Review Semi Final, 2022 - Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions

[Helicon1]

Rewatching the second half now with a massive smile on my face. The continued pressure, composure and desperation is absolutely amazing. That spoil from Rayner with 6 min left was phenomenal. The resulting throw-in lead to Charlie’s snap.
Where has this belief and pressure game come from. That was premiership football last night. So much would come from it. Fagan has much positivity to work with between the ears this week within the team. Loving what I’m seeing. I’d written us off. That game has left me feeling anything is possible.

 

[luthor]

Our supporters at the ground even got the ironical cheer going at one point when we got a free after a particularly bad run with umpiring.

Second quarter I think.

Came through loud and clear on the tellie.

Support at the ground makes a difference not only to to players but also to the psyche of the officials. For once, it felt like we got our share of the 50/50's

Loved your work boys and girls.

 

[Squizz89]

I’ll put my hand up and be the first to admit that I wrote us off all year and again in the third quarter last night when we got back level, for them to kick ahead by 2 goals late in the term I thought that was all she wrote and we’d put it down to a “proud performance”. To steady and go on with it and even when they came again late only for us to hold on again shows the years of putting ourselves into contention has taught us something.

Hard to put into words just how much belief that should give us, not just for next week but next year as well, beating both teams who have treated us as their “bunny” for so long.

 

[dlanod]

McStays passes are nearly always low & hard & unfortunately they were getting picked off. Solid game from him though.

Not even picked off, literally hitting Melbourne players on the chest.

 

[Lazza16]

Hodgey seems the worst bias commentator against us that there is around.
He just needs to stop.
I hope we can get him back as an assistant next year.

We r doin ok without him.....my head hurtzzzzzzzz

 

[rye]

didnt think wed be standing here but we move

apparently we outran melbourne to the tune of 16km AND had our highest pressure rating of the season. we really did just want it more then melbourne. selection masterstroke by the coaching staff and if we bring that next week i dont see why we cant go all the way

 

[dlanod]

Watching the replay. Still can't believe Melbourne stuffed the 5 on 3 in their forward 50, let alone us then going end to end and Charlie bowling Gatting at the other end.

Also if Petracca was fully fit it would've been a different story I feel - the number of times where he went to burst away from a contest after getting free and couldn't was substantial. Saved us a good 15+ metres every time.

 

[Warwick]

Credit: Albertross

 

[NotQuiteJezza]

Player of the match - Berry and the selectors.

I loved Wilmott’s energy just before they went down the tunnel, infectious.

 

[Lazza16]

The best part of tonight's game was Lever's dummy spit.

The guy can't run out of sight on a clear night and wanted to watch the big screen of a clear htb.

Embarrassing.

I gained great PLEASURE also Marty from watching Lever n the greatest fullback ever continually arguing. "That was ur fault no it was urs lol no it was urs"

 

[Gadzorks]

Do you believe in miracles? All our monkeys are gone, the path is clear, stick to what we are doing and we have a good shot against anyone! GO LIONS!!!

Nope. There will still be one entry on the list to cross off - WINNING A PREMIERSHIP!!!

 

[Ceebee]

Loved watching JB harass the hell out of Oliver .

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Berry took the **** out of Oliver's lunch money. OMG!

 

[POBT]

Massive coaching effort:

• deliberately went away from our contest game to pick our best pressure team of the year
• made a couple of tough and/or risky selection decisions
• gave the players belief at half time, despite being down by 20+ and getting pumped in most key stats
• motivated the players to be brave with their ball movement, when every instinct against Melbourne is to do the opposite
• made the right in game positional and tactical changes, including the change of the year in Berry going on ball.

Given the gap between these 2 sides for the last couple of seasons, the mental damage caused by previous thrashings and what was at stake in a final, it was arguably the finest all round coaching performance of any club all year.

 

[jonnobackpocket]

I’m am still shaking

 

[On the quiet]

To all who wrote us off, but especially David King eat humble pie. Making a prelim is a pass for this year.

Those who were calling for some changes throughout the year, we have been justified. Lyons cannot play now. I thought for someone with 20 odd games Dev played well. Hippy had a poor 1st Q but had a fantastic game for the remaining 3 Q. Berry Berry Berry enough said just simply best game he has ever played.

 

[Dalions]

Berry is an inside mid - surely.
You just can’t keep him out of there anymore.

 

[MSB ROYS]

To all who wrote us off, but especially David King eat humble pie. Making a prelim is a pass for this year.

Those who were calling for some changes throughout the year, we have been justified. Lyons cannot play now. I thought for someone with 20 odd games Dev played well. Hippy had a poor 1st Q but had a fantastic game for the remaining 3 Q. Berry Berry Berry enough said just simply best game he has ever played.

I agree, but if Lyons is injured we should at least wait until he is fit again before writing him off.

 

[Obeanie1]

Great win Lions, great win.

And on a positive note it was good to see Zorko focus on playing football and leading his team and not getting caught up in the sledging BS. Its not an attractive part of his game and actually hurts the team. Hopefully the 'óld dog' has learned something and keeps focusing all his energy on what is important.

 

[On the quiet]

I agree, but if Lyons is injured we should at least wait until he is fit again before writing him off.

I am not writing him off for next year, but his form would need to improve. Maybe if fit there is an argument to include him next week against the bigger Geelong midfield but I would not.

 

[GremioPower]

Take this from a neutral supporter. I'm Brazilian, Power supporter.

I was listening to the game this morning (Yes, it's still yesterday here). I wasn't watching it. The noise from Lions supporter was beyond ridiculous. It sounded like the Gabba.

Absolutely astonishing stuff.


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Berry took the * out of Oliver's lunch money. OMG!

You have never looked so good, LicoriceAllsorts!

Black-white-teal suits you well...

 

[lionsrules]

We’ve booted out the last three premiers this final series so far. Delicious !

 

[haystark]

the sense of entitlement in this one is strong. besides winning, of course, this was the best thing that happened

 

[Cockliff38]

Zorko with less than 30% of the votes is surprising.

Probably the best captain’s game he has played. Put all the nonsense aside and let his actions do the talking. Important clearances but his forward pressure in the second half was elite - no surprise to hear we reached the highest pressure rating of the finals.

Hats off to him because the Dees were all trying to rattle him.

 

[luthor]

Also if Petracca was fully fit it would've been a different story I feel - the number of times where he went to burst away from a contest after getting free and couldn't was substantial. Saved us a good 15+ metres every time.

I can't decide whether it was arrogance or desperation for them to take obviously unfit players into the game.

Fritsch and Gawn didn't look right either.

Petracca had big impact early but was obviously hobbling and I really can't remember him doing much of note in the second half.

Seriously, how do you let a guy play in any game, much less a Final with a leg fracture AND a bad cork?. It's verging on reckless IMO.