Brent Moloney in action for the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night. Source: Getty Images
BRENT Moloney felt he had a point to prove in his first competitive outing as a Brisbane Lion at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
After heading to the Gabba in the off-season, this was the first time the former Demons midfielder was in the trenches with his new comrades.
He did not want to let them down in the heat of battle.
He did anything but.
Eight clearances, three inside 50s, one nine-point supergoal and 17 disposals across the two wins over Hawthorn and Gold Coast in the NAB Cup opener was exactly the kind of display that Brisbane, and Moloney, were looking for.
Lions legend Simon Black now has a right-hand man when it comes to the in-and-under scraps around stoppages.
He no longer has to shoulder most of the ball-winning load.
Moloney is capable of being in the AFL's elite when it comes to the dirty work.
Moloney, 29, was just happy to be singing Brisbane's club song after a successful debut but his efforts inside would have been most pleasing to the Lions coaching staff.
"`When you come to a new club, you want to impress your teammates and the coaching staff. You want to earn their respect,'' he said.
"The best way you can do that is stick to the team structures and perform your role and I'm glad I was able to do that.
"We've been going at each other for three or four months at training so it was good to face some opposition together and come out on top.
"We got a good, even spread from everyone which is what we need to be successful this year.
"I felt like we ran over the top of them in the end. It is only early days but it feels good to know that we are fit and we've got up a little momentum.''
Moloney was not the only ex-Demon to catch the eye.
Forward/ruck Stefan Martin also produced some nice touches.
He had eight disposals and three clearances against the Suns after having seven touches and one clearance against the Hawks.
"Stef is hard to match-up on because he is quick, agile and such a big unit.
"He was good for us and it's going to be exciting to see what he can do when Brownie (Jonathan Brown) gets back and they can work together,'' Moloney said.
The Suns take on the Kangaroos on Saturday in the first AFL match ever played in Townsville.
Skipper Gary Ablett will again lead the side and midfielder Dion Prestia, solid forward Danny Stanley and goal sneak Brandon Matera are expected to make their first appearances.
The Suns are likely to field a side that will closely resemble the outfit played in the season opener against St Kilda on March 30.
With vice-captain Nathan Bock ruled out of the NAB Cup, and Trent MacKenzie and Seb Tape still in rehabilitation, coach Guy McKenna will have given all his first-choice round 1 players a game after Townsville.
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