It hasn’t been the start to the season the two Queensland-based AFL clubs have coveted. Both Brisbane and the Gold Coast SUNS are winless from four starts and after showing so much promise over the pre-season, on the back of high profile recruiting, neither have fired a shot in 2015.
 
The ninth edition of the QClash hasn’t generated anywhere near as much buzz and hype as this weekend’s Adelaide Showdown. And with good reason, given the disappointing start to football at the Gabba and Metricon Stadium. By the final siren on Saturday night, one club should (unless we have a repeat of the NAB Challenge draw) get off the mark and breathe life into their season.
 
In the opening month of the new campaign, Justin Leppitsch’s side has struggled to kick a score capable of troubling opposition sides. For the first time in 15 years, Jonathan Brown hasn’t been parading around inside 50, providing a key target and dragging teammates along with him. The lack of attacking options has been reflected in a handful of key statistics, with the Lions ranked 18th for points for (62.0), goals per inside 50 (19.6%) and they are 17th for scores per inside 50 (40.8%).
 
Livewire forward Josh Green leads the goal kicking at Brisbane with 6.4, as well as scoreboard impact with 48 points. The mosquito fleet member is also the leading target inside 50, with emerging key forward Dan McStay second. It’s no secret Brisbane have lacked a forward presence inside the arc this season and their issues were compounded when promising young spearhead Michael Close ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in round two.
 
Leppitsch’s side has had a terrible run with injury this season with Pearce Hanley requiring hip surgery during the pre-season that ruled him out until the second half of the season. New captain Tom Rockliff suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs in a collision in round one. After initially being set to miss six weeks, the revered leader made a courageous return last weekend against the West Coast Eagles. Although not at his leather accumulating best of seasons past, Rockliff’s presence is a massive plus for a Lions outfit who have only remained in one game this season.

Key Players

The signing of Collingwood premiership midfielder Dayne Beams during last year’s trade period was a massive recruiting coup for the Lions. The All Australian hasn’t quite been at his game-breaking best just yet, but he has been one of Brisbane’s best performer’s in a difficult opening month of 2015, averaging 27.3 possessions, 7.3 clearances, five inside 50s and four tackles per game. With Rockliff and Hanley missing games through injury, Beams’ inclusion has been critical for a relatively inexperienced on-ball brigade. When Rockliff returns to full fitness, Rich gets some more game-time into his body, and once Hanley comes back in the second half of 2015, you can expect to see vintage Beams in action at the Gabba.
 
In the back half of last season, Stefan Martin emerged from football’s scrapheap to become one of the competition’s most influential ruckmen. His elite athleticism made him a tantalising prospect for Leppitsch and allowed him to run off opposition ruckmen and rack up plenty of touches. Martin has picked up where he left off last year, averaging 17.8 possessions, 28.3 hitouts and 4.3 inside 50s per week. The former Melbourne utility is ranked fourth at the Lions for average metres gained with 314.8m per game – a particularly strong statistic for a ruckman. Heading into 2015, debated raged around whether or not the Lions could play two ruckmen in the same 22. With the highly rated Matthew Leuenberger returning from long-term injury at the end of last season and Martin performing so brilliantly, Brisbane were suddenly in a conundrum. Leppitsch went with the two in the opening two weeks, but since then only Martin has played. And he continues to lead the charge as one of Brisbane’s strongest performers thus far.
 
As the heart and soul of the club, Tom Rockliff’s rapid return from injury can’t be underestimated, especially given how young and inexperienced Brisbane’s list is. Whilst he was below his best against West Coast last weekend, given the seriousness of his injury that can be understandable. After averaging 33 possessions, 9 tackles and 6 clearances per game in 2014, from two outings his output has practically halved in terms of these key indicators. Last year’s All Australian said in the media this week that he is tired of Brisbane making excuses for poor performances and failing to deliver on promises. Expect the ball magnet to respond in emphatic fashion in Saturday night’s QClash at Metricon Stadium. Particularly given how important it is to resuscitating Brisbane’s season.

New Faces

Allen Christensen’s shock departure from Geelong at the end of last season resulted in another substantial recruiting coup for the Brisbane Lions. With the addition of Beams, in one fell swoop the Lions acquired two premiership midfielders to boost their on-ball stocks. Christensen’s 2014 season was marred by two sets of separate back surgery which reduced him to just eight appearances and a delayed the start to his maiden pre-season at the Gabba. He has shown glimpses of his game breaking best in the first month of the season, but he is yet to tear a game apart like he has done in the past. With injury holding him back in the pre-season it may take some time until the dashing on-baller regains optimum fitness and touch after missing so much football in the last 18 months. But, now with a fresh start in the Sunshine State, Christensen may regain the devastating form of 2013 that made earmarked him as a player with a massive future in the game.
 
Mitch Robinson’s ferocious attack on the ball has already been a welcome addition for Brisbane. The former Carlton hard nut has dropped off in the last couple of weeks, although his opening fortnight in maroon was impressive with 20 and 25 disposals against Collingwood and North Melbourne respectively. Whilst he’s not of the ilk of Beams or Christensen, Robinson’s arrival has provided some depth to a Brisbane midfield division that has already been tested by injury throughout 2015.

Recent Results

Gold Coast: 0 wins, 4 losses – 17th
Rd1 – Gold Coast 13.11 (89) def by Melbourne 17.13 (115) @ MCG
Rd2 – Gold Coast 10.16 (76) def by St Kilda 16.8 (104) @ Metricon Stadium
Rd3 – Gold Coast 13.18 (96) def by Geelong 16.9 (105) @ Simonds Stadium
Rd4 – Gold Coast 7.11 (53) def by GWS Giants 16.23 (119) @ StarTrack Oval
 
Brisbane: 0 wins, 4 losses – 18th
Rd1 – Brisbane 11.8 (74) def by Collingwood 12.14 (86) @ Gabba
Rd2 – Brisbane 7.9 (51) def by North Melbourne 20.13 (133) @ Etihad Stadium
Rd3 – Brisbane 8.10 (58) def by Richmond 21.11 (137) @ Gabba
Rd4 – Brisbane 9.11 (65) def by West Coast Eagles 17.16 (118) @ Gabba

Key Stats

Clearances (diff.)
Gold Coast +7.8 (ranked 2nd)
Brisbane -5.5 (14)

Contested ball (diff.)
Gold Coast -4.5 (12th)
Brisbane -14.5 (16th)

Tackles (diff.)
Gold Coast -7.2 (14th)
Brisbane +1.0 (8th)

Disposal Efficiency (diff.)
Gold Coast -5.1 (18th)
Brisbane -2.6 (16th)