KICKING goals was always going to be a problem area for the Brisbane Lions as they began life without Jonathan Brown.
However, finding goalkicking options has not been a concern for the Lions so far in the NAB Challenge – the concern has been accuracy.
A beefed-up midfield has provided a mountain of supply for the Lions in their unbeaten pre-season run.
And they were at their most impressive in a 36-point NAB Challenge victory over the Sydney Swans at Coffs Harbour on Friday night.
Lions captain Tom Rockliff was proud of the way his side overcame a Swans outfit boasting a healthy chunk of their 2014 Grand Final squad in difficult conditions.
But he was concerned by their unhappy knack of squandering goalscoring chances.
They kicked 10.15 against the Swans in swirling winds, which came a week after spraying 7.16 in a three-point win over St Kilda.
"It has been a concern the last few weeks," Rockliff said.
"We have kicked a lot of points two weeks in a row now.
"So if we can straighten that up, we can get ourselves in front.
"(Against the Swans) we finished up with 25 scoring shots to 11, so the scoreboard should have been even further in favour of us."
Still, Rockliff saw plenty of positives in their win despite the Swans missing key forwards Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes.
"We knew it was going to be a fierce contest," he said.
"And at Coffs Harbour it was pretty trying conditions, very humid, very wet in the first half.
"But the way the boys went about it was a credit to how far the group has come.
“(The Swans) had 15 who played in the Grand Final but were obviously missing a few key players.
"But I thought the way that we attacked the footy, got our contested footy right early, the game started to flow and we got on top."
The Lions have a week off before their NAB Challenge clash against the Suns at the Gold Coast.
"It will be another chance for us to test ourselves," Rockliff said.
"Gold Coast are obviously on the improve but we are still building for round one (April 4 against Collingwood)."
