FORM GUIDE

This week sees the Brisbane Lions and Richmond take centre stage on the AFL fixture for the big Easter Thursday clash at the Gabba.

The Lions had a very tough, and forgettable, match against Port Adelaide last Saturday afternoon at a sunny Adelaide Oval. It was a day of celebration for the Power players and supporters who were looking back on their maiden AFL Premiership win in 2004 over the Lions.

The Power are one of the hardest running teams in the competition with an unshakable confidence instilled by Ken Hinkley’s coaching staff and were far too good for a young and depleted Lions team. Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch must be wondering when the Lions will catch a break on the injury front at this stage of proceedings.

Leppitsch even joked earlier this week that if injuries continue to mount then he may have to pull the jumper on and run out for the Lions!

At the moment the Lions have a 0-4 record and are one of only two winless teams in the competition.

Richmond have not fared much better at the start of their 2014 campaign. The Tigers have a solitary win over Carlton in Round Two to show for their first month of football and are yet to reach the same heights that saw them finish 5^th at the end of the home-and-away season last year.

There has been much made of the Tigers inability to hit the scoreboard and the pressure is rising on the team to deliver after many experts tipped another top eight finish and further finals action after their breakthrough in 2013.

Richmond has an imposing recent head-to-head record against the Lions winning the past five clashes between the sides with the Lions last win coming way back in Round 7 in 2009.

This game presents a fantastic opportunity for either team to notch up a win and gain some much needed confidence heading into Round Six.

THE INJURIES KEEP COMING

 

The Lions enjoyed a relatively incident-free, but it’s a different story just four weeks into the season.

It just goes to show how quickly your footy fortunes can change. The latest Lions players to suffer injury during Round Four were Matthew Leuenberger and Pearce Hanley.

Leuneberger has a torn meniscus in his knee and has been ruled out for between 10-12 weeks in a major blow for the Lions’ ruck stocks. A solid partnership had been forming between Leuenberger and Trent West in recent weeks and West will now have to take on added responsibility in Leuenberger’s absence.

Pearce Hanley has a hamstring injury and is likely be sidelined for a couple of weeks at this stage robbing the Lions of valuable run off halfback and down the wing.

The Lions injury list now reads eleven players unavailable for senior selection.

Richmond has its own concerns missing key playmaker Brett Deledio for Thursday’s match, which denies them class and skill moving the ball out of defence.

Ivan Maric and Alex Rance, who present important parts of the Tigers’ structure, will also be missing.

THE LION KING

Jonathan Brown will line-up for his 250^th AFL senior match, and fittingly the lead up has been all about the big man.

The week leading into the match has seen a big focus on Brown’s career looking at the achievements during his time at the Lions.

Brown has won three Premierships, three Lions best and fairest awards, a Coleman Medal and two All-Australian selections during his stellar 15-year career.

Brown also sits 34^th on the all-time AFL/VFL leading goal-kickers list, having kicked a remarkable 579 goals to date.

He was, for the longest time, the face of the Club and both the physical and spiritual leader of the Lions and spurned offers to return to Victoria and remained loyal to Brisbane.

When Brown does eventually hangs up the boots he will be remembered as a legend of the Lions and the AFL and one of the most courageous players to have ever played the game at the highest level.

A win on Thursday night would be fitting to celebrate the Lion King’s efforts.

KEY MATCH-UPS

The Richmond forward line is yet to fire on all cylinders yet in 2014, and will go up against a depleted Lions backline that was under enormous pressure last Saturday against Port Adelaide.

Tigers spearhead Jack Riewoldt did find himself closer to goal last weekend and more of a target man against Collingwood playing in a role that he has previously won two Coleman Medals from in 2010 and 2012. There is a strong likelihood that Justin Clarke will have first go at Riewoldt possibly changing with either Jordan Lisle or Joel Patfull at some stage during the match.

The omission of Richmond’s other key forward, Tyrone Vickery, means that one of Ben Griffiths or Shaun Hampson will likely prove the other big target in attack.

Otherwise, Richmond will boast a relatively smaller forward line, but it remains just as dangerous.

Trent Cotchin came under huge pressure in the previous match against Collingwood and his ineffectiveness was telling on Richmond’s overall performance.

Tom Rockliff could find himself running alongside Matt Thomas if the Tigers decide to try and curtail Rockliff’s influence in the middle and put on the hard tag. It will become vital that Jack Redden and Brent Moloney find plenty of footy to help ease the burden on their Vice-Captain.

Sam Mayes may find himself on Bachar Houli on the half forward line and will more than likely try and drag Houli deep into the fifty where Mayes can use his height to his advantage. Mayes has shown an adept ability to hit the scoreboard from set shot goal kicking and the Lions will be keen to exploit this match up and prevent Houli’s drive off the halfback line.

Jonathan Brown will once again lead the line in the forwards and should have David Astbury or Troy Chaplin sticking with him for the majority of the night. His experience will be vital against the Tigers defenders, and if Brown can get some better service inside the forward fifty he will be able to kick goals as he has done throughout his career.

Jackson Paine and former Tiger Luke Mcguane will need to utilise the focus on Brown to their advantage and hit the scoreboard.

At the same time, they will need adequate supply from a midfield that managed just 28 inside 50s against Port last Saturday.

SELECTION TABLE

The Lions were forced to make two changes this week following injuries to Leuenberger and Hanley, and also chose to omit Ryan Harwood.

Coming into the side are two new faces – including off-season free agency signing McGuane, and draftee Darcy Gardiner – as well as Ryan Lester who should add some much-needed size to the midfield.

Gardiner becomes the sixth debutant for the Lions so far this season – and fifth from the 2013 draft crop to experience senior football.

A key defender by trade, Gardiner is a ‘competitive beast’ who could find himself matched up on former Coleman Medallist Riewoldt at different stages.

LION CUBS

As the injury toll continues to rise at the Gabba, it has meant that the younger players at the Club are seeing more game time in the seniors.

James Aish and Lewis Taylor have already racked up appearances from the start of the season and the door has also opened for fellow 2013 draftees Tom Cutler, Nick Robertson, and Gardiner.

Michael Close has also had his first taste of senior AFL action this year.

In the short term, playing kids could see results varying wildly, but long term it will benefit the Club immensely as they gain valuable experience and lessons on what it takes to consistently play and perform on a weekly basis in the AFL.

Young Richmond forward Sam Lloyd provided a great example of what the enthusiasm of youth can provide to a team. He was dynamic last week, kicking three goals, and just showed continual energy and passion for the contest even though Richmond ultimately lost to Collingwood.

LIONS RESERVES

The Lions reserves had as tough an afternoon as the Seniors in Round Three of the NEAFL last weekend enduring a 107 point thrashing at the hands of Redlands Bombers.

The growing injury toll at the Gabba meant that the Reserves only had 14 listed players combining with 8 Academy players for the Redlands clash and it showed on the scoreboard.

This weekend they take on the Aspley Hornets at Graham Road on Saturday at 1:30pm, a team that they saw first-hand at the Festival of Football at Burpengary during the pre-season.

It promises to be an interesting clash between the two local rivals hoping to climb the NEAFL ladder after both lost in Round Three.