The Lions Reserves ran out 63-point winners over Broadbeach at H&A Oval on the Gold Coast.
Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke was pleased that his team could overcome a tight first half to eventually overrun some quality opposition.
“Broadbeach have a pretty handy line-up. The have some quality players - including Ezra Poyas and Jay Neagle who are former senior AFL players - and are a big-bodied side,” Clarke said.
“Then there’s Jason Eagle who has had a couple of really good seasons and is a 80-plus goal-kicking power forward.”
“We thought we’d try and expose them with our run, but we obviously needed to get the ball first! So it was a good effort physically by our guys.”
The match saw the return of Andrew Raines from a pre-season knee injury, while damaging defender Josh Drummond made further progress from hip surgery with another full hitout.
“Rainsey played a full game, although we looked after him with our rotations. He found a bit of the ball and did some really good defensive work,” Clarke said.
“Drummo also played a full game and got through really well. He should now be available for senior selection this week I would’ve thought.”
Clarke also commented on the team’s current luxury of options up forward.
“Cornelius and Retzlaff both kicked four goals and Billy Longer was really good in the ruck - so it’s a fair luxury to have that group of players available should we need,” he said.
“Patty Karnezis also did a good job, although he played mainly across half-back with Ryan Harwood. So we obviously tried a few different things.”
“Harwood was our major ball-winner for the day across half-back and showed that he’s not just a one-trick pony.”
“Justin Clarke was also really good down back and held Eagle goalless.”
“Meanwhile Josh Green and Jack Crisp were probably our two best midfielders. It was a particularly good effort from Jack who’d had a tough week following the passing of his grandfather. It was good for him to come back and play the way he did.”
“Callum Bartlett also spent a bit more time in the midfield and showed some real improvements. He still just needs continuity in his game and regain his speed and agility off the mark.”
“But like all players coming back from serious injury, that just takes time.”
The Lions Reserves will head down to Blacktown this Saturday to face the GWS Giants at their new home base.
“I jumped on their website the other day to read a bit about them and saw that Luke (Power), Dean Brogan and a couple other senior players could be back this week, which means a couple of their better players will drop back into the Reserves,” Clarke said.
“They’re also coming off a hiding from the Swans, so we expect them to be very strong and offer some tough competition.”
FINAL SCORE
Brisbane Lions 18.16 (134) d Broadbeach 8.13 (61)
LIONS GOALS
Cornelius 4, Retzlaff 4, Bartlett 2, Dyson 2, Lisle 2, Cummins 2, Drummond, Harvey
LIONS BEST
Green, Harwood, Crisp, Longer, Retzlaff, Clarke
