Round 19 – Brisbane v Gold Coast: The Schache Cup

The Schache Cup

Brisbane vs Gold Coast

8^th August

GABBA

Even though the game between the Lions and the Suns is quite often termed the “Q-Clash” a few people around the media have added a further name to this match that being “The Schache Cup”. This is in reference to the possibility of the losing team of this match getting the wooden spoon and therefore getting the first pick in the 2015 National Draft. If either the Lions or the Suns do get the first pick many people predict (especially if it is the Lions) that they will use it to pick up young Josh Schache who many think is the best key forward in this year’s draft.

Josh who starred in the under 18 championships for Vic Country as a 199cm left footer who was the leading goal kicker in the championships. There is also a connection between Josh and the Brisbane Lions in particular, as Josh’s Dad, Laurence Schache played 29 games for the Brisbane Bears in 1991-92 and in his first season lead the club’s goal kicking with 47 goals. Josh has mentioned in the media that even though he is happy to go anywhere and wear any colours, he thinks it would mean a little more if Brisbane called his name in the draft this year. He has even been quoted as saying that it would be pretty cool if he ended up at Brisbane. That way he could go back to where dad was and finish off what he did there.

The Gold Coast start the game off much better than the Lions and within a minute Tom Lynch has the first goal of the game. After the first five minutes the Suns should be 3 goals in front with the Lions stagnant coming out of defense and turning the ball over consistently with poor disposal. It is a scrappy first quarter indicative of a game between the two teams at the bottom of the ladder. The Lions have had more possessions and have gone into their forward fifty on more occasions but it is notable that the lack of a key forward is causing them to kick short and not have much fluency when going into attack. On the other hand with Lynch, Dixon and Day in the Suns’ forward line they have more confidence and system when going into their fifty.

The second quarter starts off in the same way as the first with the Suns kicking a quick goal through Harbrow. It is a tight contest with the lead changing many times but as a Lions supporter it is totally frustrating to watch. The Lions are dominating all the key statistics –disposals, clearances, inside fifties but cannot dominate on the scoreboard. They are kicking sideways a lot or chipping it around and when they try and run the ball their disposal lets them down. They do not kick the ball into their fifty with any confidence knowing that there is no real marking target and most of the goals are coming from the Lions small forwards or midfielders.

The third quarter again sees the lead change a number of times. Even though the game is competitive and every now and then has a bit of niggle it lacks any real spark or excitement. This “Q-Clash” is nothing like the “Western Derby” in W.A. or “The Showdown” in S.A. when it comes to real rivalry and passion between the two combating AFL teams of those particular states. There are lots of errors from both sides and the crowd seems quiet as if there is a lack of interest in the match. The only time there is some noise is when blatant mistakes occur or they disagree with an umpiring decision. Towards the end of the quarter the Suns break the game open kicking four goals in a row. Dixon and Lynch are both key targets up forward and starting to dominate. The Lions hit back through goals to Hanley and McGuane but a long-range Hall goal hands the Suns a 17-point buffer at the last change.

The Suns kick three of the first four goals in the final quarter to put the game beyond doubt, Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch involved again in breaking the game open. The Lions try and mount a comeback with goals to Lewis Taylor and another to McGuane, but like it has been for most of the second half it is Lynch and Dixon who put the daggers through the heart of the Lions, kicking goals to finish the contest.

Tom Lynch wins the Marcus Ashcroft medal for best afield after he finishes with nine marks to go with his five goals and Aaron Hall was good giving the Suns plenty of run. For the Lions Pearce Hanley played well with Zorko and Rockliff racking up a number of possessions. The difference in the two teams tonight was that Suns had two key forwards that the Lions were not only severely missing tonight, but have been for most of the season. Maybe now that the Lions are more than likely to take out the wooden spoon and therefore get the first pick in the draft they can get a key forward in the form of young Josh Schache and continue to rebuild into a competitive team again.

As I lament another loss by the Lions and the possibility of them receiving the wooden spoon this year, I reflect back on what I have just read in Leigh Matthews’s latest book. When Matthews took up the coaching role at Brisbane they had just come last in the 1998 season. In that draft they picked up a key forward by the name of Jonathan Brown and within the next five seasons not only won one premiership but three in a row. Perhaps if the Lions do come last this year and because of that pick up Josh Schache, he may be the next Jonathan Brown. With Justin Clarke becoming the next Mal Michael, Harris Andrews the next Justin Leppitsch, Michael Close the next Alistair Lynch and Rockcliff, Dayne Beames, Hanley and Daniel Rich becoming the next Brisbane fab four there might be a silver lining to this loss to the Suns tonight and much better times ahead for the Lions in the future.

 

BRISBANE LIONS       3. 6      6. 7    10. 12   14. 16 (100)

GOLD COAST               3. 4     6. 8     13. 11   17. 12 (114)

GOALS Brisbane Lions: McGuane 3, Taylor 3, McStay 2, Adcock, Christensen, Hanley, Robinson, Rockliff, Zorko Gold Coast: Lynch 5, Dixon 3, Bennell, Day, Hall, Harbrow, Malceski, Martin, Matera, Miller, Shaw

BEST Brisbane Lions: Hanley, Zorko, Rockliff, Taylor, Christensen, Rich Gold Coast: Hall, Lynch, Bennell, Harbrow, Dixon, May