JUSTIN Leppitsch says he is prepared to wear mistakes from his young Brisbane Lions team if they continue to take the game on.

The most glaring problem in Sunday's 53-point loss against West Coast – the Lions' fourth to start 2015 – was their poor ball use, particularly in the first half.

However, for the second week in succession, Leppitsch has preached patience, and says he is far happier with his team taking risks and failing, rather than playing conservatively and minimising the damage.

He needs to be patient, too, as poor kicking turnovers led directly to three of West Coast's first four goals when the game was in the balance.

"We're going to make mistakes," Leppitsch said.

"In your pursuit to get to the top of the summit, you're going to fall over every now and again. That's where we're at.

"Maybe it is a confidence thing, but I'm encouraging the boys to keep going and keep going. We have no choice but to continue that."

Young defender Tom Cutler – playing his first game of the season and eighth of his career – epitomised the Lions' day.

Two horrible turnovers in the first quarter led directly to goals, but he worked hard for the final three quarters and ended with a career-high 32 touches.

As Leppitsch said, it was two steps forward and one back with both Cutler and the team.

"We can't go down playing conservative, old footy and kick to contest to contest to contest, because I don't think there's much solution in that either," he said.

After being dropped for round two, out-of-contract youngster James Aish had another poor showing with six disposals and was substituted during the third quarter.

Leppitsch said his form was indicative of being a second-year player – up-and-down.

Unfortunately for the Lions, most of their team is in the same bracket, with nine players who lined up against the Eagles in their third year or less.

"He's a kid in his second year," Leppitsch said of Aish's subbing.

"Tom Cutler's been in-and-out, was good today. Nick Robertson's been in-and-out and I thought he was good today. This is the cycle of it.

"I'd love to get 22 weeks and 44 hours out of those young kids but (we're) probably not going to get it.

"We've got to sometimes give them some time on the field to improve. We'd all like it to happen tomorrow, and don't worry I do too, more than anyone, but we have to keep persisting and pursuing and playing the way we play. It'll get better."