In what was probably their most complete performance for the 2014 NEAFL season, the Brisbane Lions Reserves claimed an emphatic win over Southport last Saturday – and in turn kept their unbeaten streak at the new Burpengary venue intact.
The Lions broke away from their higher-placed opponents with an eight-goal second quarter, before powering to a 73-point victory – 18.12 (120) to 6.11 (47).
Development Coach Matthew Francis said the injection of more senior AFL players, as well as some regular top-ups helped better stabilise the team.
“It shows that experience goes a long way,” Francis told lions.com.au.
“It also makes a difference when you have top-up players who are used to the team structures. They know the game plan and run to right spots, which makes it easier for the rest of the boys.
“(Hyundai Lions Academy player) Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds was terrific on the wing. Then there was our young midfield of Lester, Beams, O’Brien and Hayes – who really got the team going.”
The Lions Reserves are now two wins from two official outings at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex, and look comfortable playing on the wide open spaces that the venue promotes.
“It’s a lovely big ground. It’s probably a fraction hard, but a beautiful size. Our boys relished playing on it.”
Please find below Matthew Francis’ appraisal on each of the listed Lions who played against Southport on Saturday.
| Ash McGrath | Was very clever. Managed to find his way through traffic and use the ball beautifully. Was able to deliver some really direct score assists in the forward 50. Played half-back for most of the second half. |
| Claye Beams | Only played three quarters as the senior emergency, but really got us going. He created all our early momentum from clearances, together with Ryan Lester. Those two were just too slick for the opposition with their hands. |
| Jordan Lisle | Jordy kicked a bagful (five goals). He was too strong for the opposition in the air and took some great marks. He was clever in the way he out-smarted his defender in terms of positioning, creating space for himself. |
| Matthew Leuenberger | Leuey was terrific, and played a tremendous game. He took four marks in first quarter – both in the midfield and up forward. It was a really outstanding game, and he got through without any injury problems. |
| Andrew Raines | He was good. Used the ball well and played his position beautifully. Used good direction and leadership. Overall a really solid game. |
| James Polkinghorne | Polks was very, very clever off half-back as our loose defender. He generated a lot of creative attack, and delivered the ball well inside forward 50m. |
| Ryan Lester | Had a day out. He picked up a lot of the ball, and finished with 39 touches. Was very good at contested footy, and very clean with his hands. Was able to withstand the opposition heat, and deliver well to runners and set up our flow. Really good in-and-under performance from Ryan. |
| Jackson Paine | Jackson kicked 1.4, so missed some chances on the scoreboard, but did some very valuable worked around 50m to help set-up a lot of goals and create space for Jordy up forward. He took some really good marks. He was really strong and courageous in the air, and did a lot of terrific work that wasn’t necessarily rewarded on the scoreboard. |
| Isaac Conway | Had a job to do on one of Southport’s best forwards. While he wasn’t overly impactful, he did the job that we wanted him to do as his opponent didn’t have much influence. |
| Nick Hayes | Nick was outstanding. He had a really good run in the midfield in rotation with Lester and Beams. Was classy, courageous, and covered the ground well from stoppages. A really good game. |
| Archie Smith | Archie competed well in the ruck against good opposition. We’re still looking for him to have more influence around the ground. He did take a really strong pack mark deep in defence, which was pleasing to see. Just needs to keep working on having greater influence around the ground by winning more of the ball. |
| Jordon Bourke | Outstanding game. Took a lot of great defensive marks. He set up a lot of our offensive flow, along with some of our other defenders, from behind the ball. Played a great game. |
| Sam Michael | Sam lacked a bit of influence over the game in terms of numbers. However, the possessions he did win were all really strong and contested. Also put on a couple of really good spoils. |
| Zac O’Brien | Once again, O’Brien was terrific in the midfield along with Lester, Beams, and Hayes. It was a typical game for Zac, in that his attack on ball at contest was fierce, and he created a lot of forward momentum by winning hard contested footy. He also used the ball really well. |
NB: Tom Cutler didn’t play due to a knee injury
