WITH 12 consecutive wins to its name, facing the reigning premier and flag favourite on its home turf may have been a daunting prospect for Michael Voss, but the Brisbane Lions coach is adamant his side made significant strides against the mighty Collingwood on Saturday night.
Speaking after the Lions trumped the Magpies in two quarters and pegged back the margin to 18 points, Voss believes his team's seven-goal-to-two final term offered Lions fans a glimpse of their emerging side.
"If members and fans are looking at the way we are going about things they should look at that against a pretty good opposition," he said.
Despite the side recording just four wins this season, Voss is adamant his young brigade are on the right path towards climbing the ladder next season, especially after testing its mettle against the competition leaders.
"We are slowly becoming tougher as a group and becoming much more resilient. Obviously we have had some hard times but I generally believe the group we have got emerging is getting tougher," he said.
"It is a trait you have got to have to get to the next level and we're far from that next level as you know, and the ladder position says that."
"But for that emerging group to come together and have that faith and ability with each other… it's a pretty good starting point."
With the Lions decimated by injuries this season and the futures of Simon Black and Luke Power up in the air, Voss is buoyed by the younger players coming through the ranks and taking ownership of the group. The Lions have blooded 12 debutants this year.
Of the young leaders, Matthew Leuenberger again shone for the Lions, while midfield combination Jack Redden and Tom Rockliff were the leading possession winners for their team with 30 and 29 disposals respectively.
"We are getting others that are stepping up to do that job… There are still areas we have to get better and with more time together and another pre-season together I'm sure we will see some genuine improvements," he said
"We have long way to go as a club and as a team but in terms of being able to see glimpses of what we need to see, we are getting some encouraging signs."
Despite holding the Magpies to their second lowest victory margin for the season, Voss said his side must not get into the habit of accepting honourable losses and implored his side to sustain that performance for 120 minutes against West Coast next Saturday night at the Gabba.
"This is the fine line as a coach where you sit here and say, 'Yeah we're making progress in these areas,' but that doesn't mean you actually sit here and accept a loss," he said.
"You have got to be able to be good enough to do it for long enough to win those games and capitalise on last quarters by being able to build scoreboard pressure on the opposition."
