Although Aspley suffered a 15-goal thrashing at the hands of Southport only one week earlier, the Lions were never going to take the Hornets lightly - particularly considering they remain the only side to have beaten Labrador so far in 2012.
“It was a good win in the end,” Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke said.
“We certainly weren’t guilty of underestimating them - because we know they are a far better side than they showed against Southport the week earlier. Two weeks prior to that, they had knocked over Labrador after kicking seven goals in the final term. I was very quick to remind our boys of that fact.”
“So even though we had quite a comfortable lead at three quarter time, we were always wary of them.”
“We have a very healthy respect for Aspley’s playing list and their coach, so we were always going to be focussed.”
In winning their fifth match from six starts, the Lions Reserves also surpassed their forgettable record of four-and-a-half wins from the entire 2011 NEAFL season which ‘earned’ the Club its first wooden-spoon in the local competition.
Obviously much has changed in 12 months.
“Having a healthier list has certainly contributed to our improved performances so far this season,” Clarke said.
“A few things conspired against us last year. We lost Fevola and Proud early which was always going to hurt us with numbers, and then we struggled to get any continuity considering the size of the senior team’s injury list.”
“The Club also seems to have really drafted well, and the Reserves are currently reaping the benefits of those young players.”
“This year we’ve had enough players to give us the luxury of resting some from time to time - and Justin Clarke and Patrick Wearden were given that opportunity this week.”
One of the recent draftees who has impressed over the past couple of weeks has been West Australian Elliot Yeo.
“Elliot was one of our best last week and had another good game against Aspley,” Clarke said.
“There were a few errant possessions where he jammed the ball down the throats of the opposition, but we’ve been most pleased with the way he’s been varying up his position on the field. When he first started we used him primarily on the wing, but now he’s playing more as an inside midfielder and can also play across half-forward or half-back as needed.”
Helping the younger players along last Saturday were a couple of relative ‘old heads’ in Cheynee Stiller and James Hawksley who really proved a class above the Reserves level.
“Those two guys really do give the team a bit more of a senior feel. They also give us some much-needed composure when the going gets tough,” Clarke said.
While the scoring load was shared among the 12 goal-kickers, 20 year-old Queenslander Bryce Retzlaff was once again the most dangerous big man up forward.
“Retzy took 15 marks and booted three goals. He has been a powerhouse for us this season with 46 shots on goal from his six games,” Clarke said.
“With a few guys being underdone - Amon Buchanan played his first game of the season, Jesse O’Brien came back from injury, and Sam Docherty is still being eased back into it - we had to reshuffle the team around a bit.”
“This meant that Brad Harvey found himself playing up forward in the second half, and he kicked a few as well. He has plenty of speed, so he was able to separate himself from his opponent well.”
Aside from the listed Lions players, Clarke also praised the efforts of Western Magpies top-up players Alexander Kitching, David Cummins and Scott Clarke - as well as promising Lions Academy teenager Isaac Conway.
“Isaac is one of our really talented top-age Academy boys - which means he’ll be in that first crop of kids who will eventually become available to us in a couple of years,” Clarke said.
“He’s a terrific young kid with a mature body. I remember when I was coaching the Academy, he was a class above the majority of his age group - and he’s continued his development very nicely and even added a bit muscle mass.”
“Isaac’s definitely one to keep an eye on. He’s versatile, but probably more suited as a midfielder.”
“AK (Kitching) won our Western Magpies Player of the Year award last year and was his usual lively self, and Clarke is a really good athlete.”
“Dave Cummins actually moved up from Canberra this year with the sole emphasis of playing senior NEAFL footy with us, so registered with the Western Magpies for that reason.”
“He is formerly from Eastlake, which is where I spent a fair of time playing and coaching, so I know a little bit about him.”
The Lions Reserves will face arguably their toughest test of the season this Saturday 12 May against the all-conquering Sydney Swans Reserves who are fresh from a 200-point belting of Sydney University in the Eastern Conference.
The Swans have long dominated the local competition, and feature a collection of quality senior AFL players including the likes of Mitch Morton and Nathan Gordon who each booted 10 goals in last week’s rout.
But Clarke said his team was as ready as ever to take it up to the NEAFL powerhouse.
“Every team in the NEAFL has its day, but just like their senior team, the Swans Reserves have been ultra-consistent for the best part of the last decade,” he said.
“And I should know because I’ve had plenty of experience coaching against their Reserves side during my time at Canberra. I remember them winning the local competition three years in a row without even losing a single game.”
“The last time we played them was in Round 22 last year and they belted us by 150 points. But it will certainly be a different ball game this time around.”
FINAL SCORE
Brisbane Lions 20.18 (138) d Aspley 16.10 (106)
LIONS GOALS
Harvey 3, Retzlaff 3, Lisle 3, Zorko 2, Conway 2, Sheldon, Buchanan, Dyson, Newell, O’Brien, Kitching, Bartlett
LIONS BEST
Stiller, Hawksley, Retzlaff, Wrigley, Cummins, S.Clarke
