It might have taken 18 senior matches, but defender Justin Clarke booted the first goal of his AFL career on Saturday at Adelaide Oval.
Clarke, who hails from country South Australia, was shifted forward momentarily during the match against Port Adelaide as his side struggled to score.
He had previously been the longest-serving player on the Lions’ current list to have never scored a goal in a senior AFL match – a mantle that has now been passed onto teammates Sam Michael and Michael Close (although both have only played three games).
BIG TEST FOR WEST
After his first four games as a Lions player, Trent West has averaged a career-best 10.7 disposals and 3.7 marks as the team’s back-up ruckman.
But with Matthew Leuenberger expected to spend some time on the sidelines with a knee injury, West will be forced to shoulder greater responsibility in the middle.
Playing a lone hand after half-time against Port Adelaide, he had 13 disposals (at an impressive 83% efficiency) to go along with five marks and 22 hitouts.
The former Geelong premiership ruckman moved to Brisbane at the end of 2013 in search of more senior minutes – and he should get plenty in the coming weeks.
ROCKLIFF FLIES THE FLAG
For the second week in a row, Tom Rockliff was a shining light in an otherwise disappointing performance from the Lions.
The Vice-Captain racked up 30 disposals, laid 13 tackles, and ended up with almost 40 more AFL Fantasy points than his next best teammate (Jack Redden).
With promising outings in each of his three matches so far this season, Rockliff would be doing his chances of a potential second Merrett-Murray Medal no harm in the early stages of the season.
THREE DEBUTS
The Lions boasted one the Club’s least experienced line-ups against Port Adelaide, with six players with less than 10 senior matches.
Among those were two AFL debutants – Nick Robertson and Tom Cutler – while Jackson Paine represented the Lions for the first time since moving across from Collingwood over the off-season.
Robertson finished with 14 disposals, three clearances, three tackles and four inside 50s, while Cutler had nine touches after coming on as the substitute to replace Leuenberger.
Paine was given limited opportunities up forward with the Lions having just 28 inside 50s for the match, but he still managed to lay five tackles and collect nine possessions.
DISPOSAL DOMINATION
Port Adelaide dominated possession – with 114 more disposals for the match.
Even more glaring was the fact that eight Port players had 25 or more disposals, with their skipper Travis Boak leading the way with a career-best 41.
Rockliff, meanwhile, was the only Lions player to collect 25 or more, with Brent Moloney next best with 23.
INTERCHANGES
The Lions had a season-low 90 rotations, largely due to the fact that they were down two men – Matthew Leuenberger and Pearce Hanley – after half time.
INJURY WOES
Although the prognosis on Leuenberger and Hanley won’t be known until later today, the pair are expected to be the latest experienced players to join a growing casualty list.
With Daniel Rich, Brent Staker, Josh Green, Daniel Merrett, Stefan Martin, Ash McGrath, and Claye Beams all sidelined, the Club could ill-afford to lose more senior bodies.
But if there are any positives to take from a bad situation, it’s that some of the team’s younger players can expect to get plenty of senior opportunities in the coming weeks.
AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Tom Rockliff – 133 points
2. Jack Redden – 94 points
3. Jed Adcock – 91 points
4. Jordan Lisle – 82 points
4. Brent Moloney – 82 points
WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Rockliff, Redden, Moloney, Sam Mayes, Dayne Zorko, and Adcock as the Lions’ best, but who do YOU think were the team’s three best players?
Vote now online for the Club Player of the Year
