Key Match-Ups

[TheHood]

Hard to know who will take the field for the Lions this early in the week because of their injury list, however they do have a few danger men who we know will play:

Bradshaw - Craig Bolts could do a job on this bloke if Brown does not play
Lappin - Noggy, if Black does not play
Corrie - Crouchy would wear this guy like a toga
Voss (still dangerous) - Kirky would be ideal because he'd just be a touch quicker with the hands than the ageing champ.

I think we have the chance to smash Brisbane out of the centre. Jolly and Ball are doing a great job at the moment. Ball's first quarter last week was superb.

If we don't really hammer the Lions this week, it will be ashame not to take advantage of their injuries.

Thoughts? Big Mal on Bazz and Johnson on Magic?

[Mike_B]

I'd say its a given that if Aker plays, Crouch will line up on him. Other match-ups I would have:

Kirk on Black
NOG on Voss
Buchanan on Lappin
Schneider on Power

Meaning we still have Jude and Willo to play a more offensive game.

Leo to start on Bradshaw

Michael will start on BBBH and I think your suggestion of Johnson on MOL is an interesting one - I'm sure they will try to have him run off wherver possible and try and hurt us going the other way.

[Snowy]

I heard Johnno Brown interviewed this morning. He's hoping to get up for the match. He thinks Drummond will be out and expects Aker to play, though he thinks he might only kick left foot, which to him doesn't really mean much as he's ambidexterous.

[Schneiderman]

Dempster on Corrie
Crouch on Aker
Mathews on Voss
Kirk on Black
Noggy on Lappin

Bolton on Bradshaw
LRT on Merrett

Leo free man in defence (finally!)

[RogueSwan]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Leo free man in defence (finally!)

Roosy has done this all year. I can't see him changing.
I actually think Leapin' on Bradshaw and Bolts as the free man would work better. B2's running this has been great plus he can use either side of his body better than Leapin'.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Crouch on (dodgy hamstring) Aker

Run Crouch Run.



and don't stop

[TheHood]

There has been this consistent talk from some on here and some in the media too, that Leo is better suited to HBF because they love his run from defence etc.

I am actually of the belief that Leo's best skills are his evasive skills in tight and close. I think to say that Leo's got Kennellyesque ability through the middle is a bit wishful.

Nobody in the AFL clears 3 ragged forwards, ball under arm like Leo in tight.

I never want to see him Fraser Gehrig ever again, but at the same time, when the ball hits the deck, not many better than Leo at getting out of a jam.

[Go Swannies]

I thought Black was doubtful for this game?

[DST]

Just so we can get the match ups correct.

Confirmed as missing will be:

Charman (sus)
Leppa (back)
Brown (despite what he says people say he can hardly walk at present)
Drummond (hamstring)

They also have doubts over:

Black (calf)
Aker (back related hamstrings)
Keating (listed as test)

No need to change the match-ups that have worked in the past so:

Kirk for Black if he plays
Ablett for Lappin
Crouch for Aker if he plays
Leo for Bradshaw
Scheinder for Correy McGrath

They have huge problems matching up our height in attack so look for Ball & Jolly to spend a heap of time in the forward line to stretch them.

Also Mal Michael has always struggled when Bazza takes him from the goal square. Look for Bazza to move up the ground more and try and work back into the space to get free of the body on body stuff that Mal likes.

DST

[Sanecow]

Some sound predictions for the forward line, DST!

[Bleed Red Blood]

With those outs, we have to absolutely dominant this week. Not just possesion, but on the scoreboard.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by DST
They have huge problems matching up our height in attack so look for Ball & Jolly to spend a heap of time in the forward line to stretch them.

I just hope that we don't rely on this too much. We could draw ourselves into thinking we have the height advantage so simply have to bomb it in long and expect marks to be taken. I would much rather us try to be a little more discerning with our delivery into the forward line because we will need to be better at it in the finals than we have been at times this year. Add to that the fact that the Brisbane backline are probably the best at zoning off to be 3rd man up for the spoil, and its not a guaranteed success.

[Nico]

Who do you think will tag our match winner Ben Mathews this week? Put Aker on him I say.