JUSTIN Leppitsch is realistic about the tumultuous times that lay ahead for the Brisbane Lions despite Sunday’s gutsy nine-point win over Carlton.
The Lions overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit with five unanswered goals in the second half, which saw them register their first win for the season.
Leppitsch agreed his players won because they "gutsed it out" and praised the performances of youngsters Daniel McStay (four goals), Marco Paparone and Harris Andrews.
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But he said while they knew inexperience led to inconsistency, the Lions would weather the journey with increased confidence because of Sunday's win.
"We're going to ride the waves. We've had a good day today. We're going to have other days that aren't so good, we know that," Leppitsch said.
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"With young groups sometimes it can fluctuate and without even knowing.
"We just have to keep our boys improving and teaching them and showing them and hopefully we get better and better with every week, month and year.
"The boys have built that little bit of confidence, not just in themselves, but within the group and that's what we've been able to do today - tick that box."
Leppitsch played down how relieved he was his team had dismissed their winless season, and said it was more significant for new recruits Andrews, Dayne Beams, Mitch Robinson and Allen Christensen to taste victory as Lions.
Click here to watch Justin Leppitsch's full media conference
He also said the fallout from last week's loss to Gold Coast was inflated away from the club despite his sharp comment that praised how much the Suns cared in their 64-point QClash win compared to his players.
"I think the week was built up more externally than internally but it's just good to win because we hadn't won a game yet for our group," he said.
"I wasn't accusing our players of not caring [last week]; it was more the care the Suns showed, really.
"When you say care, it’s little things like playing your role and I thought we did that better and that's really it.
"It was the ability to play roles and I thought we were diligent today. Not perfect but we restricted the opposition scoring well and more consistent in what our output was.
"That was probably the pleasing thing and hopefully that builds a bit more faith in what we're doing with the group and a bit more belief.
"Whether we won this game or lost this game I would have been as proud of the boys because they did what was required for a large portion of the game.
"No player plays a perfect game - they're never going to - but I thought for the most part it was very good."
