Keep or Sweep: Who's Playing For Their Career?

Here's a bit of a look at the guys that might be on a bit of shaky ground come the end of the year when the delistment broom is run through the change rooms. Obviously not many of us really know the full details of contracts, so the assumption is that their contract is up at the end of the year. This list goes by decreasing age (and thus vulnerability on the list) with their age at the end of the year in brackets.

• Tim Notting (30) - One of the joys of my history as a Lions supporter has been watching Tim get the best out of himself. Watching him play as a first-year player, one couldn't help thinking of a newly-born foal - all legs and arms. Some might say not much has changed over the years, he's been able to use his turn of pace, endurance and booming kick to very good effect. My only disappointment is that he never took Mark Of The Year. Alas, I think it's pretty much agreed this is Pos' last year. Sadly so for me. Sweep (but with great reverence).

• Travis Johnstone (29) - This is a hard one, but he'll be spending a few weeks now with the reserves and you'd assume Voss is not a fan of the way he's played his football this year. Actually, that statement is a candidate for understatement of the year. Vossy would abhor the way TJ plays - it's not that he wouldn't appreciate outside players, but the Matthews ethos of going when it's you turn is instilled deep. At best he's a game -winner, at worst he's demoralising. A very hard call, but given the fact he'd be on some decent coin, I know what I'd be doing. Sweep.

• Jamie Charman (27) - He's had his critics including me over the past few years, but you have to wonder how injuries have curtailed him. Certainly the centre circle rule brought in a few years ago took away a part of his game. Tapwork was never his forte and he'd be up against it trying to reinvent himself. The emergence of Mitch Clark as a genuine ruck option along with the continued development of Matt Leuenberger (when fit) could indicate his days are numbered. What will save his skin are a few things. First, he's a great club man. OK, that's not sufficient reason alone to keep him on the list - ask Robbie Copeland. But more importantly, while we're down to one legitimate ruckman presently, his experience will be valuable, with McCulloch, Tippett and Murray still too raw. A lot will depend on how he fights back from his current ankle issues, but the silver lining is it may allow his knee to get some well-earned rest. Keep.

• Jason Roe (25) - An absolute enigma. A defender with little to no real defensive qualities. Sure, he may fluke a good game every now and then with a scything run through the corridor or a booming roost down field, but it's all too infrequent. The question is: Do the backline stocks look good enough for Roe to get the boot. I say yes, with the likes of Collier, Clouston, Henderson or Cornelius becoming ready to step into the breach. Sweep.

• Scott Harding (23) - The ultimate project player, he's a guy who by all rights should be a superstar, but isn't and never will be. Had blinding pace, but often looks slow. Is pound for pound one of the strongest at the club, but gets brushed off far too easily. Has great agility but often run right into trouble. All of which reinforces the point that athletic ability will carry you only so far. Scott's disposal, highlighted as his Achilles Heel by development coaches has improved over the years, but not to a level required by top-level football. He also seems to deliberately choose the wrong option. A shame really as I've been a big supporter of his over the years, but there comes a time when enough is enough. Sweep.

• Michael Rischitelli (23) - Some may consider this a bit of a reach as he's far from our worst and hasn't been dropped in Jeebus knows how long, but he just hasn't come on the way everyone had hoped. His ability to tackle, tackle and then for something different tackle is a real asset and he's pretty handy below his knees also. The other parts of his game aren't so crash and although he's the proud owner of a pretty big roost, it's frequently a loft wedge when a 4-iron is required and then there's the matter of greens-in-regulation (OK, I'll abandon the golf analogies now). But he offers enough to the side and being played as a defensive-minded half-forward probably makes him look a little less of a contributor than he is. Keep.

• Scott Clouston (22) - I think a former goalkeeper (in soccer, not netball obviously), Scott was elevated from the rookie list at the end of last season. Originally thought of solely as a defensive option, he's shown quite a bit of potential up forward. Possesses a massive tank, a good leap and good pair of hands. Assuming he can stay on the paddock, the Inspector still has scope for improvement particularly as a roaming CHF which should earn him at least another year on the list. Keep.

• Pat Garner (22) [rookie] - How many knee reco's is too many? The answer would surely have to be less then 3 which is what poor Paddy is up to. Having not really had the chance to see him play, it's hard to say, but I can't see the club investing more time in him. Sweep.

• Matt Tyler (21) - Another injury-prone youngster, Roofie burst into our footballing world with some wonderful cameos in the pre-season which had us all wondering if we'd pulled the biggest draft coup in recent memory. Three year on and we're still waiting. A combination of injury, poor form and being required to play as a ruckman for the reserves has conspired against Matt being anywhere near to a senior call-up. I'd be hoping it's a case of him growing into his body, but I'd delist and draft him as a rookie. Sweep. Recycle.

• Danny Dzufer (21) [rookie] - The snag-on-bread scoffing, too-many-drink-quaffing lovable larrikin. Well, maybe to some, but I just can't see how he's stayed on the rookie list for this long. His position seems to be half-back flank or....... half-back flank. A good player at QAFL level, but don't see him going any further. Sweep.

• Rhan Hooper (21) - Is he only 21? You'd swear he's been on the list for a lot longer. When on he's devastating - it just doesn't seem like that's happened much this year at all. Otherwise he's a ghost who can't get himself involved in the game even further upfield. Not even the famed defensive pressure seems to be what it was. That combined with his pre-season absence would have him on shaky ground. Of course in his favour is our dearth of quality small forwards. Let's hope that he's maturing and that life outside football becomes less of a distraction. Keep.

• Albert Proud (21) - On his football alone, he's progressing. Perhaps not as fast as we'd hope, but coming along nonetheless. He doesn't appear to be that smart of a footballer, but has other attributes such as toughness and speed on his side. His endurance is on the improve as well, although a few lairy touches in recent weeks wouldn't sit too well with the coaches I'd imagine. Of course, the biggest question mark is off-field with a rather well-publicised court case dragging on (and on). In the event of him being found guilty and serving any jail time, his contract would have to be very shaky ground. Assuming innocence before guilt, you'd say he'd keep his place on the list, but, boy he'd want to continue to bust his arse. Keep.

• Joel Tippett (20) [rookie] - His third year in the AFL system has been other frustrating one. Tantalising close to being elevated to the senior list at the end of last season. Joel's season has been derailed by more injury, and at a time when the seniors were calling out for a sidekick to Mitch Clark. Cannot be re-rookied again, so it's hi or bye for Joel. Given our ruck depth I'd say elevate for a year to see how he progresses. Keep.

• Pearce Hanley (20) [rookie] - Seems to be constantly knocking on the door for senior selection. I maintain that the Irish guys need three years before you can determine if they're going to amount to anything. Keep.

• James Hawksley (20) - One of the real disappointments of 2009 for mine. I was very much looking forward to Jim playing at least half the season. Although I haven't seen very much of him this year, from many accounts it sounds as if he's going through the motions a bit. Personally I'd give him another year on potential alone, but I'm thinking he may be in a spot of bother. Perhaps delisting with a view to redrafting him as a rookie may the best plan of attack. Sweep. Recycle.

All others I'd view as being safe. I haven't included Bradshaw, even he'd be an outside chance at retirement. What do you think? Have I left anyone out?

The Daz and The Biz - Changes Round 16 vs Fremantle

I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to tipping us, so it's a rare occasion when I think about plonking a few blue swimmers down on us for the win +39 pts. The Dockers will be a bit sore after the shemozzle at Football Park (seriously, 1 goal? - it's a sad state of affairs when it's Ryan Murphy, a leading candidate for worst player on an AFL list, who kicks your only goal) but surely they have a little bit more metal in them this week. But I can't see them getting anywhere near us by the end of it all, especially without Pavlich and Sandilands for another week.

For us, we regain Jared "Eh you Jimmy, come 'ere" Brennan and Bradd "The two D's are for a Double Dose of Dazzle" Dalziell. From last week's win we've lost Jed Adcock who doesn't require a knee reco after all and Matt Austin who has a sore back sustained during the game.

Brisbane Lions by 58.

Setting the Trap(per) - Changes Round 14 vs Port Adelaide

No extravagant write-up this week due to time constraints. And just the one change this week, with our very own littlest hobo Travis Johnstone coming in for Jason Roe, giving the team a more balanced look (or less balanced depending on how you view Trapper's personality). Am hearing a few whispers that Proud is a little on the ill side, paving the way possibly for the rough and ready Jack Redden to make his AFL debut in his home state.

Hard to know how our opposition will front up this week with all the Choco drama at Alberton this week. We, on the other hand, should be a bit better for the run last week.

Lions by 29.

Drummo's Left (The Building) - Team Round 13 vs Melbourne

A few people have asked me about the name of this site. Well, I decided to foresake the obligatory and hackneyed Lions-related puns (OK, all the good ones have been taken) and name it after a player. And I asked myself: "What is the most prized asset of the Brisbane Lions?" Blacky's ESP? Strawb's hair? Trapper's beard? No, it's the left foot of one Josh Drummond. A kick so penetrating that NASA are constantly enquiring after it's properties. A kick so blistering that teammates are administered copious amount of aloe vera if they get too close.  A kick so smooth and sexy that it has to stop for a cigarette after it gets to it's target...... A bit far? Possibly. But I do have a soft spot for Drummo, a boy from the Sunny Coast who's fought his way from the QAFL to the rookie list and to be now regarded as a probable All-Australian selection.

Anywho, the news that Josh hasn't made the cut for this weekend's game is bittersweet. I'm kinda glad he's not being rushed back, but at the same time worried that the injury is still stroubling him. Still, it's very comforting to see the names Patfull and Merrett back on the teamsheet. Well, kinda (but more on that later). They come in for the injured Selwood as well as Pos Notting who's been omitted. All others have been rewarded for one of the most meaningful wins the club has had in recent memory.

The full teams for this week:

B: Jason Roe (29), Daniel Merrett (21), Jed Adcock (7) 
HB: Joel Patfull (24), Lachlan Henderson (14), Joel Macdonald (26) 
C: Albert Proud (2), Simon Black (20), Daniel Rich (10) 
HF: Michael Rischitelli (35), Jonathan Brown (16), James Polkingorne (31) 
F: Rhan Hooper (33), Daniel Bradshaw (36), Luke Power (6) 
Foll: Mitch Clark (1), Cheynee Stiller (32), Justin Sherman (11) 
Int: Ashley McGrath (9), Scott Harding (5), Jared Brennan (17), Sam Sheldon (3) 
Emerg: Jack Redden (30), Matt Austin (37), Tim Notting (8) 

IN: Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull 

OUT: Troy Selwood (shoulder), Tim Notting (omit)
 

Source: www.lions.com.au

Is it wrong to think this should be a fairly easy victory? Yes, and no. The Dee's have certainly given us a bit of trouble in recent years, but we match up fairly well on them. It should be noted that last time out Matty Warnock had a fairly good game on Brown.

The worries:

• The break. I was worried about the boys clocking off for the Hawthorn game for this reason, but coming back after a week off could be a bigger concern. Do you begin to forget the good habits that have won you games? Are you dreaming of lying on a hammock as the snags (low-fat, of course) sizzle away on the barbie?
• The opposition. Surely we won't be caught off-guard again? I'm pretty sure Voss will have them switched on, but you can never know. One thing I'm glad of is that it's not being played on one of those sleepy Brisbane winter Sunday arvo's where everyone's ready for a nanna nap.
• The inclusions. I do get a trifle worried when big names return, that the others subconsciously relax a little from the level they've been at for the previous few weeks and leave it to the "stars". And how will the chemistry be back there? One for Leppa to address.

I'd love for the Demons to start clicking and win some matches (becuase I've got a soft spot for them, but more importantly beacuse the more games they win, the less games you'll need to win to get into the finals) but it goes without saying that they can continue thir losing ways for another week. They're not giving up big losses this year though and anyone dreaming of 100 point wins should check their grand delusions at the door. Melbourne can look very good when they move the ball quickly and can hit a few patches where they slam 3 or 4 quick goals on. That said, it should be a pretty comfortable win on Saturday. If Vossy has them focused on performing their roles then all should be well.

Brisbane Lions by 42.

Roe Your Boat - Final Teams vs Hawthorn

Jason Roe comes onto the extended bench, then straight into the team, along with the world's thinnest wrecking ball Troy Selwood. Although he's come in for plenty of flak this year (and rightly so), the one thing Roe does provide is a bit of dash and run through the lines. This is often seen as the way to combat the rolling zone. Will be interesting to see if he makes the most of his chances - it would seem that he has  very few left in his AFL career.

B: Ashley McGrath (9), Tim Notting (8), Jed Adcock (7) 
HB: Sam Sheldon (3), Lachlan Henderson (14), Joel Macdonald (26) 
C: Albert Proud (2), Simon Black (20), Daniel Rich (10) 
HF: Michael Rischitelli (35), Jonathan Brown (16), James Polkinghorne (31) 
F: Rhan Hooper (33), Daniel Bradshaw (36), Luke Power (6) 
Foll: Mitch Clark (1), Cheynee Stiller (32), Justin Sherman (11) 
Int: Jared Brennan (17), Scott Harding (5), Jason Roe (29), Troy Selwood (28) 
Emerg: Aaron Cornelius (44), Jack Redden (30), Tom Rockliff (38) 

IN: Jason Roe, Troy Selwood 

OUT: Josh Drummond (calf), Travis Johnstone (back)

Source: Lions website

Sauce or No Sauce......Changes - Round 12 vs Hawthorn

Well, it's been threatened all week and it would sound as if Merrett will play this Sunday against the little team that could, Hawthorn. It would sound that way, but as posted on BigFooty by semi-regular training attendee The Brown Dog, the big saucehead tweaked his ankle halfway through training which would all but rule him out of the match.  Fugger, eh? In brighter news, Selwood returns afterhis well-publicised bout of concussion.

Here's the named team, from the Lions website, which would have been filled out prior to this catastrophe:

B: Ashley McGrath (9), Daniel Merrett (21), Jed Adcock (7) 
HB: Sam Sheldon (3), Lachlan Henderson (14), Joel Macdonald (26) 
C: Albert Proud (2), Simon Black (20), Daniel Rich (10) 
HF: Michael Rischitelli (35), Jonathan Brown (16), James Polkinghorne (31) 
F: Rhan Hooper (33), Daniel Bradshaw (36), Luke Power (6) 
Foll: Mitch Clark (1), Cheynee Stiller (32), Justin Sherman (11) 
Int (from): Jared Brennan (17), Scott Harding (5), Travis Johnstone (4), Tim Notting (8), Jack Redden (30), Tom Rockliff (38), Troy Selwood (28) 

IN: Troy Selwood, Daniel Merrett, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff 

OUT: Josh Drummond (calf)

It's fitting that this match is being played in Tasmania as both teams have forward lines with two heads: Brisbane's Brownshaw and Hawthorn's Frankhead (yeah, I made that up - sounded better than "Roughlin"). Anyway, Merrett's untimely re-injury means that our two-headed beast will in all likelihood be partially decapitated as Bradshaw surely will move down to defence in light of neither Roe nor Cornelius being named on the extended interchange bench. I'm not really a fan of this tactic, as both Franklin and Roughhead are different beasts to Fevola, who in case you missed it towelled up everyone that crossed his path last week, even a few towels. No, Buddy is an agile beast, who is showing signs of getting back on track after a slow start to the year. Well slow by his standards anyway. And Roughhead takes a lot of his marks on the lead at full stretch which is very hard to combat. Probably Roughy is more up Big Guns' alley in terms of opponents. This leaves young Lachie Henderson to go with Franklin, which would be a good learning curve for the young bloke.

So, what happens up forward then? Will we then leave Brown to carry more blokes on his shoulders than at the Cirque de Soleil show? Well, there'll be two options I reckon: (a) Roe will be added to the extended bench in the next 24 hours; or (b) Tommy Rockliff will get his chance to impress after a very soild month or so for the reserves. The Lobster was recruited as a Medhurst-like forward, but seems to have thrown off doubts over his stamina and played a bit through the midfield in the QAFL. I suppose there's the third option of: (c) Strawb makes a miraculous recovery. But if they risk him now, I'll personally slap our medical staff with a wet snapper.

But, in all likelihood, we'll get spanked in this game. Why? First, well, see the above. Joel Mac can't surely be expected to mark either of those beasts. Second, it will be colder in Launy then Brad and Angelina's relationship at the moment (no, I don't really know about those things, I just saw it on the news this morning). Probably wetter too (I'll stop before I go down the Are You Being Served? route). Historically we've never really handled the really cold southern winter conditions well. I doubt Sportsbet takes bets on clothing, but I'd be betting good money Brennan wears long sleeves. And thirdly, this club has bit of a history of clocking off before the mid-season break. We can only hope Voss has them up. Hawthorn also have some pretty handy inclusions in ther side with Campbell Brown and Tom Murphy coming in, tempered by the loss of Cyril Rioli.

But how can we win? Pressure in the midfield and keeping the ball moving forward. Luckily we have a pretty good coach for these tactics. He's already raised the issue by telling his players to toughen up. One of the reasons the Hawks did so well last year, was the delivery from the midfield was nothing short of spectacular - by far the best in the league.

Yes, it can be done, but it would be flying in the face of history. Not to mention reality.

Hawthorn by 42.

Epic preview of last weekends Carlton Game

I damn near peed my pants after seeing this:



Pity the dark side won...

Musings and Beginnings

Welcome to Drummo's Left and what will hopefully be a virtual trevor-trove of information, opinion and more about the Brisbane Lions AFC and the great game of Australian Football in general. To those who love footy, I'm hoping this will be a place of humour and insight. And to those who don't love footy, I'm hoping this will be a place of humour and insight, but perhaps not in the manner originally intended.

If you've stumbled upon this site already, well done you, as I'm not even sure I knew I created it. But stick around and hopefully you'll be..... well, not impressed. Actually, if I can get a "meh" I'll consider that a break-even.

As I conclude this post, I'm somewhat dissapointed that I couldn't find a photo of a bloke named Trevor Trove. Oh well. Just use your imagination.