Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown is struggling to consider his former aspect can problem for a premiership with Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood filling their key ahead posts.
Daniher and Hipwood have struggled early within the AFL season, combining for seven targets and simply three contested marks within the Lions’ 1-2 begin.
The pair mixed for 64 targets final season as Brisbane reached a preliminary remaining however Brown has seen sufficient to declare they can not be premiership pillars taking part in as they’re.
The Lions have misplaced energy ahead Dan McStay from their preliminary-final aspect, the 27-year-old having signed with Collingwood within the low season as a free agent.
Brown – who helped Brisbane to a few consecutive premierships within the early 2000s – stated he had “serious doubt” the incumbent duo would ever attain the extent required to win a premiership.
“Three contested marks between Hipwood and Daniher for the year, that’s a terrible return,” Brown instructed Fox Footy on Monday.
“They’re starting to see McStay has been missed. He seemed to be the bullocking, straight-down-the-line type forward that was able to contest and compete.
“Any key ahead must be dependable and predictable to his teammates and I’m not seeing (that) in Daniher and Hipwood in the mean time.
“That’s a problem for the Brisbane Lions and they’ve got to sort it out.”
The Lions rank 14th in factors scored via three video games, with their attacking problem by no means extra evident than of their 10.7 (67) to 7.11 (53) loss to the Western Bulldogs on Thursday evening, once they turned 48 inside-50s into simply 53 factors.
Brown stated Brisbane might solely repair their woes by persisting with two ruckmen and asking extra of massive man Oscar McInerney up ahead, with Hipwood missing the power to swing to the backline and take up an intercepting function like Collingwood skipper Darcy Moore did early in his profession.
“You see McInerney being the main guy to play enough time forward because he’s the guy with a bit of mongrel, he’s good down the line, he’s taken five contested marks,” Brown stated.
“He’s the guy that can take the mark and make the contest down the line.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
