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Until trade week, it had been about a decade since the Brisbane Lions consistently made headlines for the right reasons. If they were subjected to the rigorous stage lights of the Victorian football bubble, they would be tarred with the likes of (currently) Melbourne, (newly) Western Bulldogs or (previously) Richmond as a complete basket case.
Landing Allen Christensen and Dayne Beams is the first time the club has made such a clear positive statement in a very long time. While there are indications it may take further time for Brisbane to reach their desired destination, their list intentions have them on the right path with such ambitious recruiting.
Despite residing in complete football purgatory, one of the league’s most intriguing phenomena is sadly resided to awkward start times and pay TV audiences. The three R’s – Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich have been holding up the club on-field during some very lean years.
The combination works because the individuals within the group complement each other - Redden the hard working inside ball winner, Rockliff the creative and goal scoring mid and Rich has strong defensive attributes that include the ability to rebound.
Include Zorko, Beams, Christensen and an array of talented younger on-ballers (Aish, Paparone, Taylor) and an Irish bloke named Pearce Hanley who has the ball on a string and here is a midfield group that can do some vicious scoreboard damage.
The question is whether that scoreboard damage will be enough without an established key forward leading the line.
A breakdown of their options portrays how this deficiency hampers the Lions. Daniel Merrett and Luke McGuane are swingmen/cameo type players on output at best. Daniel McStay and Jonathan Freeman while very promising, have played only 13 games between them. Trent West and Stefan Martin aren’t mobile enough to make dummy leads or able to create space up the ground.
Half the fun of watching Brisbane this year will be how coach Justin Leppitsch structures his team to find goals. There is a moderately successful combination in there somewhere. Question is, will he find it?
Players to Watch
Justin Clarke:
This 195cm and 93kg key defender played all 22 games last year, ensuring that a key post is held down in defence. Clarke’s strength is his instinct and take-off speed, giving himself every chance of shutting down established power forwards. His presence also allows Merrett to go forward, so a successful follow up to last season is needed from the youngster.
Allen Christensen:
Despite the innuendo surrounding his move from Geelong, a fresh start for Christensen presents the opportunity to hit the reset button professionally and personally. Create and hit the scoreboard, the rest should look after itself.
Josh Green:
Many small forwards fail to bottle the lightening and can look out of place on a footy field sometimes. Green led the Lions goal kicking with 33 last year, suggesting a similar return in 2015 will establish him in the squad for years to come after years of inconsistency.
Key games
Round 2 v North Melbourne – Brisbane’s record at home against North is impressive, finding a way to undo the Roos at their lowest ebb in their last three Gabba appearances. Can they take those performances on the road?
Round 13 v Adelaide – Mid-year eight-point home fixture against a side fighting for the bottom half of the top 8. Midfield battle salivating – Rockliff, Hanley (if he's fit), Redden, Rich and Beams vs Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson and Crouch.
Round 19 v Gold Coast – If things go right for the two Queensland clubs, this may be the most blockbuster instalment of the Q-Clash yet.
Finishing Position – 12th