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How To Beat Sydney......
Well after looking at both teams, here is how I think the Lions will set up and how I see the match-ups going......
B: Johnson Michael White
F: Davis Hall Nicks
Johnson will take Davis and exploit his lack of defensive ability and lazyness. Other Lions must cover for Johnson while he is setting up play as Davis can kick goals in a hurry. Michael will get first crack at Hall, and it is up to our midfield to limit the supply, and force the Swans into bombing the ball into the forward line. White will stand Nicks, who is a smart footballer, but not as damaging as he has been in past seasons. White will also go third man up in marking and ruck contests.
HB: Copeland Leppitsch McGrath
HF: J.Bolton Goodes Schneider
Copeland and Bolton will both go at the ball 100 miles per hour, and Copeland has the discipline to stay with Bolton all day. Would be surprised if Goodes was at CHF for long, however Leppitsch has the speed and leap to go with him in the air. Will require help when the ball hits the ground, and must force Goodes to get his possessions wide on the wings. McGrath is playing the best football of his career and easily has the pace to go with Schneider. Schneider is the typical small forward that won't get a kick for three quarters, but then burst into the game, so McGrath has to keep his concentration high.
C: Lappin Voss Pike
C: Fosdike Kirk Maxfield
Lappin should give the Lions a huge amount of run and drive, especially utilising his ability to run with the football and kick long. Fosdike will have his work cut out keeping pace. Kirk will get the job on Voss, provided Voss starts on the ground. While Kirk has taken the honours earlier this year, Voss will be primed for a big match and almost nobody beats Voss twice. Pike and Maxfield will be an enthralling battle between two old veterans. Neither has the leap or the athletic ability of a number of their younger teammates, but both set up play beautifully and know where the ball is heading.
HF: Caracella Brown Power
HB: Kennelly Bolton Matthews
Kennelly will try and run off Caracella at every opportunity, but Caracella is cunning and may be able to lose Kennelly a few times. Brown has a point to prove against Bolton, but has to mix up his leading and body work. Power will lead Matthews a merry dance, although Matthews is honest he doesn't possess the talent or smarts that Power has.
F: McRae Lynch Bradshaw
B: O'Keefe Schauble Barry
McRae and O'Keefe are both goers that will be fighting for the crumbs on every occasion, and McRae's tackling and chasing are paramount to the Lions success. Lynch was well matched by Schauble last time, however when they last played on each other at Homebush then Lynch proved much too good. Barry is one of the best defenders in the league and will worry Bradshaw, but don't be surprised if Leppitsch and Bradshaw change at some stage.
FOLL: Keating Black Akermanis
FOLL: Roberts Thomson Williams Crouch
Keating will give Roberts Thomson a lot of grief, his ruck work and around the ground ability is a lot stronger than the youngsters. Black and Williams will be a cracker of a head to head battle, but watch for Hart to move onto Williams if he gives any trouble. Akermanis will have his usual shadow in Crouch, and like Voss, Akermanis rarely gets beaten.
INT: Charman Hart Shattock Hadley
INT: Doyle Ablett Cresswell Saddington
The Lions bench is very well balanced with a ruckman, backman, forward and midfielder. Hart may start on the ground due to match ups. The Swans have Cresswell on their bench due to match ups, however he will start in the square if Akermanis/Crouch aren't in there. Big question marks on Saddington and Doyles fitness and Ablett is just a trier.
Overall it will be a close first quarter and a half with the Lions getting 2-3 goals clear at half time.
Well after looking at both teams, here is how I think the Lions will set up and how I see the match-ups going......
B: Johnson Michael White
F: Davis Hall Nicks
Johnson will take Davis and exploit his lack of defensive ability and lazyness. Other Lions must cover for Johnson while he is setting up play as Davis can kick goals in a hurry. Michael will get first crack at Hall, and it is up to our midfield to limit the supply, and force the Swans into bombing the ball into the forward line. White will stand Nicks, who is a smart footballer, but not as damaging as he has been in past seasons. White will also go third man up in marking and ruck contests.
HB: Copeland Leppitsch McGrath
HF: J.Bolton Goodes Schneider
Copeland and Bolton will both go at the ball 100 miles per hour, and Copeland has the discipline to stay with Bolton all day. Would be surprised if Goodes was at CHF for long, however Leppitsch has the speed and leap to go with him in the air. Will require help when the ball hits the ground, and must force Goodes to get his possessions wide on the wings. McGrath is playing the best football of his career and easily has the pace to go with Schneider. Schneider is the typical small forward that won't get a kick for three quarters, but then burst into the game, so McGrath has to keep his concentration high.
C: Lappin Voss Pike
C: Fosdike Kirk Maxfield
Lappin should give the Lions a huge amount of run and drive, especially utilising his ability to run with the football and kick long. Fosdike will have his work cut out keeping pace. Kirk will get the job on Voss, provided Voss starts on the ground. While Kirk has taken the honours earlier this year, Voss will be primed for a big match and almost nobody beats Voss twice. Pike and Maxfield will be an enthralling battle between two old veterans. Neither has the leap or the athletic ability of a number of their younger teammates, but both set up play beautifully and know where the ball is heading.
HF: Caracella Brown Power
HB: Kennelly Bolton Matthews
Kennelly will try and run off Caracella at every opportunity, but Caracella is cunning and may be able to lose Kennelly a few times. Brown has a point to prove against Bolton, but has to mix up his leading and body work. Power will lead Matthews a merry dance, although Matthews is honest he doesn't possess the talent or smarts that Power has.
F: McRae Lynch Bradshaw
B: O'Keefe Schauble Barry
McRae and O'Keefe are both goers that will be fighting for the crumbs on every occasion, and McRae's tackling and chasing are paramount to the Lions success. Lynch was well matched by Schauble last time, however when they last played on each other at Homebush then Lynch proved much too good. Barry is one of the best defenders in the league and will worry Bradshaw, but don't be surprised if Leppitsch and Bradshaw change at some stage.
FOLL: Keating Black Akermanis
FOLL: Roberts Thomson Williams Crouch
Keating will give Roberts Thomson a lot of grief, his ruck work and around the ground ability is a lot stronger than the youngsters. Black and Williams will be a cracker of a head to head battle, but watch for Hart to move onto Williams if he gives any trouble. Akermanis will have his usual shadow in Crouch, and like Voss, Akermanis rarely gets beaten.
INT: Charman Hart Shattock Hadley
INT: Doyle Ablett Cresswell Saddington
The Lions bench is very well balanced with a ruckman, backman, forward and midfielder. Hart may start on the ground due to match ups. The Swans have Cresswell on their bench due to match ups, however he will start in the square if Akermanis/Crouch aren't in there. Big question marks on Saddington and Doyles fitness and Ablett is just a trier.
Overall it will be a close first quarter and a half with the Lions getting 2-3 goals clear at half time.
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