The Lions let a 25-point lead at three-quarter time slip to just a goal late in the final term, before kicking a precious late goal in a 9.13 (67) to 8.4 (52) victory.

   Morrison is in his first season in charge of the Lions who have returned to South Coast AFL after 25 years in Sydney AFL.

  A dominant eight scoring shots to three in the third term had the Lions in control, before the Bulldogs took charge, kicking three straight goals to close to within a goal.

 Ryan Wells booted a great running goal to seal victory for the Lions with Morrison rapt by the response from his side to the Dogs’ fight-back.

   ‘‘We said at three quarter-time if we get challenged then we want to show what we’re about and we did that,’’ Morrison said..

 ‘‘The players dug deep, found that something extra that the good teams can do and we got the job done.

‘‘We should have won by 10 goals but if you don’t take your chances you can be punished. But we showed some real intestinal fortitude which is the stuff which makes a footy club.’’

   Morrison said the Lions would only get better with the experience of playing together.

 ‘‘We’re in a new comp, with new players and we’re still finding our feet. We were without three key midfielders, our prime movers and we’ll only improve.

‘‘There’s 30 per cent improvement, maybe more in this group to come and later in the season we’ll show what we can really do.’’

  Stewart Boyd, Mason Thomson and Damon Scott were outstanding for the Lions, who are the only unbeaten side with four wins to start the season.

   The Bulldogs lost no admirers with their hardness and tenacity and having only played four games themselves, they’ll be a better team when the clubs surely meet in the finals.

   Meanwhile, Kiama Power claimed their first win for 2015, trouncing a depleted Northern Districts 13.11 (89) to 8.5 (53) at Hollymount Park.

 Power player-coach Bryce O’Connor booted four goals, with Ben Williams and Ben Griffen kicking two goals each.

 Jack Mahony and Jack Bateman led the way for the Power in an excellent win, but for Norths their third loss of the season was particularly disappointing.

Finally, Nowra Blues continued their fine season and improved to second spot with a thrilling 12.8 (80) to 11. 13 (79) win over Bomaderry at Artie Smith Oval.

   Nowra have a 3-2 win/loss record, while Bomaderry (2-3) are in a log-jam on equal third with three other sides.

  South Coast AFL ladder: Wollongong Lions 10, Nowra 8, Wollongong Bulldogs 6,  Bomaderry 6,  Northern Districts 6, Shellharbour 6, Kiama 2.