11 after our 10 game winning streak to start the season). An unfortunate coincidence that it happens in the two rounds we are Narrm!

14 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Not true! I've not gone and checked every game we've played as Narrm, but googling "Narrm wins" literally shows we've won as Narrm as recently as last year (against Euro Yroke in Rd 11, 2024) and earlier before that against the Roos.

Those were the days what a ride 17 games in a row!

That was the day it all fell apart with Tmac going down for the year.

8 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Those were the days what a ride 17 games in a row!

That was the day it all fell apart with Tmac going down for the year.

Yes, I was thinking that too as I typed the previous and found it too dark a thought process for a Thursday morning at work 😂

Edited May 15May 15 by DeelightfulPlay
Turns out today is Thursday... doh

Can’t work out what’s going on with team selection lately.

Is current form no longer taken into consideration?

1 hour ago, Demon Head said:

Can’t work out what’s going on with team selection lately.

Is current form no longer taken into consideration?

Lately ???

It's a perennial paradigm of purgatorial persistence.

Dees selection does my head in week in week out.

I've come to believe it's a deliberate ploy designed to confuse. It's working.

I checked the stats at three quarter time and saw Gawns mark count down.

I thought it was low and as usual a barometer for us.

Great winning last quarter for him.