Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

[mjp]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

I feel like we're about a 40-60 chance to win.

Is that due to the home ground advantage?

The sides were basically dead even at the end of the season and - for most of it - we were clearly ahead. Both sides are missing a critical key forward (Hipwood/Bruce) but they are now also missing their #1 number 3 tall in McStay...

The teams play completely different styles (Brisbane kick it, we handball it) but when we met them earlier this year it was a pretty easy win - at Ballarat I know but even still.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Is that due to the home ground advantage?

The sides were basically dead even at the end of the season and - for most of it - we were clearly ahead. Both sides are missing a critical key forward (Hipwood/Bruce) but they are now also missing their #1 number 3 tall in McStay...

The teams play completely different styles (Brisbane kick it, we handball it) but when we met them earlier this year it was a pretty easy win - at Ballarat I know but even still.

Mainly.

1 - They are probably a 3-4 goal better side at the Gabba and (obviously) play it well.
2 - I'm still not convinced we've turned the corner... yet. The conditions really suited us last week, but it remains to be seen if we can keep up on a dry deck. Funnily enough I was largely positive all year despite a few losses v Tigers/Dees/Geelong, but the last 5 weeks (or so) of the year really spooked me and even in the first half last week I thought our mids looked flat footed.

All things being equal, I absolutely think we're the better side. Hipwood AND McStay definitely hurts them. When you look at both forward lines, you kind of wonder if either can kick enough goals to win. Obviously somebody has to, so more than ever, I really think it comes down to which midfield group really get on top.

I really rate Big O and think he could cause us some big issues.

[comrade]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Mainly.

1 - They are probably a 3-4 goal better side at the Gabba and (obviously) play it well.
2 - I'm still not convinced we've turned the corner... yet. The conditions really suited us last week, but it remains to be seen if we can keep up on a dry deck. Funnily enough I was largely positive all year despite a few losses v Tigers/Dees/Geelong, but the last 5 weeks (or so) of the year really spooked me and even in the first half last week I thought our mids looked flat footed.

All things being equal, I absolutely think we're the better side. Hipwood AND McStay definitely hurts them. When you look at both forward lines, you kind of wonder if either can kick enough goals to win. Obviously somebody has to, so more than ever, I really think it comes down to which midfield group really get on top.

I really rate Big O and think he could cause us some big issues.

Bit of rain forecast throughout the day on Saturday, and it always gets a bit dewy at night anyway so may help us keep it in tight.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Hopefully it's a bit slippery so it helps Libba break the tag he will probably get.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

We can win this, but to quote Frank Drieben in Naked Gun:

"Like a midget at a urinal, we will have to stay on our toes"

[jeemak]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

We can win this, but to quote Frank Drieben in Naked Gun:

"Like a midget at a urinal, we will have to stay on our toes"

I mean, surely they can make films as good as that again.

[jeemak]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

So apart from winning the contest oriented elements of the game, how can we break Brisbane and actually open up a ground they're traditionally good at defending and scoring on?

I look at our game against Melbourne at the MCG and think that's probably the best anyone has managed a ground against them and we won by about four goals and it could have been a couple more.

- Don't be afraid of width, give that to them when they've chosen to move it out of defence that way, but at the same time respect that if you give too much of it away they'll move it forward. When rolling back also consider doing it diagonally to block the middle

- Pressing too high and hard exposes us and will give a fast running midfield opportunity to score by getting out the back

- Having nobody home when we get the break just results in a turnover and leaves us exposed. Usually when we create a turnover it's through numbers around the ball but it also means we're exposed across half forward. How do we find a balance between numbers around the ball vs. numbers ready to contest forward of it?

- They're going to go out the back, so do we man that or do we team defend it? My view is Easton takes Charlie Cameron, the rest is up to everyone else to figure out as the game plays out, play by play

- Lachy Neale needs to be stopped. I'd like to tag Zorko but the reality is nobody can run with him, meaning Dunkley stops Neale closer to the source, whoever can put a body on Zorko while that's happening is doing the right thing

- Dale will be tagged (well, if Fagan is as smart as he's supposed to be, he will), Bailey Williams will need to step up and gain territory. Whoever is playing on our wings needs to get this into their heads and help out to make sure there's a few times where Dale gets the ball in open space

[Missing Dog]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

I mean, surely they can make films as good as that again.

They can, and don't call me Shirley

[Grantysghost]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

I think the return to form of Dunkley is also super important as a flow on from Liberatore's possible tag. I doubt the Lions let him off the chain so if Dunks can step up at the source it might go along way to mitigating any run with on Tom.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

I mean, surely they can make films as good as that again.

Imagine in this world of teams and webex how many microphones in the urinal Drebin style have occurred during meetings.

[mjp]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

I mean, surely they can make films as good as that again.

No one makes comedies anymore.

PC issues with most comedy and sure to upset one interest group or another...

[Axe Man]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Some talk on the BF Lions board that Harris Andrews has a PCL injury and could be a late out.

[Bornadog]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Some talk on the BF Lions board that Harris Andrews has a PCL injury and could be a late out.

He has been playing injured

[azabob]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Who is more dangerous Zac Bailey or Dayne Zorko? I'm leaning towards Bailey more so than Zorko.

Bailey will likely hurt us more on the scoreboard.

[Mofra]

Re: Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs - 2021 1st Semi Final

Who is more dangerous Zac Bailey or Dayne Zorko? I'm leaning towards Bailey more so than Zorko.

Bailey will likely hurt us more on the scoreboard.

Bailey is likely to score more, while Zorko pushes higher and would get a lot more of the ball.

Zorko would hurt us but not defend his opponent meaning one of Bailey Williams or Bailey Dale will get loose. A lot.

The danger is that Brisbane (as pointed out earlier) do kick more so could move the ball quickly. A couple of time we completely lost our shape/structure ahead of the ball against Essendon but when we held it we were the better side.
Quite simply I think if we can hold our structure and stay disciplined, we win. If Brisbane do try to slow the game down we have the run and carry game to get through them.