JONATHAN Brown, Robbie Copeland and Wayde Mills walk into a forward line …

It reads a little bit like the Brisbane Lions version of a familiar gag, the type where three people from completely different walks of life stroll into a bar.

Brown, of course, is well established as one of the competition’s premier centre-half-forwards. Regular defenders Copeland and Mills, however, might be the most unlikely pair you could imagine playing alongside the star spearhead.

But since Copeland and Mills went forward to join Brown a fortnight ago, accompanied by tenacious small forward Rhan Hooper and the ultra-athletic Jared Brennan, the Lions have kicked 31.31 and knocked off reigning premier West Coast and Melbourne.

Copeland, best known as a tagger and super-tight stopper, has kicked six goals in his last two matches – having kicked only 20 majors in his preceding 121 games.

Mills, recruited as a key defender, has impressed with a selfless, hard-leading style of play. He is yet to kick a goal in 2007, but has caught the eye due to his willingness to link up with the Lions midfield on the wings and in centre of the ground.

Copeland, who played as a goal-kicking forward as a junior, says he’s enjoying life in the forward 50m, something Lions fans might have picked up on from his fist-pumping goal celebrations.

“I guess it’s just a different end of the ground – my main roles is still defensive, trying to stop a defender from the other team running and creating play,” Copeland said.

“It’s good to get on the end of the footy as well though and be able to kick a couple of goals. I suppose that’s the reward you get for doing the defensive stuff.

“With the celebrations, I’m definitely enjoying kicking goals, especially at this level. Every chance, you’ve got make the most of it!”

After kicking more than 10 goals only once between rounds seven and 12 – in a 33-point loss to Collingwood – the Lions suddenly look a lot more potent up forward.

And there could well be more to come. Ash McGrath returned from a stint in the reserves and looked dangerous against Melbourne, 203cm youngster Matthew Leuenberger has appeared a likely type in his two senior games and up-and-coming Mitchell Clark kicked eight goals for the Suncoast Lions in last week’s curtain-raiser.

Clark has been named on an extended interchange bench alongside Mills and McGrath for Sunday’s meeting with Carlton at the Gabba.

In a lions.com.au exclusive, Brown, who himself has kicked 14 goals in three games since the mid-season break,  gives a lowdown on his forward line mates:
Robbie Copeland: “All you can ask of your forwards is to lead with intensity, make themselves targets and keep the defenders honest – and Bushie certainly does that. He’s very good at the defensive stuff and he’s also a pretty strong mark, who can take a high mark and kick straight. I don’t think I’ll be copying his goal celebrations but it’s good to see and I reckon the crowd have been loving it.”

Wayde Mills: “Millsy has been playing a really underrated role. Leading up to the wings from half-forward and running 60 or 70m to overlap with the midfielders takes a really big effort. He’s had a really big job to do and he’s done it well.”

Jared Brennan: “Jared’s work-rate has really picked up. He’s a guy who has a lot of pace and who can use it to put on defensive pressure. He’s been really good since he’s been playing closer to goal, because he’s quick off the mark, can take a contested mark and can really jump and take a big mark. The last couple of weeks he’s been able to get three or four shots on goal and he’s been terrific.”

Rhan Hooper: “He’s been fantastic. With Rhan’s pace you always know he’s going to put pressure on the opposition and make it hard for them to clear the ball from defence. He’ll also bob up with his two or three chances to kick a goal and he’s working hard on his finishing. I think he’s really added some spark to the forward line and one of the good things about him is he can get up and down the field and has pretty good endurance. He’s a real player of the future.”

Ash McGrath: “Ash had a really good start to the year then dropped off a bit. But knowing Ash he’s going to keep working hard and he’ll find his form again. There are plenty of roles in the forward line available to blokes who can put pressure on the other team’s defenders and Ash has shown that he can do that plenty of times before.”