For my birthday last December I got two presents: an RACQ membership and the news that Hugh McCluggage had re-signed with the Lions.
I found out Cam Rayner is living with Greg Swan, the Lions CEO. They obviously talked about contracts over dinner as they both re-signed in January. February was kicked off with the Lions girls getting revenge over the Crows and the signature of Alex Witherden for two more years.
I can now officially make this announcement: the go-home factor has left the building. These crucial signings have locked away the core group of youngsters.
I have watched every interview since Jarrod Berry signed in mid-2017 and they might as well have all read from the same script: “It’s a great environment, I love being around the players, the support staff are fantastic, I see a bright future for the club and I want to be a part of it.”
Already on board are Jarrod Berry, Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Jacob Allison, Hugh McCluggage, Cameron Rayner and Alex Witherden, with David Noble taking care of team stability as general manager of football.
Coach Chris Fagan has set about fixing the teams biggest weakness, contested ball. It was blatantly obvious that the Lions got crushed in this area, and since the team trip to Tasmania in December this has been the number one focus. I’ve watched a lot of their training drills – working close and under pressure has taken precedent.
(Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
I commented a lot about the positivity around the arrival of Luke Hodge to the squad. He was traded in as a leader and coach and has had a huge impact during the preseason. The first thing he brought with him was to train at full intensity. It shows. His voice is often heard calling out, “Harder”.
Dane Beams has settled into his captaincy role. Witherden commented that Beams had been the driving influence behind his decision to re-sign. His style is hard but fair, he leads by example and makes everyone feel welcome. He was the first player to call all the new draftees.
Touch wood, there has been no injury issues for the Lions over summer. Berry came back with a foot injury but no-one came back in poor condition. McCluggage and Mathieson have added size. Mathieson and Robertson ran all through their holidays. Rayner has shown the attributes he was drafted for.
Young and inexperienced this new squad may be, but purpose, intent and desire are the hallmarks of their endeavour. Chris Fagan is a great coach and a great teacher. Beams and Hodge are great leaders. The squad has class, speed, mongrel and an x-factor. Depth is hard to gauge, but competition for spots is high.
For fans of the Brisbane Lions, go buy a membership or some merchandise. Your team will provide you with hope and excitement in 2018.
David
Guest
Straight out on the limb. Finish between 8 and 12 closer to eight. Any so called old bloke should only retire when they are contributing less than their replacement not to make room for them. The Lions main focus is the senior side and that is where Hodge should impart his knowledge. As with Stringer I would have swapped No1 pick for Cameron. Pick 12 is an absolute bargain. Reason. He stands tall in big games . He is still but a pup and already proven on the big stage , has years left and will be at least 2 seasons in front of any of the draft picks ,welcome Charlie. A lot of players are great week in week out and go missing when needed ,one who rises when needed is of rare ilk. Also welcome Luke Hodge. We do not know yet how any of the draftees will stand up come finals .But they will be better prepared to handle it from what the 2 above add and bring to the team. And put Daniel Rich on the half forward line and tell him to kick goals .Take a load of pressure off young Eric if he can contest in the air or simply watch the pill sail overhead.
Aligee
Guest
Lions fans can look at this optimistically or alternatively come round 10 or so look misty optically.
Aligee
Guest
I could provide a multitude of stats that says the opposite will happen, but its not up to me, one weird stat is that GC had a bigger average home crowd than GWS in 2017. You might say cut them, but the AFL will stick with them - and you know they will and eventually the worm will turn and they will be successful. The one big thing in favour of the GC and Brisbane is the substantial GR base underpinning them,
Kangajets
Guest
I must tell you friendly in your ear, sell when you can, you are not for all markets.”
Cat whisperer
Guest
Just get rid of Brisbane and Gold Coast . There ratings are poor They play bad footy Their jerseys are awful Seriously Queensland should just stick to rugby league Bye bye Brisbane and Gold Coast
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
NFL, NBL and MLB are the big three, obviously. Ice Hockey is huge in the northern states, as you say, and NASCAR is huge down south - in the Texas/Tennessee/Florida areas. Where I lived for a time, surfing was big as well. But realistically, most sports have carved out a support base in various parts of the country, owing to the width and breadth of the nation.
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
Population of 320mil vs 24mil. They get more people to Friday night college football than the NRL gets to the Grand Final. And with huge TV audiences the players make a killing. Without having been there, what are the main markets after NFL, NBA, MLB? Ice Hockey is big up north. NASCAR?
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
Google "most saturated sports country" it was no2 after Roy n IF in The Australian. The next 5 links also had Aussies on top. Besides, Google is always right ?
Jon boy
Guest
Lions the BIG improvers,Carlton odds on for the spoon,GWS Gone will not make the finals...,Bombers flag ....Freo 8th if Rossy changes his spots.
anon
Roar Pro
And Australia is more saturated. You're comparing a country of 25 million with four football codes all with national leagues to a country of 320 million. I don't think you understand the word saturated.
truetigerfan
Guest
Not intended as bait. Beams IS a great player and WILL lead them to finals before Collingwood make their next September appearance. Lions may well be a couple of years away from finals but they are, unlike your mob, travelling in the right direction. Fact is Beams wouldn't return to your club while Eddie still reigns! Keep up the entertainment, dude. Perhaps hook up with the nudist!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Um, okay. Blatant self-promotion beside, I do agree with you that the USA is a utterly massive market. I haven't been there in a fair few years, but I still recall living there and being staggered by the scope of most things over there!
Cat
Roar Guru
That list says nothing about saturation, it is just a blog poll.
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
Go Lions!
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
According to Google, Australia is the most saturated sporting country on the planet. www.thetoptens.com/sports-countries/
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
The big Harry unit travels to the USA a lot in my business and let me tell you blokes we are a tiny drop in the Ocean, our entire national market to the yanks is like a mid plains USA city. But we do have the greatest game in the world. They do get a kick out of me churning out 500 push ups on stage at 68 within a 90 minute presentation!
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
So the AFL can collect Billions in revenue but if one of their teams fails financially they should be thrown on the trash heap??? Here's a better idea: why don't the AFL sponsor Netball, Hockey and Ariel Skiing. Aussies are world class in those sports and could use some more funding.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I might be very, very wrong, but aren't we among the most saturated?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You're wasting your time baiting me with the Beams trade truetiger. He has had a bad run with injuries but I wish him all the best and we got pick 5 (De Goey) and Levi Greenwood for him. We have plenty of mids.A champion player who will always be welcome back at our great club as a Pies premiership player. Fact is, the Pies will play finals this year, the Lions are a couple of years away.
Cat
Roar Guru