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So I promised myself that I wouldn’t post anything until we won a game, which most Brisbane Lions fans thought would be in either Rounds 1, 3 or 4.
As it turned out, we got thrashed in all of them – other than for one quarter against Collingwood – as well as by North and the Gold Coast, so we had to wait until Round 6 for the win.
To be honest, although I’d never ask to be 0-5, having to wait this long, and for the win to arrive in such a manner on the back of the week we’ve had, made it all the sweeter.
The biggest thing out of the opening five rounds that really incensed me while watching, other than the startling lack of effort, was just how much we miss having a quality key forward. I was one of the many who thought that sheer class in midfield would compensate for that, but as it turns out, that has its own issues.
Michael Close is underrated. You’ll hear me harp on about him a lot and that’s because I unashamedly think he will be a 10-12-year centre half forward for us. He’s got a terrific skill set, a big tank and a willingness to find ways to improve himself. Once he hits around the 70-game, 100-kilogram mark, he’ll be one of the best in the comp.
His absence this year, however, hurts a lot more than people think. We simply don’t have a target to kick to. Even if he’s kicking one goal a week, or less, he’s bringing the ball to ground for our small forwards like Josh Green, Lewis Taylor and Allen Christensen to gather.
It’s literally the lifeblood of our forward line, those crumbs, and its shown how much its been missing in the first five rounds. I am of the belief that it’s no coincidence that when Close went off injured against North Melbourne, the score was 3.2-1.1 in our favour.
The same goes for Jono Freeman. Although Close will be our centre half forward for years, Freeman has lots more potential. It’s very exciting seeing the Lions finally develop a young full forwrd. A big leap and a good lead always bodes well for a deep key forward, and Freeman brings with it this kind of under-the-surface freakish ability that make me wonder how far he could go.
Now that he’s re-injured his ankle, unfortunately it won’t be evident how much we’ve missed him this season. But one just has to remember the Collingwood game of last year to garner what could have been.
Matthew Leuenberger came in this week and, despite his stats, actually played OK. He at least created a contest at full forward, and although his marking technique is shocking and means he’ll rarely take a contested mark, at least he’s creating a spill for the likes of Green and Bundy to pounce on.
Dan McStay, having been criticised for his uncompetitiveness in previous rounds, suddenly showed why Leppa has invested so much in him with 4.1. He took pack marks, marks on the lead, and other than one shocker on half-time, kicked straight. Although I am of the firm belief that he is a third tall option more than anything, playing centre half forward for the rest of the year, and developing against the best defenders, cannot hurt him.
Harris Andrews, who like McStay was ‘not ready’ when drafted, has found himself a permanent fixture in the team, despite being firmly, along with several others, in the ‘project player’ category less than two months ago. He’s hard to analyse, Andrews. He doesn’t appear to be ready for AFL at first glance, yet has kicked a goal a game in the three matches he’s played forward, in a team averaging one of the lowest inside 50 counts per game this season.
However, it was in defence against Carlton that he really showed what he could do, playing his best game so far. He looks more comfortable down there, giving Clarke (who I don’t think would be in the team if we had anyone else, anyone at all) a much needed hand. I can definitely see him nailing down the centre half back spot in years to come, maybe in a Leppa-style role.
I refuse to give Brent Staker, Luke McGuane or Jackson Paine a detailed analysis. Staker and McGuane will be gone this year, Paine looks doomed, but we’ll probably wait another year on him before pulling the pin. He does, however, have a little potential.
To conclude, I think Lions fans needn’t worry about the key forward stocks. Decimated by injuries and years of poor recruitment, all our forwards will take time, but they’ll come through. Below, I’ve ranked the forwards on ability now, and where I think they’ll end up in five or six years.
Present
1. McStay (25 goals a season)
2. Freeman (18-20)
3. Close (15)
4. Andrews (10)
5. Leuenberger (8)
6. Staker (10)
7. Paine (10)
8. McGuane (5)
2020
1. Close (35 goals a season)
2. Freeman (45)
3. McStay (30)
4. Hammelmann (25)
5. Andrews (30 while playing centre half back)
N/A
Staker, Paine, McGuane, Leuenberger (all delisted, retired or traded)
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