BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss says star draftee Daniel Rich would have to be the unluckiest person in history to miss out on the NAB AFL Rising Star award at the end of this season.

Rich, 19, was instrumental in the Lions' grinding 15-point victory over Fremantle on Saturday night with 31 possessions, 12 clearances and a goal.

It was a tough night for most as the rain fell hard on Subiaco Oval, but Rich shone in the state where he made his name as a junior.

"The way he's been able to conduct himself this year and the way he's played has belied his age," Voss said after the crucial win that leaves the Lions just percentage off fourth spot.

"I think he's grown into his role. I think he's grown into the club and he feels like he belongs there. He's making a valuable contribution.

"I'm not really tremendously into individual awards, but Daniel Rich would probably have to be the unluckiest person in history not to win the rising star this year."

The Lions travelled west for the first time this season and were made to work hard for the crucial four points by an improved Fremantle.

Jonathan Brown (four goals) stood out and Mitch Clark was a force in the ruck with 37 hit-outs, but Fremantle still managed to keep the contest tight for three quarters.

Voss said he expected nothing less from Mark Harvey's men after they kicked just one goal against Adelaide last week.

"Whenever you come to an away venue and you have conditions like that with an opposition that's had that sort of loss the week before, you know it's just going to be a bun-fight," he said.

"For us to be able to come away with the win like that, I think it was just an enormous win, especially with the circumstances when we had two guys go down."

Voss said he would have to wait and see how Jared Brennan's ankle settled, but was confident forward Daniel Bradshaw (hamstring) would only miss one week.

The Lions take on North Melbourne, Collingwood, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs in the next month, and the magnitude of Saturday night's win wasn't lost on Voss.

"We look at the ladder like everybody else, [but] we're not mature enough as a group to be able to start forecasting and start pencilling in this, that and the other," he said.

"We leave that to the tippers.

"Hopefully we can participate in what's coming up at the end of the year, but you really are in the grind of the season."