Win/loss: 4-1-7
Position: 12th
Best winning streak: Two games (twice)
Biggest win: 52 points v St Kilda in round two
Biggest loss: 64 points v Essendon in round eight
Leading possession-winner: Simon Black (287)
Leading goalkicker: Jonathan Brown (26)
Leading marks: Jonathan Brown (86)
Leading hit-outs: Jamie Charman (176)
Best win
The Lions’ 52-point win over St Kilda in round two has been their biggest statistically and also their best.
The Saints went into the game as warm favourites but had no answer to the Lions’ youthful exuberance.
With Michael Rischitelli best on ground, Jonathan Brown booting five goals, Fraser Gehrig kept goalless and St Kilda’s midfield well held, the Lions led from start to finish.
Best game
For sheer end-to-end action, nothing stacks up next to the 12-point round five goal-fest against Carlton.
At one stage the Lions had kicked an astonishing 18.1 and the Blues racked up 14.7 in the first half.
Chris Johnson’ two final-term goals eventually proved decisive, while Jonathan Brown had a monster game with 27 possessions, 15 marks and three goals.
Best individual performance
Simon Black’s 39 touches against Hawthorn in round one equalled the career best he accumulated in winning the Norm Smith Medal in 2003.
But his round-nine display versus Collingwood was arguably better. Playing his 200th game, Black did his best to get the Lions over the line against the Magpies with 37 hard-fought touches, which he invariably used well.
Best goal
Jared Brennan’s miracle effort against the Western Bulldogs and Jonathan Brown’s round-three snap against Sydney are both contenders.
Brown, however, gets the gong for his freakish conversion in the round-12 defeat by Geelong.
With a sodden ball and blustery conditions, Brown defied the pattern of the day to snap truly from 40m, hard-up in the left forward pocket, with a would-be tackler on his tail.
Best mark
Beau McDonald and Johnson have both snared impressive screamers but Jonathan Brown’s grab going back with the flight of the ball against Collingwood was something else.
The big forward had to run the best part of 40m to make the contest – and that was before he fearlessly launched himself head-first towards a pack to reel in a ripper.
The bolter
Some 18 months ago, the thought of Colm Begley becoming a regular in the Lions’ 22 was all but unimaginable.
But the rapidly developing young Irishman has missed only a single game in 2007, catching the eye with his dashing runs from defence and quality left-foot delivery. He looks a real player of the future.
Fairest and best contenders
Votes for the Merrett-Murray Medal are a long way off being announced but Black must be a front-runner to take out his fourth fairest-and-best and second in a row.
Brown and reliable defender Jed Adcock should also be up there, along with Tim Notting, Jamie Charman, Michael Rischitelli and Richard Hadley.
Injury interruptions won’t help the causes of co-captains Luke Power and Nigel Lappin, but both should still poll well.
What lies ahead
Round 13 – Port Adelaide at the Gabba
Round 14 – West Coast at Subiaco
Round 15 – Melbourne at the Gabba
Round 16 – Carlton at the Gabba
Round 17 – Collingwood at the MCG
Round 18 – Kangaroos at the Gabba
Round 19 – Hawthorn at the MCG
Round 20 – Sydney at the Gabba
Round 21 – Adelaide at AAMI Stadium
Round 22 – Geelong at the Gabba
Crystal ball
The Lions face a big task to get back into the hunt for a finals spot but they will be helped by the fact that six of the remaining 10 games will be played at the Gabba.
West Coast at Subiaco in round 14 will be a huge test, as will Geelong at the Gabba in round 22 – assuming the Cats retain their current rich vein of form.
But the Lions have shown already this season that they can be more than competitive against the other eight sides they will face in the run home.
Brown is a chance to break the 50-goal in a season barrier for the first time in his career. Adcock and Jared Brennan should both pass the 50-game mark, while Ash McGrath is a chance to bring up his 100th.
Significant injuries
Daniel Bradshaw (knee) – season
Beau McDonald (hip) – 1-3 weeks
Chris Johnson (foot) – 1-2 weeks
Luke Power (quad) – test
Mitch Clark (leg) - test
