And when you have one of the game’s premier key forwards in your line-up, you can almost understand the reasons for having such a heavy reliance on just one individual.
But with Brown sidelined for most of 2011 due to some severe facial injuries, the Lions were forced to find other avenues to goal.
Now, in hindsight, those difficult times without their inspirational spearhead seem to have helped the team learn to better share the scoring load among more players.
This was probably most evident during the Lions’ stirring Round 10 win over top four contenders West Coast, when 10 different players kicked goals and Brown contributed just the one.
It was proof that they could kick a winning score without Brown having a profound impact on the scoreboard.
A similar scenario unfolded last Saturday night against St Kilda when the Lions achieved a season-best 11 different goal-kickers, but obviously failed at the last hurdle to overcome the Finals-bound Saints.
Daniel Merrett, Rohan Bewick and Tom Rockliff each booted two goals, while the remaining eight goals were all singles.
With a more multi-dimensional forward-line, Brown has had the luxury of spending more time in his preferred centre half-forward position, where he has averaged 16.4 disposals and 8.4 marks per game over his past 10 matches.
He still leads the Lions’ goal-kicking this season with 26, but former full-back Merrett is not far behind with 23.
Merrett’s achievement is particularly remarkable considering he managed just 17 goals from his first nine AFL seasons.
Midfielder Daniel Rich and Rockliff have also proven effective in front of goals this season with 14 apiece, while Aaron Cornelius (12 goals) and Ash McGrath (11 goals) round out those with double figure totals.
Bewick (9 goals) and Dayne Zorko (8 goals) are among a host of others averaging close to one goal per game.
Even Andrew Raines, who had kicked just two goals in first eight AFL season, has already booted five from his 12 matches in 2012.
Like the common phrase suggests, the Lions are beginning to show that “many hands make light work”.
Different goal-kickers in 2012 (by Round)
Round 1 - 9
Round 2 - 7
Round 3 - 4
Round 4 - 9
Round 5 - 4
Round 6 - 6
Round 7 - 6
Round 8 - 6
Round 9 - 9
Round 10 - 10
Round 11 - Bye
Round 12 - 7
Round 13 - 8
Round 14 - 10
Round 15 - 6
Round 16 - 11
Lions’ leading goal-kickers 2012
26 - Brown (85)
23 - Merrett (
14 - Rich
14 - Rockliff
11 - McGrath
11 - Cornelius
9 - Bewick
8 - Polkinghorne
8 - Polec
8 - Zorko
7 - Karnezis
7 - Green
