STAND-IN coach Justin Leppitsch says the only way is up for the Brisbane Lions, following a 27-point NAB Cup exit at the hands of Essendon at Carrara on Saturday night.

The match represented the Lions’ first real match practice for the year – a recent intra-club outing was rained out – and Leppitsch said the rawness showed.

“I think we played like a team that hadn’t played a scratch match – we were a little bit sloppy,” Leppitsch said.

“The basics of footy we struggled with, like handballing to one another. I think the endeavour was there but the finish wasn’t.

“We just haven’t been able to get the match time into the guys because of all the rain we’ve had up here.”

While the Lions’ skills will improve over the remainder of the pre-season, Leppitsch was able to pick out some positives from the outing – notably the three-goal debut of draftee Lachlan Henderson.

“We’ve got high hopes for him,” Leppitsch said of Henderson, who took on former Lions man-mountain Mal Michael.

“I also thought James Polkinghorne, when he went to defence, looked a bit more comfortable – so that’s two of our young guys who you would have to say went okay.

“I thought (Rhan) Hooper and (Albert) Proud battled on okay in the midfield and Travis Johnstone, in his first game, really controlled the back part of the ground.”

Leppitsch, who was handed coaching duties for the night by Leigh Matthews, said he had enjoyed his time in the box – as much as the responsibility can be ‘enjoyed’.

The All-Australian defender made light-hearted reference to Matthew’ status as an assistant coach.

“I just tried to stay as calm as I could – it’s another experience,” Leppitsch said. “Leigh was very good and it wasn’t like he was a ventriloquist with his hand up my back. He was a very good assistant coach tonight, Leigh.”

The Lions will weigh up the fitness of several players this week after having just 30 fit men to choose from for tonight’s game.

Ruckman Jamie Charman, who Leppitsch confirmed was very close to facing the Bombers, will come under consideration, while gun pairing Jonathan Brown and Simon Black will resume some time over the next month.