The Brisbane Lions are in the midst of one of the worst seasons in recent memory – particularly defensively, where they are leaking like a sieve.
As a result, Justin Leppitsch’s seat is so hot he spends all of his time in the coach’s box standing.
But the fact is, the triple-premiership-winning former key-defender was dealt a dud hand.
It’s been an uphill battle since the moment he took over in September, 2013. Barely a month after being named Brisbane’s head coach, the Lions lost three former first-round picks – Jared Polec (2010 draft, pick 5), Billy Longer (2011, pick 8) and Sam Docherty (2011, pick 12) – as well as a couple of second-rounders in Patrick Karnezis (2010, pick 25) and Elliot Yeo (2011, pick 30).
Regardless of what you think of that group of players, that’s a significant blow to an incoming coach.
To rub salt in the wounds, the player Brisbane selected with their first pick in the 2013 draft (seven overall) was now-Magpie James Aish.
A year later, key veteran Joel Patfull – only a year removed from his second-straight best-and-fairest award – and Jack Crisp – who hasn’t missed a game since joining the Magpies – left the club.
Jack Redden, 2006 No. 4 pick Matthew Leuenberger and former skipper Jed Adcock either walked or were shown the door in 2015.
The two big mature-age recruits to join the club in Leppitsch’s time have been injury-prone star Dayne Beams and former Cat Allen Christensen. Beams has played two games this season and Christensen’s season ended when he broke his collarbone in Round 11.
Despite playing finals just once in the past 11 seasons, Brisbane have only four top-20 picks on the list – Daniel Rich (pick 7, 2008), Sam Mayes (pick 8, 2012), Josh Schache (pick 2, 2015) and Eric Hipwood (pick 14, 2015). That’s a staggering statistic.
Even without their suspended players, the Bombers have nine top-20 picks on the list – granted, one of them is the corpse of Adam Cooney, but still.
The Lions are toothless, and opponents know it.
Brisbane’s current coach has much to answer for. According to the good folks at InsightLane, they are having the seventh-worst defensive season in 120 years.
There has also been frighteningly little improvement in players since Leppitsch took over – though how much of that is on him and how much is on the club and its prehistoric facilities is certainly up for debate.
In 60 games under Leppitsch, the Lions have a 20 per cent win rate and a percentage of 66.2. Both of those numbers are worse than Melbourne’s in the three seasons before Paul Roos took over.
History suggests Leppitsch’s days are numbered sooner rather than later. But win, lose, or draw against the decimated Dons on Sunday, the Brisbane’s problems run much deeper than the man with the clipboard.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Yeah Born and Breed Queenslander who was Brisbane Bears follower initially.... A move South to NSW and becoming good mates to a Die Hard Carlton man, who's father played a bit of footy for Fitzroy really encouraged me to get into AFL. So since 95 been an avid AFL supporter, ordinary player and now local footy coach. I've stayed true to my heritage with my support of the Lions.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm a Brisbane recruit, got into the game around 1999 when the Lions first started their upswing. Have kept the faith since then. Maybe Ratten wants a change of scenery, fresh start, or something. That's why I haven't been pushing his barrow because I have no idea what his mental state of mind is. If he's keen though I'd welcome him at the club. Roos won't come here, he's done with coaching - certainly with coaching rubbish sides like ours anyway. If he came back it would be to a bigger, better club.
Penster
Guest
Are you 2 die hards ex-Fitzroy supporters who've kept the faith, Melbourne transplants in Brissy or post-Fitzroy collapse recruits? Hope you get a decent coach and some optimism - possibly Bomber unless they can clone Paul Roos or pay him $5m a year instead of fixing the facilities (can't see Ratten leaving Melb after what his family has been through). Lions are very out of sight out of mind for the AFL.
steve
Guest
Yeah mate, I agree.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Like we had a choice. It was either let him go or let him walk for nothing. Ratten would be a great acquisition, or Thompson. Either or would be just fine by me. Both have experienced plenty of adversity and would have the gravitas and reputation needed to drag the Lions players kicking and screaming from their matey amateur culture into a professional footballing culture.
steve
Guest
Carlton fans thanks you very much for letting Sam Docherty go. Though there is talk you may be looking at former Carlton great and Coach Brett Ratten being the man in the hot seat next season.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Thank God I'm not the only Lion supporter who has Lester and Bewick front and Centre of the biggest List cloggers running around in AFL Footy! I'm beginning to think Lester is a Leppa lovechild!
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah I don’t think any coach could have survived the exodus of talent Leppa has endured. But I don’t think he’s the man for the job, regardless. More experience is needed, someone who has runs on the board and can make this team believe. Mark Thompson would fit that bill. Not to mention his Essendon experience would help puncture the woe-is-me bubble the Lions are living in. The moment that sank this season for me was when the Lions announced with fanfare the re-signing of Ryan Lester and Rohan Bewick. A better pair of list-clogging middle of the road spuds you could scarcely hope to find, as demonstrated by Lester being singled out for one of the most pathetic efforts displayed against GWS I can remember from a professional footballer. And yet they were re-signed because the Lions know they can’t attract anyone better to replace them. It’s demoralising seeing our cap space being eaten up by drones like those two. Watch us sign Chris Dawes this off-season after Melbourne ditch him. The hits just keep on coming.