The Brisbane Lions predict the shortage of experience in the VFL side will lead to a fast-tracked development of the Club’s first and second year players.

An undermanned Lions VFL outfit lost to Carlton by 69 points at Ikon Park on Saturday but coach Mitch Hahn said the silver lining to the lack of experience was the opportunities being presented to players.

The Blues jumped the Lions with a 12 goal to three opening quarter and Hahn praised the efforts from experienced pair Rhys Mathieson and Tom Fullarton to stop the rout after the first break.

Mathieson collected 18 touches and kicked four goals in a half of footy while Fullarton finished with a game high 34 disposals.

“Tommy and Rhys showed some tremendous leadership for us,” he said.

“The work they did in the second quarter to take the momentum off Carlton was exceptional and they dragged their team-mates with them.

“It was a pretty even battle after that and there were some encouraging signs from such a young side.”

With mainstays Archie Smith, Ely Smith, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Tom Joyce unavailable through injury and the likes of Deven Robertson, Jaxon Prior and Tom Berry on senior duty, it was a young and vastly inexperienced Lions side.

Mathieson only played a half before heading to Marvel Stadium and when Henry Smith was injured in the opening half, the Lions finished the game with just two men on the bench for the second week in a row.

Hahn was forced to get creative with his positioning of players and predicted the experienced would serve them well in the future.

Deividas Uosis played in the midfield in just his fourth game of Australian Football while fellow Gaelic convert James Madden spent the game on the wing.

The Coleman brothers, Keidean and Blake both left their usual hunting ground inside the attacking 50m arc to play on the ball.

“We used a lot of players in positions they weren’t familiar with and I think that can ultimately be beneficial to them,’’ he said.

“In modern footy you need to have a few different strings to your bow and to get exposed to 0some on the job training at different roles, it will only help these boys with their development.’’