HANLEY AND ROCKLIFF AND ZORKO…OH MY!

Pearce Hanley, Tom Rockliff and Dayne Zorko proved why they are among the most damaging players in the AFL competition last Saturday night against the Suns.

All three posted career-best numbers, which was a huge contributing factor towards the emphatic 54-point victory.

Rockliff’s 47 disposals broke his own Club record set last month against Fremantle in Subiaco, while Hanley’s career-best 45 touches stands as the equal second most in Club history.

The pair combined for a remarkable 92 possessions, 20 clearances and 15 tackles.

Gold Coast product Zorko, who was originally overlooked by his local Suns, also had a night out with 32 possessions (22 contested) and 10 clearances – all of which were career-bests.

Furthermore, Zorko had six shots on goal – but finished with just 2.4. Had a few more of his snaps gone through the big sticks, he might have rivalled Hanley for the Marcus Ashcroft Medal.

MARCUS ASHCROFT MEDAL

Pearce Hanley became the fifth Lions player in eight QClashes to receive the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best-on-ground.

Hanley joins esteemed company in Simon Black (QClash 2), Tom Rockliff (QClash 3), Jonathan Brown (QClash 5), and Matthew Leuenberger (QClash 6).

Although Rockliff and Zorko both pressed their claims for the Medal with brilliant performances, Hanley proved the standout with 45 disposals, nine marks, nine clearances, five tackles, 11 inside 50s, two goals, and two goal assists.

It was a near perfect game for the Irishman, who also came close to breaking the AFL record for most meters gained in a single match with more than 1,000.

DOUR DEFENCE

Since he returned to Brisbane late last year, Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch’s game plan has been based around the ‘defence first’ principle – not surprising given he was one of the greatest centre half-backs in the modern game.

Leppitsch would have been thrilled with the team’s ability to stifle their opposition in recent weeks.

Since the Fremantle massacre in Round 13, the Lions have held their opposition to less than 80 points in each of their past four games.

Their best result was last Saturday night, when they restricted the Suns to just 8.8 (56).

McSTAY ON THE BOARD

It has become a trend lately for the Lions defenders to drift forward and impact the scoreboard, and draftee Daniel McStay was the latest to get a piece of the action.

McStay booted the first goal of his young career late in the final term, leaving just Nick Robertson (seven games) and Sam Michael (three) as the only Lions players to have played in a senior match, but never kicked a goal.

SHARING THE LOAD

Speaking of goal-kickers, the Lions had 10 last Saturday night, half of which booted multiples.

The Club’s leading goal-kicker for 2014, Josh Green, led the way again with three majors, giving him 25 for the season so far. Green also dished off two goal assists.

Multiples to Zorko, Hanley, Close, and McGrath showed that a number of players are starting to step up in the absence of retired champion Jonathan Brown.

SUPER STEF STRIKES AGAIN

He has featured in this column for the past seven weeks, but Stefan Martin’s super form certainly warrants it.

Martin continued his ruck dominance on the weekend, with 19 disposals, 37 hitouts, three clearances, four tackles, and six inside 50s.

Over the past seven matches, Martin could stake claim as being the best ruckman in the competition. If not for missing the first half of the season, he might have even come under serious consideration in the All-Australian team.

AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR…

Marco Paparone’s omission from the senior team ahead of QClash8 leave just four players – Jed Adcock, Justin Clarke, Dayne Zorko, and Lewy Taylor – who have played every game so far this season.

BEWICK CLAIMS ANOTHER SCALP

Rohan Bewick seems to have thrived on a new-found run-with role, and he claimed another huge scalp during Saturday’s QClash.

Bewick had the job on Harley Bennell, who has been a regular thorn in the side of the Lions in recent meetings, and held him to just 14 disposals and no goals.

It was a great result for the home side, particularly considering Bennell had averaged 19 disposals and kicked 10 goals in previous QClashes.

CONTESTED FOOTBALL

Winning the contested football was a key focus for the Lions, particularly as the Suns ranked among the leading contested ball teams in the competition.

The Lions finished with 22 more contested possessions than their opponents (165-143) and also smashed the Suns in clearances 55-34.

The Rockliff-Zorko-Hanley trio alone racked up an astonishing 30 clearances between them.   

CRISP TAKES HIS CHANCE

In his first match of 2014, Jack Crisp did enough to suggest that he could become a more regular member of the senior side in the final stretch of matches in 2014.

Crisp had 20 disposals, four clearances, seven tackles, seven inside 50s, and a goal in conditions that probably suited the hard-nosed ball-winner.

In the next five weeks, Crisp will be determined to prove that he still has plenty to offer the Lions at senior level.

AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Tom Rockliff – 190 points
2. Pearce Hanley – 182 points
3. Dayne Zorko – 136 points
4. Stefan Martin – 122 points
5. Jack Crisp – 97 points

WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Hanley, Zorko, Rockliff, Martin, Green, Patfull, and Crisp as the Lions’ best, but who do YOU think were the team’s three best players?

Vote now online for the Club Player of the Year