FORM GUIDE

Last weekend the Brisbane Lions put in their finest performance of the season to win QClash8 in style.

A 54-point smashing of their local rival the Gold Coast Suns was delivered on the back of a dominant and brutal first quarter effort. The Lions were first to the contest, spread the play more efficiently and duly finished off their good work piling on seven goals to one to take a commanding 41-point lead at the quarter-time break. When the heavens opened up in the second quarter to deliver a Queensland style storm, it changed the dynamic of the game but the Lions remained at their ferocious best.

Pearce Hanley was a standout performer on the afternoon collecting 45 disposals to go along with two goals and was duly awarded the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for his performance. Vice-Captain Tom Rockliff and the dynamic Dayne Zorko were also excellent in the wet conditions.

The Lions currently have a 5-12 record and sit 15th on the ladder.

Melbourne is coming off the Bye after playing Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval two weeks ago. They put in a great effort and were unlucky not to come away with their second win of the year at the venue after an earlier win against the Adelaide Crows. A late Jay Schultz goal from a tight angle with less than two minutes to go gave the Power a scrappy three point win to break Demon hearts back in Melbourne.

The Demons currently have a 4-13 record and sit 17th on the ladder.

This game kicks off at 1:10pm at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

TEAM SELECTION

The Lions’ Match Committee has named a 25-man squad with the inclusions of Nick Robertson, Zac O’Brien and Jordan Lisle. Three players are still to be omitted before Sunday’s clash.

Paul Roos and the Demons’ Coaching Committee have also named a 25-man squad with Max Gawn, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich all included on an extended bench.

CONGRTAULATIONS JOSH GREEN AND RYAN LESTER (AGAIN!)

Congratulations this week goes to Josh Green who this week plays his 50th career game for the Lions. It is a super effort for Green considering he is playing in one of the more difficult roles on the ground in which to stay consistent.

Last week Ryan Lester celebrated his 50th game for the Club at the Gabba and this week Lester hit the headlines again by signing a new contract to remain at the Gabba for a further two years until the end of 2016.

Congratulations Ryan on a fantastic effort in your 50th game last weekend with many more to come in the next couple of years.

KEY MATCH-UPS

The Demons have gone with Chris Dawes and Cameron Pederson as their key position forwards and they are showing some good signs as a reliable pairing. They will likely have Matt McGuire and Justin Clarke at their side when the game kicks off. As always, the ever dependable Joel Patfull will be back there directing traffic as well as using his experience to offer the third man up option.

Jack Watts will probably find himself opposed to one of the young Lions maybe either Darcy Gardiner or Daniel McStay will get that job.

The Demons have players with real speed in the forward half of the ground including Jay Kennedy-Harris, Rohan Bail and Jordie McKenzie which may require players such as Jed Adcock and Ryan Harwood to run with and keep them in check during the contest.

In the middle, Pearce Hanley and Tom Rockliff were able to do as they pleased last week against the Suns, collecting 92 disposals between them at the Gabba. They can expect much closer attention this week but they have ample back up in the centre of the ground with James Aish, Claye Beams and Sam Mayes running on the wings.

Stefan Martin has been terrific in the ruck and will be looking to give these players first use as often as he can and will spend the afternoon duelling with former Demons teammate Mark Jamar.

The Demons midfield has a good mix of experienced talent and young guns ready to make their mark on the competition. Bernie Vince has been great since crossing from the Crows as has Dom Tyson from the Giants and they have the support of the always impressive Nathan Jones, Luke Tapscott and Jack Viney.

The Lions have been favouring the two tall pronged forward line, with Daniel Merrett and Michael Close the preferred pairing in recent weeks. They will again be the choice this weekend as they look to build upon their on-field chemistry. They can expect to find themselves opposed to Tom McDonald and James Frawley for the majority of the afternoon. The Demons will also have Colin Garland as the back-up should either of the big Lions fire early and he will probably be used as the third man up.

The Lions forward line will also see the Mozzie Squad of Josh Green, Lewis Taylor and Dayne Zorko again preying on any loose delivery or spilled marks from the big men. They have combined for a total of 50 goals so far this season and the Demons will struggle to lock all of them down throughout the game. They will possibly see Jack Grimes, Neville Jetta and maybe Dean Kent running around in the Demons backline.

STATISTICS

The Lions have a good recent head-to-head against the Demons having won four of the past five meetings between the teams.

This, however, is offset by the fact that the Demons have a great record when playing in Melbourne against the Lions having won 13 of the past 16 meetings in the Victorian Capital. Ordinarily the match would be played at the MCG being a Melbourne home game, but this one is scheduled to be under the roof at Etihad Stadium.

Paul Roos has insisted that the Demons have no hoodoo at the venue but he may not have been informed that Melbourne have lost the past 18 matches consecutively they have played at Etihad Stadium, with their last win coming way back in Round 19 in 2007!

For the fans that head down for this one hopefully the ball does make its way inside the attacking fifty for the respective sides. The Demons are ranked 18th in the AFL for inside 50’s averaging 41.1 per game this season compared with the Lions who are ranked 16th averaging just 44.5 themselves.

The Lions managed to not only record a stunning victory last week against their Queensland rival but they also scored 100 points in a match for the first time this season. The only club in the AFL that has yet to achieve this feat this season is… Melbourne.

There is a great opportunity for the Lions to go back-to-back for the second time this year but the Demons with Paul Roos at the helm are not to be underestimated.

FAREWELL BROWNY

Melbourne-based Lions fans who head to the match on Sunday afternoon will also get the chance to pay tribute to retired champion Jonathan Brown after the game.

Brown will appear at the Club’s official aftermatch function as a show of appreciation to the Victorian faithful.

All fans who attend the post-match function will receive a FREE souvenir ‘Thank You’ Browny placard, and will have a chance to win a range of other Browny-related prizes.

LIONS RESERVES

Last weekend the Lions Reserves and the Gold Coast Suns Reserves locked horns at Giffin Park in a local derby. The Lions reserves got home with a tough 12-point win against the Suns in a game dogged by inaccuracy in front of goal.

Marco Paparone had a strong game collecting 32 disposals and kicking a goal along with Zac O’Brien who picked up 28 disposals to go with six rebound fifties. The Lions best stretch of play was during the middle two quarters where they kicked nine goals to five to lead by 11-points at the last change and they would go on to record their fourth win of the season.

This week the Lions take on the Sydney Swans Reserves at the SCG as a curtain raiser to the Sydney and Essendon game later at the same venue. The game kicks off at 4:10pm and promises to be a tough encounter with the Swans reserves sitting third on the ladder.

The Lions reserves currently have a 4-10 record and sit 10th on the ladder.


Carl Nimb is an independent writer and Lions Member (#2604559) who will contribute to lions.com.au throughout the season.

You can follow him on Twitter @CarlNimb