Tweet
THE Lion roars ... Jason Akermanis trains at the Gabba yesterday in preparation for tonight's opening match against the Sydney Swans. Picture: David Kapernick.
Akermanis to play up forward
Darren Cartwright, australian football
27mar04
BRISBANE is set to pull a major tactical gamble and play midfield maverick Jason Akermanis at full-forward during tonight's season-opening AFL clash with Sydney at the Gabba.
With veteran Alastair Lynch (thigh) all but ruled out and to be replaced by exciting teenager Jared Brennan, the Lions need a key target in front of goal.
Daniel Bradshaw may be the starting point, but Akermanis has been clued up for the role as full-forward.
On Wednesday night at training he was darting off from a standing start in the goalsquare and taking chest and overhead marks from passes delivered by Blake Caracella.
Last year it was not uncommon in times of trouble for the Lions to post skipper Michael Voss at full-forward and isolate him and his opponent.
It worked to great effect but Voss's knee problem and a lack of match fitness prevents the Lions from confidently relying on their captain to fill that role tonight.
The Lions instead have groomed Akermanis because of his creativity, speed, strength and skill to burn off Sydney tagger Jared Crouch and become the main avenue to goal.
It would definitely place a different complexion on the match-up and force the Swans to rearrange their defence.
Sydney coach Paul Roos was expecting All-Australian defender Justin Leppitsch to be the Lions' focal point in attack at the opening bounce.
Leppitsch has no match conditioning yet his strength and size have caused the Swans defence immense trouble in the past.
In 2002 he won a game off his own boot with a second-half cameo in attack and he almost pulled off a win last year in the same role.
Leppitsch was unable to play any practice matches following shoulder surgery but he has completed all the training sessions.
"We expect Leppitsch to play full-forward if Lynch doesn't play, so in a sense their game style shouldn't change too much," said Roos.
"It doesn't mean a great deal of difference to their structure, depending on which one plays there.
"Leppitsch is big and strong and, given his preparation, he will probably play at full-forward in a similar manner to Lynch."
Even though Lynch has not trained for a week, Matthews refused to rule him out.
Brennan has been in good touch during the pre-season and may just be the man to shadow the Swans' Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes.
Goodes provides a tough match-up for any side and will play a floating key position role now Sydney has ruckman Jason Ball at its disposal.
The last two times the Swans met the Lions, in round 20 and last year's preliminary final, Ball was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
His presence releases Goodes to play as a key forward and provides spearhead Barry Hall with suitable back-up, which will stretch the Lions' defence.
Hall bagged five goals in round 20 last year when the Swans put the Lions to sleep by 14 points.
"He (Lynch) is not training tonight so that puts him in the 'not definite' category," Matthews said.
"I think he's doubtful but we don't have to make that call until tomorrow, so we won't.
"I don't think Roosy's going to see much at training tonight except Alastair's not out there."
Akermanis to play up forward
Darren Cartwright, australian football
27mar04
BRISBANE is set to pull a major tactical gamble and play midfield maverick Jason Akermanis at full-forward during tonight's season-opening AFL clash with Sydney at the Gabba.
With veteran Alastair Lynch (thigh) all but ruled out and to be replaced by exciting teenager Jared Brennan, the Lions need a key target in front of goal.
Daniel Bradshaw may be the starting point, but Akermanis has been clued up for the role as full-forward.
On Wednesday night at training he was darting off from a standing start in the goalsquare and taking chest and overhead marks from passes delivered by Blake Caracella.
Last year it was not uncommon in times of trouble for the Lions to post skipper Michael Voss at full-forward and isolate him and his opponent.
It worked to great effect but Voss's knee problem and a lack of match fitness prevents the Lions from confidently relying on their captain to fill that role tonight.
The Lions instead have groomed Akermanis because of his creativity, speed, strength and skill to burn off Sydney tagger Jared Crouch and become the main avenue to goal.
It would definitely place a different complexion on the match-up and force the Swans to rearrange their defence.
Sydney coach Paul Roos was expecting All-Australian defender Justin Leppitsch to be the Lions' focal point in attack at the opening bounce.
Leppitsch has no match conditioning yet his strength and size have caused the Swans defence immense trouble in the past.
In 2002 he won a game off his own boot with a second-half cameo in attack and he almost pulled off a win last year in the same role.
Leppitsch was unable to play any practice matches following shoulder surgery but he has completed all the training sessions.
"We expect Leppitsch to play full-forward if Lynch doesn't play, so in a sense their game style shouldn't change too much," said Roos.
"It doesn't mean a great deal of difference to their structure, depending on which one plays there.
"Leppitsch is big and strong and, given his preparation, he will probably play at full-forward in a similar manner to Lynch."
Even though Lynch has not trained for a week, Matthews refused to rule him out.
Brennan has been in good touch during the pre-season and may just be the man to shadow the Swans' Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes.
Goodes provides a tough match-up for any side and will play a floating key position role now Sydney has ruckman Jason Ball at its disposal.
The last two times the Swans met the Lions, in round 20 and last year's preliminary final, Ball was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
His presence releases Goodes to play as a key forward and provides spearhead Barry Hall with suitable back-up, which will stretch the Lions' defence.
Hall bagged five goals in round 20 last year when the Swans put the Lions to sleep by 14 points.
"He (Lynch) is not training tonight so that puts him in the 'not definite' category," Matthews said.
"I think he's doubtful but we don't have to make that call until tomorrow, so we won't.
"I don't think Roosy's going to see much at training tonight except Alastair's not out there."