Midfield duo Claye Beams and Amon Buchanan produced their ‘A’ games at Coorparoo on Saturday, with even Lions Reserves coach Nathan Clarke describing them as ‘dynamite’.

Beams took 20 minutes to get into the game and Buchanan a touch longer, but when they hit the afterburners at the start of the second term, Southport’s hopes in their Round 4 NEAFL clash were obliterated.

The beautifully balanced Beams and workhorse Buchanan dominated the clearances in a manner rarely seen against Southport and the result was a 9.3 to 0.0 quarter.

“They were the catalyst at the start of the second quarter that really got us going,” Clarke agreed. “It lifted the whole team. Everyone jumped on board and away we went.”

“It was a really pleasing effort.”

After trailing by nine points at the first change, the Lions led by 49 points at the long break and extended that to 78 points by the final siren, 22.15 (147) to 10.9 (69).

The ground level players capitalised on some quality ruckwork by an unexpected provider in the form of Irishman Niall McKeever.

The regular centre-half-back palmed the ball well but also had an influence around the ground with his strong running capacity and immaculate left-foot kicking.

Southport got the early break courtesy of some heavy work in the clinches by Darren O’Brien and their best player of 2011 Matthew Payne slipping away from his ‘tag’ to kick two late goals.

However, the Lions were delighted with the effort of Richard Newell, who rebounded to keep Payne to 14 possessions in the first three quarters and 22 mostly under pressure for the day.

“Richard is a scholarship boy who has ended up having 25 possessions,” Clarke said. “He struggled early with the role we had for him playing on Payne but knuckled down to the task after quarter-time, really embraced the role and did a good job.”

Josh Drummond played his first game in 12 months since undergoing a knee reconstruction and did some quality things in his two and a half quarters on the ground.

He took a strong mark under the ball at half-back in the opening two minutes, twice ran down the ground to set up scores in the second term, and kicked the ball well.

“We wrapped him up at three-quarter-time. He didn’t do a whole lot of work in the first half and was feeling good, but after halftime was a bit crampy, so it was best to be safe than sorry,” Clarke said.

The Lions had a plethora of good players.

Matt Austin was particularly good in the first half, Sam Sheldon did some nice things in defence, Ryan Harwood was strong in the midfield, Mitch Golby was prominent, and Josh Green was outstanding.

Patrick Karnezis and Josh Dyson also did some classy things.

It was a different story for the Sharks, who couldn’t keep pace with their opponents and uncharacteristically fumbled on a number of occasions.

Ben Headland worked hard at centre-half-forward against Drummond in the first half and was lively, while Tom Daniel was his side’s best across half-back.

However, he appeared to strain a hamstring 34 minutes into the long third term.

“I don’t think it’s really bad. He’s not too concerned about it but we’ll find out during the week,” said Sharks coach Norm Dare.

“That’s what happens when you’re going ordinary, your good players get hurt.”

While Clarke admitted Southport were unlucky to run into the Lions with several AFL calibre players in the side, Dare was adamant that his side had to be prepared for that.

“Yes, of course you do. It’s part of the way the game is played,” Dare said.

“They just completely beat us through the middle. It wasn’t just those guys (Beams and Buchanan) - they had plenty of help.”

“We were right off the boil. I thought our guys tried hard but we were completely out-run.”