The Lions Reserves have copped a 75-point loss at the hands of the Southport Sharks on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Fankhauser Reserve.
A strong start was nixed by inaccuracy, as the Lions kicked 0.4 to start the second term before the Sharks kicked the next 13 to set up the 17.8 (110) – 4.11 (35) win.
“Our inability to cash in and capitalise with set shots on goal really hurt us,” said coach Shane Woewodin.
“We go in three points up at quarter time, [we] should have been 3 goals up, and then we missed the first four shots in the second term.
“Realistically we could have been five or six goals up in the second.
“Very deflating, the disappointing thing is we let in eight goals after that… We let ourselves down in the second term with our effort”
Ryan Lester regained some form with 25 disposals and two goals, while Sunshine Coast product Soul Cormick (25 disposals, 5 tackles) continued his development as a promising inside midfielder.
Jacob Allison (17 disposals, 6 marks) showed his versatility and speed for his 194cm frame, and fellow Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy player Luca Mason chipped in with 17 touches of his own.
Curiously the Lions side contained two J. Claytons – Josh and Jack – who both finished with 21 disposals.
Jackson Paine (20 disposals) and Sam Skinner (16 disposals, 9 marks) were their usual consistent selves in defence, but they needed more help to halt the Southport onslaught.
Further hampering the Lions was the loss of Josh McGuinness (hamstring) and Claye Beams (knee) before half-time, as well as a shoulder injury in the first quarter restricting the impact of Jack Rolls throughout the match.
This meant that the Lions were left with just two rotations for the majority of the match, whilst under NEAFL rules the non-AFL reserves side Southport were able to call upon five bench players.
Woewodin expressed his dismay at the unequal bench ruling.
“It’s something I’ve raised with the competition in the past and I’ll continue to raise it… It is what it is at the moment,” he said.
“It’s certainly going to be a topic of conversation at the end of the year.”
Zak Saad kicked a bag for the Sharks, and was supported well by Matt Sully (23 disposals), Dylan Troutman (23) and Glenn Screech (20)
The Lions have a chance to redeem themselves on the big stage next week when they take on Aspley in a curtain raiser at the Gabba on Saturday.
SOUTHPORT 2.2 10.3 13.5 17.8 (110)
LIONS 2.5 2.9 2.9 4.11 (35)
GOALS:
Southport: Z Saad 5, Burton 3, Kiel 3, West 2, Franks, Burge, Erickson, Screech
Lions: Lester 2, Josh Clayton, Rolls
BEST:
Southport: Sully, Kiel, Z Saad, Keras, Thurlow, Screech
Lions: Lester, Cormick, Skinner, Allison, Jack Clayton
INJURIES:
Southport: Nil
Lions: McGuinness (hamstring), C Beams (knee), Rolls (shoulder)
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
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