WHILE Dean Laidley wasdisappointed with his own team’s performance, he was just as quick to heappraise on the Brisbane Lions after his side’s 37-point loss at the Gabba onSaturday night.
The Kangaroos’ coach saidhis team was beaten at its own game in the 10.17 (77) to 5.10 (40) loss.
Laidley was also left tolament the dominant form of Lions spearhead Jonathan Brown who bagged six goalssix in the low-scoring affair.
He said the home team’spressure was simply too much over the four quarters.
“I just thought whatwe’ve been good at for most of the year we weren’t, and the Lions playedparticularly well,” he said.
“They’ve had 85 ChampionData tackles which is the most I’ve ever seen in a game. They were veryimpressive.
“Their attack on thefooty was extraordinary… their contested footy… they played very well.”
Brisbane led by 22 points at quarter andhalf time, and 25 at the final change.
While Simon Black (14)and Luke Power (11) led the tackle count for Brisbane, Kangas captain Adam Simpson led theway for his team with 11.
Laidley said the loss wasdue to a combination of reasons, including pressure, poor ball use and theinfluence of Brown.
The big centre halfforward had 14 marks in a powerhouse performance.
“Jonathan Brown kicked6.6 and they had a forward that was potent on the night and we didn’t,” Laidleysaid
“He was very good. Hecould have kicked 10 or 15 goals but in saying that I still thought MichaelFirrito did a very good job.”
The Roos’ coach evenfound time for a bit of humour when commenting on Brown’s form.
“Any side that hasJonathan Brown [is capable of winning], but we might just take him for a weekor two, what do you reckon?” he joked.
Laidley was not about tomake excuses despite the late withdrawal of veteran Glenn Archer and the side’srecent hectic travel schedule.
Archer was replaced lateon Saturday by Leigh Brown after suffering from a virus that kept him laid upin his hotel room all day.
Laidley said the Rooswould put the loss behind them and move forward to the final month of footballbefore the finals, starting with next weekend’s assignment against West Coast.
“The reality is if youlook back over our last four games and said we’d win three of those four, you’dtake it,” he said.
“Just the way we wentabout it tonight, I still believe, as poorly as we played, Brisbane played well.
“You’ve got to playwhatever the fixtures say, they’re all going to be tough games.”
The loss rounded out thefourth match in the Sunshine state for the Kangaroos this season, with itsthree on the Gold Coast at Carraraand Saturday night’s at the Gabba.
The 29,233 spectatorsrepresented the second biggest home crowd of the season for Brisbane.
“The support in south-eastQueenslandfor us has been very good,” Laidley said.
“There’s a fair bit of supportfor us here and the people that came and watched us tonight perhaps would havebeen a bit disappointed ... but I’m pretty sure they’ll be following us for afew years to come.”