As one king of the jungle has roared its last, another is perfectly placed to take their place.
Richmond has looked in trouble for most of the year and it all came to a head on Friday night in a humiliating loss to St Kilda.
While top four was already out of the equation, and their draw is friendly enough to still make finals and even potentially finish top six, it’s going to take some kind of surge for them to contend.
In the wash up of a full weekend of football (finally) that included the Tigers’ loss, a thrilling Melbourne-Essendon clash, North and Carlton getting a win, and West Coast’s ineptness against a powerful Dogs outfit, Brisbane’s win over Geelong has been a little bit lost.
In fact, the Lions are sneaking beautifully under the radar overall and can well lay claims to being the frontrunner for this year’s flag.
A 1-3 start to the season amid games in Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat as they escaped COVID had a few asking questions about their validity.
But they weren’t the only preliminary finalist from last year to start the season slowly.
As it turned out, their early losses were to a Sydney side that was both legitimate and white-hot, Geelong thanks to the worst umpiring decision of the season, and premiership-threat Bulldogs in peak form.
From Round 5 on, Brisbane have not just built into the season, but been outright impressive along the way. A 9-1 record from their last ten matches includes an average winning margin of 45 points and some outright thumpings of some very good teams – Geelong by 44, Port by 49, Essendon by 57, and Richmond by 28 after being 19 points down halfway through the second term.
The Lions have found a nice balance of doing just enough against the lesser ranked teams, but being ultra-impressive against those in the top half of the ladder.
Joe Daniher (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Their only loss in the last two-and-a-half months was against ladder-leading Melbourne, but not before they had put the Demons to the sword in the first half, splitting apart their defence. It was genuinely a game of two halves in neutral territory and both sides enhanced their premiership credentials.
The Lions don’t want for anything in their tilt for a flag after finishing top two on the ladder the last two seasons.
Their multi-faceted forward-line is as good as there is in the competition, as their scoring power in recent times can attest.
Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood have worked well together as the tall forwards, each playing a different style but presenting defenders with issues due to their athleticism and ability to score from long range. Charlie Cameron has found his groove after a slow start, while Zac Bailey and Lincoln McCarthy are fine support acts, both just pure and natural footballers.
None of these five have missed a game, which is important given Daniher is new to the club. They are a tough group to cover and that doesn’t include Dan McStay providing an aerial and scoring threat as third tall.
The midfield group is firing on all cylinders too, with Hugh McCluggage, Jarryd Lyons and Dayne Zorko in All Australian contention. Lachie Neale is on the verge of finding his Brownlow form after putting his injury woes behind him, and Mitch Robinson as consistent as ever on a wing.
Lachie Neale (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
They are all capable inside the contest and out, so are never out of the game, and with three years playing together are now in the zone as a team within a team.
The defence is led as always by Harris Andrews, and Marcus Adams as key defensive support has already played more games this season than in any previous. Daniel Rich is in career-best form, Brandon Starcevich is making a name as a lockdown defender and Grant Birchall continues to provide calm experience.
With Darcy Gardiner and Ryan Lester still to be added to the backline mix and Jarrod Berry to the midfield, as all three first-choice players hit the comeback trail from injury, there is still upside to the team.
The Lions are top three in both attack and defence, and don’t face another top-six team between now and finals.
They play on the edge and get in the face of opposition. They are experienced and desperately hungry after two years in a row where they have finished second but not made the grand final.
Melbourne are trying to make every post a winner, but it’s rare for the team on top to win the flag. It’s just too hard to be up all year. They are still a worthy challenger.
The Bulldogs have come up short against a few good teams and still have questions marks if they can’t get their game on their terms.
Geelong can look old really quickly when they are off their game.
The story of the Lions under Chris Fagan is one of perpetual improvement and progress from one year to the next. They are still on the rise and 2021 is shaping as their year.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Although Brisbane's rehab team have been good, they can't claim Daniher as one of their success stories. He was right late last year and played a few games for Essendon. Had the season gone longer, he may have shown consistent form. By the time Daniher arrived at the Lions, he was totally fit and was one of the only players to complete all the pre-season training. Brisbane have picked up a solid character and he is good good contributor to the team (allows Hipwood to play with more freedom as Daniher takes the best opposition defender each week).
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
True but, in a contest between two top four teams, you tend to give the edge to the home team. It's a tall ask beating good teams away from home. Bear in mind that Richmond were vulnerable away from the MCG during their Premiership run (although they got the job done at the Gabba in 2020). That being said, big Victorian teams have a structural advantage in that regard and can expect to play more games at home than a non-Victorian team. However, if the Lions finish top two then they can host two finals and might only have to leave the Gabba for the big dance.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I think Geelong are under the most pressure to win it this year, even if its media perceived pressure due to there recruiting. You would think that if Brisbane, Bulldogs or Melbourne don't make it all the way, they've still got the right make up to push again next year, where as the talk is, if the Cats don't do it, they could drop off fast but in saying that, they're saying there's talk of Geelong losing some players that are struggling to get into the team now, which would make you think they've actually got the younger talent there to replace the older guys if they do drop off to quick, its just a matter if those young guys are prepared to work hard and maybe have to wait till next year. My hope is Port is flying under the radar, we're sitting in 4th place yet you'd think we were doing alot worse with some of the narrative going around, admittedly we aren't playing our best football but were still 4th and fingers crossed we could be getting some important players back in the next few weeks which could make a big difference. I doubt anybody would want to be making the trip to Brisbane to play the Liins in the finals though if they had a choice.lol.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Cockatoo tracking along ok. He had a good month bloke in the reserves. Did get rested / managed last week as had come up a bit sore. He seems to be coming from even further back than Linc was.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Cam, I'd like to know what their secret is other than the better weather. It is difficult to believe the medicos are that much better. It will be interesting to see if Cockatoo comes good.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
C'mon Chanon. Purple is a gorgeous colour in daylight.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Coach Chris has been a GOD's send for the Lions. His maturity is so clear to see. I did think this season was going to be difficult for us with Noble going to North. I feel Noble has also been a heavy figure in our resurgence. But after a slow start the team definitely starting to develop. The newer guys Madden, Robertson, Prior and Coleman consistency for young kids has been immense. I probably still share concerns others have shared of beating a Top 4 team away from home. But it's good to see the only away win 2001 team had was a Grand Final..... But more than anything I'm proud to now have a team who competes every week and I know they are going to be giving everything for the jumper.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
A strangely positive article, Cam. I find myself always disagreeing with your (and everybody's) negativity. However, I find myself agreeing with all of this. Brissy's balance across the board is spookily similar to that of a fit Freo line-up. Quite a similar age structure too.
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Is a final at Marvel likely considering: A) The MCG's finals quota requirements; and B) A potentially reduced capacity at the MCG would allow more people to the game than Marvel.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
That’s not to take anything away from them the bullies were spectacular in the finals seties
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yea finished with 19 wins
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
One of the things I didn’t realise about that dogs side in 2016 was they had won 15 games in the home and away season yet they sat seventh normally that’s enough to make the top four
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
There was another one against harmes in the game most recently that was absolutely atrocious
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Joey wasn’t that injured at the bombers. His cameo against north and Collingwood in 2019 followed by hawthorn last year shows his rehab was a mental thing not a physical one
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Brisbane was the perfect environment to help Joe out. Many have said going up North. Look at Hodgey, Brisbane's climate is much more helpful for rehabilitation. Brisbane medico's are doing a ripper job.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Cameron, I did waste five minutes of my life and looked at. In one case, the players forehead is slammed into the ground. Cameron's head didn't even touch the ground. His arms did. pretty easy for the MRO. In saying that, I particularly hate the act of pushing a player into the turf when a free kick is payed against the offending player. Should be a 50m every time. I believe it was in paid in this case. Cameron did initiate unnecessary contact as well. I am very disappointed in Stewart, this sort of reaction is usually beneath him. The worst offender is Cochin. He does it multiple times every week.
Cameron Rose
Expert
They've done a brilliant job with McCarthy too. From 29 games in six seasons at Geelong, who always wanted him in the team, to missing two matches in three years at Brisbane. Had always been hoping he'd get a proper crack, just love him.
Cameron Rose
Expert
As a follow-on from my article last week, another Cats player let off this week for the same incident in which Zac Williams got suspended. Get looked after pretty well, don't they.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I could be in the minority, but there's a sample size of one this year given the Brisbane of now is what I expect between now and grand final day, not the Brisbane of Rounds 1-4. And this version has played one contender away from the Gabba, and while losing the game, they didn't lose me as an admirer, looking as sharp as anyone has against Melbourne in that first half. And often the statement wins come in finals - I think of Richmond in 2017 QF beating Geelong for the first time in forever, and Brisbane in 2020 QF beating the Tigers for the first time in forever. I could see the Lions taking down a Dogs at Marvel in first week of finals.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Yeah, not too worried about the loss from a Cats perspective.