BRISBANE Lions will be fighting to avoid the wooden spoon when they take on the Hawks at Aurora Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Coming off an 87-point defeat at the hands of Adelaide, Lions’ Coach Justin Leppitsch will be hoping for a more consistent performance, despite facing the reigning premiers. 

 “There was (sic) two quarters where we did pretty well, and there were two where we were terrible,” Leppitsch said post-match.

“We can’t sustain for long enough, we can come in and out of games too easily and that’s part experience, or probably a lot experience to be honest.”

The Lions led at quarter time, and showed that they can be dangerous when they able to generate quick and effective use of the ball.

“I thought our ball movement was at times pretty good, we just couldn’t finish the work… when we are up and going with our ball movement we’re pretty damaging,” Leppitsch said.

The Lions travel to Tasmania having lost eight of their past nine encounters with the Hawks.

Players to watch 

Dayne Zorko gathered 38 disposals (including 16 contested possessions) and five inside 50s in the loss to Adelaide, in what was arguably his most productive outing for the Lions this season.

Ruckman Stefan Martin also racked up a season high tally of disposals with 29, along with 10 marks.

Martin is averaging 31 hit-outs in 2015 and will be a key to the Lions’ hopes.
 

Potential Changes 

A raft of Lions could be fighting to maintain their position in the side after the 87-point loss to the Crows, but with an extensive injury list, it is unlikely Brisbane will ring too many changes.

Trent West was subbed out of the game at half-time with only three disposals and two marks to his name, while Luke McGuane may be in a similar boat having accumulated only eight disposals and kicking one behind.

Midfielder Daniel Rich is expected to return from a glute injury, as is Justin Clarke who suffered a fractured jaw in Round 19.