Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood says spread of goalkickers is making the Lions better in 2025 after Joe Daniher’s retirement

The reigning AFL premiers have kicked 36 goals in the past two games in an ominous sign for the chasing pack.

The Brisbane Lions are averaging 14 goals a game from a forward line without retired premiership star Joe Daniher which Gather Round hero Eric Hipwood says shows just how potent the new mix can be.

Hipwood, who had groin surgery in December that shortened his pre-season and conceded he was yet to hit peak fitness, kicked five second-half goals as the reigning premiers kicked 14 goals after the long-break to roll over the Western Bulldogs.

Seven players kicked goals, five, including Hipwood, kicked multiple goals and the potency of a rejigged set-up with the likes of youngster Logan Morris stepping up was on show.

Kai Lohmann, who kicked four goals in the grand final romp last September, wasn’t even playing and Hipwood said the depth of goalkickers would be crucial to the chances of the Lions going back-to-back.

“What we’ve been able to show in the first five rounds is we’ve got so many avenues to goal,” he said on Tuesday.

“We’ve shown we can kick a lot of goals from a lot of different players.

Eric Hipwood of the Lions kicked five second-half goals at Norwood Oval. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“I can understand the narrative that people might want to push that there’s an extra responsibility on me (with Daniher gone) but I don’t think so, my role doesn’t change too much.”

Hipwood has kicked 10 goals through the opening five games of the season, behind both Zac Bailey (12) and Morris (12).

The Lions and Adelaide are the only teams in the AFL who have three players with 10 goals or more.

Hipwood, who battled a groin injury in the latter stages of 2024 before having surgery, said he’d been “inconsistent” in the early stages of the season as he built up his loads.

But he said he was ready to deliver his best for the Lions, who face Collingwood in a blockbuster clash at the Gabba this Thursday.

“I was on a tight time frame to get back, but that’s still no excuse. I put my hand up to play and that means I’m fit, so I’ve got to fulfil my role,” he said.

“I would have liked to have performed a little better (early in the season).

“I think I’ve been quite inconsistent. I’ve been a by-product of the team really. I feel like when I’ve played well, the team’s played well.”

Originally published as Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood says spread of goalkickers is making the Lions better in 2025 after Joe Daniher’s retirement