Lots of questions have been asked of the Brisbane Lions after being towelled up by Melbourne last week. They were probably at their worst – but was their best good enough? Did their midfield bat deep enough? Were they hard enough?

Those questions weren’t entirely answered in a big win at home against the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night. They were routed, again, at the clearances, exposed by the Bulldogs’ powerful centre-square combination, Tom Liberatore dominant.

The Lions were comfortable winners over the Dogs.Getty Images

But they were better served at either end of the ground, running all over the Bulldogs for a 41-point win. And here, the questions are turned back on the faltering Bulldogs, who again couldn’t get value for all their dominance at ground level.

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10.34pm on Jun 30, 2022

Lachie Neale spoke with Seven post-match

Q: Six clearances, a goal, back on the winners’ list.

A: That is the main thing. It was a long seven days after last week. To be honest, more relief than anything after that win. We really let ourselves down against Melbourne. The group really wanted to respond. Proud about the way they went about it. Could have easily dropped their head and made two, three in a row but good to be back on the winners’ list.

Q: The way the midfield set up, you and Jack Macrae were the like for likes. Did you feel like he was your opponent tonight at any point in time or was it just midfield versus midfield group?

A: It was more individual versus mid. I had McComb play on me for stoppages a little bit to try and free up Macrae. They are clever like that, and they like to have numbers around the ball. It took me a little bit to get going. I thought I was able to impact in the end. Jack Macrae is a great player. They have some great midfielders, so we knew we were up against it. Full faith in our group. I thought our structure allowed us to defend their quick hands. They beat us in clearance.

The Lions were comfortable winners tonight.Getty Images

Q: Harris Andrews, we spoke to him before. He seemed to be able to play the intercept marking game. I think you kicked seven goals from bouncing out of the back 50 and straight down to kicking goals. You don’t do many of those, but that worked great tonight.

A: Our use of the ball out of the back half was efficient. In the first half we were going down the line a little bit. Once we changed the angles and were out the open side we were able to get hold of them a little bit. Proud of the guys for adjust to go for that as well and kick a good score.

Q: Charlie Cameron just rubbed you on the head.

A: Carried his forward line, that’s why his back is sore.

Q: He is not a guy you want to be one on one with.

A: I feel sorry for any defender in the comp who has to play on him one on one. He does it at training. If I’m on him, I don’t go anywhere near Charlie. He is electric.

Q: I thought the midfield group started to get going about halfway through the first quarter. What were you focused on before the game after what happened last week? What were you highlighting as, “This is what we really need to concentrate on”?

A: We wanted to concentrate on winning the hunt. We wanted to get at them and get the ball. I thought we adjusted well and then got our pressure really spot on and efficiently moved the ball from stoppage as well. I think we almost doubled their scoring from stoppage. So, our effectiveness from those players were great.

Asked about how he thought the top-eight was shaping up, Neale said Collingwood had surprised him and were a great side to watch, his former club Fremantle had a great system – perhaps second to only Melbourne – and he expected to see Carlton bounce the way they have this year.

10.18pm on Jun 30, 2022

Harris Andrews spoke post-match

Harris Andrew spoke with Seven post-match.

Q: Disappointing last Thursday [against Melbourne]. Almost embarrassed last Thursday. Quick response.

A: It was. It all starts with the contest for us in our ability to win the ball and get territory. Dees got hold of us last week. It was a real focus this week at training. Important to keep the energy after the game last week and bounce back.

Q: Your back group though, you played the intercept marking game tonight, and I think you kicked about seven goals directly from back 50 turnovers, which is unusual, isn’t it? So that part of the ground was fantastic for you guys tonight.

A: I think it was testament to our mids and forwards who put pressure on. I’m not sure what the pressure rating was. I was told is up around two [hundred] which is really high. That is something we wanted to work on. [It] gives us a chance down the back to get the balls inside 50.

The Lions were comfortable, 41-point victors.Getty Images

Q: Jake Lever, we saw what he did in terms of that intercept marking role. Was that really part of the plan going in for you to go for it like that?

A: It was a little bit. They have dangerous options down there in Schache and Ugle-Hagan. You obviously have to pay your respects to them. As I said, it is probably testament to our mids and forwards putting that heat on which didn’t allow their mids to kick the ball [cleanly] inside 50 which helps myself read the ball.

Q: The week you had, what was the focus from ‘Fages’. Did you watch a lot of vision from last week? Or did you move on quite quickly?

A: We watched a lot of tapes. We really watched the Dees’ intensity around the ball. Guys like Jack Viney. We want to replicate [that in] our game. When we are at our best that’s what we do. It was a good learning opportunity for us this week. Probably got to view that as a good opportunity going forward.

Q: What is it about the Gabba? We were talking about the record, 33 of the last 34 home and away games. Everyone tries to make the home ground a fortress. What suits you so well here?

A: I don’t know. I will be honest with you. It is a pretty quick deck. The centre square is pretty hard, so the ball moves a bit quicker. I don’t know, probably just home fans. It is always great to play in front of [them]. We have dangerous forwards like Charlie and Joe who love playing in front of the crowd. I wouldn’t know the exact answer.

Q: You found where Charlie broke clear and kicked those exciting goals in the middle of the third quarter, it broke the game open. Do you even feel it from your defensive end?

A: Yes, it is a real pleasure to watch him from down the other end. The thing that stands out is his pressure, seeing the ball get over the back. He is like a shark in the water. He is smart with his body. We are very lucky to have him.

10.10pm on Jun 30, 2022

Talking point: Hipwood pushes opponent into umpire

What will be the reaction, if any, to Eric Hipwood pushing his opponent into an umpire?

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10.06pm on Jun 30, 2022

FT: Stats

The Dogs had seven more inside-50s, but went at just 43.9 per cent efficiency inside-50.

The Lions had 28 scoring shots from 50 entries, at 64 per cent efficiency.

The Dogs also won the clearances by 15, the contested possessions by nine and the tackles by 15. It was purely an execution and efficiency factor that saw the Dogs fail tonight.

Charlie Cameron kicked four goals tonight.Getty Images

The Lions had just 53 turnovers, 10 less than the Dogs and 17 below their season average. They amassed 120 marks. Before tonight, they’ve averaged 96 marks a game. Sixteen of those marks were inside 50.

FT: Lions 16.12 (108), Dogs 9.13 (67)

10.02pm on Jun 30, 2022

FT: Lions 108, Dogs 67

Rhylee West kicks a goal after the siren. It’s a 41-point win to the Lions.

Charlie Cameron was just seeking some feedback from one of the umpires about a push. It means very little. He was outstanding tonight with four goals.

Daniel Rich and Dayne Zorko look a bit sore, walking onto the field in their tracksuits. Zorko was subbed out in the opening 10 minutes with a hamstring injury, and Rich did not play in the second half due to a hamstring injury too.

Cameron described the win as a “good response from the boys” after their loss to the Dees.

FT: Lions 16.12 (108), Dogs 9.13 (67)

9.58pm on Jun 30, 2022