Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch says a difficult start to the season – which sees the Brisbane Lions sit 18th on the ladder with just one win from their opening nine matches – has failed to dampen the spirits of his players.

Little seems to have gone right for Leppitsch in his debut season at the helm, yet he remained measured and realistic when discussing his team’s fortunes with Michael Whiting and Dom Fay as part of the regular Fancast on LIONS TV.

“On our current form, and with the injuries we’ve got, we probably sit in the bottom six on the ladder – that’s probably the reality of the team we’ve got at the moment,” Leppitsch told the Fancast.

“Everyone gets disappointed after a loss, so that part straight after a game is a bit low, but we have a plan in place. You don’t see anyone moping around the rooms here (during the week), it’s a real learning environment and we all know where we need to get to.

“Some things will happen quickly and some will take a bit of time. That’s the nature of football.”

A run of long-term injuries to senior personnel coupled with a tough draw haven’t made the task any easier for Leppitsch.

“I’ve probably had to adjust my expectations a little, that’s for sure,” he said.

“I knew this year that all our good players had to play well for us to be a competitive middle-of-the-road team. So without those players being available, or playing at their best, we are where we are.

“A lot of worst case scenarios have probably come true, to be perfectly frank. But we’re all upbeat and working through it.

“We’ve got a six week patch coming up now before our next break, and we have some real opportunities there. So we’ll come off the Bye feeling fresh and ready to go.”

Leppitsch said fans could expect to see some changes in personnel at the end of the season, as the Club plans to build its list through the Draft process.

“Make no mistake that there will be players at the end of this year and the next that won’t be at the football club. The changes will be made to get the list exactly how we want it,” he said.

“I’ve been in the AFL game for 22 years now, and I’m confident in the system itself. The system is designed for you to draft players, retain them, and develop them into a very good team.

“We’re part of that, and it’s very difficult to buck that trend. We know what phase we’re in. We just have to continue that process.

“Time will catch up, and our (players) bodies will be bigger and faster and more efficient, and we’ll become a better team.”

Leppitsch also hinted that fans could witness some more new faces in the senior team before the end of the season, with Archie Smith, Daniel McStay, Jordon Bourke and Zac O’Brien all chances of making their debut.