Brisbane Lions slump a long time coming for AFLW powerhouse

Brisbane Lions find themselves in a challenging position heading into their round nine match against Hawthorn. Already two games out of the top eight, a loss would make finals series mathematically impossible for the perennial contender. The Lions have missed finals just once in AFLW history, in 2019, and achieved seven grand finals out of nine.

Their recent struggles seem like a stark contrast to their previous success. This year, they have secured only two wins from eight starts over the first two months, placing them at the bottom of the eight. This decline is attributed to a perfect storm of factors, including the trading of key players, injuries, and an aging playing list.

The Lions have been challenged for depth and player availability, exacerbating existing issues in their game style. They have always been known for their hard-running and super fit approach, relying on it to compensate for any weaknesses in their game style. However, this attacking style is now facing increased defensive strategy and organization across the competition.

The Lions have struggled to establish more nuance in their ball movement, as many of their players were recruited based on athletic attributes rather than precise ball movement skills. This is particularly evident in their forward 50 entries, where 82.8% turn into opposition rebounds, the fourth-highest rate in the AFLW this year.

Goal efficiency, goals per inside 50, has also been steadily dropping since the club's 2023 premiership season, hitting a club-low of 15.1% this year. The Lions' ball use efficiency remains low, with only 59.0% of the ball being used, ranking second-lowest in the AFLW. Defensively, they have conceded a club-high 36.1 inside 50s per game, an increase of more than a goal compared to last year.

This has put additional pressure on their backline to defend more inside 50s, resulting in greater scores conceded each week. While these challenges may seem daunting, they also present an opportunity for regeneration and development, particularly for young players like Claudia Wright, Marlo Graham, Sophie Peters, Evie Long, and Asher Fearn-Wannan.

The Lions will be looking to turn things around in their upcoming match against the Hawks, hoping for a win to remain in contention for another finals series.