Mick McGuane’s mid-season report cards: How did Brisbane Lions go from Grand finalist to battling for a finals spot?

This was supposed to be the season where Brisbane Lions went from perennial contender to premier. But as MICK MCGUANE writes, so much has gone wrong for last year’s grand finalist to leave its finals dream on a knife’s edge.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 28: Harris Andrews of the Lions reacts to an umpiring decision during the round three AFL match between Brisbane Lions and Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba, on March 28, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

Grand finalists one year, finals spectators the next?

This season has not lived up to expectation for Brisbane Lions, who face a serious fight just to make the top eight after almost toppling Collingwood in last year’s decider.

Mick McGuane breaks down where it’s gone wrong in his mid-season report card.

Mick’s Mid-Season Report Rating: D+

Like many, I tipped the Lions to win the premiership in my pre-season predictions.

At this rate, there’s a good chance they won’t even feature in finals.

Considering where they sit relative to my expectation going into the season, I can’t rate them any better than a D+.

That ‘D’ can stand for ‘Disappointing’, because that’s what Brisbane has been.

There have been only five wins and a draw from 12 games so far, with two of those wins coming against the bottom-two sides in Richmond and North Melbourne.

Against the better sides, Chris Fagan’s men have regularly fallen flat.

At the moment, you simply can’t trust what you are going to get from the Lions — either week-to-week or quarter-to-quarter.

The midfield group have largely been holding up their end of the bargain.

Josh Dunkley is having another good year and Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage have both been solid.

It hasn’t been the season most expected for the Lions. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, that group isn’t being helped by struggling ruckman Oscar McInerney, who hasn’t got the ruck craft and doesn’t get into the field positions that the competition’s best big men do.

The biggest problems lie forward, though.

Brisbane was the second-highest scoring team last season but has slumped to 10th this year.

The Lions rank No. 1 for inside-50 differential and time in forward half, so that’s not the problem.

They’re getting the ball in there, but they’re not scoring from it.

That comes on the shoulders of the two key forwards.

Before round 12, Joe Daniher had kicked only 20 goals from 49 shots for an accuracy of 40.8 per cent.

Eric Hipwood, aside from one spectacular outing against the Bulldogs where he kicked six, has managed just 11 goals from 25 shots in his other games.

The Lions come to terms with a shock loss to Hawthorn. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Then there’s small forward Charlie Cameron, who is clearly not the player he was last year.

Cameron is missing some easy shots, in part because he is often making poor decisions on whether to kick drop punts or snaps.

He is averaging 1.6 goals a game this season, down from 2.3 goals a game last season.

The injured Lincoln McCarthy has been sorely missed from the forward group, while Zac Bailey missing five games with an ankle injury hasn’t helped.

The Lions need Bailey back and firing, given how important he is as a midfield-forward rotation who brings creativity and can impact games with minimal disposals.

But unless the big boys lift, it will be more of the same for the Lions going forward.

Veteran Dayne Zorko has relished a move to halfback. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SHINING LIGHTS

As bleak as Brisbane’s first half of the season has been, there have been some positives.

A season-ending injury to halfback rebounder Keidean Coleman in opening round created a fresh opportunity for veteran Dayne Zorko.

At 35 years old, Zorko has wound back the clock and has taken the chance to be Brisbane’s quarterback with open arms.

Harris Andrews remains one of the best key defenders in the competition, repelling plenty of opposition forays forward through either his intercept marking or aggressive spoiling.

Supporting Andrews down back, Jack Payne has improved his game this year.

I’ve also liked what I’ve seen from mid-sized forward Kai Lohmann.

He can find space in a phone box and has taken 15 forward-50 marks this season and has kicked 14 goals, playing all 11 games.

Having just turned 21, there’s some genuine upside there.

Kai Lohmann is showing plenty of promise — and loves a goal celebration. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

LAST CHANCE?

It was season on the line for the Lions on Friday night.

But after a commanding win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, they will still be in the hunt for September given their fixture opens up a little over coming weeks.

Only one current top-eight opponent — Port Adelaide — awaits over the following five rounds.

There’s an opportunity there to get on a run and it had to start on Friday.