A FRUSTRATED Justin Leppitsch says there's no quick fix for the Brisbane Lions.

Despite a generally improved effort from last week's hiding at the hands of North Melbourne, Leppitsch was left to bemoan a final-quarter capitulation against Richmond. And after dropping Matthew Leuenberger and Ryan Lester to play the Tigers, the Lions coach hinted the axe might be wielded again ahead of round four against West Coast.

Leppitsch said there were a number of areas that needed addressing after the 79-point loss, but it was the eight goals to two final term that disappointed him most.

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He said the forward line was a concern, taking just six marks inside 50 despite entering there 46 times.

Then there was the conservative play from the back-half, with the Lions trying to kick down the line rather than be aggressive and direct like the coach wants.

It all adds up to a long rebuild.

"Some things we can fix now but some things have to take time," Leppitsch said. "It's frustrating. There's no-one more frustrated than us in the change rooms.

"For the most part effort was good, last quarter it wasn't, but I think that was a bit of hope (lost) and effort mixed together."

Leppitsch conceded being without regular captain Tom Rockliff (ribs and punctured lung) and vice-captain Pearce Hanley (hip) hurt his team, but said more players had to learn to lead.

He was particularly critical of the ball movement, and said they had to start being more aggressive, play a team game and not chase individual statistics to keep their spot.

WATCH: Click here for Justin Leppitsch's full press conference

"We really wanted to move the ball well tonight," Leppitsch said. "I think we went down the line 11 times in the first quarter. We didn't want to do it.

"But you tell a young defender to have the courage to take the game on, and Richmond were pressing really hard … and he doesn't do it.

"There's that excuse for some, and for others there's no excuses and that's where our team's at.

"Others will find their way out of the team because they've been around long enough to know better and there's others that haven't, so we'll try and persist with them.

"We have to keep believing as a group and keep fighting."