SA Footy

I know the boys have struggled over the past few years, both on and off the field.
But I feel like the last off-season has helped us turn the corner.
Hopefully the players get behind Leppa and start to move forward.
No more deadwood at the club, with only Sam Mayes to worry about returning home.
Our draftees are all terrific kids who look like re-committing early in the piece and hopefully our forward line can be built around Schache and Walker in years to come.
Mathieson was an absolute steal at 39, and Keays and Hipwood are Queensland boys with no go-home factor.

I'm very excited about our trades too.
I rate Tom Bell very highly and his contested work will be very valued as it's an area we've struggled in, same with Bastinac.
Walker can hopefully take some pressure off Schache, Close and Freeman as they develop.

Our best 22 I think is capable of matching all but the top four teams.
A return of 8-10 wins would be terrific as we rebuild the side, but anything will be better than 2015's effort.

Hopefully we can also keep our best players on the park.
Last year Close (21), McGrath (19), Gardiner (14), Claye Beams (13), Hanley (11), Rockliff (7) and Dayne Beams (6) all missed massive chunks of the season. Redden and Leuenberger did too, so hopefully their loss won't be as profound.

Predictions
W/L: 8-14 (12th-14th)
Best and fairest: Dayne Beams
Leading goal kicker: Josh Walker
Rising star: Rhys Mathieson
Player to watch: Marco Paparone

Best 22
F: Schache, Walker, Green
HF: Zorko, Close, Rockliff
C: Rich, Robinson, Christensen
HB: Paparone, Clarke, Hanley
B: Andrews, Merrett, Harwood
R: Martin, D. Beams, Bastinac
I: Bell, Mayes, Mathieson, Taylor

Be lucky to win 5 games (if you have Essendon twice)
Apart from Beams the midfield is just full of tryers but no elite players and i think you'll struggle to kick enough goals.
Probably still finish above Carlton.

Tom Rockliff is elite.

5-7 wins tops for the Lions this year, it is about continuing to build that framework.

Brisbane are reportedly negotiating a 5 year deal with Schache, despite the lad having yet to play a game!

beef wrote:Be lucky to win 5 games (if you have Essendon twice)
Apart from Beams the midfield is just full of tryers but no elite players and i think you'll struggle to kick enough goals.
Probably still finish above Carlton.

I disagree, i think their midfield looks pretty good. Christensen, Robinson, Rich, Zorko and Hanley and all very good AFL footballers when fit.

The problems are obviously the key positions, both forward and back.

Cant see them winning too many games, Reckon they will be above Carlton and Essendon but thats about it.

Very handy midfield, but as previous years, I don't think that forward line can kick 12 or more goals and your backline bleeds more goals than that.

One word.. Schache. Could be anything

Yeah looking forward to seeing Schache in action.
He dominated the intra club trial the other day.

Midfield is strong, but there's a few guys only willing to run one way.
Jack Redden was one of them, so hopefully not as much of that this year.
Defence leaked goals because of the midfield work ethic last year.

Forgot to add Merrett to that list of injuries at the top. He missed 14.

bennymacca wrote:

beef wrote:Be lucky to win 5 games (if you have Essendon twice)
Apart from Beams the midfield is just full of tryers but no elite players and i think you'll struggle to kick enough goals.
Probably still finish above Carlton.

I disagree, i think their midfield looks pretty good. Christensen, Robinson, Rich, Zorko and Hanley and all very good AFL footballers when fit.

The problems are obviously the key positions, both forward and back.

Cant see them winning too many games, Reckon they will be above Carlton and Essendon but thats about it.

Aren't you effectively agreeing with him?

MW wrote:

bennymacca wrote:

beef wrote:Be lucky to win 5 games (if you have Essendon twice)
Apart from Beams the midfield is just full of tryers but no elite players and i think you'll struggle to kick enough goals.
Probably still finish above Carlton.

I disagree, i think their midfield looks pretty good. Christensen, Robinson, Rich, Zorko and Hanley and all very good AFL footballers when fit.

The problems are obviously the key positions, both forward and back.

Cant see them winning too many games, Reckon they will be above Carlton and Essendon but thats about it.

Aren't you effectively agreeing with him?

I disagree about the midfield, Christensen, Hanley and Zorko in particular are class.

But I agree with the rest of it, and I still dont think they will finish any higher

Tommy Rockliff has the potential to be the most damaging midfielder getting around, he has it all.

I rate Brisbane's on ball brigade, they have as good as starting 4 in the guts as anyone, they just need to build a team around it, I'd play big Mitch one out at full forward.

Big Mitch? As in Robinson?

Baron Greenback wrote:Big Mitch? As in Robinson?

Reckon he is getting confused between brown and walker, just a guess

Baron Greenback wrote:Big Mitch? As in Robinson?

Yeah, big is probably an exaggeration and a result of a few beers last night and typing this morning.

I reckon he's pretty solid and has a decent motor, I think he has more to offer than what we've seen from his career.

bennymacca wrote:

Baron Greenback wrote:Big Mitch? As in Robinson?

Reckon he is getting confused between brown and walker, just a guess

Hopefully I've cleared up the confusion

Haha all good.

I think Robinson is definitely best suited to the midfield.
Was brilliant in there in the 2nd half of last year.

I have to admit I had my doubts when we traded him in, but he certainly proved me wrong.
Smashed Fyfe in a game at Subiaco and kept us in the game until 3/4 time when Freo blew us away.

The book ends still look the problem. Forward line looks limited and reliant on a bloke who couldn't cement a spot at AFL level over the last 3 years and the last line of defence looks like it will struggle to hold the top sides.

Midfield has some genuine stars, Martin was very good leading the rucks last year, might be a question mark over the coach though still.

5-7 wins is tops, I agree with those estimates.

Walker will frustrate Lions fans I can tell you that. There are times when he looks capable of grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck and others when his rubber chest routine would shame James Podsiadally. He's got the turning circle of the Queen Mary and struggles when the ball is below his knees. He has pretty good pace off the mark and is a strong grab and not the worst kick at goal. He will always give his all but unfortunately in five games out of six that won't be enough.

regards,

REB

Just hoping he takes the best defender. That would be nice for our young forwards for a change

Baron Greenback wrote:Just hoping he takes the best defender. That would be nice for our young forwards for a change

Good point. But he has never had to take the best defender before and still struggled. You could put your second best defender and still put a clamp on your forwards.

regards,

REB