This weekend will see the Brisbane Lions take on the Coburg Lions at Brighton Homes Arena on Saturday in Round 9 VFL action.
Brisbane are fresh off a 68-point thumping of Essendon and are one of two teams who remain undefeated in 2023.
Coburg, however, are still searching for their first win this season after two tough losses against the Northern Bullants and Geelong.
The Lions, of the Brisbane variety, have been one of the best scoring teams in the competition averaging 112.6 points across their last five outings.
VFL Head Coach Ben Hudson believes that giving his team the opportunity to play their natural game has been a catalyst for their high scores.
“We obviously have a system and structures that we plan for but giving the boys some rope to trust their instincts has been key,” Hudson said.
“We have some incredibly naturally gifted footballers in this group so giving them the ability to create, frees them up to trust each other and to trust themselves.
“Guys like Matho [Rhys Mathieson], Forty, [Darcy Fort] and Dev [Deven Robertson] in the middle, Cal [Ah Chee] and Jimmy Madden down back, these are experienced guys, letting them play their natural game is important.
“Obviously up forward you’ve got Kai [Lohmann], Blake Coleman, Tommy Fullarton, Nakia [Cockatoo], its these sorts of players who relish in that creativity and freedom to back themselves.”
This creative mindset has seen the Lions kick more than 10 goals on six occasions this season the only time it didn’t happen was in a wet and windy affair against Carlton at Icon Park.
The Lions VFL side will also don the indigenous guernsey for this match and next week, mirroring the AFL team and helping to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Players to Watch
Jaxon Prior
After starting on the wing against Essendon last Sunday, Prior was moved into the backline for much of the second half reaping great rewards.
Prior is often shouting instructions and directing traffic allowing his teammates and himself to play their natural game.
Prior will look to control the air with his overhead marking ability as well as his powerful left boot to ensure the Lions are able to own the game from their forward half.
Kai Lohmann
Lohmann is one of the form forwards of the competition fresh off a three-goal performance against the Bombers.
Kicking 12 goals across the opening seven rounds has Lohmann as one of the most consistent attackers in the competition and has kicked at least one major per game so far.
Lohmann’s ability to play bigger than his stature and climb packs or take tough contested marks, along with his ground level skills and tackling pressure make him a tough opponent for opposition teams to match up on.
Last time we met
Brisbane hosted Coburg at the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex resulting in a 65-point win for our Lions.
Rhys Mathieson was enormous kicking a goal, collecting 39 disposals and eight clearances, while Mitch Robinson and Wylie Buzza kicked three goals each.
It was one of the first glimpses of Lions draftee Will Ashcroft, who starred with a goal and 32 possessions.