Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs R19, Friday 18/7/25 at the Gabba at 7:40pm

[Danjul]

Just not good enough. We were still in the game but was it because of what we did or what they didn't do? I thought they were so much better than us all game and kept us in it with bad kicking. We turned the ball over far too much, even our coach said the same thing. We're a decent team but not one that is going to contend for a flag anytime soon.

Brisbane were clearly the superior team. 60+ inside 50s. What hope did our backmen have when the ball was coming in every 90 seconds. On most occasions their ball movement was superior to ours and there was no pressure on their players. Combine that with the fact that they were clearly a better drilled team playing a tactically more efficient game plan, we had no hope.

and on the game plan, we gave Brisbane the ball 80 times in turnovers. Why? Because we move the ball slowly to congestion. Because we handball forward to players who don’t know what the next move is. Our handball was generally to players who were closely attended.

Nobody runs into space to receive a foot pass the way Brisbane players did. We saw Brisbane players running to obviously designated positions to establish possession chains while their bulldog opponents were 15 metres away. This allowed them to repeatedly move the ball quickly from end to end.

I’m afraid that the final score flattered us and will lead to claims that we almost won, but really, Brisbane had nearly twice as many shots at goal. It was a significant hiding out on the grass.

[jeemak]

Brisbane were clearly the superior team. 60+ inside 50s. What hope did our backmen have when the ball was coming in every 90 seconds. On most occasions their ball movement was superior to ours and there was no pressure on their players. Combine that with the fact that they were clearly a better drilled team playing a tactically more efficient game plan, we had no hope.

and on the game plan, we gave Brisbane the ball 80 times in turnovers. Why? Because we move the ball slowly to congestion. Because we handball forward to players who don’t know what the next move is. Our handball was generally to players who were closely attended.

Nobody runs into space to receive a foot pass the way Brisbane players did. We saw Brisbane players running to obviously designated positions to establish possession chains while their bulldog opponents were 15 metres away. This allowed them to repeatedly move the ball quickly from end to end.

I’m afraid that the final score flattered us and will lead to claims that we almost won, but really, Brisbane had nearly twice as many shots at goal. It was a significant hiding out on the grass.

I've been less critical of Beveridge than others, but one thing that's occasionally annoyed me about the sides he's coached is the willingness to give away width when the opposition has it and set five off instead of pushing up to the mark, and the refusal to take easy width when we have it.

Oddly it's often been more pronounced at narrow grounds, but on a wide ground like tonight it really showed and has done all season. Because if you give the easy width away, you're more exposed for the next kick to go inside after the opposition has worked it outside into the hands of the players who can really damage you, after you've adjusted. It's fixable but probably not until the players on the field actually do it themselves because if we can see it you can be sure it's being coached.

[Bigdog]

Disappointing night. We were probably okay outside that third quarter but still not quite good enough.

I still think our tackling isn’t up to it. There was a stark contrast between their tackling and ours. Theirs would stick and we couldn’t release or we would miss-cue the release because the pressure was there. They would almost always get their arms free from our tackling attempts and hit the handball release.

I thought Cleary was a shining light tonight. And it was by far his best game for the club. He should play every game for the rest of his season.

On the other hand I was disappointed with Lobby. He probably kept his man quiet but there were a few times he had an opportunity to kill a contest with his fist but didn’t which led to the Brisbane guys getting to work on the ground.

Also didn’t like JJ. Just didnt have enough intensity and can’t recall him breaking any lines. We are short defenders all shapes and sizes not just key backs. I’m very disappointed we have mucked around developing Jacques in other roles this season than sticking him to half back. I think if we had of stuck him at half back he’d be having a similar influence to J. Freijah of last year.

We would also kill for Brayden Maynard type. Those sort of players are very hard to find. I think the hope was Coffield could become that. I still hold some hope he makes it.

I look forward to watching Sellwood and Walker tomorrow. I believe Walker is a project player and his kicking will take a load of work to be afl standard but I’m interested to see whether his got other tools to influence next season if he can tidy his kicking. If Sellwood plays well he might get a game as early as next week in place of JJ. His another one with a dodgy boot from what I’ve seen. Think his tough as nails tho!

[Danjul]

I've been less critical of Beveridge than others, but one thing that's occasionally annoyed me about the sides he's coached is the willingness to give away width when the opposition has it and set five off instead of pushing up to the mark, and the refusal to take easy width when we have it.

Oddly it's often been more pronounced at narrow grounds, but on a wide ground like tonight it really showed and has done all season. Because if you give the easy width away, you're more exposed for the next kick to go inside after the opposition has worked it outside into the hands of the players who can really damage you, after you've adjusted. It's fixable but probably not until the players on the field actually do it themselves because if we can see it you can be sure it's being coached.

Against north Melbourne, I was appalled to witness the following:
North player standing with his feet on the 50 metre line marks a short pass.
He stands still for a moment and looks at the goals.
One of our defenders runs past and stands about 7 metres closer to the goals.
Umpire says outside 5 as opponent takes a few steps back.
North player kicks at goal, with his non-kicking foot on the 50 metre arc.
ball clears pack in goal square by 5 cm -a gift and we do it regularly (all over the ground).

I am told that 7 coaches are banning showers in the week before the games against the Bulldogs in the hope that we will start going outside 10. I see evidence that it’s working.

[ledge]

We were belted all night and how we got that close was because they missed so many shots .
Sadly that’s the real story . It also seems the top 8 sides always play their best against us .

[GVGjr]

JJ.is completely done and should be dropped. Playing with no confidence at all and he's had a month of footy to find some touch.

He's actually a liability at this stage.

He's been down for a couple of weeks now. Tend to agree he's probably run his race with us.

[Sedat]

He's been down for a couple of weeks now. Tend to agree he's probably run his race with us.

Who do we replace him with? Duryea? Both players have been mighty for us but it is a big failure of list management IMO that these two are still our best small defender options in 2025.

[GVGjr]

Who do we replace him with? Duryea? Both players have been mighty for us but it is a big failure of list management IMO that these two are still our best small defender options in 2025.

It's a hard call. Do we go with Baker or slot Freijah back there?
I was a bit interested in Jackson Voss from the VFL for the MSD. I guess we will stick with JJ but it's a gap in the playing list.

[Bornadog]

Who do we replace him with? Duryea? Both players have been mighty for us but it is a big failure of list management IMO that these two are still our best small defender options in 2025.

I like MJP suggestion to stick VDM in place of JJ

[Danjul]

It's a hard call. Do we go with Baker or slot Freijah back there?
I was a bit interested in Jackson Voss from the VFL for the MSD. I guess we will stick with JJ but it's a gap in the playing list.

Interesting that you mention Baker and Freijah in the space of 4 words.

I like them both but I don’t see them as interchangeable.

As many have said, Freijah plays like The Bont. Strong, confident, talented kick and demands respect anywhere near the scoring zone. He is not going to panic and is difficult to stop.

On the other hand Baker is more like Richards. A bit manic with a tendency to try to speed away and get the ball forward quickly . A definite preference for kicking at full speed. Puts responsibility on those ahead to do something. against Geelong both had the same disposal efficiency at 65%. Baker was third for metres gained, behind Richards and Dale, even though he was moved back into a non running role later in the game.

In his only other full match this year he was second for metres gained against Freo. The AFL website rated both Richards and Baker equally in that game and said they had the same disposal efficiency at 65% and both contributed 440 metres gained.

personally I’d have Baker wide and Freijah closer to the corridor, hopefully receiving Baker’s kick. He has the ability to get it and make good use of it.

[Bornadog]

Coaches votes

9 Will Ashcroft BL
7 Josh Dunkley BL
5 Ryan Lester BL
3 Marcus Bontempelli WB
2 Dayne Zorko BL
2 Rhylee West WB
2 Jarrod Berry BL

[Axe Man]

Coaches votes

9 Will Ashcroft BL
7 Josh Dunkley BL
5 Ryan Lester BL
3 Marcus Bontempelli WB
2 Dayne Zorko BL
2 Rhylee West WB
2 Jarrod Berry BL

Lester has recevied a 5 from one coach and 0 from the other.

[Bornadog]

Lester has recevied a 5 from one coach and 0 from the other.

Who