Fierce Lions show desire to crunch some numbers
The Age
Monday June 15, 2009
The Brisbane Lions made a statement yesterday - they are a contender. THERE will be plenty more spectacular wins this season than the Brisbane Lions' 42-point defeat of Hawthorn in Launceston yesterday. But there won't be a lot that are more significant.As statements of credentials, they don't come a lot bolder: on unfamiliar turf, against the reigning premier, missing two key defenders, two first-choice ruckmen and main playmaker Josh Drummond, among others.The Lions are 7-5 now and fourth on the ladder. They're going to be pretty hard to shift, too, with five of the last 10 games at the Gabba, and four of the away assignments against the hardly terrifying Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Essendon and Sydney.Michael Voss' appointment to succeed Leigh Matthews as Brisbane's coach is increasingly looking an inspired choice. The Lions are more enterprising under Voss, no doubt. But since that thrashing at Geelong in round five, they've found a harder edge.For three quarters in Tasmania yesterday, the only thing that separated Brisbane from victory was its poor conversion. Around the ground and in the clinches the Lions were dominant.Like their coach on the field, the Lions were fierce. They laid a whopping 83 tackles on the shell-shocked Hawks, won the clearances convincingly 41-33 and smashed Hawthorn 129-95 in the contested possession count.There's an army of Lion onballers now who win the hard ball. Simon Black and Luke Power's capacity to do that and use it well is already renowned, both terrific again yesterday.But the likes of Michael Rischitelli, rookie Daniel Rich, Cheynee Stiller and James Polkinghorne are also doing more than their bit, giving the free-running and in-form Justin Sherman even more chances to do damage. Targets to get on the end of it all? Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw anyone?Perhaps, though, the most ominous thing about Brisbane's position as it heads into its mid-season break is in the roll call of absentees, no fewer than 14 players on the injured list.Not just peripherals, either. A full-back and centre half-back in Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull. Ruckmen Jamie Charman and Matthew Leuenberger. Drummond, the architect off half-back. And two very classy midfielders in Travis Johnstone and Bradd Dalziell. It didn't end there yesterday, either, a defensive onballer in Troy Selwood out of action from midway through the first quarter.You can't lose players of that structural importance and not feel the pinch. But Brisbane's capacity to cover has to be admired. Not to mention its depth.Much like Paddy Ryder's enforced move into the ruck for Essendon, Jared Brennan's taking up of ruck duties for the Lions might end up being the making of him. Lachie Henderson has stepped up to the plate, yesterday holding Jarryd Roughead to eight disposals and one goal. Late inclusion Jason Roe kept Lance Franklin even quieter.The missing will return. But as unlikely as it might have sounded pre-season, even players of their calibre could be more cream on the cake than non-negotiables if the Lions are to make a realistic tilt at September.Brisbane never made a big song and dance about its post-premiership rebuild, but the benefits of the 33 players introduced to senior football over Matthews' last four seasons as coach are being well and truly felt now.While the Lions' coach is also learning, Voss is proving an apprentice chef capable of whipping raw ingredients into something pretty tasty.
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