The Brisbane Lions Reserves came crashing back to earth with a 95-point defeat at the hands of the NT Thunder on Friday night.

Despite the lop-sided 27.17 (179) to 13.6 (84) scoreline, there were some bright parts for the Lions including the continued good form of mature-aged ruckman Broc McCauley.

The former Southport and Queensland representative has not played a poor game over the last month and won a high-class ruck battle with the Thunder’s highly-rated Kenrick Tyrrell.

McCauley stood up well in what was an at-times physical ruck contest and floated forward to kick two goals as well.

Irishman Pearce Hanley also worked hard against the odds at full-back, keeping a tight lid on 2009 leading goalkicker Darren Ewing.

Despite a torrent of ball coming down, Ewing did not kick his first goal until late in the first term and managed four for the match, while Hanley also provided some useful rebound.

PNG international rookie Don Barry contributed four goals and caught the eye at times, while Jesse O’Brien and Josh Dyson tried hard against the odds.

“There’s no excuses,” said Lions coach Craig McRae. “We didn’t do what we needed to do early in the match which made things very difficult for the rest of the night.”

In fairness to the Lions, they lined up with 13 listed players, missing Tom Rockliff, Albert Proud, James Polkinghorne and James Hawksley to the senior traveling party to Adelaide.

All four had been in dominant early season form, reflected in Rockliff’s bold 27-possession showing against Port.

The reserves cause wasn’t helped when they lost terrier Ryan Harwood early in the second quarter with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. Harwood was on crutches after the match and will be a big loss for the Lions moving forward once the damage is assessed back in Brisbane.

Due to limited rotations Dyson, Claye Beams and O’Brien all had extended time as inside midfielders and will benefit from the exposure.

The crowd of 2058 at TIO Stadium was on its feet early with the home side producing a blistering start.

The damage was done early with 8 goals to 2 in the first quarter, 6 goals to 2 in the second, and a whopping 11 goals to 3 in the third, highlighting the home team’s attack on the ball and smooth flow into its scoring zone.

The margin blew out to 121 points in the last term, but the Lions kicked the final four goals of the game to bring it back to 95 points at the final siren

Fourteen players made their debuts for the Thunder and despite having only the one pre-season hitout, the locals gelled well from the first bounce. They feasted on the midfield supremacy of 2009 best and fairest winner Cameron Ilett, the ever-dangerous Bradley Palipuaminni, and a rebounding halfback line led by debutant Rupert Pupungamirri.

In Round 1 2009 it was James Puautjimi who lit up the stadium, but last night the Thunder unveiled their 2010 model, with Zephi Skinner (3), Matt Rosier (1) and Gerry Cunningham (4) all serving early notice of their capabilities inside forward 50.

Youngster Steven May is a wonderful talent and his three goals were all from strong marks and penetrating finishing.

Rosier, from West Alice Springs via the SANFL, was fantastic in his defensive pressure, Cunningham had the crowd on their feet a number of times during his third quarter cameo, and Skinner at some stage this season will take “mark of the year” and plays a lot taller than his 189cm.

Former Noosa forward Luke Tyrrell was solid at half back for the Thunder and invariably rolled back to give his team overlap numbers behind the ball, but it was Pupungamirri who earned the Lord Mayor’s Medal for his poise and clinical disposal.

Another exciting debutant Virgil Robertson finished with four second half goals and the 19-year-old who travelled close to 800km to get to Darwin epitomizes the length and breadth of the Thunder talent net.

Next week the Thunder head to Victoria Point to take on Redland and if the game is half as good as the two epics played in 2009 it will be another one for the purists. The Lions, after a 92-point win followed by a 95-point loss, will be keen to return to normality at the Gabba fortress against the reigning premiers Morningside.