Lions.com.au takes a look at the five big questions ahead of our Round 20 game against the Adelaide Crows.
Can the Lions lift their defensive pressure?
In this week’s Vero Coaches Wrap, Assistant Coach Danny Daly identified the Lions' tackling pressure as a major weakness in their loss to Port Adelaide at the Gabba.
The Lions missed 35 tackles, which according to Daly, is “unnacceptable for a football club.”
The Lions have set a pass mark for tackling efficiency, and that mark is 70%. In the last six weeks, Daly said not enough players have been reaching this mark.
If the Lions are to beat the Crows, they will need to make sure they lift in this area.
Adelaide are proving to be one of the most potent offensive teams in the league, with players of the likes of Eddie Betts (50 goals), Josh Jenkins (49 goals) and Captain Taylor Walker (36 goals) leading the way in their forward line. It will be a huge challenge for the Lions' young defensive line.
Where will the Lions' goals come from?
The Lions welcome back first-year key forward Josh Schache for this weekend’s game, after being rested last week.
He comes back into a young and exciting forward line that consists of young talls, Matt Hammelmann and Eric Hipwood, along with more experience players Pearce Hanley, Josh Green and Ryan Bastinac.
The Lions certainly have some fire power, but it will be important that they make the most of their opportunities against the Crows. In their Round 18 win against the Bombers, the Lions made their shots count and were able to put the scoreboard pressure on early. They had a goal kicking accuracy of 74% (a Season high), and were able to capitalise through scoring shots in the corridor (kicking 18.3 from this position).
Scoreboard pressure will be important, but the Lions must make sure that they don’t let their foot off the accelerator.
Who'll get the job on Eddie Betts?
With Tom Cutler omitted from this weekend’s team, it will be interesting to see who will line up on in-form small forward Eddie Betts, Adelaide’s leading goal kicker in 2016.
Who will win the ruck battle?
With Sam Jacobs out, the Adelaide Crows will be playing debutant Reilly O'Brien in the Ruck against Lions second-gamer Archie Smith.
O’Brien is a 20-year-old ruck man, who stands at 201cm tall and weighs 100kg. Since joining the Crows in December 2014, he has established himself as one of the premier ruckmen in the SANFL.
On debut for the Lions last week, Archie Smith was voted by the fans as this week’s Player of the Round. He had 30 hit-outs, along with 19 disposals and 17 contested possessions.
Can the Lions tame the Adelaide crowd?
If the Lions are to tame the vocal Adelaide crowd, they'll have to get on top early, but, as mentioned can’t afford to take their foot off the accelerator. Adelaide are a hard team to stop when momentum is in their favour.
The Lions have been starting games particularly well, but will need to make sure that they don’t drop off in the second quarters, as has been the case often in 2016.
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