One Pick From A Premiership: Brisbane Lions
The Lions did try to prepare for life after Lynch, Leppitsch and Voss but some of their plans didn't work. They thought they had Lynch's replacement in Jared Brennan, so far it hasn't happened. The Lions had traded Headland to Fremantle for the pick they used on Brennan. But just before their premiership run started they also had traded a player, Matthew Clarke, for a very high pick. They used pick 6 in the 1999 draft on Damian Cupido. But 4 picks later there was a player who may have been a big help in the 2004 Grand Final, Luke McPharlin.
McPharlin was a big story during the time leading up to the 1999 draft. He had gone from an obscure player to a top pick as the draft neared. McPharlin went at pick 10.
While McPharlin has been one of the better tall defenders in the league, he has also made an impact when switched to the forward line. Brisbane now needs help in several key positions and drafting McPharlin instead of Cupido would have been a much better move.
If the Lions had selected McPharlin in the same draft that they got Brown it would have given them another young key position player to develop alongside him. While Brown does not have Lynch, Leppitsch and Michael playing with him now if McPharlin was there he would just be entering his prime.
The 2004 Grand Final was not a good day for veterans like Lynch, White and Leppitsch. The younger McPharlin might have helped Brisbane that day, as he could have shut down Thurstans or could have been a forward option for Brisbane, and he would have been a valuable player for the Lions in years to come too.
Tomorrow: Carlton Blues
McPharlin was a big story during the time leading up to the 1999 draft. He had gone from an obscure player to a top pick as the draft neared. McPharlin went at pick 10.
While McPharlin has been one of the better tall defenders in the league, he has also made an impact when switched to the forward line. Brisbane now needs help in several key positions and drafting McPharlin instead of Cupido would have been a much better move.
If the Lions had selected McPharlin in the same draft that they got Brown it would have given them another young key position player to develop alongside him. While Brown does not have Lynch, Leppitsch and Michael playing with him now if McPharlin was there he would just be entering his prime.
The 2004 Grand Final was not a good day for veterans like Lynch, White and Leppitsch. The younger McPharlin might have helped Brisbane that day, as he could have shut down Thurstans or could have been a forward option for Brisbane, and he would have been a valuable player for the Lions in years to come too.
Tomorrow: Carlton Blues
