The Tasmanian twosome gathered a glut of high-quality disposals, while Retzlaff led from the front with four goals and had a hand in several others.
Another player from the Apple Isle, Aaron Cornelius, recovered from an early collision with a goalpost to post four majors of his own in the 18.16 (124) to 8.13 (61) win.
Josh Drummond buoyed his chances of a return to the seniors with a free-running game across half-back, highlighted by a string of typically pinpoint kicks which ignited forays forward.
Drummond was ably supported down back by Jack Crisp, who overcame the loss of his Grandfather during the week to frustrate the Cats’ forwards all afternoon.
Last year’s NEAFL leading goal-kicker Jason Eagle was held goalless, and midfielder Taylor Haley was the home side’s only player to register multiple majors. By comparison, six of the Lions’ eight goal-kickers recorded two or more.
Josh Green explained the stoic defensive effort was no coincidence.
“We’ve had a huge focus on defensive pressure, more than anything else, and we’ve been training really hard to be able to carry that out on game day.
“Although we kicked 18 goals, it was the efforts of everyone with tackling, chasing and pressure which really stood out.”
Heavy rain and high winds made for a dour first term on the coast, with Jordan Lisle registering the sole six-pointer to give the Lions a two point buffer at the break.
The slippery Sherrin meant marks were at a premium, and the majority of the first quarter was spent scrapping over the ball when it hit the turf.
The clouds parted for the second stanza as Josh Dyson rained down leather on the big sticks; potting consecutive left-footed long bombs on the run.
The Cats conceded two 50-metre penalties in succession to gift Drummond a goal soon after, and the visitors had skipped out to a 20-point lead.
Boom recruit Billy Longer soured a strong showing by being reported midway through the term, after an altercation with Broadbeach’s Haley.
The incident added some spite to the clash, and several scuffles broke out towards the end of quarter two.
Broadbeach seemed to thrive on the increased niggle in the contest, and fought back with three quick goals, but the Lions still had a 23-point ascendancy at the long break.
Lions spearheads Cornelius and Retzlaff began to dominate up forward at the start of the third term.
Both crashed packs, marked and goaled early on and it was beginning to look ominous for the Cats.
To their credit, the home team pegged back the margin with majors to Ezra Poyas and Nick Stockdale and were more competitive in the midfield arm wrestle.
But the Lions were up and about again following a brilliant Brad Harvey goal, which lifted his team as they took a stranglehold on the match.
The 19-year-old plucked the pill from his bootlaces on the 50-metre arc, burnt a Broadbeach defender with a jink and dummied kick, and finished at full pace on a 45 degree angle.
That galvanised the Lions into attacking action; Retzlaff and Cornelius split the big sticks again, and the away team held sway by 27 at the final interval.
The first three quarters proved a mere starter to the final quarter’s hearty main course.
The visitors piled on seven goals to one to blow out the buffer from comfortable to crushing, and avenge last year’s five point defeat in the corresponding fixture.
Green, Longer and Harwood controlled the centre of the ground, Patty Karnezis and Callum Bartlett were prolific on the fringes, and Retzlaff and Cornelius seemingly sweated superglue from their palms.
Broadbeach can take heart from the efforts of Ryan Pantic, Kieran Emery and captain Matt Fife, who were gallant in a well-beaten side.
But it was the Lions’ day; a much-improved showing from a team that flagged a little in final quarters during the pre-season.
“In our practice matches we started out well then faded, so it was a huge positive to play out all four quarters,” enthused Green.
“It was a really good sign for our young team that we still had boys running hard and pushing back to help out in defence right till the end.
“If we can stick to our structures and do the defensive things like we did today we’ll definitely push every team in the NEAFL.”
The Lions Reserves now face two weeks interstate; next week’s clash with the UWS Giants down south, followed by a daunting trip north to tackle reigning premiers NT Thunder.
