Garry Lyon had stated multiple times throughout 2020 that he was worried about how Brisbane’s forward line would perform when it mattered most and following their Preliminary Final loss to Geelong, he still feels it is their “Achilles heel”.
Charlie Cameron kicked two goals, but Eric Hipwood and Dan McStay combined for one goal, five marks and eight disposals.
The former Melbourne captain believes the Lions, who are likely to land Essendon key forward Joe Daniher in the trade period, have to find forwards they can trust in big games.
“Hipwood had five possessions, kicked a goal, hadn’t kicked a goal in the finals (to that point),” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“That was always their Achilles heel, Brisbane and I’m not saying this from hindsight.
“My great concern for them was their two forwards who you couldn’t trust yet. Eric Hipwood you can’t trust yet and Dan McStay you can’t trust yet.
“You go into a Prelim with two big forwards like that, you’re going to be in trouble.
“I hope you can trust Joe (Daniher).”
Former number one draft pick Cam Rayner also had a quiet Prelim, finishing with just the six disposals, but Lyon admits he is not worried about the 20-year-old’s development.
“He’s a bit of a Petracca. You go back to when Christian started and (Ranyer) is like that,” Lyon said.
“He flashes in, flashes out, takes a big mark, does something and you look at it and go ‘by hell if he ever gets it together’.
“So, you hope in the next two years he does exactly that.
“He needs to develop his body, develop his tank which will enable him to spend more time in the midfield.
“There were moments this year where he went into the midfield and pushed elite midfielders around like he was back playing under 18 footy again, but he doesn’t do it anywhere near enough.”