The reserves were scuttled by 35 points by an ultra impressive Morningside outfit at the Gabba on Saturday night, despite throwing everything at the Panthers.
The good news was the form of defender Jason Roe, who blanketed Morningside’s star forward Kent Abey for the second time this season.
With Morningside’s dominant midfielder pumping plenty of ball forward, Roe not only took care of his opponent, but was constantly running to provide an option down the ground.
Ruckmen Joel Tippett and Daniel Murray contributed strongly in the first and second halves respectively.
Tippett leapt high at the centre bounces and worked hard around the ground against quality Morningside veteran Jacob Gough, while Murray provided a midfield and forward threat in the second.
They could not improve the side’s fortunes however.
The Lions certainly were switched on at the start and showed the Panthers they had come to play.
They had two goals on the board in the opening four minutes and looked set to give Morningside’s 14-game winning streak a real fright.
Yet the game was all over as a contest by late in the third term when the home side trailed by nine goals.
The Lions never gave it away and kicked six goals in the final quarter, but the Panthers prevailed 21.11 (137)-15.12 (102).
Morningside’s tackling pressure all over the ground was fierce and four of their seven goals in the opening term were the result of pressure applied on the Lions’ ball carriers.
The Lions also had trouble stopping Morningside’s run off half-back, trailing by 20 points at quarter-time and 42 points at halftime.
Ryan Holman, Damien Bonney and crack recruit Mark Kimball were all outstanding in the first half for the visitors.
Kimball’s speed was breathtaking and he had a hand in a number of goals as he set up teammates downfield.
So potent were the Panthers that nine different players contributed to their first 12 goals.
The Lions suffered a blow near halftime when the strong-marking Aaron Cornelius was assisted from the ground very groggy and he did not reappear until the final term.
Fellow key forward Lachlan Henderson played just the second half on his return from injury and showed some good signs at centre-half-forward.
Morningside 7.3 12.8 17.10 21.11 (137)
Brisbane Lions 4.2 6.2 9.7 15.12 (102)
GOALS - Morningside: Logan 7, Wilson 4, Mugavin 2, Abey 2, Bonney 2, Upton, Kimball, Brown, Clark. Lions: Driffield 3, Murray 2, Rockliff 2, Yagmoor 2, Henderson, Cornelius, Dalziell, Clouston, Austin.
BEST - Morningside: Wilson, Logan, Holman, Gough, Kimball, Shelton. Lions: Rockliff, Dalziell, Banfield, Dzufer, Austin, Murray.
