Stats Breakdown: Round 11
Jonathan Brown has moved up on the list of all-time VFL/AFL goal-kickers
Jonathan Brown’s three goals against Carlton last Saturday night were enough to see him move into outright 33rd position on the VFL/AFL's all-time leading goal-kickers list.
Brown has now kicked 590 career goals, edging past former Adelaide and Fremantle full forward Tony Modra (588 goals) in the process.
Fans can expect the three-time Club Champion to move further up the list in the coming weeks.
He sits just three goals behind Kelvin Templeton (593 goals with Footscray and Melbourne), and four goals behind St Kilda’s Stewart Loewe (594 goals).
While we’re on Brown, it’s important to note that he was the only player in the match against the Blues to play 100% of game time – despite also being the oldest on the field at 32 years of age.
O’BRIEN’S MEMORABLE DEBUT
The Lions’ latest debutant, Zac O’Brien, started the match as the substitute, but was activated earlier than expected after ruckman Trent West was injured before half time.
O’Brien made the most of his opportunity, racking up 15 disposals, two clearances and two tackles in effectively half a game.
He also kicked a clutch goal late in the final term – aided by a 50m penalty – which gave the Lions a narrow lead.
The 23-year-old won’t soon forget his first ever AFL match.
ROCKLIFF BREAKS THE TAG
Tom Rockliff was paid the ultimate compliment when Blues coach Mick Malthouse sent tagger Andrew Carrazzo to him at the opening bounce.
Rockliff was kept relatively quiet early on, but continued to work his way into the game and, in the end, proved one of the main catalysts behind his team’s come-from-behind victory.
He finished with a team-high 36 disposals (22 contested) – his sixth 30-plus disposal game in eight outings this season – as well as six marks, nine clearances, and a game-high 13 tackles.
There’s little wonder why so many fans are suggesting Rockliff could be in line for his second Merrett-Murray Medal come season’s end.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
While Rockliff has received the majority of accolades from the media, Jack Redden continues to go about his business with little fuss week-in, week-out.
Redden collected 28 disposals against the Blues, and was one of the main drivers in the Lions’ engine room with a game-high 10 clearances.
BETTER IN RED TIME
Across their first 11 matches of 2014, the Brisbane Lions have conceded 59.59 (413 points) in time on this season (20-plus minute-mark) – the second worst in the competition behind GWS Giants.
The Lions also boast the unenviable record of having kicked the least amount of scores in ‘red time’ – with 30.31 (211).
That’s a differential of 202 points – or a deficit of 18.4 points per game purely from scores kicked after time on.
However, the Lions bucked the trend on Saturday night against Carlton, kicking 6.8 (44) in red time compared to the Blues’ 3.6 (24).
Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch couldn’t quite provide an explanation for the turnaround post-match, but will no doubt be hoping to use that same formula throughout the second half of the season.
SPECIAL EVENT GUERNSEYS
Both of the Lions’ two wins so far this season have been achieved while wearing one-off celebration guernseys.
The Club’s first ever ANZAC guernsey was worn during the team’s Round 6 win over St Kilda in Wellington, and it happened again last Saturday night when the Lions donned their first ever Indigenous guernsey.
Call it a coincidence, but the Lions also wore a Bears-inspired commemorative Hall of Fame guernsey in Round 8 in what was arguably the team’s next best performance of the year – a narrow loss to Essendon at the Gabba.
NOT A ONE-TRICK PAPARONE
Marco Paparone was probably a bit stiff to be overlooked for a Rising Star nomination for his breakthrough performance against Essendon, but the East Fremantle teenager has since shown that he can maintain that level of consistency.
Paparone was again pivotal to the Lions in just their second win of the season, with 22 disposals – his second 20+ possession game this season – plus seven marks.
He also finished with a goal, but could have potentially had three if not for two near misses.
Could he become the third Lion to get a Rising Star nod in six weeks?
AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Tom Rockliff – 150 points
2. Jack Redden – 120 points
3. Dayne Zorko – 114 points
4. Marco Paparone – 99 points
5. Pearce Hanley – 99 points
WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Redden, Dayne Zorko (23 disposals and two goals), Rockliff, Joel Patfull (kep Jarrad Waite to just seven touches), and Brown 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. http://fansmvp.lions.com.au/vote/round?