Lions have stamina along with skill

One big question hanging over flag fancies Brisbane coming into this evening, after their 0-3 start to the year, was whether they could run games out.

It came about because last year’s grand finalists had been in commanding positions earlier in the season against both Carlton and Fremantle but lost those games.

Against the Blues, they blew a 46-point lead in their opening-round match. They were seven goals ahead early in the second quarter but went down by a solitary point.

The following week in round one against Fremantle, Brisbane kicked the opening four goals of the game before a five-goal run from the Dockers turned the game. It was momentum Fremantle rode to a 23-point lead.

These two games to start Brisbane’s 2024 campaign conjured questions around their stamina. Could they not adjust again after oppositions felt and worked them out in game, or could they just not run the four quarters out?

It was these thoughts that would have plagued Lions fans at half-time when Brisbane had kicked seven goals to two to hold a 30-point lead at the main change.

Yet, the Lions shook off their performances of the last few weeks - not including the 70-point win against 17th placed North Melbourne last Friday - to comprehensively outplay a top four side throughout the evening.

Well, Melbourne did finish the game with four goals on the trot, much to Chris Fagan’s displeasure. But they were the Lions of old (or at least of last year).

Melbourne, usually a hard-paced, hard-pressured side, couldn’t keep up with Brisbane, who proved they have the stamina to run out the match against the best.

Baptism of fire for Koltyn Tholstrup

It’s a big step up from the VFL to the AFL and 18-year-old Koltyn Tholstrup would have felt every inch of that in his debut against Brisbane.

After a few impressive outings in the VFL, the Western Australian, taken with pick 13 in last year’s draft, came into the side to replace suspended forward Kysaiah Pickett, and he had to do some heavy lifting early as the Dees struggled against the Lions, particularly, in applying some big tackles.

He had a set shot late in the third quarter when the Demons desperately needed a spark but couldn’t finish it off.

Despite this, it was an impressive first excursion out in a side that was comprehensively outworked all night.

Tholstrup finished with seven touches, three of those contested, four tackles and one score involvement.

With the Demons’ underperforming around the ball, the forward didn’t get to see too much of the ball and had to watch his opposition counterparts have a field day.

Charlie Cameron finished with three goals (looked like four for a minute there before score review determined a behind), Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Hugh McCluggage all two.

Concerns for Melbourne?

It’s not ideal when you’ve got two of the competition’s best midfielders on the park but they can’t get hands to the ball or have an influence on the game.

Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver finished with 18 and 20 possessions respectively, which isn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but nowhere near their usual disposal leading games.

By half-time, when the Demons had kicked just two goals and had the majority of damage done against them, the duo had nine and seven touches respectively, and one clearance between them.

Oliver in particular didn’t look his usual fit self. He had uncharacteristic fumbles, missed tackles and poor turnover handballs.

Brisbane won it in the air and on the ground. They won it at stoppages and in front of goals. Melbourne were 63 possessions in deficit, and trailed by nine in clearances, eight in inside 50s and 31 in tackles.

While many of their forwards barely touched the ball, including Harrison Petty, Ben Brown and Bayley Fritsch, the ball rarely made its way into the Demons’ inside 50.

They were completely outplayed, despite the best efforts from Max Gawn (23 touches) and Kade Chandler.

Alternatively, Josh Dunkley, 30 possessions, four tackles, and Dayne Zorko, 29 touches, five tackles ran riot, while Cam Rayner had a massive game with 25 disposals, nine clearances and four tackles.