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It was legendary New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra who said: “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”
This is as true in the modern AFL landscape as anywhere; predicting the ebbs and flows of Australia’s game is a treacherous pursuit.
So it is with more than a little trepidation that I brazenly declare: the Brisbane Lions will follow in the footsteps of Port Adelaide and be the next AFL rags-to-riches story.
When discussing teams on the improve, the conversation is dominated by the expansion clubs.
Gold Coast this year showed glimpses of what in short order will be one the most potent midfields in the competition, while the wealth of top-shelf talent at Greater Western Sydney makes their rise seem inevitable.
Others point to the Western Bulldogs who, as breakout teams go, have looked the side most likely for several years now.
But few mention the Brisbane Lions in the same breath, and admittedly it’s not hard to see why. The Lions have been woeful in recent times, with dramas both on and off the field.
Following the retirement of Ash McGrath, there is now no member of the Lions’ famous triple premiership team who still laces up the boots each week. Sure, no-one could have expected a repeat of that famous era, but the Lions’ proud roar has since softened to barely a whimper, the club having fronted just a solitary finals series since 2004, and finished no higher than 12th since 2009.
Behind the scenes, things have arguably been worse. After a promising start to his coaching tenure, Michael Voss quickly found himself embroiled in dramas off the field to complement those on it. The Brendan Fevola fiasco, years of unrest at board level, and last year, a staggering exodus of young talent. Ultimately the favourite son cum coach was unceremoniously ousted mid-season 2013.
This once proud club lay teetering on the brink of oblivion. Some pundits have predicted Gold Coast will steal Brisbane’s thunder, and the Lions will slowly fade into insignificance.
The naysayers are not yet wrong, but they soon will be.
Greater footy minds than myself will tell you time and again that the two most important people at your club are the senior coach and the CEO. Enter Swanny and Leppa.
Greg Swann is all class. Together with Eddie McGuire, Swann built Collingwood from the ground up in the early 2000s, as they pushed into two grand finals within his first four years at the helm, and reclaimed their place among the powerhouse clubs in the league. At Carlton, Swann was instrumental in signing Chris Judd and bringing in Mick Malthouse.
Sure, parading a live lion around a footy field is probably going a little too far, but the fact that Swanny and his staff are thinking outside the box should excited fans of the club. Brisbane could ask for no better CEO; the man knows how to lead.
And Justin Leppitsch? With what he’s done in just 12 months, it’s no stretch to say that Leppa would not be far back in calculations for coach of the year. He’s calm and measured, and has already shown an ability to inspire his players and win games.
After conceding eight of their first nine, Leppitsch dragged his team back into line to finish with seven wins, including stirring victories over Collingwood, North, and Gold Coast.
But let’s be frank. Footy departments don’t win flags, players do. So how’s the list looking?
Despite last year’s mass talent departure, the blokes Brisbane brought in might already have surpassed their collective output. James Aish, Darcy Gardiner, and rising star winner Lewis Taylor have exceeded all expectations in their first year.
But that’s just the kids. Tom Rockliff, 24, Pearce Hanley, 25, and Dayne Zorko, 25, are bona fide stars with their best years ahead. Another two of their top six – Daniel Rich and Matthew Leuenberger – sat out the best part of the season, but will slot straight back in. And the latter’s absence made way for big Stefan Martin to not just emerge, but tear the competition to shreds with his mix of excellent bodywork and even better follow up work.
Oh, and let’s not forget the elephant in the room: Dayne Beams. Even in the unlikely scenario that the silky Collingwood star doesn’t join Brisbane, the Lions have been clear that their war-chest of salary cap space, said to be up to $1.5 million, will be spent on nothing less than A-grade talent. Quality players who will come in and have an immediate impact.
It’s only a matter of time before they land a big fish, or maybe two.
Now with all of the above said, I am still a realist. Brisbane is not a heartland footy town like Adelaide, there is no shiny new oval to entice the members back to games, and David Koch has no twin in Queensland. Luck, fate, and the footy gods will need to play their part as well.
Nevertheless, the tide is turning, and the Brisbane renaissance looms. The Gold Coast rivalry is heating up and beginning to drag supporters back, family Beams may yet be reunited, and the Fitzroy faithful still bleed red, blue and gold.
Make no mistake, the Lions’ mighty roar will once again echo across the hallowed turf of the Gabba. Brisbane are coming.
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