The ladder says the Brisbane Lions have not won an AFL game after five rounds.

But Lions coach Michael Voss says he could not be more proud of his young side.

The harsh reality of life without inspirational skipper Jonathan Brown in front of goal again came back to bite the Lion cubs in Thursday night's 13-point loss to St Kilda at the Gabba.

The Lions were left to rue missed set shots by Matthew Leuenberger, Aaron Cornelius and Jack Redden in a third term they dominated as the Saints reeled in a five-point deficit at the final change.

But Voss wasn't looking at the goal - or the win - column to rate his emerging side.

Voss' chest puffed out when reminded after the narrow loss - their fourth straight - that they had won the contested ball 163-158 against the regular grand finalists.

"I can't fault them," Voss said.

"If you play against us you know you are going to get a fight.

"They are getting trust in each other to provide that level of intensity.

"We knew if we won the contested footy we would be a show (against St Kilda) and we were.

"It was just little parts of our game that we need to tidy up - minimise those errors, get our ball movement a bit better.

"That's the difference between winning a game by 13 points and losing them."

Daniel Merrett was a colossus in defence, shutting down Justin Koschitzke (five touches) and Nick Riewoldt (1.2) with a record 19 spoils.

"He was huge. He is in as good a form as I have seen him in my time as a coach," Voss said.

But what was happening at the other end concerned Voss.

The Lions coach - who marked his 50th game at the helm - agreed their third term yips in front of goal cost them victory.

"When we had ascendency in different parts of the game we just couldn't get that separation (on the scoreboard)," he said.

"They (Saints) had a small window and they went through it and that got them the result in the end.

"But it really is a privilege to coach the group at the moment because of their attack at the contest.

"We have to be heartened by that in the end.

"It's just big errors that are costing us."

Voss hinted that he would persevere in Brown's absence with Leuenberger (four behinds) up front along with Mitch Clark, who was the match's dominant forward with four goals.

Brown is back into full training after suffering horrific facial injuries - but can't be considered for another month due to medical advice.

"The skipper can play round nine. You can't get him back any sooner - doctor says so," Voss said.

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