STAR Lions recruit Allen Christensen and fellow small forward Josh Green are overweight and unfit, former Lion and Bulldog Jason Akermanis believes.

Green and Christensen are two of a host of Brisbane Lions struggling badly in the winless opening five rounds, and were in the crosshairs of coach Justin Leppitsch at the weekend.

Without singling anyone out, Leppitsch accused his team of not caring and said his small forward brigade was not doing its job in the wake of Saturday's 64-point loss against Gold Coast.

Akermanis, who won three premierships alongside Leppitsch and made his name as a lightning quick half-forward/midfielder, said players weren't working hard enough.

The 2001 Brownlow medallist has watched all five Lions losses and went to great lengths to not criticise his former club, but says there are some glaring deficiencies – starting with the small forwards.

"I think (Dayne) Zorko and (Lewy) Taylor look in shape, whereas Christensen and Green look a little overweight," Akermanis told AFL.com.au.

"They don't look top-notch, lean and fast - they could be a couple of kilos lighter.

"As AFL athletes you'd expect them to be on top of that. They don't physically look fit enough."

Christensen was recruited from Geelong in the off-season and following back surgery was unable to run until after Christmas.

Last season the ‘mozzie squad' of Zorko, Taylor and Green was a large reason why the Lions won six of their final 12 games.

However, Leppitsch was stinging in his criticism of the small forwards after the loss to the Suns, saying they weren't working hard enough to create turnovers - and Akermanis agreed.

Christensen, Green and Taylor have combined for an average of just seven tackles a game this season.

"As a quickish bloke, that's your asset, if you can make tackles," Akermanis said.

"When your game's not happening, to be able to run and make tackles is the most important thing.

"If you keep your fitness up … your tackling can keep you in the game. They're little things, but they add up."

Akermanis said there was another young team in the competition showing the Lions up.

"Look at the (Western) Bulldogs - they would have been in everyone's bottom four (prior to the season) - their ability to get those fanatical tackles inside forward 50 (has been great),” he said.

"At the moment they (Lions) can't make those tackles.

"If you make those tackles and your work-rate is good in there, that's how you turn it over up the field and it comes back pretty quick. But they're not even doing that.

"We're not here to sink the boot in, it's a tough job … but for something so positive last year and with some good recruiting in the off-season of some experienced players, I don't think anything's been delivered at all."