HAVING seen his side capitulate after quarter-time for the second week running, Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch was left to rue the ‘really bad’ patches his side produced in its 72-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday.
“It was a bit of Groundhog Day,” he said post-match, referring to his side’s 87-point loss to the Crows last week.
“A very similar game to last week, started well (then) fell away really badly in the second quarter.”
Having taken advantage of the stiff breeze at their backs to open a 17-point advantage at quarter-time in Launceston, the Lions were swamped by the rampaging Hawks in a 10-goals-to-one second term that blew the game wide open.
“It’s funny, though, you have a bad quarter but they kick 10.1 and you kick 1.4 and put two out on the full. Sometimes it’s the accuracy of the opposition and the lack of accuracy of your own really makes that scoreboard come,” Leppitsch told reporters at Aurora Stadium.
In all, the Lions gave up 21 goals with 15 coming from turnovers, a statistic clearly reflecting inefficient ball use and indecision going forward.
Club captain Tom Rockliff did all he could to lead from the front with 45 disposals, 17 of which came in a remarkable opening term, and grafted his way to 11 clearances and 14 tackles to be the Lions’ stand-out performer alongside fellow midfielder Mitch Robinson.
“He (Rockliff) was very good, particularly in that first quarter (he) got us away,” Leppitsch said. “We probably didn’t have enough contributors to follow him.
“Apart from that it was just our mistake rate.”
In a positive sign for his developing side, Leppitsch was pleased his Lions matched the Hawks for contested possession, shading that particular area by 139-136 and in doing so achieving one of their main aims for the day.
“We actually won contested possession, so (there were) a couple of good things in there, but our bad patches are really bad. That’s really it.
“There were enough positive signs in the contest and what we’re trying to do to go forward.
“Today’s target was contested possession and we won it, so I’m pleased with them for that.
“We fell over at key times, didn’t halve contests, didn’t take the ball out of bounds. (Hawthorn) just played those little scenarios better than us as well, (so) we’ve still got a lot to learn.”
