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Can this powerful midfield be stopped?

By Ryan Hadji

Regardless of how you’ve rated Brisbane’s start to the season, their midfield has been outstanding. Early days I know, but the Lions are incredibly well balanced in the middle. Experienced trio Black, Power and Johnstone have been effective, 2nd ‘tier-ers’ Adcock and Rischitelli are improving; while the young brigade Daniel Rich and Bradd Dalziell have been lethal.

Luke Power is thriving under new coach Michael Voss averaging 27 disposals at a 71% effective disposal rate. Bradd Dalziell racks up a consistent 25 touches, and Daniel Rich has so far been the best player to come out of the draft, averaging 19 possessions after only 3 matches of AFL footy.

He may not be a midfielder, but Josh Drummond has been excellent. He is easily one of the best half-back flankers going around in the competition, gathering 23 disposals as a sweeping half-back. After playing 14 matches in his debut season of 2005, a series of injuries has cost more time at AFL level only playing 31 out of a possible 66 matches in the last 3 seasons. Playing every game so far this season, Drummond has been deadly and will probably line up against Dayne Beams.

The Lions go into this one quietly confident, sitting at 2-1 for the season and having beaten the Pies in 9 of the last 12 encounters. But Michael Voss is giving the impression that Anthony Rocca who returns for the first time since Round 13 last year, could give them the boost they need “He adds a lot of strength and leadership to them and a fair bit of presence”. Vossy went on to point out how Rocca can really hurt sides “He’s (Rocca) able to influence the team around him. (He has) a big body, great presence about him and he can take that high mark or kick that 70m goal”.
Collingwood’s forward line will be the best test the Lions defence have faced this season, and it’ll teach us a lot about the likes of Daniel Merrett, Joel McDonald and Joel Patfull to see if they can match the intensity and strength for four quarters against a top 4 team.

Both sides have made changes, ruckman Jaime Charman returns to replace the injured Matthew Leuenberger, while Jared Brennan will play his first game of the year at the expense of Albert Proud for Brisbane. Collingwood loose Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw through suspension, Ben Johnson through injury and Brad Dick’s been omitted; while Anthony Rocca, Jaxson Barham, Tyson Goldsack and Alan Toovey all come into the team.

Bouncedown is 7.40 local time, 5.40 in the West… don’t miss this one as both side are treating it as a mini final. A fair bit to play for, the Lions could be 3-1 and well positioned going into Round 5, as for the Pies they need to win this for their top 4 aspirations. Can Mick Malthouse be the second coach this year to crack Michael Voss’s game plan? Will Browny and Bradshaw back-up from last week and kick another bag? I’m tipping an upset- I think Collingwood will bounce back, shut down Brisbane’s engine room and kick a winning score in the upset of the round.