The Brisbane Lions Reserves fielded their strongest team of the year and it showed as they pounded the defenceless Western Magpies by 187 points at Chelmer on Sunday.

Jed Adcock and Cheynee Stiller returned from injury, Sam Sheldon was in his second game back, and top QAFL performers Tom Rockliff and Albert Proud were primed after being relegated from the seniors.

The Magpies had no answer to the fast-paced running brand of football produced by the Lions in their 35.14 (224) to 5.7 (37) demolition.

Stiller was like a Rolls Royce through the opening half, winning the ball at will with sure hands and using it magnificently with his trusty left foot.

He kicked two first quarter goals and set up several others as the Lions raced to a 30-point lead at the first break.

The Magpies started with plenty of energy and had 2.2 on the board in the opening 10 minutes, but they would manage just one more score in the next hour of play. In between, the Lions kicked 19 unanswered goals.

The Magpies broke down badly across half-forward for most the day, with the ball rebounding back quickly.

Pearce Hanley cut them to shreds with his defensive work and his dashing rebound.

Countless times the Lions switched play and had runners streaming down the ground unmarked.

They added 9.3 to 0.0 in the second term, with PNG livewire Don Barry electrifying the crowd with his speed and skill, adding three of his four goals.

The Lions’ sheer size dwarfed the Magpies, who were frequently pushed aside and the third quarter saw the Lions pile on 11 goals as they ran roughshod over the opposition.

Aaron Cornelius enjoyed the glut of ball to kick five of his six goals in the second half, while top-up players Chris Wittkop and Sam Godfrey did not look out of place in a Lions jumper.

So impressive was Wittkopp, a Mt Gravatt-aligned player, that he was close to the Lions’ best six players.

Adcock was solid in his first game in a month, Sheldon ran freely while Proud and James Hawksley won their share of ball.

Broc McAuley again dominated the ruck and did some nice things around the ground and Ryan Harwood was like a bulldozer all day.

Meanwhile, draftee Callum Bartlett played his best game since returning from a knee reconstruction three weeks ago and looks a likely prospect for the Lions in the future.  

SCOREBOARD

Lions Reserves       8.2   17.5    28.11   35.14 (224)
Western Magpies   3.2    3.2     4.3       5.7 (37)
 
GOALS - Lions: Cornelius 6, Barry 4, Hanley 3, Rockliff 3, McCulloch 3, Retzlaff 3, Harwood 3, Stiller 2, Godfrey 2, Higgins 2, Spackman, Beams, Wittkopp, McCauley. Magpies: D. Hamill 2, G. Friis , L. Scott , J. Parkes.
 
BEST - Lions: C. Stiller, P. Hanley, T. Rockliff, C. Bartlett, B. McCauley, T. Collier. Magpies: R. Wenham, N. Ielasi, B. Moorhead, L. Scott, E. McDonnell, G. Moore.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE

TEAM                  P   W   L   D   B FF For   Agst   %         PTS
Southport              4    4    0    0   0   0    426   284    150.00  16 
Morningside          4    3    1    0   0   0    442   269    164.31  12 
Labrador               4    3    1    0   0   0    465   328    141.77  12 
Brisbane Lions       5    2    3    0   0   0    611   531    115.07  8 
Redland                 4    2    2    0   0   0    392   388    101.03  8 

Broadbeach           4    2    2    0   0   0    341   374     91.18   8 
Mt Gravatt             5    2    3    0   0   0   499   584     85.45    8  
Aspley                   4    2    2    0   0   0   364   453     80.35    8 
NT Thunder           4    1    3    0   0   0   421   391    107.67   4 
Western Magpies   4    0    4    0   0   0   234   593     39.46    0