BRISBANE Lions champion Jonathan Brown believes Justin Leppitsch is the man to coach the struggling club, and instead shifted his focus to the club's older players to lead the team out of the mire. 

The Lions are third-last on the ladder, with its sole win coming against Gold Coast.

Writing in his column in News Corp newspapers on Saturday, Brown said the Lions had bigger issues than the coach.

"'Leppa' is one of the fiercest competitors I’ve encountered and I’m backing him to lead a Brisbane Lions resurgence," Brown wrote.

"Right now, I’m more critical of the senior players, some list management decisions of the past, and a lack of development support in recent years, than the coach.

Match preview: Melbourne v Brisbane Lions

He said his former teammates' willingness to work hard was the biggest problem.

"They made some progress in the opening few weeks, but the last three quarters against Port Adelaide and for the entire game against Collingwood, the workrate was pathetic."

Brown turned his attention to the leaders and some of the mature-age recruits the Lions picked up at the end of 2015.

"No Dayne Beams and no Tom Rockliff certainly hurts, but I expect Daniel Rich to fight through the tag of Jack Viney," Brown wrote.

Beams will miss for an indefinite period with knee surgery while skipper Tom Rockliff has a hamstring injury.

"I challenge Tom Bell to make an impact and use his brute force, and not hand the ball straight back to the opposition," Brown wrote.

"I want Allen Christensen to run as hard when he’s chasing as he does when he gets a free ball over the top.

"And I want Ryan Bastinac to show that he’s more than just a depth player and to use his endurance and skills to hurt the opposition."

The Lions play Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.