The Brisbane Lions, agonisingly, were “moments” away from a memorable premiership triumph last September.
And while they pose as every chance of going close again this season, they’re still met with one immovable hurdle.
The Lions have established themselves as home and away masters in recent years, winning at least 14 regular-season matches in each of the past five seasons. That tally includes last year’s 17-win effort, which represented Brisbane’s most in a season since its 17-win 2002 campaign when the Leigh Matthews-coached side bested Collingwood in that year’s premiership decider.
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In particular, the Lions flexed their muscles at home last season, winning all 13 games (including two finals) they played at the Gabba.
Brisbane is likely to lean on its fortress again this upcoming season, especially with increased parity across the AFL heading into 2024.
The Lions were among the busier sides during last October’s player movement window, orchestrating numerous moves in an attempt to cultivate another winning formula. Brisbane’s marquee addition came in the form of ex-Adelaide backman Tom Doedee, whose introduction – pending his full recovery from an ACL rupture early last year – is timely after ex-defender Marcus Adams was forced into an unfortunate retirement.
Further, while he’s not explicitly an ‘addition’ in a trade sense, burgeoning ball-getter Will Ashcroft will represent something of a prize for the Lions when he makes a likely mid-year return from an ACL rupture of his own.
Veteran goalkicker Jack Gunston returned to Hawthorn as part of an exchange that saw developing forward Brandon Ryan adopt Lions colours, while Adams’ retirement and Tom Fullarton’s departure for Melbourne represented Brisbane’s other main comings and goings.
While the club’s 2023 list turnover is likely to help shape its fortunes in ‘24, an “honest” and “vulnerable” review of last year’s heartbreaker could prove the catalyst to Chris Fagan’s squad taking the ultimate step this year.
“It was a really good review. I love the fact that the players were so honest because that Grand Final came down to moments, really,” Fagan said last Tuesday, via SEN.
“I talked to the players and I said to them, ‘Is there a moment that you’d like back?’ I went around the room, and I talked to them about the idea that there’ll be no reprisals here and that: ‘You’re humans, you’ll make mistakes and there’ll be things that you regret.’
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“I was a bit curious to know how they’d be with their honesty because we (the coaches) had gone through the tape (from the game) and we knew all the moments. But they didn’t miss one.
“They were so honest and some of them had to make themselves pretty vulnerable.
“But it was great, and in the end, I said: ‘Well, everything you just said, here it is.’ We watched it on the video and that was it.”
Will such a review, powered by raw emotion, further unite a group looking to go one step further this year?
STRENGTH
Depth all around the ground. Despite his probable absence during the initial portion of the season, Doedee shapes as a considerable addition to a defensive unit that already causes headaches for opposing attacks. So much so is Doedee’s prospective impact that long-time stopper Darcy Gardiner has spent time training as a forward this pre-season. The apparent transition comes after Gardner was ousted by emerging defender Jack Payne in Fagan’s backline last year. And, Gardiner is possibly joining a forward line that just added the aforementioned Ryan, who himself is likely to be forced to wait for a senior opportunity. He’ll be attempting to join a formidable unit comprising Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood, Charlie Cameron, Cameron Rayner and Lincoln McCarthy, among others. As for Brisbane’s ball-winners, Zac Bailey, Deven Robertson and Jaspa Fletcher are just a few of the rotating midfielders sitting behind dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale, the versatile and prolific Hugh McCluggage, ex-Bulldogs hard nut Josh Dunkley and the reliable Jarrod Berry on the Lions’ depth chart. Put simply, the Lions are just about set. Everywhere.
WEAKNESS
The MCG … still. It’s difficult to identify a glaring weakness in a side rebounding from a Grand Final appearance, but Brisbane’s one shortfall might stem from the actual venue it’s played at. The Lions own a 16-43-1 all-time record at the MCG, including 15 losses in their past 16 matches at the venue, dating back to July 2015. Their sole victory during that unsavoury stint came in a semi-final against Melbourne in 2022. While a September win at the home of football is a step in a promising direction, Brisbane couldn’t topple the Magpies on last season’s final day. History isn’t on the Lions’ side entering a critical campaign.
WHERE ARE THEY ON THE PREMIERSHIP CLOCK?
11:30pm: There’s not a lot to unpack here. As Fagan proffered, if a few things went his side’s way in last year’s decider, we’re sitting here talking about the Lions as the reigning flag-bearers. Instead, they’re preparing another charge at the ultimate glory. And, like this time last year, they’re a massive chance of proving triumphant this September.
PREDICTED LADDER RANGE
1st-4th
PREDICTED OPENING ROUND TEAM
B: Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, Ryan Lester
HB: Conor McKenna, Harris Andrews, Keidean Coleman
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Jaspa Fletcher
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Zac Bailey
F: Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher, Lincoln McCarthy
FOLL: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley
I/C: Callum Ah Chee, Darcy Wilmot, Dayne Zorko, Deven Robertson, Kai Lohmann (sub)
