The Brisbane Lions Reserves have picked up where they left off last season, with a commanding 87-point win over NEAFL ladder-leaders Morningside at Esplen Oval on Saturday.

The Reserves kicked away with an eight-goal second quarter, before storming home with six goals in the final term.

It was the perfect start for new Reserves Coach Leigh Harding, who lauded the unrelenting efforts of his team.

“It was a really good even contribution from everybody. They all played their role and carried out instructions,” Harding said.

Harding praised the work of his defenders – particularly Jordon Bourke, Justin Clarke and Ryan Harwood – who helped limit the Panthers’ potent forward line to just eight goals.

“The whole back six were very good,” Harding said.

“Bourkey played on Kent Abey and did a really good job at restricting him.”

“Clarkey played on Jackson Starcevich, and Harwood quelled Faure’s influence.”

At the other end of the ground, Jordan Lisle proved the main beneficiary of the Lions’ relentless pressure with a game-high six goals.

“He certainly got on the end of a few, but it was the team’s pressure that forced the turnovers that resulted in a lot of Jordy’s goals.”

“Niall McKeever was super again and probably gave off 4-5 goals, even though his work was unrewarded in terms of the scoreboard.”

The other real positive for the Lions was the form of ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, who played the majority of the match and showed no signs of discomfort.

“You could tell he’s a senior AFL player – he just dominated the centre square and got his hands on it a lot,” Harding said.

“He also snuck forward and kicked a couple of goals.”

“Importantly, he has pulled up really well so will come into serious consideration at this week’s Match Committee.”

SCOREBOARD

Brisbane Lions         4.3       12.6    16.10  22.12 (144)
Morningside              3.2       4.4       5.8       8.9 (57)

GOALS: Lions – Lisle 6, Bartlett 3, Radford 2, Mayes 2, McKeever 2, Leuenberger 2, Polec, Banfield, Raines, Michael, Hayes. Panthers – Abey 2, Starcevich 2, Kinch, Power, Smith, Dalton.

BEST: Lions – Bourke, Harwood, Clarke, Banfield, Lisle, Raines. Panthers – Shelton, Kinch, Clarke, Smith, Tomlinson, Hackett.