For a bloke who doesn’t fancy himself as a forward, Daniel Merrett sure looked like one during the Brisbane Lions’ 64-point thrashing of Carlton in their AFL pre-season clash on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

So convincing was regular fullback Merrett in his three-goal display that Lions coach Michael Voss reckoned he had found the man to fill the shoes of his greatest forward.

Injured captain Jonathan Brown is not expected to be available until the third round in what would usually be a nightmare for Voss.

However, Voss looked like a relieved man after Merrett crashed through packs and flew high for marks in his best Brown impersonation against Carlton at Maroochydore on Saturday.

And all in the Lions vice-captain’s first game of the pre-season after recovering from a hamstring complaint.

“He kicked his goals but his presence up there is what you need and he was able to do that for us,” Voss said of Merrett.

“We’ve spoken about Browny ad nauseam but we’ve got to look at what is going to work for us (in his absence), how that forward dynamic works early in the season.

“Goose (Matt Maguire) has been in terrific form as has Joel Patfull (in defence in the pre-season) so that enables us to do something different with Rog (Merrett).”

But Merrett made it clear where his loyalties lay.

Asked if he fancied himself as a forward, Merrett said: “Not really. I am just filling in the gaps before the big fella is back.

“Being my first game back I could ease myself in, run around and do as I please – it was good fun (against Carlton).”

But he added: “I love playing in the backline and the blokes down there.

“I think in a couple of weeks I should be back there.”

Merrett is not Voss’ only option up front judging by the Lions heroics on Saturday.

Utility Tom Rockliff shone when thrust into the forwards, sparking the Lions’ stunning run of eight unanswered goals as Carlton went scoreless in the second half.

Rockliff kicked three goals while their top draft pick Billy Longer and fellow ruckman Matthew Leuenberger looked at home during their time in the forward line.

The form of 201cm, 101kg Longer – who has incredibly put on 11kg since November – was another post-match talking point along with youngsters Claye Beams, Jesse O’Brien and Jared Polec.

“It’s good having that next generation coming through,” Merrett said.