Lions.com.au takes a look at some of the players who stood out in the Club’s three-point victory over Greater Western Sydney in Wagga last Saturday night.

Disposals
Patrick Karnezis proved once again that he’s just as capable in the midfield as he is up forward, with a team-high 26 disposals against the Giants. Karnezis, who was also the team’s second highest ball-winner against Hawthorn in the opening round of the NAB Cup, finished with 13 kicks and 13 handballs.

Claye Beams was the second highest ball-winner with 21 disposals, while Jack Redden ranked third with 20 possessions.   

Contested Possessions
Although Karnezis found the ball more than any other Lions player, forward Aaron Cornelius topped the ‘contested possessions’ category.

In fact, all but one of Cornelius’ 13 disposals were contested. This ranked him first at the Lions, ahead of Beams who finished with 11.    

Marks
It’s not often that the smallest man on the team takes the most marks, that was the case at the Lions with Dayne Zorko working hard around the ground for an equal team-high seven marks.  

He wasn’t alone, however, with big defender Matt Maguire also taking seven grabs.

It’s also worth noting that fellow defender Justin Clarke took a team-high five marks from opposition kicks, highlighting the teenager from Booleroo’s ability to effectively read the play down back.

Clearances
In the absence of Daniel Rich and Simon Black, and with Tom Rockliff and Brent Moloney given limited game-time, Claye Beams stood up in the centre with a team-high five clearances.

Karnezis and Redden weren’t far behind with four apiece.  

Rebound 50s
Sam Docherty’s reputation as a rebounding defender was further enhanced, when the 19 year-old led the team with five rebound 50s. Docherty’s 15 disposals also came at an efficiency rate of 93.3%.

Tackles
Dayne Zorko contributed almost a quarter of the Lions’ total tackles last Saturday night with a team-high five.

In a match where the Lions only laid 22 tackles, Zorko was clearly the pick of the bunch. In fact, no other Lions player had more than two.

It’s certainly not a stat to be too concerned about, however, with lower tackle counts synonymous with the pre-season competition.  

Inside 50s
No player pumped the ball inside the Lions’ forward 50m more than Claye Beams last Saturday night in Wagga.

Beams finished with 10 inside 50s, with Zorko the next best with seven.

Super Goal
Dayne Zorko seems to be enjoying the modified rules of the NAB Cup – particularly the nine-point ‘super goal’.

Zorko has kicked a ‘super goal’ in two of his three pre-season matches (he didn’t participate in the 2012 NAB Cup) which is enough to have him ranked first at the Club in career ‘super goals’.

Brent Moloney has also kicked two nine-pointers throughout his career, although only one has come in Lions colours.    

Goals
As for regular six-point goals, Aaron Cornelius did his chances of a Round One senior selection no harm by booting a game-high five majors – and it could have been far more had he not booted four behinds also.  

Cornelius was clearly the match-winner up forward, with fellow keys Jonathan Brown and Jordan Lisle sidelined.  

Draftee Marco Paparone made the most of his limited opportunities up forward with two goals from just three kicks, while recruit Stefan Martin was the opposite with four misses in front of the big sticks.

Time on Ground
With NAB Cup matches allowing three substitutes, a number of Lions players were given limited duties last Saturday night in Wagga.

Mitch Golby played the least game-time (20%) after copping a heavy knock early, while Brent Moloney (45%), Tom Rockliff (49%) and Pearce Hanley (63%) also had their work load carefully managed.

Matthew Leuenberger (42%) also had some valuable match practice after coming on after half-time as the sub.

AFL Fantasy
The leading AFL Fantasy scores from NAB Cup Round 2 were as follows:

Aaron Cornelius 94
Dayne Zorko 90
Patrick Karnezis 80
Claye Beams 68
Jack Redden 66