Lions spoil Schammer show

Everyone came to see Mt Barker recruit Byron Schammer, but it was Royals midfielders David Parker and Michael McGlade who stole the show on the way to the Lions' 48-point win at Frost Park on Sunday afternoon.

As expected, the 129-game Fremantle Dockers veteran lined up for his first game at his new club and collected 27 possessions in his first outing.

Schammer lined up at half-back in the first half before moving into the midfield after half-time, finishing with 17 kicks, 10 handballs, four marks and three tackles.

Despite the 27 touches, Schammer's impact on the game was limited as Parker and McGlade led the way.

The leading Kleemann Medal hopefuls' run and carry through the midfield was a standout over four quarters for the Lions.

Their impressive work led to ample opportunities for the hard-working Peter Mark and small forward Corey Ward.

Mark ran his opponent - Steven Cameron, on debut for the Bulls and formerly of the Horsham Saints in the Wimmera Football League in country Victoria - into the ground, while the ball fell in Ward's lap on numerous occasions.

The Bulls kicked the first two goals of the game through enigmatic forward Sam Hart, but the Lions absorbed the early pressure to lead by 31 points at the long break.

When Mark kicked his third after the resumption, it looked as though it was all over.

But with Schammer injected on to the ball, the momentum shifted.

Hart kicked his fourth and fifth goals in quick succession, before he was yellow-carded for swearing, to drag the margin back to 19 points late in the term.

From then on it was all the Lions as they kicked the first five majors of the final term to run out 48-point winners.

Bulls coach Ryan Ballard said Parker and McGlade were the difference between the sides. "They spread and our blokes couldn't keep up with them through the midfield," he said.

"McGlade several times found space, run and bounce through the middle - it was too much for us."

Lions coach Darrel Panizza said he was a little unsure on what the Bulls would bring to the table with Schammer as an inclusion.

"They rattled us a little bit in that third quarter, they were pretty hard at it," he said.

"But I think the difference between us last year and this year is that they would have one over us, but we stood up.

"When they did rattle us, we were able to gain our composure and go forward, which is a good thing."

Luke Hammond and Lee Pavlovich returned, while Cameron showed he would be a quality inclusion if he decides to play the year out at the Bulls.