THERE was a good reason why Brisbane Lions' Irish recruit Colm Begley was not overwhelmed when asked to mark St Kilda legend Robert Harvey in their top-of-the-table AFL clash.

"The fact he's from Ireland he's probably not in awe of Robert Harvey because he doesn't know who he is," Lions coach Leigh Matthews laughed.

"But even if he knew about Harvs, he's got confidence in himself."

That confidence would have been sky-high after the Irish youngster kept the two-time Brownlow medallist under wraps as the Lions ran over the top of St Kilda 15.12 102) to 7.8 (50) at the Gabba on Thursday night.

Brisbane used to be known for its "fab five" midfield, but it has been its "super six" featuring Begley that Matthews has been raving about this season.

Matthews believes Brisbane's defensive six of 20-year-old Begley, Daniel Merrett, Jed Adcock, Jared Brennan, Robert Copeland and Wayde Mills were the key for the upset victory that kept the unbeaten Lions on top of the AFL ladder.

Mills was thrown into the game as a last-minute replacement for Jason Roe (hamstring).

"I just think we've got a really good defensive group together," Matthews said. "We are all pretty thrilled that rather than just talking about potential, we are seeing it."

Merrett was again outstanding after stepping into the big shoes of departed full-back Mal Michael, keeping Saints spearhead Fraser Gehrig goalless.

Initially a back-up ruckman, Merrett was groomed as a key forward before reinventing himself in defence following Michael's controversial departure to Essendon.

"We identified about halfway last year (that) he's the most likely to be the next Mal Michael-type player," Matthews said of Merrett.

But Matthews was clearly buzzing about Begley, who moved to Brisbane only at the end of 2005.

"It is amazing to think that he had not touched a footy 18 months ago," Matthews said. "The first time I spoke to him he had enormous spunk and character, that really impressed me before I knew whether he could run or do anything else.

"He's like the little battery bunny. He never stops running.

"He's got great aerobic ability. The way a half-back has to play in modern footy they are almost like a midfielder — he does it extremely well."

Begley's meteoric rise has not gone unnoticed in his homeland. An Irish journalist attended the post-match news conference and wanted to know if Matthews planned to unearth another Begley.

"Absolutely. We are still putting the toe in the water in Ireland," he said. "If you can get a Colm Begley every year, you'd want to get one or two every year.

"I suspect there are a lot of Irish boys over there that are very capable of being very good AFL footballers."

Not that Brisbane's midfield is lacking any firepower.

Both veteran Nigel Lappin (thigh) and Richard Hadley (knee) are poised to return and bolster a midfield that is already firing.

AAP