AS LEIGH Matthews spends the summer finding ways to encourage a more even spread of goalkickers, Brisbane Lions fans can take heart that many of the required resources are already at the coach’s disposal.

Matthews used his last two press conferences of the 2007 season – after the round 22 clash with Geelong and prior to the playing group’s final meeting of the campaign – to outline his plans to find scoring options other than Jonathan Brown.

Brown booted 77 (more than 27 per cent) of the Lions’ goals in 2007, the biggest share by an individual player in club history.

“The problem with our forward line is that we don’t score enough for how often we go in,” Matthews said.

“One reason is that it goes to Jonathan all the time – I haven’t done the stats, but I bet you it’s a lot.

“The ball doesn’t get drawn to our other forwards, so the opposition defenders are tempted to drop off their opponents and go straight to Jonathan.

“You can be too dependent on one player and if that happens it becomes a negative no matter how good that one player is.

“If we continue to direct 90 per cent of attacks to Jonathan, we will never go further up the ladder.”

Matthews likened the situation to the Peter Hudson-centric style of play that existed at Hawthorn when he arrived there in the late 1960s.

But he also noted that the Lions had some important building blocks already in place to ease the burden on Brown – including the return from a knee reconstruction of two-time leading goal-kicker Daniel Bradshaw.

“The best game we played this year was the Collingwood game because someone else kicked seven goals – Jared Brennan kicked 7.6 and Jonathan was still fantastic,” Matthews noted.

“We were fantastic that night and if we could do that every week, we’d be right up there in the top four – don’t worry about that.

“Daniel Bradshaw would have been handy to have had playing all year. When he and Jonathan have played together over the last few years, we’ve looked pretty potent.

“So there’s a player already sitting there who can help. Mitch Clark is a young developing player who may be able to help as a marking option and Rhan Hooper was doing well as that really small quick forward.”

Matthews will also look for ways to get more goals out of the Lions’ running brigade.

“Midfielders who get the ball and kick goals are worth their weight in gold – they are hard to find though,” he said.

“That’s why Chris Judd and Gary Ablett have been so highly valued.”

Lions scoring options:

Jonathan Brown: not only the Lions’ best forward but also the competition’s. Won the Coleman Medal and, frighteningly for opposition defenders, can improve on his first full season for three years.

Daniel Bradshaw: missed 2007 with a knee injury but led the Lions’ goalkicking the two previous years. Has kicked nine goals in a game and combined with Brown for 13 goals against Port Adelaide in round eight of 2005.

Jared Brennan: Kicked a career high 24.15, including a bag of seven against Collingwood. A match-up problem for almost every side with his athleticism.

Robbie Copeland: Revelled in a new forward role. The combative Copeland’s job was primarily to curb running defenders but he still found the time to kick 15 goals.

Mitch Clark: Battled injuries throughout the campaign but his five goals against Collingwood in his first game of the season are an indication of his potential.

Rhan Hooper: Started the season late but was very handy when in the side, kicking eight goals for the year, including a haul of four against Carlton. His finishing is still a work in progress but he will continue to generate scoring opportunities with his pace.

Ashley McGrath: Injuries interrupted McGrath’s year after a bright start but he is an accomplished goalkicker. Booted 35 goals in 2005 and managed 22.17 in 2007, despite the interruptions.

Anthony Corrie: Only returned to senior action in round 21 after a knee reconstruction, but is a more than handy crumbing forward. Kicked 22 goals in 2005, including a career-best four in a Rising Star-nominated effort against Essendon.

Jed Adcock: Relished the move from defence to the midfield and contributed on the scoreboard as well. Kicked 10.1 and showed a knack for finishing on the run.

Tim Notting: Was the Lions’ most improved goal-kicker in 2007, going from a haul of 2.14 the year before to a far more accurate 16.11. Is perhaps the Lions’ best option on the run from 50m and beyond.