1. Chapman likely to be given a spell
The Bombers have already given Paul Chapman one week off this season - saving him the gruelling road trip to Perth - and it is likely the veteran will have another spell on the sidelines, this time enforced. The former Geelong champion raised his elbow going into a challenge with Jack Redden and, though the impact was slight, he made contact with his Lions counterpart which should result in him missing next week’s game with the Swans at least. Lion Matt Maguire is also likely to have a spell in the stands after tripping Joe Daniher just outside the goal square.
2. Slow and sloppy Bombers
After the way the Lions’ midfield was torn apart by the Swans last week, it is an indictment on Essendon that it struggled to get through the Lions - and not a good form guide for the match with the Swans at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. The Lions had a slight edge in contested possession, but the Bombers’ use of the ball was a bigger problem with targets too often missed, or players too late to see the best option when the Lions were wide open to be sliced apart.
3. Please not another controversy
After Jack Viney’s clash with Tom Lynch dominated the headlines last week, let’s hope there will not be a similar lengthy discussion about the contact between Andrew Raines’ shoulder and Brendon Goddard’s cheek in the second quarter. With the ball on the ground both dived head first for a ball which Goddard was set to gather when he was collected on the jaw. Thankfully the ex-Saint shook off the knock and he dismissed any notion of negligent action from his opponent after the match.
4. Old School look rocked
You might argue the Brisbane Bears’ inglorious ten-year spell in the VFL/AFL did not justify being remembered ahead of the Brisbane Lions’ Hall of Fame dinner, but it was a joy to see the classic (and peculiar) 80s triangular insignia back on the field. The guernsey is certainly easier on the eye than the clashing blue, yellow and maroon with lion - and so were Justin Leppitsch's side this week.
5. Reasons to be cheerful
In a season of few highlights for the beleaguered Brisbane Lions supporters, they had reasons to be cheerful as they left the Gabba on Saturday night. The Lions trebled the number of quarters they have won at home this season (now standing at three) and Josh Green, James Aish and Marco Paparone led an energetic display which excited their fans and may keep them coming back despite there being nothing to play for. Though they let a lead slip in the final quarter, there was not the deluge of red-time points which has cursed them all season, with the class and experience of Essendon, rather than their own errors, deciding the contest.
