A lot of people in football will tell you the 2018 Brisbane Lions are the best 5-17 side in a long time. And they’d be right.

The last side with five wins and 17 losses to finish with a percentage better than the Lions’ for-and-against this year of 89.1% was Collingwood in 1998.

It was 20 years ago when Collingwood were 5-17 with a percentage of 90.8 to finish 14^th in a 16-team competition.

But perhaps the most telling indicator of a significant improvement, by a Lions side that jumped from 18^th in 2017 to 15^th despite the win/loss column reading the same, is the percentage itself.

It is the Club’s best percentage since 2013, when they finished 13^th with a 10-12 record and a percentage of 89.6, and the second-best since 2009.

Over the last 10 years, a percentage of 89.1 would have ranked higher on average than 5.5 teams each year. Or more than a third of the competition. And it would have been as high as 10^th in the 17-team competition of 2011.

Statistically, it has been a season of significant Lions improvement in a lot of areas. But in the most of statistics – scoring - they were 19.3 points better per game this year. They were minus 29.5 points per game in 2017 and minus 10.2ppg in 2018.

The big difference has come at the defensive end, where they conceded 93.1 points per game in 2018 in comparison to 114.8ppg per game in 2017.

Only once did the Lions hold the opposition below 80 points last year and 14 times they conceded 110 points or more. This year it was eight scores below 80 and only four above 110.

Also, the Lions’ losing margin dropped significantly from 2017 to 2018.

In the Lions’ first season under Senior Coach Chris Fagan they lost 14 times by more than 30 points, 10 times by more than 40 and eight times by more than 50.

This year it was five times by more than 30, three times by more than 40, and two times by more than 50.

The only real blowouts this year were Round 11 against North Melbourne at Etihad, when they were 55 points down at halftime before winning the second half to lose by 54, and in Round 4 against Richmond at the MCG, when they went goalless in the first half and posted the Club’s equal lowest score ever in a 93-point flogging.

The Lions were significantly better in the second half this year.

While the results and scoring differences in the first and second quarters were minimal, the difference in the third and fourth quarters were pronounced.

They won the fourth quarter no less than 14 times in 2018 and finished plus 71 in the fourth quarter.

 Collectively, the Lions made a significant improvement in some key statistics, like total disposals, inside 50s, clearances, contested possessions, contested marks, marks inside 50 and even goal assists.

Individually, too, there was a stack of outstanding individual performances.

Possessions

Dayne Beams topped the team possession count as he became just the sixth player in Club history to top 600 possessions in a season, despite missing one game for personal reasons and not qualifying for the finals.

Simon Black holds the Club record at 634 possessions in 2003, followed by Nigel Lappin’s 630 in 2004, Black’s 622 in 2001 and Luke Power’s 615 in 2009.

On a possessions per game basis, Beams’ 29.1ppg average this year is third-best in Club history behind Tom Rockliff’s 32.7ppg in 2014 and 29.9ppg in 2016.

Goals

Eric Hipwood topped the goals list for the first time with a career-high of 37 – up from 30 last year. His tally was the highest for the Club since Jonathan Brown’s 47 in 2012.

Hit-Outs

Stefan Martin posted the second-highest single-season hit-out count in Club history with 746, behind only his record 770 last year. It was the fifth year in a row he’s led the Club in hit-outs. Only Matthew Clarke (6) and Jamie Charman (6) have done so more often.

Tackles

Dayne Zorko topped the tackle count for the third year in a row with 159. Only Simon Black (4) and Jack Redden (4) have won more tackle titles, while Redden holds the Club record of 166 in 2011. 

Rebound 50’s

Despite missing the last game, Alex Witherden topped the Club count for rebound 50s, which were only introduced by the AFL in 1999.

He had 96 to fall short of the Club record of 107, set by Chris Johnson in 2004.

Club leaders in this statistics have been Johnson (2), Josh Drummond (2), Pearce Hanley (2), Jed Adcock (2), Adam Heuskes (1), Justin Leppitsch (1), Chris Scott (1), Mal Michael (1), Jason Roe (1), Joel Macdonald (1), Ash McGrath (1), Marco Paparone (1), Sam Mayes (1) and Daniel Rich (1).

Inside 50’s

Dayne Zorko topped the inside 50 count with 110 – the highest tally since Jason Akermanis’ 128 in 2003. Akermanis holds the Club record at 172 in 2004.  

Clearances

Dayne Beams had 118 clearances to pip Stefan Martin’s 110 to win his second clearance title.

This statistic, too, was introduced in 1999.

Simon Black set the record at 157 in 2001 and equalled it in 2002.  Remarkably, the Brownlow Medallist topped the Lions’ clearance tally 11 times. Tom Rockliff (3) is next best from Beams (2), Marcus Ashcroft (1), Michael Rischitelli (1), Jack Redden (1) and Mitch Robinson (1).

Contested Possessions

Dayne Beams also topped the contested possession count with 235.

Simon Black’s Club record is 320, set in 2003.

Black has won the contested possession title 10 times since it was introduced in 1999, followed by Beams (2), Tom Rockliff (2), Marcus Ashcroft (10, Michael Voss (1), Michael Rischitelli (1), Jack Redden (1), Mitch Robinson (1) and Dayne Zorko (1).

Uncontested Possessions

Dayne Beams also headed the uncontested possessions with 387 – 38 shy of Nigel Lappin’s 2003 Club record of 425.

Lappin boasts four uncontested possession titles.

Contested Marks

Dan McStay topped the contested marks with 31 to win that category for the second time. Jonathan Brown holds the Club record with 55 contested marks in 2009 and topped the contested mark tally 10 times. 

Marks Inside 50

Eric Hipwood had 43 marks inside 50 to top this statistic for the second year in a row and post the best for the Club since Jonathan Brown’s 54 in 2012. 

One percenters

Despite missing four games mid-season Harris Andrews set a Club record for one-percenters, which take in spoils, shepherds and smothers, with 205.

This bettered Daniel’s Merrett’s previous Club high of 182 in 2007.

Merrett (6) and Mal Michael (5) have dominated this statistical category since it was introduced in 1999. Other single-season leaders have been Andrews (2), Joel Patfull (2), Justin Clarke (2), Shaun Hart (1), Jarrod Molloy (1) and Nigel Lappin (1).

Running Bounces

Tom Cutler topped the running bounce category with 12 – the lowest season total in Club history.

It was one fewer than Dayne Zorko’s 13 in 2017 and a long way short of Justin Sherman’s Club record 91 in 2006. 

Goal Assists

Jarrod Berry had the most goals assists for the Lions this year with 20 – the best since Luke Power had the same number in 2008.

Jason Akermanis holds the Club record 44, set in 2004.

Milestones

Key milestones reached by Lions players in 2018 were:

Luke Hodge – 7000 career possessions
Dayne Beams – 4000 career possessions, 150 career goals, 50 Lions games
Dayne Zorko – 3000 Lions possessions, 150 Lions goals
Mitch Robinson – 3000 career possessions
Darcy Gardiner – 1000 Lions possessions
Charlie Cameron – 1000 career possessions, 100 career goals
Allen Christensen – 1000 career possessions
Tom Cutler – 1000 Lions possessions, 50 Lions games
Nick Robertson – 1000 Lions possessions, 50 Lions games
Lewis Taylor – 100 Lions games
Stefan Martin – 100 Lions games
Sam Mayes – 100 Lions games
Daniel Rich – 100 Lions goals
Eriic Hipwood – 50 Lions games, 50 Lions goals
Dan McStay – 50 Lions goals