Brisbane Lions

[Axel.]

Actual team -

I really don't see how dropping Green and playing Stiller will help us in the future. But... Voss probably wants to get sacked. Not surprised by Drummo been out also.

B: Daniel Rich, Matt Maguire, Ashley McGrath

HB: Pearce Hanley, Joel Patfull, Mitchell Golby

C: Luke Power, Simon Black, Tom Rockliff

HF: Rohan Bewick, Bryce Retzlaff, Sam Sheldon

F: Patrick Karnezis, Jonathan Brown, Jesse O'Brien

Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, James Polkinghorne, Jack Redden

I/C: Cheynee Stiller, Andrew Raines, Ryan Harwood, Niall McKeever

Emg: James Hawksley, Matt Austin, Joshua Green

In: Cheynee Stiller, Andrew Raines, Jesse O'Brien, Bryce Retzlaff, Niall McKeever

Out: Mitchell Clark (Ankle), Josh Drummond (Soreness), Tom Collier, Todd Banfield (Hamstring), Joshua Green

New: Niall McKeever (County Antrim (Ireland))

[spock18]

I'd rather see Sheldon play D and Rich up the ground but obviously understand why he's named back. Surprised X.Clarke didn't come in. And assuming McKeever takes ruck relief the backline will look a bit thin when he is onball. Freo named a tall team, with both Zac Clarke and Sandilands. As well as Kepler Bradely, Mayne. Pavlich also named CHF

[Axel.]

re Rich. He'll probably only play for 10 minutes in the backline to avoid the tag if he is actually selected to play there come the start of the bounce.

re Clarke. He's out for them last time i checked? McKeever will probably play 10% ruck and 90% CHB. Really happy he's playing also, we have nothing to lose by playing him and it'll give him some great experience. Don't want to talk him up but we seriously lack a CHB ever since Leppa left. Just by looking at his past 12 months if he keeps improving he might have a real player.

[balony_pony16]

re Rich. He'll probably only play for 10 minutes in the backline to avoid the tag if he is actually selected to play there come the start of the bounce.

It seems vossy is following what ratten did with gibbs a few years back...watching the play up ground from the backlines is a great education tool.

[Axel.]

It seems vossy is following what ratten did with gibbs a few years back...watching the play up ground from the backlines is a great education tool.

You're probably right bp. The great thing about Rich is that he can play anywhere!

Also edited my post. *ever since Leppa left.

[Haggis McHaggis]

Wouldn't mind seeing Karnezis push up the ground and offer a second marking contest coming out of 50. Have Retz push up behind that as the link man, with Brown down in the goal square. That tall model has worked very well for WC thus far. We've got the height to play Leuy forward in that structure too, pushing Niall into the ruck. Will be an interesting game. With all Freo's light kids, we actually match up pretty well. Speed across the big ground is my concern. We've been getting smashed around the outside of packs. We need to win first use and have options already on the go to get the ball breaking out of congestion.

[Axel.]

Pretty good performance by the Lions despite a few bad moves and disposals. Great to see the young players getting games and impressing! Future looks bright!

Also....

Matthew Leuenberger close to re-signing with Brisbane.

A three-year deal valued about $1.2 million will be finalised within the next two weeks.

Leuenberger, the 23-year-old from East Perth, was selected by Brisbane with the fourth pick in the 2006 draft and has attracted interest from GWS, Fremantle and West Coast.

"I entered contract negotiations a week or two ago and hopefully something will get signed sooner rather than later," he said.

"I have never been at the club thinking I would be playing elsewhere, so I've just gone about what I am doing and my manager just kick-started it (the negotiations) and now the ball is rolling."

He deserves the coin, has been one of our best all season and will only get better. Just need Rich to resign and pray Clark stays.

[Axel.]

Looks like Rich is gone for the season with a foot injury. Explains why he has been down the past few weeks, he's been playing injured.

[Axel.]

Happy Birthday Banfield! 21st.

[James Pattinson]

Looks like Rich is gone for the season with a foot injury. Explains why he has been down the past few weeks, he's been playing injured.

Here's an article on Rich's foot injury.

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/defa...?newsid=117334

EDIT: Might help if I put the link in

[Axel.]

Long live the Lion King.

1. Jonathan Brown

When the Brisbane skipper went down with a shattered face in round one, the consensus was that the Lions' hopes of being competitive went with him. That the Lions have competed reasonably well - without winning, granted - should be acknowledged. In the same vein, the reduced input of fellow veterans Simon Black and Luke Power should be viewed as a good thing, which leads us to ...

2. Rising Lion cubs

Hands up if you thought Jack Redden would be among the league's most prolific midfielders in 2011? Or that Pearce Hanley was going to be an effective rebounding defender? Or if you had even heard of Bryce Retzlaff? That trio is just the tip of the iceberg at the Gabba, where the likes of Jared Polec, Todd Banfield, Tom Rockliff, Joel Patfull and James Polkinghorne are also coming along very nicely. Add improvement from Mitch Clark and Matthew Leuenberger to Daniel Rich's accomplishments at the top level, and Voss' development CV looks very healthy.

3. Tactical competence

The Lions' struggles in 2011 have plenty to do with the club's structural deficits, rather than the way they actually play. The club's entire preparation would have been based around key roles for Brown, Brent Staker and Daniel Merrett, for starters. All three have missed huge chunks of the year, throwing Voss' plans into disarray and increasing the temptation to lapse into damage limitation mode. However, Brisbane have stuck to their guns, and when some semblance of structure is in place - like it was against Fremantle on Saturday night - the Lions can match mid-table teams for long periods.

4. Spirit remains strong

An effective game plan is nothing without effort and intensity, and the Lions have delivered more often than not. Sure, there have been lapses - the atrocious first half against Sydney, most of the game against the Western Bulldogs - but the young Lions are far from Robinson Crusoe in that respect. Their top-four ranking in one percenters, trailing only Sydney, Collingwood and North Melbourne, is a reflection of their general endeavour.

5. Willingness to adapt

What didn't Voss get wrong in his first two years at the club? Trading for Brendan Fevola, ostracising club legend Daniel Bradshaw, centralising football department control in his hands, hiring a football manager who didn't work out - the list goes on. In the wake of the train wreck that was 2010, Voss' willingness to change the way he was working must be applauded. This is tantamount to an admission of failure - a tough pill for such a proud man to swallow. While the results haven't come, the Lions appear a much more settled unit under Voss and new football boss Dean Warren.

6. Mutual responsibility

Voss shouldn't be allowed to carry the can for the decisions that cost the club so dearly in the past 18 months. While he wielded serious clout in the football department, he wasn't the only one who agreed to the ill-fated restructure. Given CEO Michael Bowers and ex-football manager Dan Collins have already departed, and taking into consideration the Lions' obvious progress under difficult circumstances in 2011, the case to reappoint the club legend as coach for another two years is compelling.

[Axel.]

Here's an article on Rich's foot injury.

valve Lions 2011 finals chance.

[James Pattinson]

valve Lions 2011 finals chance.

What kind of valve are we talking here?

[Axel.]

I don't even know anymore.

[Axel.]

In The Mix.

BRISBANE LIONS
Just when it looked like Michael Voss had some good news, Daniel Rich goes down with a stress reaction in his foot. Thankfully for the Lions coach, Jed Adcock will slot in nicely for Sunday's match against Port Adelaide after missing two matches with a broken finger. In further good news, utility Brent Staker is available for selection after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in round one and successfully undergoing LARS surgery. While he is likely to come back through the reserves, Voss may be tempted to rush Staker straight back into the seniors considering his lack of big men.
- Michael Whiting