The Brisbane Lions approached last Saturday’s match knowing they would need to apply a significant amount of pressure if they were to shoot down the high-flying Bombers.

In their previous visit to Etihad Stadium back in Round 4 against North Melbourne, the Lions laid just six tackles in the opening term and finished with an equal season-low 50 for the match.

It was a vastly different story this time around, with the Lions switched-on from the outset and finishing with 72 tackles – 23 more than their opponents.

The total was one shy of the season-best tally of 73 against the Western Bulldogs back in Round 1, however that figure was probably more indicative of the fact the Lions were generally second to the ball.

Assistant Coach Mark Harvey said the team’s lift in tackling intensity has been a significant factor in their form reversal in the past couple of weeks.

“(We didn’t) give them too much time in making their decision with the ball, and that’s relating to pressure and the way that we owned the ground from a positioning point of view,” Harvey told LIONS TV as part of the Vero Coaches’ Wrap. 

“That’s the sort of performance we were looking for.

“The writing was on the wall from the previous week against West Coast where, with six minutes to go, we were level with them. Unfortunately they kicked the last four goals, but our form had been quite good leading into this game.”

The Lions are ranked fourth in the AFL in terms of tackles (averaging 64.1 per game), with Jack Redden and Brent Moloney both among the competition’s top 15 tacklers.  

Redden, who ranks second overall with 60 tackles for the season, was again at the forefront last Saturday with a season-high 12 tackles.

Mitch Golby wasn’t far behind with a career-best 10.

The pressure applied to the Bombers has set a new benchmark for the Lions, who will need to bring that same level of intensity if they’re to cause another upset against Carlton this Saturday night at the Gabba.