Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown has demanded the Lions stand up and be counted in Sunday’s AFL clash against Greater Western Sydney.
The body language from Brown said it all in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Standing defiantly beside Michael Voss, the Lions’ skipper backed his besieged coach and insisted the players turn their season around, starting against the AFL rookies at the Gabba.
Three heavy defeats have placed Voss under the spotlight – and becoming the first AFL club to lose to both expansion outfits would only intensify the glare.
Lions’ chairman Angus Johnson this week backed Voss after their latest defeat – a 58-point thumping from Collingwood – but claimed a few players had to “have a long, hard look at themselves”.
Asked if some players had to lift, Voss said in Brisbane on Wednesday: “I think we all do.”
However, Brown said the finger of blame could only be pointed at the Lions team.
“We are being well coached but the players have got to be able to stand up and get the job done,” Brown said.
“It’s not Vossy’s fault we are consistently being 25 to 30 points down at quarter-time.
“That shows a lack of intensity, a lack of application to the task early in the game.
“We are being passengers instead of hitting it head-on right from the first bounce – that’s something only the players have to bring to the table.”
The Lions’ glory days must seem an eternity ago for three-time premiership captain Voss.
Brisbane have not finished higher than 10th in six of their past seven seasons.
This year, the Lions are 2-5, tasting victory only against the winless Gold Coast and Melbourne.
Voss’ horror run of nine wins from the past 47 games is not just hurting them on the AFL ladder – the club will reportedly lose between $2 million and $3 million this year.
But Brown said he looked forward to reversing their fortunes against a Giants side still buzzing from last round’s historic first win – a 27-point victory over Gold Coast.
“We’ve got two choices. We can have a mope around and throw the toys out of the cot or we can stand up and try and do something about it,” he said.
“It’s not going to turn around in a week. But it starts this week.”
Voss said lessons learned from 2011’s shock loss to debutants Gold Coast would ensure the Lions would not take GWS lightly.
“If we want to have a reminder of what happens when you potentially take a team for granted, then we’ve got a short memory,” Voss said.
“We won’t be resting on our laurels, that’s for sure.
“They (Giants) have got good bodies and they are prepared to run so, if we are not on our guard, we will be left for dead.”
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Full team is listed here http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/buntine-and-darley-to-debut.html F: Toby Greene, Israel Folau, Chad Cornes HF: Stephen Coniglio, Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar C: Tom Scully, Dom Tyson, Will Hoskin-Elliot HB: Sam Reid, Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson B: Sam Darley, Tim Mohr, Luke Power Foll: Jonathan Giles, Callan Ward, Jacob Townsend Int: Anthony Miles, Andrew Phillips, Sam Schulz, Nathan Wilson, Rhys Palmer, Matthew Buntine, Taylor Adams In: Sam Darley, Anthony Miles, Sam Schulz, Nathan Wilson, Will Hoskin-Elliot, Matthew Buntine,Adam Tomlinson, Sam Reid Out: Tomas Bugg (Rested), Dylan Shiel (Rested), Liam Sumner (Foot), Devon Smith (Rested), Adam Kennedy (Shoulder) New: Sam Darley (Nth. Hobart), Sam Schulz (Murray Bushrangers/Culcairn), Matthew Buntine (Dandenong Stingrays) Now, Sheeds is the coach, so I think he's fibbing about where Cornes plays - he'll be loose across halfback. Decision on the bench will be made later - I suspect they'll use Phillips as the interchange again. KPPs are Mohr, Davis, Tomlinson down back, and Folau and Cameron up forward, with Cornes as the floater. Mids will be rotated between Greene, Cogs, Treloar, Scully, Tyson, Hoskin-Elliot, Ward and Townsend. Especially with Longer in the ruck, expect Giles to go forward once Phillips is brought on. Palmer and Brogan arent first team any more. MacDonald is having a nice rest.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Bugg, Shiel and Smith out?? Oh man, time to cash in I think!!
TomC
Guest
I don't think it'll come down to clearances. I think it'll come down to endurance. It's likely to be another one-sided game. Shiel, Bugg, Kennedy and Smith out for GWS. That's four of their better performers over the first seven weeks. Tomlinson in is an interesting one. I wonder if Sheedy is planning on playing him forward. Hudson not selected for the Lions is a big surprise. The club said he was rested last week, which doesn't ring true now. Giles likely to have an advantage over young Longer.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Ablett has probably been averaging two goals per game, usually hard running long bombs from outside 50m, which are pretty valuable goals at any stage, especially in a close contest.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Macca, He's averaged 38.8 possessions this year. The tag team tag kept him down to 33, 13 of them contested, with a disposal efficiency of 64%, and two clangers. He had two marks, two tackles and no goals. That'll do me for a job defending an elite midfielder.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Rebd, I'd be surprised too. Thats why Id be double-teaming him with Mohr and Cornes. I think TomC is right that the game will come down to clearances. It should be a very good game of footy :)
Redb
Roar Guru
I'd be very surprised if Mohr is able to cope with Brownie. Also I think if the clerances are won by Brisbane more often than not a quick kick inside 50 more than not will be th result. I also agree with Tom C than Simon Black is a class above any other player in the midfield.
Macca
Guest
"Tagged Ablett to non match winner status" he did get 33 possessions Ian and according to all reports probably wouldn't have played if the game wasn't against GWS through injury.
TomC
Roar Guru
Merrett is likely to be the Lions' second tall. Karnezis will be the third marking option in the forwardline, unless Cornelius is brought back.
TomC
Roar Guru
'The Lions wont win the clearances – we have a better midfield, and their best mid in Simon Black isnt 100%.' I'm sorry Ian, but that's just obviously incorrect. Black may be past his best, but he's perfectly fit and still a great player. While Ward would be one of Brisbane's better midfielders, Redden, Rockliff, Adcock and Rich are significantly more accomplished players than Palmer, Scully, Coniglio and Greene, and Raines is a much better tagger than Shiel.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Cornes was fantastic last week and played a very important part in the Giants' win, mopped up, re-set, displayed the maturity and experience lacking in most of the Giants players, very, very important. Mohr on Brown, with Cornes hovering as third man in (if his legs can take him to the contest), is not a bad set up. Davis on the Lions' second tall (can't remember who it is, or if there is one). Giants will be in the mix for this game - looking forward to it.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Yeah, but poor disposal efficiency, and 56 clangers a game results in lots of ball for the opposition. Add in poor contested marking ...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
RedB, Mohr as the direct opponent, with Cornes zoning off the space. He will respond to this by drifting up the ground, and Im perfectly happy with him taking contested marks from more than 50m out. The Lions wont win the clearances - we have a better midfield, and their best mid in Simon Black isnt 100%.
TomC
Roar Guru
Yes they will. They really will. I've watched these two sides more than any other two sides and there is a big gap in terms of physical maturity and endurance. In a couple of years this will be a close contest but not this weekend. I wouldn't get too caught up in disposal efficiency, by the way. Notoriously unreliable. Apparently, Adelaide's is the same as GWS, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide.
Redb
Roar Guru
Brisbane should win. Who are GWS going to play on Jono Brown? If the Lions win the clearances I can't see them losing if the play 4 qtrs.
Stumpy
Roar Rookie
I remember years ago when Judd was playing at the WC people were say Judd can't be tagged yadda yadda, Sheedy laughed and said something to the effect of any player can be tagged. At half time the next time the Bombers played the Eagles Judd had 2 possessions, he finished with something like 12 for the match, luckily for the Eagles they had to many great midfielders in that team and went on to win the day. The point is if you want to teach your players how to effectively tag someone you could do worse then giving Kevin call, Gazza got the treatment. If Brisbane take GWS lightly they can lose this game, and Power may have some inside info on strengths and weaknesses of some of the Lions list that are readily apparent to outsiders. How often the Lions can get the ball into JB's hands in effective field position will go a long way to determining the game. I can't wait to see how it plays out.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
TomC, GWS are appallingly vulnerable to fast, precise rebound play after a turnover. Brisbane have the worst disposal efficiency in the competition. GWS tagged Ablett to not-matchwinner status last week, using a tag team tag of Shiel and then Scully. Chad Cornes is in excellent form as the loose zone man in defense, and Mohr will do as a gorilla - between the two of them, they will handle Brown. In short, it wont be comfortable for Brisbane.
TomC
Roar Guru
“We won’t be resting on our laurels, that’s for sure. What laurels are these, exactly? The Lions will comfortably beat the Giants, because however poorly the Lions are going against good teams they're still a long way ahead of GWS. The following week against the Kangaroos is when whatever it is Browny is talking about should 'start'.
BigAl
Guest
“have a long, hard look at themselves”. yeh ! - that should do it.