Just over per week after Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay put North Melbourne’s defence to the sword, Alastair Clarkson has backed his freshly-reinforced backline to wrangle Brisbane’s potent assault.
Clarkson will welcome again Ben McKay from a foot harm and Griffin Logue from suspension on Saturday.
It could not be higher timing, forward of dealing with a Lions aspect that includes talls Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, the explosive Cameron Rayner and artful smalls Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey.
“Daniher spent more time in the ruck last week, Rayner went forward the last week and had a big impact there, he’d been playing mostly back for the games prior to that,” Clarkson instructed reporters.
“That’s a strength of the Brisbane side and we need to combat it. Not only have they got really powerful forwards, tall forwards … but they’re really, really dangerous at ground level.
“That’s the efficiency of their aspect – their entrance finish is especially damaging.”
Jack Gunston (managed) is missing but Brisbane can rotate Oscar McInerney and recalled big man Darcy Fort through their attack.
Clarkson also expected his midfield, led by breakout star Luke Davies-Uniacke, co-captain Jy Simpkin and veteran Ben Cunnington – who was substituted last week – to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley.
“If these large fellas for Brisbane, get plenty of provide then we is likely to be in a little bit of hassle. But if they do not then we give ourselves an opportunity,” he mentioned.
“Brisbane’s midfield is likely one of the strongest within the competitors and once they win, they normally win that midfield battle.
“As we’ve seen, they absolutely smashed Melbourne in that space. We know how highly-rated everyone regards Melbourne in that space and Brisbane just torched them in that game where the lights went out in the last quarter.
“We have to be sure that Cunners and LDU and the opposite guys in there, Jy Simpkin, Will Phillips, Tom Powell, that we attempt to match it as greatest we are able to with a robust bodily midfield.”
The Kangaroos will take on the Lions at Mount Barker and Clarkson relished the prospect of a smaller sellout crowd.
“We’d most likely favor to play at a venue the place it looks like there is a actually sturdy environment than go to Adelaide Oval,” he mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
