THE BRISBANE Lions will give their quartet of injured stars until the last minute before deciding whether they'll play in Saturday night’s elimination final against Carlton at the Gabba...

...Simon Black (hamstring) and Josh Drummond (quad) failed to train but were named in an extended 25-man squad.

Voss said the key duo wouldn't be risked if they were only 80 per cent fit because the team couldn't afford to lose players with injury early in the game...

Geez some people on this board seem like they were just waiting for a chance to leap in and abuse the MC !

First of all: It's just a squad, whoever is listed as emergency might be just as much chance to play as those listed. Surely we can give Ratts enough cred to believe that he might be able to play cloack and dagger just as much as Voss??? He is just not rabbiting on about it in the media. Wait till they take the ground on Saturday

Second: All those ins are fair enough. If Johnson stayed in the team, people would be moaning and groaning, so instead they lament Grigg being underdone. Who cares! a half-baked Grigg is no worse then a floundering Johnson - much more potential upside in my opinion. Yarran is stiff, but Garlett has more form on the board this season, and to me seems a tad more consistent at this stage. Browne was average, and still lacks confidence which would be a liability in a final, and Eddie is a cool customer in any situation. No worries there. Cloke for Setanta: Cloke has been in as good a form if not better than Setanta. I don't think Cloke is ideal, but as a swap i think there's merit in it. Obviously Cloke cannot play down back as well as Setants, but Bradshaw may very well not play, or Setants might come in - either way both teams are keeping something up their sleeve. Don't stress!!!!

Third: People were so ready to believe that all these players would play on Monday when Voss said they wouldn't, so why are you all running around like terrified chooks now that Voss has named them in the squad??? Surely if he is trying to mess with our heads on purpose, he had to keep messing with our heads right up to game day. I still expect at least 2 out of the 4 to not play. And if they do. more the better for us because we have a fit team and we can smash them.

Fourth: I'm glad they didn't take Warnock. You cannot draft someone, have him sit on the sidelines for a year, then play his first game for the club in a final - that is just NOT going to happen. People need to really step back and regain some perspective on reality. Whether you like it or not, Hammer is just as much a part of our future. I assume if he is named then he is relatively fit and at least a good to very good chance to play.


I know everyone is nervous, playing the first final in years, but beyond recalling Waite and Jammo from their hospital beds, there wasn't a lot of decision making for the MC to do. The ins speak for themselves, the naughty players have served their time (its not like they glassed someone and crashed their cars while dealing drugs), and people should give the MC some latitude to figure out the exact matchups re: Cloke/vs/Setanta up until the match day.

We are going in fit, we are going in confident, we are going in with an enthusiastic young team, we have the wood on them, and they are spending all their time playing chinese whispers with injuries to their best players. Let them be nervous - we are coming !!

Disgraceful.
What are we teaching our youngsters?
GO out on the piss let the team down and you'll all come straight back in the following week?
Why is Garlett in for Yaz? Yaz didn't go out drinking, Yaz didn't let the team down, Yaz did play a decent game last week in my opinion....and yet we're bringing in an 18 year old kid that you cant say will set the world on fire, but did break team rules....

I just dont get it.

If Bradshaw plays, we're in a lot of trouble. Cloke's selection is outrageous.

I just dont get it!!!!!!!

We also look short, and Cloke will have someone running off him all night.

The Irish has been questionable, Cloke more so.

Walker is about to be asked to play as a tall defender...

Setanta has been ordinary the last few weeks.

Cloke is no star but is a good mark, a long kick and can be dangerous on his day. If I had to bet on one of Setanta and Cloke to bob up and kick 3+ goals in a final I would put that money on Cloke.

We do look thin down back.

What a DISGRACE!!

I was expecting a MINIMUM of nine changes after the Adelaide game.

DISGRACEFUL!!

If Brownshaw get on top what other options do we have?

I dont understand why Warnock would even be considered. He has not played one game this year and is still a very raw and inexperienced ruckman. I think they hype of recruiting him and his height (206cm for those who are not sure) is shadowing what he is actually capable of right now.

People were so ready to believe that all these players would play on Monday when Voss said they wouldn't, so why are you all running around like terrified chooks now that Voss has named them in the squad??? Surely if he is trying to mess with our heads on purpose, he had to keep messing with our heads right up to game day. I still expect at least 2 out of the 4 to not play. And if they do. more the better for us because we have a fit team and we can smash them.

What a DISGRACE!!

I was expecting a MINIMUM of nine changes after the Adelaide game.

DISGRACEFUL!!

with cloke you know what you are going to get 12 to 14 disposals with 6-8 marks and a hand full of hitouts and a couple of tackles

what do you get with setanta 1 kick 1 mark 0 tackles and 7 handballs

it is about putting the best players on the park that can win the game not about dreaming of some white knight who will takes us to premiership glory

get real and watch the game