Brisbane star Joe Daniher confident the Lions can rescue their season

The more time Brisbane’s forward line spends together, the greater the belief grows in the Lions’ den.

Lions star Joe Daniher says the growing “cohesion” in his team’s revamped forward line has him confident of a Brisbane revival.

The 13th-placed Lions are chasing back-to-back wins on Friday night against St Kilda as they bid to recover from a poor start to the AFL season.

Last Friday’s 43-point win over the Western Bulldogs was among Brisbane’s best performances this year, with the Lions finally capitalising on the high amount of entries into their forward 50m zone.

Eric Hipwood kicked six goals, while the likes of emerging talents Logan Morris and Kai Lohmann continued to improve with the freshness and zest they have brought to the Lions’ attacking stocks.

“The forward-line group now, we’re starting to get a little bit more cohesion together,” Daniher said.

“This year we’ve had a couple of new players come in. They’re filling terrific roles and look like good long-term players for the football club, so as a footy team and as a teammate, that’s really exciting.

“(Morris) has been outstanding. His work in the pre-season showed us his talent and his ability, and that was really exciting, but the way that he’s been able to adapt to the team and the way that we’re trying to play has probably been more exciting.

“Throw in Kai Lohmann in that regard too, Cal Ah Chee’s spending more time forward, so it’s a little bit of a different look down there, and all those guys have brought something new, something exciting and something that we can hold for the future.”

Lions forward Logan Morris continues to impress. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Daniher also praised the often-maligned Hipwood

“He plays such a critical role for us. He’s a great team man and to see him get on the scoreboard was pleasing for all his teammates, but we know how important he is for us and the way that we structure up,” he said.

A win on Friday night would move the Lions six point clear of the Saints, who also bring winning form into the contest after beating the Gold Coast Suns by three points at Marvel Stadium.

“They play a really tight, contested and sometimes defensive brand of football, and you’ve seen that in all their games this year,” Daniher said.

“They’ve often played in really tight, close games. They could probably quite easily have had more wins this year than they’ve had.

“We know it’s really going to be a tight contest. The midfield battle is going to be huge, and the ability to get the ball forward and keep it in the front half will probably decide the game.”

Friday night’s match is also the Lions’ chance to honour the Big Freeze, which raises funds to help find a cure of motor neurone disease.

It’s a cause close to the heart of Daniher, whose uncle Neale Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and is the co-founder and patron of the FightMND charity.

“With how much support that the Big Freeze has created, there’s a certain amount of pride there for us as a family and anyone that’s got connection to MND,” Joe Daniher said.

“To see the Queensland community, the Brisbane Lions and the Gabba particularly throw their support behind it means a lot to me spending a lot of time up here.”

Originally published as Brisbane star Joe Daniher confident the Lions can rescue their season