Australian Football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace has disclosed some fascinating numbers that illustrate Brisbane’s potency in attack.
The Lions have won seven games on the trot and find themselves in a share of top spot with Geelong and reigning premiers West Coast.
Chris Fagan’s side lost the clearance and the inside 50 count but were still able to beat the Western Bulldogs by 18 points last time out.
It’s a trend that has caught the attention of Wallace when dissecting Brisbane’s method in their incredible campaign thus far.
“The last five games they’ve lost the battle of stats. They’ve had less numbers than their opposition in every one of the five games,” he told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“In three of the five games they’ve had nine less inside 50s, 15 less inside 50s, five less inside 50s, and they’ve won fairly comfortably in all those games.
“They’re just so pure when they go inside forward 50.”
Wallace went on to praise Brisbane’s contingent of small forwards and their ability to create opportunities from minimal forward entries.
“To me it’s the small forwards,” he said.
“Have they got the best group of small forwards now of any team in the competition?
“(Charlie) Cameron, (Cam) Rayner, (Lincoln) McCarthy, (Dayne) Zorko, (Allen) Christensen … it’s pretty damn good.”
Brisbane face Gold Coast in the Q-clash at the Gabba on Saturday at 4:35pm AEST.
Listen to Terry Wallace's chat on SEN's Bob and Andy in the player below