Brisbane Lions Who Are Staying
The Lions are a one-way road for player trading, it seems everyone is leaving. Instead of listing all the players who could be going, here is a shorter look at those who should be playing there next season.
Ruckmen Jamie Charman and Cameron Wood should be an effective ruck duo for the Lions. McDonald and Keating are not expected back.
The forward line has Jonathan Brown, and with him there healthy next season there is reason for optimism. What help he gets is hard to say, with Bradshaw and Akermanis probably both gone. Sherman and Power can both kick goals but will also spend time in the midfield. Little Hooper might be a good forward pocket. Joel Patfull may be a taller option in the forward line.
Power was always one player rumoured to go, but at the end he is one of the only premiership Lions who will be around. There is still Simon Black. But there are also some young stars in the making for the Lions onball group. Along with Sherman, there is Rischitelli who may have already signed a contract extension, Selwood and maybe Stiller.
While the defense looks devastated with no Leppitsch, Michael, and some uncertainty with Chris Scott and Lappin there are some young prospects. Daniel Merrett is a big body and was a bit of a surprise after he was tried as a defender. The athletic Jared Brennan may also be someone who can be switched to the backline. The star for the Lions in defense last season was Jason Roe, he got plenty of possessions and he has the ability to play on many different types of forwards. Roe injured his knee towards the end of the season.
The good news for the Lions is that they will get some compensation, draft picks or young players, in exchange for most of the players who leave. In a draft full of star prospects from Queensland these extra picks come at the right time. The bad news is the rebuilding will take a few years, but at least the Lions know that a team can be built with young players, and last time they did that the Lions won 3 premierships.
Ruckmen Jamie Charman and Cameron Wood should be an effective ruck duo for the Lions. McDonald and Keating are not expected back.
The forward line has Jonathan Brown, and with him there healthy next season there is reason for optimism. What help he gets is hard to say, with Bradshaw and Akermanis probably both gone. Sherman and Power can both kick goals but will also spend time in the midfield. Little Hooper might be a good forward pocket. Joel Patfull may be a taller option in the forward line.
Power was always one player rumoured to go, but at the end he is one of the only premiership Lions who will be around. There is still Simon Black. But there are also some young stars in the making for the Lions onball group. Along with Sherman, there is Rischitelli who may have already signed a contract extension, Selwood and maybe Stiller.
While the defense looks devastated with no Leppitsch, Michael, and some uncertainty with Chris Scott and Lappin there are some young prospects. Daniel Merrett is a big body and was a bit of a surprise after he was tried as a defender. The athletic Jared Brennan may also be someone who can be switched to the backline. The star for the Lions in defense last season was Jason Roe, he got plenty of possessions and he has the ability to play on many different types of forwards. Roe injured his knee towards the end of the season.
The good news for the Lions is that they will get some compensation, draft picks or young players, in exchange for most of the players who leave. In a draft full of star prospects from Queensland these extra picks come at the right time. The bad news is the rebuilding will take a few years, but at least the Lions know that a team can be built with young players, and last time they did that the Lions won 3 premierships.
