Lions take lessons from ‘bittersweet’ Devils loss

HEADING into the 2026 BFNL season, new Redan coach Marc Greig was quick to stress that his side’s season and measure of improvement would not be judged on its win-loss record.

At a casual glance there would appear to be a certain sameness from last year to this year, with the Lions holding down ninth spot with three wins following a similar place finish and four wins in 2025.

But look beyond the win-loss record and it’s becoming increasingly obvious the process, development and execution are all trending positively at City Oval and rival sides can count on the Lions being quite the handful over the final seven rounds.

That’s also not to say that Greig and his players wouldn’t like to see an evening of the win-loss ledger, which could easily have read 4-7 after coming heartachingly short of the upset of the season against reigning premier Darley.

Up by 19 points at half-time, Redan weathered a fierce Devils fightback to still be in front by two points at the final change before a see-sawing final quarter.

It took a goal from 20m out by Joel Cadman, who marked from a Nick Hind kick off the ground, 25 minutes into the quarter to break the deadlock, with the Devils able to hold on for the final few minutes.

It was a bittersweet ending for the Lions, with no telling what the scalp of a genuine premiership threat, following back-to-back wins over an ever-dangerous Melton and battling Lake Wendouree, might have done for the predominantly young playing group.

In the end they could find solace in the fact it’s all part of a longer game and that there are even brighter days ahead for the maroon and gold.

“We knew they would come out firing at half-time; they weren’t just going to play the same way. We knew they would change things up and they did,” Greig said.

“They got going and kicked three or four, but to our credit again we fought back and the scores were level at three-quarter-time.

“It’s a game of moments. Everyone looks at the last five minutes … they’re real moments and do have a say in the game … but at the same time you go back and we could have been five or six goals up at half-time instead of 20 points.

“There were definitely opportunities early on to extend the margin.

“It was a bit bittersweet. We don’t want to be renowned for great efforts, but at the same time it was a bloody good effort against the quality midfield they’ve got.

Greig went even a step further to label the effort as “amazing”.

“We had a plan and stuck to it. The fight and contested ball was there,” he said.

“Even as a general supporter, if you watched the game, you would have left saying that was a pretty good game of footy.

“We did so much right for most of the game.”

Not downplaying what three straight wins would have signified, Greig was quick to stress that he had rarely been disappointed with his side’s endeavour all season.

“There’s lots of parts to it where we are a young group – that’s not lie – but you need your best players on the park,” he said.

“We had a period of time where we were just missing a few experienced guys like Wertsy (Jacob Werts), Belly (Grant Bell) and Nick Barker and Hoyser (Liam Hoy).

“There were times when we’ve had 13 players 19 and 18 and under and one game where we had 18 players 21 and under.”

A godsend in recent weeks, the return of 27-year-old ruck Will Madden has added plenty of physicality and leadership on the park.

While on Saturday, the Lions were bolstered by the inclusion of Cooper Craig-Peters back from Footscray VFL duties, further taking the heat of the Lions’ youngsters.

The midfielder was either best on ground or close to it, finishing with 32 disposals, 18 contested possessions and seven tackles, and contributing two crucial goals early in the game.

 

Lachlan Bond finished with a game-high four goals, while Rory Gunsser, emerging leader Brodie Pope and Zac Mortlock more than held their own against a class Devils midfield.

With so much promise and upside, Greig insisted the Lions were still only in the early phase of their journey.

“It’s going to take a couple of years, but from where they were at the start of the year to now, each player has developed just that little bit more,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, it would have been great to win (against Darley), but at the same time, the boys will learn a hell of a lot.

“I’m OK with that, the boys can see through what we are trying to do.

“Fingers crossed we can just be more consistent.

“The first part of the year it’s just been a quarter (in games) that has let ourselves slip, so we’d like to minimise the momentum other sides get for a whole quarter.

“There is plenty of upside.”

Following this weekend’s break, the Lions will take on Sunbury at Clarke Oval, followed by second-placed Sebastopol and North Ballarat (fourth).

The loss margin last time against Sunbury was 34 points, with the bulk of the damage done in a six-goal-to-one second quarter.