The Lions notched a comeback 42-point win over reigning AFL premiers Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday, outscoring the Hawks 10.6 to 1.4 in the second half after trailing by 14 points at the long break.

It came despite the absence of numerous key players due to injury, with two more Lions – Troy Selwood and Mitch Clark – hurt during the game.

They also had to cope with leaving the warmer environs of Brisbane to face a bitingly cold and blustery Tasmanian day.

But Brown said the team had made a point of not focusing on either the conditions or their undermanned state.

“We haven’t made a big thing of the injuries and that’s why we have been able to keep going well,” Brown said.

“The excuses aren’t going to help us win games of footy, we just replace those guys.

“Similarly, the players made a pact not to complain about the wintery weather.

“Once you warm up you don’t feel the cold at all, but it was dry out there and it was just a bit of wind and we were able to use that in the last quarter,” he said.

“They were good conditions, we made a point of when we got off the plane that no one would be having a sook about the cold weather, and the boys really jumped into it.”

Brown said the comeback victory – to which he contributed enormously with four goals in the second half and five for the game – gave the side an enormous boost heading into their mid-season break.

“It’s a huge win, no doubt. To win down here and against the premiers from last year, the feeling after the game was just fantastic. You can’t underestimate how good the win was,” he said.

AAP scl/gjw

© AAP 2012

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