Preview Lions v Collingwood

[PTizzle]

Polks is definitely a coaches pet, but he's not a bad player. He had a couple of games out with injury so I can understand them giving him another go round.

Hudson out with soreness isn't that surprising, they're obviously rolling the dice with Longer. The kid must be exhausted but I hope he can run the game out.

Really think Patfull should have been omitted instead of Cornelius. Cornelius at FF, Merrett on Cloke. Tbh I don't think Patfull has it in him to play on Cloke and Maguire definitely doesn't (although he should be fine on Dawes).

Upset to see Crisp out. I think this must be just a rest for him as he has been playing very well and was one of our best last weekend.

On the plus side, Zorko! Hope he subs on and smashes it. If Banfield has another off day I can see it happening earlier than say, 3qtr time.

Looks like we've gone for speed which I can't disagree with. We did need to lose a bit of tall timber.

Probably the best thing for me is McGrath named up forward. As I mentioned in the 'use-by date' thread this is really where he needs to be to continue his career.

Raines and Drummond are good ins as well and Hawksley has been solid to good in the reserves. Poor Cheynee, hope he gets his 100th soon.

So 50/50 on the changes. Some good, some bad, but at least they've swung the axe after such a dismal display last weekend.

 

[Voss the boss]

Just not sure re mckeever. We Played isle in the ruck / forward last two weeks In reserves - surely he could have come in for merrett to stay back. Accorn stiff, stats dont differ to much to brownies on average for the year. Looking forward to seeing zorko, i hope hawks goes well too. For mine though there are still some players that just keep been giving games. I hate to say it but my patience is growning thin just havent worked out if it is with them or the coaching staff. Gosh i hope we dont lose players because of lack of opportunity!

 

[mikey127]

side looks stupid. Why drop Crisp? and how has Banfield escapted the chop?

Green should have been in before Hawkesley

I've been a supporter of Voss but starting to ask questions.

Hopefulyl I'll eat my words

 

[ZoBlitz]

With Crisp, I think one of the midfielders had to be dropped for Raines and I think it was a matter of first in first out. Unlucky more than anything else. Cornelius out is more about balance than anything else with Zorko basically replacing him.

Will be interesting to see what they end up doing with the rucking, ie. has McKeever been brought in as a second ruckman?

 

[acuguy]

I am going to get on the Hawksley bandwagon after delisting him on Sunday

I just hope Vossy plays him up around the ball, he showed in one game last year that he can kick goals from the midfield.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I think McKeever plays on Cloke like he did last year. Merrett up forward and rucking. It makes the most sense IMO.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Do people look at other team's selections? Young players get rested, yes, even when they are playing well. Its good management.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Hawksley comes in to play the stopper role up forward on O'Brien??

 

[ZoBlitz]

I think McKeever plays on Cloke like he did last year. Merrett up forward and rucking. It makes the most sense IMO.

That probably sounds right.

 

[Mr Ripper]

If the Pies had their scouts out at Yeronga last week, and you can bet your bippy they did, I'm tipping whoever Niall picks up will be going straight back to the goal square.

 

[Ceebee]

With Crisp, I think one of the midfielders had to be dropped for Raines and I think it was a matter of first in first out. Unlucky more than anything else. Cornelius out is more about balance than anything else with Zorko basically replacing him.

Will be interesting to see what they end up doing with the rucking, ie. has McKeever been brought in as a second ruckman?

Mc Keever has rucked before.so he comes in as a replacement for Jed and fill in ruckman.

Fingers crossed for him

 

[Jimmy Two Hands]

So from the team named, it looks like one of Merrett and Patfull will be named up forward (most likely Merrett). While Merrett is definitely serviceable up forward and im not against switching him up there in-game as a tactic (ala SOS or Richard Champion), its obvious to everyone that its not going to be a permanent move for either of them. Patfull was completely ineffective up forward last week, and Merrett actually lost his touch as a defender last week after playing up forward and was subsequently smashed by Crameri, someone who I would usually tip Merrett to beat comfortably.

While I understand this may be about team balance, we did look slow and tall last week, there is still a need for 3 talls up forward. For the last few years, we have bemoaned being too Brown-centric as our players bombed into the great man outnumbered 3 on 1 (this still happens) and with Clark leaving last year and Browns days numbered, there seemed a good opportunity this year to develop 1 or 2 of our young forwards with an extended stint in the forward line. We are having our stint down the bottom of the ladder and with that comes the words 'rebuild', 'youth' and 'play the kids' with the general consensus that the quicker you get 50 games into young developing players, the better off you will be long-term.

For our mids, that has been the case and we have an exciting young group. But for some reason, Voss doesnt treat KPPs the same. Im a big supporter of Voss and glad we kept him, I think he has the players playing hard, for each other and for him and that is going to pay off big time in the future, but this is a growing concern for me. Young players are going to be inconsistent and often they will be picked regardless and Polks (61 games since Voss started), Sheldon (43) and Banfield (47) are some examples of players who havent set the world on fire but have shown promise, and should benefit in their development from extended game time. Yet in the same period, Acorn (17), Retzlaff (11) and now Lisle (0) have not been afforded the same opportunities in positions where we are in desperate need of developing. I know Voss doesnt want to gift players games based off necessity, as opposed to effort, but from what ive seen and heard about Retzlaff, is that if games were given on effort and workrate, he would be one of the first picked.

Its frustrating to see defenders and ruckmen chosen as forwards, as Voss acknowledges that its just a stop-gap solution, while our young forwards dont receive the game time they need. If Acorn is coming out, I want to see Retzlaff or Lisle coming in. Not Merrett or Patfull played up forward one game and back down the next.

 

[Bucking Beads]

At least the side has a better balance to it even if some selections are questionable.

 

[lionshine]

side looks stupid. Why drop Crisp? and how has Banfield escapted the chop?

Green should have been in before Hawkesley

I've been a supporter of Voss but starting to ask questions.

Hopefulyl I'll eat my words

I am pretty sure Voss would know more then you. How do you know Green should be in before Hawksley? You and nobody else on here has any clue what goes on behind closed doors.

 

[mikey127]

Green has been in great form in the reserves all season.

I might be wrong but I don't know if he is signed beyond this year. I don't want him to leave due to lack of oppurtunity from what I saw last year he will be a good player.

Hawksley has had many chances and not delivered

 

[Tassie4ever]

The only rationale, if that is the appropriate word, that this ill-educated observer can see for these pretty sweeping changes is that we are turning them over hoping to find something like the right formula. Panic possibly more fitting description.

Probably means the end for Ace, unfortunately, save for some outstanding reserves performances.

I wish Zorko all the best as he will be a beauty but I am stuffed if he has better claims right now than Green or, to a lesser extent, Bartlett.

In Hawksleys case it might be give him a game as last roll of the dice because on my observations it certainly ain't form.

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

So from the team named, it looks like one of Merrett and Patfull will be named up forward (most likely Merrett). While Merrett is definitely serviceable up forward and im not against switching him up there in-game as a tactic (ala SOS or Richard Champion), its obvious to everyone that its not going to be a permanent move for either of them. Patfull was completely ineffective up forward last week, and Merrett actually lost his touch as a defender last week after playing up forward and was subsequently smashed by Crameri, someone who I would usually tip Merrett to beat comfortably.

While I understand this may be about team balance, we did look slow and tall last week, there is still a need for 3 talls up forward. For the last few years, we have bemoaned being too Brown-centric as our players bombed into the great man outnumbered 3 on 1 (this still happens) and with Clark leaving last year and Browns days numbered, there seemed a good opportunity this year to develop 1 or 2 of our young forwards with an extended stint in the forward line. We are having our stint down the bottom of the ladder and with that comes the words 'rebuild', 'youth' and 'play the kids' with the general consensus that the quicker you get 50 games into young developing players, the better off you will be long-term.

For our mids, that has been the case and we have an exciting young group. But for some reason, Voss doesnt treat KPPs the same. Im a big supporter of Voss and glad we kept him, I think he has the players playing hard, for each other and for him and that is going to pay off big time in the future, but this is a growing concern for me. Young players are going to be inconsistent and often they will be picked regardless and Polks (61 games since Voss started), Sheldon (43) and Banfield (47) are some examples of players who havent set the world on fire but have shown promise, and should benefit in their development from extended game time. Yet in the same period, Acorn (17), Retzlaff (11) and now Lisle (0) have not been afforded the same opportunities in positions where we are in desperate need of developing. I know Voss doesnt want to gift players games based off necessity, as opposed to effort, but from what ive seen and heard about Retzlaff, is that if games were given on effort and workrate, he would be one of the first picked.

Its frustrating to see defenders and ruckmen chosen as forwards, as Voss acknowledges that its just a stop-gap solution, while our young forwards dont receive the game time they need. If Acorn is coming out, I want to see Retzlaff or Lisle coming in. Not Merrett or Patfull played up forward one game and back down the next.

Well said.

 

[Scubaveg]

Longer staying in is my only real selection query this week. He looked a tired boy last week. McKeever/Merrett are going to have to share the ruck load with him.

Suspect that's why Ace is out. Merrett will play ruck support/forward. McKeever to play kpd.

 

[LION UP]

Team selection appears to be somewhat of a conundrum!

 

[dlanod]

Glad to see Harwood survive the cull.

With this lineup, you'd have to think Merrett is going back to the forwardline.

Which annoys me a bit. It took him a full quarter of getting his arse handed to him by Crameri to get back into the rythym of playing down back. At some point we'll have to go through that again.

I was thinking the other way around. McKeever to come in as a chop in ruck that either drops back as a loose man in defence, or a token body in attack.

 

[Milk Steak]

Actually happy with Mckeever coming in,he is good competitor I think. Zorko is an exciting addition and although Hawksley can be frustrating with his disposal,he always seems to run when has possession,instead of stopping to look around for ages like too many of our players do. Drummond and Raines are obvious ones. I would have kept Cornelius in though and dropped Patfull or Maguire

 

[lukeo87]

Just a quick question for those who attend home games at the gabba regularly. I have general admission tickets (which is now sold out) and being first in best dressed just wanted to know what time should i try get in the ground to get decent seats? Going with six others, thanks for any help!

 

[Scubaveg]

The only rationale, if that is the appropriate word, that this ill-educated observer can see for these pretty sweeping changes is that we are turning them over hoping to find something like the right formula. Panic possibly more fitting description.

Probably means the end for Ace, unfortunately, save for some outstanding reserves performances.

I wish Zorko all the best as he will be a beauty but I am stuffed if he has better claims right now than Green or, to a lesser extent, Bartlett.

In Hawksleys case it might be give him a game as last roll of the dice because on my observations it certainly ain't form.

Dont agree in Ace, I think with Lester out sore it was a case of either Patty or Ace, Patty gives more flexibility can play forward, back and on the wing.

 

[Ceebee]

Thought most people would be happy with Karnezis in.
Ace could be tired.
Not sure what this team can produce but hoping they have a red hot crack and show tons more improvement than the last few weeks.

Think most of us are pretty flat at the moment and just want to see a decent competitive performance.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Ace could be tired.
.

I am pretty doubtful of him being tired as a reason for being dropped. He's had 4 pre-seasons and had his first game in 09 so he knows the work rate required.