TonyK
CibbuanoRound nine preview: St Kilda v Brisbane
May 23rd 2009 14:52
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 24 May, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 36: St Kilda 16, Brisbane 20
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 21.15 (141) d St Kilda 14.11 (95) at the Gabba, Round 9, 2008
RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda has won three of its past five against Brisbane with two of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium last weekend. The Saints were challenged all night but had all the answers, eventually prevailing by 19 points. Brisbane has won its past three matches to move to fifth spot on the AFL ladder with a 5-3 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Saints will be without Jason Gram (thigh) while Jarryd Allen (hip) and Sean Dempster (knee) are sidelined indefinitely. Xavier Clarke is out for the season with a knee injury. The Lions have lost defenders Joel Patfull (fractured jaw) and Daniel Merrett (ankle) for up to a month while ruckmen Jamie Charman (ankle) and Matthew Leuenberger (knee) and midfielder Brad Dalzell (knee) remain on the sidelines. Midfielder Troy Selwood has taken longer than expected to recover from his head clash with Richmond youngster Alex Rance at the MCG in round seven and will miss the match against St Kilda.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Zac Dawson vs. Daniel Bradshaw
Bradshaw became the greatest goal kicker in Brisbane’s history last weekend when he booted five goals- three of which came in the third term as the Lions took control of the contest.
The Lions veteran has now booted 25 majors in eight games this season
The last time these two sides met in round nine last year Bradshaw kicked six goals to help lift his side to a 46-point victory.
The Lions will need Bradshaw to fire once again on Sunday if they are going to end St Kilda’s unbeaten start to the season.
He will most likely be matched up by Dawson who has been impressive in defence after joining the Saints via the rookie draft following a brief stint with Hawthorn.
If Bradshaw is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Dawson he will need his midfield to be quick and direct with their use of the football otherwise St Kilda will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50 and punish Brisbane on the rebound.
Luke Power vs. Lenny Hayes
Hayes played a key role in the win over the Bulldogs, racking up a team-high 33 possessions.
The 29-year-old is an integral part of the St Kilda midfield with his ability to win the football in close and he will be keen to have a big game in what will be his 200th match.
If the Lions are going to be any hope of containing the Saints potent forward line they will need to quell the influence of Hayes who is able to win the football at the stoppages and find damaging users such as Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard and Leigh Montagna in space.
With Brisbane’s number one midfield stopper in Selwood out of the side, Brisbane coach Michael Voss may opt to use Power in an attacking run with role.
Power will need to deny Hayes any time or space in which to work in and also win his fair share of the football in order to make him accountable.
Clinton Jones vs. Simon Black
When these two sides met in round nine last year Black was damaging with 28 disposals and eight inside 50’s in a performance that earned him the one Brownlow medal vote.
Shutting down Black will be a key for the Saints if they are going to starve the Lions’ star forwards in Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw of quality supply.
Jones has been given the job of tagging the opposition’s best midfielder so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to run with the 2002 Brownlow medallist in what shapes as being a crucial contest in determining the outcome of this match.
The 25-year-old will need to apply relentless pressure all day otherwise Black will hurt the Saints with his ability to win the football in close and deliver it cleanly inside 50.
Jared Brennan vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt has been his side’s most productive forward so far this season, booting 24 goals in eight games.
If the Lions are going to have any chance of recording a rare win at Etihad Stadium they will need to contain Riewoldt who is currently in All-Australian form.
With Merrett and Patfull out of the side Brennan will most likely be given the job of matching up on Riewoldt given that he has the height and the athletic capabilities to match the hard-leading St Kilda skipper.
Brisbane is ranked third in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 67.8.
They will need to suffocate the life out of the Saints midfield with their pressure skills otherwise Riewoldt will dominate as he is virtually unstoppable on the lead.
VERDICT: The last time Brisbane took on an undefeated team they were thumped to the tune of 93 points by Geelong. The Lions will be more competitive on Sunday but with two of their best defenders in Merrett and Patfull unavailable due to injury they will struggle to contain a St Kilda side that has the second most potent forward line in the competition. Saints by 32 points.
ST KILDA v BRISBANE LIONS
St Kilda
B: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Raphael Clarke, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt, Steven King, Andrew McQualter
Emg: Robert Eddy, Ben McEvoy, Luke Miles
In: R. Clarke
Out: Jason Gram (thigh)
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Joel Macdonald, James Polkinghorne
HB: Sam Sheldon, Jared Brennan, Josh Drummond
C: Scott Harding, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Cheynee Stiller, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Travis Johnstone, Jed Adcock
I/C: Tim Notting, Albert Proud, Aaron Cornelius, Matt Austin
Emg: Jason Roe, Pearce Hanley, Tom Collier
In: Cornelius, Notting
Out: Daniel Merrett (ankle), Joel Patfull (jaw)
New: Aaron Cornelius (Tassie Mariners)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 36: St Kilda 16, Brisbane 20
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 21.15 (141) d St Kilda 14.11 (95) at the Gabba, Round 9, 2008
RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda has won three of its past five against Brisbane with two of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium last weekend. The Saints were challenged all night but had all the answers, eventually prevailing by 19 points. Brisbane has won its past three matches to move to fifth spot on the AFL ladder with a 5-3 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Saints will be without Jason Gram (thigh) while Jarryd Allen (hip) and Sean Dempster (knee) are sidelined indefinitely. Xavier Clarke is out for the season with a knee injury. The Lions have lost defenders Joel Patfull (fractured jaw) and Daniel Merrett (ankle) for up to a month while ruckmen Jamie Charman (ankle) and Matthew Leuenberger (knee) and midfielder Brad Dalzell (knee) remain on the sidelines. Midfielder Troy Selwood has taken longer than expected to recover from his head clash with Richmond youngster Alex Rance at the MCG in round seven and will miss the match against St Kilda.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Zac Dawson vs. Daniel Bradshaw
Bradshaw became the greatest goal kicker in Brisbane’s history last weekend when he booted five goals- three of which came in the third term as the Lions took control of the contest.
The Lions veteran has now booted 25 majors in eight games this season
The last time these two sides met in round nine last year Bradshaw kicked six goals to help lift his side to a 46-point victory.
The Lions will need Bradshaw to fire once again on Sunday if they are going to end St Kilda’s unbeaten start to the season.
He will most likely be matched up by Dawson who has been impressive in defence after joining the Saints via the rookie draft following a brief stint with Hawthorn.
If Bradshaw is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Dawson he will need his midfield to be quick and direct with their use of the football otherwise St Kilda will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50 and punish Brisbane on the rebound.
Luke Power vs. Lenny Hayes
Hayes played a key role in the win over the Bulldogs, racking up a team-high 33 possessions.
The 29-year-old is an integral part of the St Kilda midfield with his ability to win the football in close and he will be keen to have a big game in what will be his 200th match.
If the Lions are going to be any hope of containing the Saints potent forward line they will need to quell the influence of Hayes who is able to win the football at the stoppages and find damaging users such as Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard and Leigh Montagna in space.
With Brisbane’s number one midfield stopper in Selwood out of the side, Brisbane coach Michael Voss may opt to use Power in an attacking run with role.
Power will need to deny Hayes any time or space in which to work in and also win his fair share of the football in order to make him accountable.
Clinton Jones vs. Simon Black
When these two sides met in round nine last year Black was damaging with 28 disposals and eight inside 50’s in a performance that earned him the one Brownlow medal vote.
Shutting down Black will be a key for the Saints if they are going to starve the Lions’ star forwards in Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw of quality supply.
Jones has been given the job of tagging the opposition’s best midfielder so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to run with the 2002 Brownlow medallist in what shapes as being a crucial contest in determining the outcome of this match.
The 25-year-old will need to apply relentless pressure all day otherwise Black will hurt the Saints with his ability to win the football in close and deliver it cleanly inside 50.
Jared Brennan vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt has been his side’s most productive forward so far this season, booting 24 goals in eight games.
If the Lions are going to have any chance of recording a rare win at Etihad Stadium they will need to contain Riewoldt who is currently in All-Australian form.
With Merrett and Patfull out of the side Brennan will most likely be given the job of matching up on Riewoldt given that he has the height and the athletic capabilities to match the hard-leading St Kilda skipper.
Brisbane is ranked third in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 67.8.
They will need to suffocate the life out of the Saints midfield with their pressure skills otherwise Riewoldt will dominate as he is virtually unstoppable on the lead.
VERDICT: The last time Brisbane took on an undefeated team they were thumped to the tune of 93 points by Geelong. The Lions will be more competitive on Sunday but with two of their best defenders in Merrett and Patfull unavailable due to injury they will struggle to contain a St Kilda side that has the second most potent forward line in the competition. Saints by 32 points.
ST KILDA v BRISBANE LIONS
St Kilda
B: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Raphael Clarke, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt, Steven King, Andrew McQualter
Emg: Robert Eddy, Ben McEvoy, Luke Miles
In: R. Clarke
Out: Jason Gram (thigh)
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Joel Macdonald, James Polkinghorne
HB: Sam Sheldon, Jared Brennan, Josh Drummond
C: Scott Harding, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Cheynee Stiller, Daniel Bradshaw, Luke Power
Foll: Mitch Clark, Travis Johnstone, Jed Adcock
I/C: Tim Notting, Albert Proud, Aaron Cornelius, Matt Austin
Emg: Jason Roe, Pearce Hanley, Tom Collier
In: Cornelius, Notting
Out: Daniel Merrett (ankle), Joel Patfull (jaw)
New: Aaron Cornelius (Tassie Mariners)
| 35 |
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