THE MESSAGE for the Brisbane Lions this week has been simple - win your own ball and do it from the first bounce.

The Lions were well below par in last week's 65-point loss against the Sydney Swans, and assistant coach Adrian Fletcher said plenty of work had gone in to rectifying their deficiencies ahead of Sunday's match against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

And that started with contested footy, where the Lions were smashed last week.

"We did a few drills Wednesday and basically it's a pretty simple game - if you don't have the ball, you can't get it into the forward line," Fletcher said.

"Our midfield has been very capable. [James] Polkinghorne is learning the trade, we've got Jack Redden learning the trade, Blacky's our Rolls Royce, then you've got [Daniel] Rich, and we've got [Josh] Green.

"We're capable in there, we just had a bad day against Sydney and they make you pay because they've got a very elite midfield as well.

"We've got to win our ball and give our forward line an opportunity to kick a winning score because we know with our forward line the way it is at the present time, we can do that."

The Lions lost Daniel Merrett to back stress fractures during the week but welcome back midfielder Tom Rockliff from a calf injury.

Rockliff got through the Lions' final training session at the Gabba on Saturday morning before the team flew to Melbourne, as did debutant Mitch Golby, who has been elevated from the rookie list.

Golby, 20, was taken at pick No.16 in the 2009 Rookie Draft and will play on the half-back line against the Blues.

Fletcher said the Lions intensity had to return this week.

"We faced a red-hot Sydney team and we didn't come out with the intensity that's required at AFL level," he said.

"Sydney is a top-six side and it's hard to rectify at quarter time. We've got to make sure we come to play and it starts from the first bounce."

Fletcher said the Lions would likely tag two Carlton midfielders, and although he wasn't keen on elaborating, you'd be a brave man to bet against Brownlow Medal favourite Chris Judd and prolific disposal winner Marc Murphy as the two targets.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs