Brisbane Lions make a strong season finish bu still aim to win back the respect of fans

BRISBANE coach Michael Voss says the Lions have not won back the respect of the AFL world.

BRISBANE coach Michael Voss says the Lions have not won back the respect of the AFL world.

But he hopes a vastly improved 2012 campaign will win back the Queensland sporting public and turn the Gabba into a fortress again.

Brisbane completed their season with a commanding 67-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba last night with young gun Daniel Rich leading the way for the Lions who recorded their third-straight win and their 10th triumph of the year to finish 13th on the ladder.

After just four wins in 2011, Voss said at the start of the season that Brisbane hoped to earn back some respect.

He said that mission was yet to be accomplished.

"No, no, never," he said.

"That's a continual journey, it's never a destination.

"The moment that you think you have got that, this game has a good way of being able to whack you in the face.

"The biggest thing is that we need to be able to do is really convince the people of Queensland that we are a worthy team to come watch again and that we have a brand of football that you want to come and watch.

"I think that we've gone about doing that. I guess we hand over a little bit to the Queensland public to make sure we get bums on seats and really make sure we make this a fortress again . . . make sure that this Gabba is not an enjoyable place for the opposition, that it's really hard for them to come here and win.

"We've got 11 home games so you've got to be winning eight or nine of those before you can become a formidable side. We haven't done that yet."

After an insipid first quarter from both sides that featured little skill, endeavour or intensity, Brisbane piled on the pain with six goals in 14 minutes to start the second term and put the result beyond doubt with a 44-point halftime lead.

Rich was sublime in the midfield with 25 disposals and four goals while captain Jonathan Brown had a game-high five goals for the home side which ran rampant through the second and third terms while the Bulldogs contained the damage in junk time in the fourth quarter.

Voss said his side deserved credit for finishing the year strongly.

"We could have been in the position five weeks ago where we gave our season away. They (the players) didn't, (they) stuck at the task, wanted to follow through. The commitment was made at that time," he said.

"While we sit here and say that finals is always a measure of success, what you get is a measure of improvement and that progress is being made."

The only sour note for the Lions was forward Dayne Zorko being reported in the last quarter for striking Clay Smith.