The visitors kicked 13 goals to two after the long break to run away with the match 16.22 (118) to 5.7 (37) and consign the winless Panthers to the foot of the NEAFL ladder.
The Lion cubs now sit jointly atop the standings with the Suns and Tigers, after Labrador inflicted Gold Coast’s first loss of the season yesterday.
Dayne Zorko, who was among the team’s best in his debut game in Lions colours, was pleased by the win - particularly the strong finish.
“It was a really good effort by the boys, against a side who we’ve struggled against in the last few years,” Zorko said.
“We lifted our intensity a few notches after the break. We knew their third quarter is traditionally their best so we matched them and eventually got on top and ran away with it in the end.”
A full day of torrential rain on Saturday meant Esplen Oval was swamp-like on Sunday. The turf was sodden and muddy, the slippery Sherrin made overhead marking virtually impossible, and the players hurtled along their backsides for hard ball gets.
The corresponding fixture last year ended in a draw, and during the opening exchanges yesterday it looked like another close finish was on the cards.
The Panthers kicked the opening goal, before Josh Green channelled Lionel Messi in slotting a left-footed goalsquare grubber to square up the contest.
Niall McKeever conceded a holding free kick directly in front soon after, and Morningside co-captain Kent Abey converted.
A Zorko poster and a brace of Bryce Retzlaff behinds frustrated the away team, and the 2010 Premiers led 2.1 (13) to 1.5 (11) at the first change.
The second quarter continued in the same vein as the opener; stoppages aplenty, countless hacks of the footy off the ground and very few clean passages of play.
Forward flanker Alex Kitching snapped the first of his three majors of the afternoon, before Morningside responded through Sam Faure.
Five near misses between Retzlaff and makeshift forward Billy Longer, as well as Kitching’s second goal was enough to give the Lions a ten point buffer at the half way mark.
The visitors were undoubtedly the better side in the second quarter, but their inaccuracy kept Morningside in the game. There was a sense around the ground that if the Lions could kick straight in the second half they could run out big winners.
In the end that’s exactly what happened.
Ryan Harwood goaled after a pinpoint James Hawksley pass, Rohan Bewick hoofed one through from long-range, and Retzlaff finally registered his first major.
Irish import McKeever wandered forward to spot up Zorko, who snapped his first goal in Lions colours and Jordan Lisle’s endeavour was rewarded when he dribbled one home.
Within 15 minutes the Lions had skipped out to a six-goal lead, and as the rain started to fall it looked to be an unassailable advantage.
AFL draft hopeful Jackson Starcevich pegged one back for the Panthers, but they still trailed by 36 points at three-quarter-time.
Morningside harboured hopes of an unlikely comeback after Alistair Nash was swung forward and kicked truly within the first minute of the final stanza.
But any chance of a home team win was quashed as the Lions banged on four quick majors to push their lead beyond 50.
Retzlaff and Lisle kicked their second and third goals, Zorko got another, and the Lions started to string together some attractive passages of play.
One such highlight which will surely buoy fans came when 2012 No.12 draft pick Sam Docherty combined brilliantly with Dayne Zorko to ignite an attacking thrust.
Docherty spun on a dime, evaded two tackles, turned and speared a pass to Zorko who dived full-length and slid to complete the mark just outside the 50.
Docherty was eased back into the action but still accumulated 19 touches, whilst Zorko was ‘absolutely stoked’ to register 32 possessions and 14 tackles.
The goal of the day came at the death when Justin Clarke chipped along the wing to Elliot Yeo who handballed over the top of a defender, regathered and roosted a pass to Rohan Bewick who drained his second long bomb from 50 metres.
The 81-point full time margin was fitting considering the Lions’ 72-35 inside 50 dominance.
Zorko says he knew his team’s physical conditioning would go a long towards securing the win.
“We definitely felt as though we would run the game out well. Everyone’s had a full pre-season and is travelling really well. We knew we’d eventually wear them down with our run, and that’s what happened,” he said.
Elliot Yeo had his best game for the season with 35 disposals, Stephen Wrigley and Justin Clarke were stoic down back, and Ryan Harwood was seemingly at the bottom of every pack.
There was little to celebrate for the Panthers, but they would’ve been heartened by the efforts of Jesse Wallen and Adam Spackman and Damian Bonney, who battled manfully all day in a well-beaten side.
The Lions Reserves next play Aspley on Saturday May 5 at Yeronga.
