AFL Football Round 2 - Brisbane vs Collingwood
Friday Night Football this week brings us the battle between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions in Round 2 of the 2008 AFL Season. With Brisbane SUPERSTAR Jonathon Brown in superb touch last week booting 6 goals it is going to be a tough gig for the Pies up at the Gabba. The Brisbane Team has not played a Friday Night game up there for seven years and there is no doubt that the Lions will be primed to tear apart the Pies. Just on a side not this game will go head-to-head against the Brisbane Broncos, who face the North Queensland Cowboys close by at Suncorp Stadium on the same night. So it will be interesting to see how the public of Queensland embrace Friday Night AFL Football.
The Lions were disappointed not to come away with the 4 points against the Eagles last week but they certainly showed some good signs after a very slow start. With Bradshaw back in the forward line and kicking 3 goals, himself and Brown will cause the Magpie Defenders some headaches. I think the young man in Nathan Brown will likely get first crack at his name sake Jonathon but Brown will be way to strong for him one would think and the Pies will need to have Plan B, and probably Plan C and D ready to go. You would think that Nick Maxwell or Shane Wakelin will be next inline. Whoever gets him is in for a torrid night.
Anthony Rocca was outstanding last week for the Magpies and I really thought his game this year would be based around being a bit of a decoy for Travis Cloke but he showed that there is still life in his football and like Brown kicked 6 majors. From all 
reports Daniel Merrett may get the job on him and the Lions would be happy with that match up one would think. The Shaw brothers gave great run from the defensive half of the ground last week and will need to be watched closely as will prolific ball getter Dane Swan, who is brilliant at getting the footy but just needs to do a bit more with it.
The midfield will be where the game is won or lost, the Lions have some class running through there and if they are left to their own devices then the Brisbane Forwards will have a field night. Black, Lappin, Power, Johnstone, Stiller up against Swan, Thomas, Burns (if he returns), Pendlebury, Lockyer etc. that will be a battle to watch.
There is no hiding the fact that I rate the Lions this year and I think with the Big Brown Dog in awesome form and the Lions midfield they can get up by 19 points.
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I think Waklin should get first crack at Browny. If Brisbane are slow out of the blocks against Collingwood they will loose again. You cannot afford to be slow starters.
Adcock is misisng as well hey? Brisbane cannot afford to loose any other midfielders and the second tier needs to step up (Rickessilli, Brennen, Notting etc) they all went missing last weekend.
I agree this shapes as a cracker of a game.
I am a bit worried about Brisbane only having 5 days to back up from a super hot game that was followed by the longest flight in football - would suspect that will take some endurance out of the midfield come the second half. With the way the Pies run, chase and rotate this could be the difference.
Am surprised Malthouse didn’t bring in Ben Reid to replace Rusling. Seems now he has reduced his forward options?