Who are the Lions players that should play to their optimum level in season 2021?
To be eligible for selection a player must have played at least five games in season 2020, so there can be a reference point as far as those players who apply their talent the best at AFL level.
Here are the ten players (plus an honourable mention) who will stand out from the pack in season 2021 in terms of performing to their optimum level.
Honourable mention
Dayne Zorko had an average season in 2020. He finished fifth in the Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest and averaged the sixth most disposals of any Brisbane Lions player. He will want to kick more than nine goals in season 2021. He leads by example, but has to improve in season 2021 if he is to be regarded more highly.
10. Joe Daniher
Daniher is a player that has moved clubs from the Essendon Bombers to the Brisbane Lions and should benefit from the change. Hopefully he has better luck with injury. Expect him to help out Oscar McInerney as their second ruckman. It should make Daniher play more instinctively and take his mind off his lack of luck, with regards to injury. He is tenth, because he will be reluctant to try too hard and stay injury free.
(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
9. Mitch Robinson
Robinson is a player that predominantly plays to his optimum level. He is however coming towards the end of his career. He must not lose heart, but the fact is he will find it difficult to play at the level he is capable of playing at, due to not being up to standard.
8. Charlie Cameron
Cameron always endeavours to keep the Brisbane Lions in the game on the scoreboard. He is a cult hero for the Brisbane Lions. The fact is that he can get better as he only finished ninth in the Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest in season 2020. He needs to put more effort in when he plays in season 2021.
7. Daniel Rich
He averaged the fifth most disposals of any Brisbane Lions player in season 2020, with an average of 17.07 disposals. He featured in 15 of the 19 games that the Lions played. Despite that, he would be disappointed he finished outside of the top ten in the Lions’ best and fairest in season 2020. He is a player who is past the prime of his career. He needs to stay injury free to play to his optimum level that he is capable of playing at.
6. Eric Hipwood
He never shirks a contest. He averaged the second most goals of any Brisbane Lions player in season 2020, with an average of 1.26 goals per game.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
He is a player that’s pivotal to the structure of the Brisbane Lions. He featured in every game in season 2020 and finished tenth in the Lions’ best and fairest. He will benefit from Joe Daniher being in the team. Daniher’s presence in the forward line will take the pressure off Hipwood. He needs to be better and hit the scoreboard more.
5. Jarryd Lyons
He featured in every match for the Brisbane Lions in season 2020. He averaged the second most disposals in that season and finished second in the Lions’ best and fairest. There’s scope for growth for Lyons. He kicked just four goals in season 2020 and will want to improve on that in season 2021 in order to add another string to his bow.
4. Hugh McCluggage
He should want to finish in the All Australian squad of 40 in season 2021 for the second year in a row. If he is to play to his potential he should be aiming for a spot on the wing in the All Australian team in season 2021. He will want to kick more goals than he did in season 2020, when he finished with eight goals in 19 games. He averaged with the fourth most disposals in season 2020, behind Alex Witherden, who played just six games in season 2020. McCluggage can improve slightly in season 2021 and become referred to as an elite player.
3. Lachie Neale
He will be looking to replicate the season he had in 2020 and win another Brownlow Medal. At times the manner in which he plays the game looks effortless. He will want to improve on his average of 3.1 tackles per game in season 2020. He will also want to kick more goals in season 2021, as he averaged 0.7 goals per game in 2021.
(Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
2. Harris Andrews
He would fit into any defence in the competition. He thoroughly deserved being named as the All Australian fullback in season 2020. He would want to improve on his average of 10.69 disposals per game, which he recorded in season 2020. He needs to win more of the ball and continue to take intercept marks. The only improvement that he could make would be to average more disposals in season 2021.
1. Oscar McInerney
McInerney is a player that’s going to be instrumental if the Brisbane Lions are to play finals and obtain success in season 2021. He will be the number one ruckman, as Stefan Martin has been traded to the Western Bulldogs. Despite not being the most gifted player, McInerney makes the most of his talent, based on finishing fourth in the Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest and featuring in every game in season 2020.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Amazing what you can see from the outside. McStay would be great CHB,as usual Hipwood overrated
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Well, I was just listing the tall defenders we do have. Adams isn't necessarily in our 22 but my point is I'm not sure if there's any more need for McStay in our backline than there is in our forward line. There are two forwards ahead of him while there are about four or five defenders that are in the side before him.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Adams is a spud. I'd happily see McStay ahead of him
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
I'd be happy if McInerney is able to maintain his form from last year. Last year he went from player at the edge of our Best 22 to our number one ruckman and fourth in our Best and Fairest. It'd be great if he kept improving but, honestly, you couldn't ask for much more
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
I keep hearing about McStay in defence but we've already got Marcus Adams, Harris Andrews, Grant Birchall, Darcy Gardiner and Ryan Lester as our defensive talls. Maybe McStay could take over from Birchall but there is already competition there with Jack Payne on the ascendancy.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
I think absolutely Daniher and Hipwood will be playing in the same forward line. Hipwood re-signed at the end of the season and he is integral to the club's plans. The one under pressure is McStay who lost is out of contract at season's end. Unclear if McStay will hold his spot in the team with the arrival of Joe Daniher and the development of Tom Fullarton.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
He has incredible hands though. Like, seriously, he's one of the best markers in the comp, some of the pack marks he can hang on to are incredible. Shame about the feet. But if he was kicking the ball 120m from goal in our back 50 it wouldn't be an issue.
Footyguy
Guest
Some Questions for brisbane Will having no experienced ruckman besides mcierney hurt ? Will mcierney become one of the afls one of most elite ruckman all Australian squad maybe? Will young midfielders struggle to break in Noah Answerth, Ely Smith, Devon Robertson, Brock Smith, Tom Joyce? Will 2021 daniher be 2016-2017 daniher or 2018-2020 daniher Will cockatoo struggle after missing 3 years of football or be a bargain recruit? Will mcstay and daniher work well together cohesively alongside hipwood Will dayne zorko play more forward or mid?
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yeah, fair call. Mitch and Jake . . . equally talented and equally endowed with grey matter. Though I have to disagree with you regarding McStay. He's certainly not a starting 18 player and you have numerous better defenders than him so he's merely a squad member, just in case one or two go down. Should be delisted at the end of this season. Dan's had more chances than his talent deserves i.m.o.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Actually, to make him more relevant to ya Pablo - Mitch is just like Jake King. Great team man, but in order to be a better side, they had to move on past him.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Geez I wouldn't be throwing Joe in the ruck
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yeah Robbo is a bit like Brent Moloney from a few years back, great effort player and good team man but he's getting a bit past it. McStay could be one of the best defenders in the competition if we stopped wasting him up front.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Mitch Robinson really has got the most out of himself at Brisbane. Every last little bit. However, if he is a regular in this Lions outfit I'd be somewhat surprised. It's time to move past him if Brisbane are to have a serious shot at the flag. He, along with McStay, must become a depth player only.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Too many players on this list have woeful goal kicking accuracy. The fascinating thing about the Lions this season will be whether Daniher and Hipwood can both play in the same forward line. They have gone with a backup ruckman for most of the past 2 years, so will one of their greenhorn rucks get a go or will Joe risk injury and chop out for the big O? Dan McStay makes things interesting.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
I am not a Lions supporter, but I love watching Cam Rayner