TonyK
CibbuanoRound three preview: Brisbane v Sydney
April 10th 2009 17:40
VENUE and TIME: The Gabba, Saturday 11 April, 7.10pm (AEDT)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 38, Brisbane Lions 19, Sydney 18, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) def Brisbane Lions 6.17 (53), Round 22, 2008 at the SCG
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won nine of its past 10 matches against Brisbane with the other clash between these two sides during that stretch resulting in a draw in round 20, 2007.
FORM: Brisbane overcame a sluggish start to down West Coast by nine points in round one but were unable to make it back-to-back come-from-behind wins, going down to Carlton by 19 points at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night. Sydney bounced back from a 15-point loss to St Kilda with an impressive 38-point victory over reigning premiers Hawthorn.
MEDICAL ROOM: Brisbane small forward Rhan Hooper will miss the clash against the Swans with an ankle injury while utility Jared Brennan (quad) is at least a week away from being considered for selection. For the Swans, forward Barry Hall has been named despite injuring his groin in the win over the Hawks. Amon Buchanan (calf)), Michael O'Loughlin (ankle) and veteran defender Leo Barry (knee) are all unavailable while impressive youngster Patrick Veszpremi (finger) is at least six weeks away.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Simon Black
Despite missing all of the pre-season, Black managed to have an impact in his first game of the season, racking up 28 touches in the loss to Carlton.
Black is damaging with his ability to win the contested football and use it cleanly by hand.
Limiting Black’s effectiveness at the stoppages will be a key for the Swans if they are going to shut down Brisbane’s running game and turn this contest into a dour struggle.
Like Black, Kirk is highly effective in close and will be given the task of going head-to-head with the 2002 Brownlow medallist.
In two of the last three clashes between these two sides Black has been restricted to just 16 possessions.
If Kirk does a similar job on Black on Saturday night the Swans will come away with the four premiership points.
Troy Selwood vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes was influential in the win over the Hawks with 28 possessions and four goals and looms as the danger man for Brisbane.
The dual Brownlow medallist likes playing against the Lions - he has earned five Brownlow medal votes in the past three matches between these two sides.
If Brisbane is going to be any chance of recording a rare win against the Lions they will need to shut down Goodes who is damaging with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Expect Selwood to be given the task of tagging Goodes in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
Goodes is capable of breaking a game wide open in the space of a quarter so Selwood will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give the Swans star any time or space at the stoppages.
Craig Bolton vs. Jonathan Brown
Brown has made a solid start to the season, averaging 16.5 disposals, 7.5 marks and three goals in two games.
But he faces a tough night at the office on Saturday night with Bolton, who kept Hawthorn star Lance Franklin quiet last weekend, to be his opponent.
The last time these two sides met at the Gabba in round three last year the Brisbane skipper was restricted to just 10 possessions and one goal.
Brown has a poor record against Sydney - he averages less goals and possessions against the Swans than any other team bar Adelaide.
If Brown is going to have any impact on Saturday night he will need his teammates to deliver the football better inside 50 than they did against the Blues, otherwise they Lions will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Martin Mattner, Rhyce Shaw and co.
Matthew Leuenberger vs. Darren Jolly
Jolly starred in the Sydney’s win over the Hawks, helping himself to 19 possessions, seven marks, three goals and a staggering 42 hit-outs.
The Lions have dropped veteran ruckman Jamie Charman which means Leuenberger will be forced to go it alone against Jolly.
Brisbane will need Leuenberger to nullify the effectiveness of Jolly’s taps and thus give his midfielders a chance to win the football at the stoppages otherwise the Swans will be able to dictate the tempo of the game.
VERDICT: Brisbane is due for a win over Sydney but they will need to string together four quarters of consistent football if that is going to happen - something they have failed to do so far this season. In last weekend’s win over Hawthorn the Swans had 11 individual goal kickers while the Lions had just six in the loss to the Blues - one of which in Hooper won‘t be playing. Sydney’s even spread of goal kickers and more hardened bodies in the middle should prove to be the difference in what shapes as being a hard-fought contest. Swans by 17 points.
BRISBANE LIONS v SYDNEY SWANS
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Luke Power, Joel Macdonald, Josh Drummond
C: Bradd Dalziell, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Travis Johnstone, Daniel Bradshaw, Mitch Clark
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Albert Proud, Jed Adcock
I/C: Tim Notting Cheynee Stiller, Jason Roe, Troy Selwood
Emg: Jamie Charman, Scott Harding.
In: Roe, Notting
Out: Jamie Charman, Rhan Hooper (ankle)
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Martin Mattner
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Nick Malceski
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Ted Richards, Craig Bird
F: Paul Bevan, Barry Hall, Jarred Moore
Foll: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
I/C: Luke Ablett, Jared Crouch, Brett Meredith, Jesse White
Emg: Ed Barlow, Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke
No changes
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 38, Brisbane Lions 19, Sydney 18, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 17.12 (114) def Brisbane Lions 6.17 (53), Round 22, 2008 at the SCG
RECENT HISTORY: Sydney has won nine of its past 10 matches against Brisbane with the other clash between these two sides during that stretch resulting in a draw in round 20, 2007.
FORM: Brisbane overcame a sluggish start to down West Coast by nine points in round one but were unable to make it back-to-back come-from-behind wins, going down to Carlton by 19 points at Etihad Stadium last Saturday night. Sydney bounced back from a 15-point loss to St Kilda with an impressive 38-point victory over reigning premiers Hawthorn.
MEDICAL ROOM: Brisbane small forward Rhan Hooper will miss the clash against the Swans with an ankle injury while utility Jared Brennan (quad) is at least a week away from being considered for selection. For the Swans, forward Barry Hall has been named despite injuring his groin in the win over the Hawks. Amon Buchanan (calf)), Michael O'Loughlin (ankle) and veteran defender Leo Barry (knee) are all unavailable while impressive youngster Patrick Veszpremi (finger) is at least six weeks away.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brett Kirk vs. Simon Black
Despite missing all of the pre-season, Black managed to have an impact in his first game of the season, racking up 28 touches in the loss to Carlton.
Black is damaging with his ability to win the contested football and use it cleanly by hand.
Limiting Black’s effectiveness at the stoppages will be a key for the Swans if they are going to shut down Brisbane’s running game and turn this contest into a dour struggle.
Like Black, Kirk is highly effective in close and will be given the task of going head-to-head with the 2002 Brownlow medallist.
In two of the last three clashes between these two sides Black has been restricted to just 16 possessions.
If Kirk does a similar job on Black on Saturday night the Swans will come away with the four premiership points.
Troy Selwood vs. Adam Goodes
Goodes was influential in the win over the Hawks with 28 possessions and four goals and looms as the danger man for Brisbane.
The dual Brownlow medallist likes playing against the Lions - he has earned five Brownlow medal votes in the past three matches between these two sides.
If Brisbane is going to be any chance of recording a rare win against the Lions they will need to shut down Goodes who is damaging with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Expect Selwood to be given the task of tagging Goodes in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
Goodes is capable of breaking a game wide open in the space of a quarter so Selwood will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give the Swans star any time or space at the stoppages.
Craig Bolton vs. Jonathan Brown
Brown has made a solid start to the season, averaging 16.5 disposals, 7.5 marks and three goals in two games.
But he faces a tough night at the office on Saturday night with Bolton, who kept Hawthorn star Lance Franklin quiet last weekend, to be his opponent.
The last time these two sides met at the Gabba in round three last year the Brisbane skipper was restricted to just 10 possessions and one goal.
Brown has a poor record against Sydney - he averages less goals and possessions against the Swans than any other team bar Adelaide.
If Brown is going to have any impact on Saturday night he will need his teammates to deliver the football better inside 50 than they did against the Blues, otherwise they Lions will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Martin Mattner, Rhyce Shaw and co.
Matthew Leuenberger vs. Darren Jolly
Jolly starred in the Sydney’s win over the Hawks, helping himself to 19 possessions, seven marks, three goals and a staggering 42 hit-outs.
The Lions have dropped veteran ruckman Jamie Charman which means Leuenberger will be forced to go it alone against Jolly.
Brisbane will need Leuenberger to nullify the effectiveness of Jolly’s taps and thus give his midfielders a chance to win the football at the stoppages otherwise the Swans will be able to dictate the tempo of the game.
VERDICT: Brisbane is due for a win over Sydney but they will need to string together four quarters of consistent football if that is going to happen - something they have failed to do so far this season. In last weekend’s win over Hawthorn the Swans had 11 individual goal kickers while the Lions had just six in the loss to the Blues - one of which in Hooper won‘t be playing. Sydney’s even spread of goal kickers and more hardened bodies in the middle should prove to be the difference in what shapes as being a hard-fought contest. Swans by 17 points.
BRISBANE LIONS v SYDNEY SWANS
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Luke Power, Joel Macdonald, Josh Drummond
C: Bradd Dalziell, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Travis Johnstone, Daniel Bradshaw, Mitch Clark
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Albert Proud, Jed Adcock
I/C: Tim Notting Cheynee Stiller, Jason Roe, Troy Selwood
Emg: Jamie Charman, Scott Harding.
In: Roe, Notting
Out: Jamie Charman, Rhan Hooper (ankle)
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Martin Mattner
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Heath Grundy, Kieren Jack
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Nick Malceski
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Ted Richards, Craig Bird
F: Paul Bevan, Barry Hall, Jarred Moore
Foll: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
I/C: Luke Ablett, Jared Crouch, Brett Meredith, Jesse White
Emg: Ed Barlow, Kristin Thornton, Mike Pyke
No changes
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