The Brisbane Lions went deep into finals once more without taking that extra step fans were hoping for when the club acquired Joe Daniher in free agency, with the big fella failing to produce elite footy at the pointy end of the season.
Losing former number one draft pick Cam Rayner in the preseason cast a pall over the Lions’ early season, only for the side to show their true mettle and go on a run of form after a stuttering start.
Suddenly though, the side that had ridden its luck with minimal injuries for several seasons was becoming a casualty ward and the depth was sorely tested as they fell out of the top four.
The Lions’ star recruit had his best season since 2017, giving the side a second tall target up forward to complement Eric Hipwood and allow Oscar McInerney to go into the ruck full-time, but when ‘the Eel’ went down a month before finals the advantage was gone.
Lachie Neale had problems of his own playing through various injuries and getting tagged out of contests, but this challenged the midfield to find other ways of gaining the ascendency and flying the flag to offer some cover for their Brownlow Medallist.
Brisbane entered the finals on the back of a cliffhanger against West Coast, where they needed to win by a certain percentage to knock the Bulldogs out of fourth place (and got it with some help from the timekeepers), but they were seen off by the imperious Demons and then lost yet another home final, this time against the Dogs, to bow out in straight sets against the eventual grand finalists.
Mid-season rookie draft
Lions recruiters recognised going into the mid-season that not only did they need to shore up depth in their ruck division, but that all the good young ruck prospects were being taken in the mid-season rookie draft and they would not get another shot at a talent like Western Australian Kalin Lane.
Who’s gone?
The club got two final seasons out of Grant Burchall, just as they did with Luke Hodge, while their longtime project ruckman Archie Smith, whose father is ex-NBA player and former Brisbane Bullet Andre Moore, decided after 16 AFL games in eight years and being the only player to win three NEAFL premierships that it was time to move on to new pursuits, having been a late basketball convert.
Academy graduate Connor Ballenden was cut, along with Tom Joyce and Brock Smith, however as delisted free agents they are invited to sign VFL contracts if they can’t find another club to take them on, with the potential to be re-rookied in the first half of 2022.
Trade
With one developing ruck coming in and a veteran walking out, the Lions again went out looking for a ruckman, but this time they needed an experienced one in case their first choice failed and Geelong was willing to trade Darcy Fort and a third-rounder for two Lions third-rounders.
Brisbane did one more clever piece of trading, realising that they had little opportunity to move further up the board and only needing three picks, they sent a late third-rounder to GWS for Port’s future third, which was mutually beneficial.
Draft
The Lions went into the draft with a pair of first night picks and no outstanding position of need, but with one veteran defender retired and their All Australian defender turning 32 next year, they went for the youngest player in the draft, small defender Darcy Wilmot from the Northern Knights.
With the final pick of the first round, which they’d traded from Melbourne last year in a gambit gone somewhat sour, the Lions chose Kai Lohmann from the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, a small forward who impressed with one of the better performed teams in the NAB League.
Then with the second pick in the third round, 41st overall, the Lions used the second part of their Fort trade to select midfielder James Tunstill from East Perth’s Colts.
Re-rookie
As promised, the Lions re-rookied Cam Ellis-Yolmen, a player by now who must be well used to being delisted and picked up again, although at age 29 in the new year he will want to make 2020 his year.
The verdict
Brisbane collected five players in positions they were targeting, with a couple of big men and a trio of kids they will take time to develop. If none of these players features in their 2022 side, it will be absolutely no problem because, other than Darcy Fort, they are all going to be in development – and even he is just insurance for injuries to tall timber.
Darcy Wilmot is a gutsy defender who comes highly rated, with the traits the Lions were looking for in a creative ball-user who can lock down an opponent as easily as peel off and back himself to impact the play.
Darcy Wilmot in action for Vic Metro (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Kai Lohmann is a speedy medium forward with the athletic traits to make him an AFL talent. With a high ceiling and potentially some growth left, his defensive pressure and clean hands make him a handy project for the future.
James Tunstill is a midfielder who is as yet untried at senior level, but a solid Colts season has seen him show enough to get onto the Lions list.
Kalin Lane becomes the next in the stable of rucks who probably comes into next season at third or fourth banana, even then maybe overlooked if Tom Fullarton continues to earn selection as a ruck/forward, but he represents quality depth and insurance.
Final word
This is a club in win-now mode, only replacing five players, which was the lowest of all 18 clubs. They went into the draft with three picks and were done by pick 41.
The loss in the semi by a solitary point will have burned in their guts for three months and the new recruits will have entered pre-Christmas training seeing an intensity they’d never experienced.
This was never going to be a flashy draft unless the Demons flamed out and rocketed the Lions’ pick up the order. Still, their patient gambits might yet come off.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The Bombers drafted Lachie knowing that the Lions couldn't match their bid. He was the 4th Lions Academy player that that year to get drafted.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I'm ok with where the Lions sit right now. I think there's a influx of talent to come back into the team. Rayner & Ainsworth the main two who I feel are similar to a high end draft pick. Daniher has done the job the Lions needed. He was never coming to be the big structure king pin. That's Dan McStay and Hipwood job. I'd expect this probably Mitch Robbo last season coming up, so interested who's the next winger to stand up? Harry Sharp play more AFL this season? Do we see young Ely Smith step up?
Anon
Guest
“Pro-Lions” Media. There’s an oxymoron
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry are most likely for mine. Cam Rayner coming back from an ACL will not have the instantaneous effects that the pro-Lions media would have it, but he is undoubtedly talented. Zac Bailey is a tough little bugger too.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
One thing I've really noticed is that the Lions are going away from their Academy, which is just extraordinary. They have had players making all the rep teams and either letting them get poached by other clubs or passing on them altogether. Matt Hammelmann kicks bags of goals for fun and was hitting Plugger like stats for the bottom placed team in the VFL, yet Brisbane have no interest in him nor does any club. They have only drafted the Coleman brothers in recent years, despite plenty of their players getting drafted they have persisted in taking risks on interstate kids that bust more often than not. As for Joe, I have to wonder what was going on psychologically for him during his time at Essendon. It must have been quite a burden carrying that famous name and all the expectation, not to mention the fallout after the supplements scandal. He appears to be thriving in Brisbane's game style and as long as there are two other big forwards drawing away the double team then he'll continue to thrive. Brisbane's current list is still in the premiership window, yet what it does to carry itself beyond the retirements of Zorko, Robbo and Daniel Rich will determine whether it can continue to contend or have to undergo a transition period of mediocrity.
Opps74
Roar Rookie
Another great analysis! Hippwood is an exciting player to watch but no one should ever compare him with Buddy who is a legend of the game. Every opposition player and coach must still have sleepless nights. Sadly he is past his peak but we only have him for another year or 2 of a real star who's legitimately influenced the game. Back to Brisbane, they need some mongrel in these big games, Petracca and Dusty are fine examples in a big game where they've taken it by the scruff of the neck and dominated. Who has and who can for Brisbane seriously do that?
Chris M
Guest
If Brisbane were restricted by salary cap issues, there wasn't much hope of the Lions trading in a star player. Trading in Darcy Fort may provide depth in the ruck. I've never seen him in action. However, he was unable to usurp the incumbent ruckmen at Geelong and the ruck options were never considered one of the Cats' strengths. I assume that Fort can play a role as a short term replacement but that he is unlikely to provide the quality of ruck work helpful to winning a premiership if required to fill in for a long term injury. Any ruck is better than no ruck, hey? Without having seen much footage of Darcy Wilmot, I have read some descriptions of his traits written by various draft watchers. It leads me to think Wilmot is more likely to be a hit more than a miss. As the youngest player selected, in a physical development sense he is perhaps almost a year younger than the oldest 18 year olds drafted. Kai Lohmann was a surprise to me with their 2nd pick because he seemed to be rated on the experts' draft ratings inside the top 50 rather than the top 20. How many other clubs would have rated James Tunstill to be selected with a pick ahead of Josh Fahey, Zac Taylor and Arlo Draper? We'll have to wait a few years to see if the Brisbane talent scouts have been exceptional or otherwise in nailing this draft. The draft and trade periods are unlikely to make much of a difference to the Lions' prospects of winning a premiership in 2022. They've obviously got a good enough list to be in contention when finals come around. So have Geelong been in contention for a very long time, but without the ultimate success since 2011. Where the Lions finish in 2022 may come down to the AFL draw, luck with most and especially key players avoiding injuries, the bounce of the ball, umpiring decisions or interpretations, who has possession and what happens in clutch moments, impacts from Covid 19, how many players improve to have their best season yet and how all these things affect the other top teams. It's great that Joe Daniher has been injury free since changing clubs and I hope he is in a happier disposition. Nonetheless, he hasn't yet convinced that he is the missing piece of the puzzle that will net the Lions a premiership. Maybe with another year inside the Brisbane system he will overachieve most people's current expectations.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Short memory 2017 SBS news,, The herald sun ,, Fox sports Read the articles re Franklin @ Hipwood Main word LOST If ball bounced left Milne would have got ball kicked goal St kilda win If boundary umpire would have blown out of bounds on Wayne Harmes ,Collingwood win GF Point being winners are grinders and the rest can please themselves
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
While it is true that they keep losing to Grand Final teams, they did win against Richmond in 2020, so the actual stat is that they lost 2 finals in 2019 and 2021 to the eventual Grand Finalists, whereas, they only lost to Geelong last year.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Short memory. Richmond were pinwheeling around for years with Dusty before they started making finals. The Lions lost the prelim by a lousy point and they arguably held up better against Melbourne in the finals than anyone else did. Also, Eric Hipwood is not the next Buddy. He's a good young player, but there's only ever been one player like Buddy.
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
They all saying Hipwood going to be next Franklin ; If so why pay $850 for Daniher , Zorko , Mcarthy Cameron Daniher great home and away players ,Final record stats ordinary , Dustin Martin poor season stats finals stats ✅ That’s the difference
The watcher
Guest
I like the burning through summer call. Really despite the injuries to structurally critical players (McStay; Gardiner, the eel; Adam’s) and Jarrod Berry, Rayner and a hobbled Neal missing a good portion of the season, the lions looked as good as if not better than everyone but the Demons. But it’s the lack of a big bodied midfielder that is their Achilles heel. It was what really cost them in the loss to the bulldogs and more specifically in the previous year’s preliminary against the cats. Jarrod Lyons is fantastic but isn’t built like a patrecca, Oliver or the Bont, let alone a prime Dusty or Dangerfield. The other thing is that all 6 of their finals losses have been to the GF teams. Definitely time to rectify that, as many of their key talents are entering the prime 23-28 age group/ 100 games. Add in really exciting talents like Zac Bailey and Devon Robertson, and if McGlugge can kick straight for goal they will go mighty close
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Getting a bit sick of draft speculation TBH. The hype around Will Ashcroft may turn out to be justified, or not, but right now he's just a 17yo kid who goes ok against other kids. Talent spotters are raving about him after he's played a handful of games in 2 years. Plenty at the Gold Coast who saw him play a couple of years ago will tell you that he's always been outstanding, but I want to see what they say after National Championships.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
If Ashcroft falls to the Suns pick next year (it won’t be any higher than ten I expect they will extract the highest price from the lions).
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I do think the lack of footy has made Will Ashcroft look like the next Chris Judd, when he's yet to play against men and has very little actual football under his belt.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Gold Coast will pick another spoon up before West Coast. No chance of last next year and certainly more of a chance of finishing in front of Gold Coast although that's a pretty pathetic achievement in itself. You know you have had a terrible season if you finished behind the Suns.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think not with father sons, only with players that aren’t that good. Thankfully for the Lions there are a lot of father son talent at this years draft
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
But yeah, the trend has been for highly touted club-tied players to receive early bids to keep them accountable. If Brisbane has a poor year, they get a consolation prize of a top prospect without spending much more than their 2022 first round pick, whereas, if they finish top 4 again they'll be trading back and hoping to get something done to avoid having to get rid of developing players just for the sake of drafting new ones. It really highlights the fact that matching bids on players so high in the draft has a real flow on effect for subsequent recruitment. Could we even see clubs declining to match bids coming too early?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I also agree they should have kept Guy McKenna. He did well to coach the suns to the edge of finals somewhere they’ve struggled to reach
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I know that. They chose brisbane because they’re currently more successful than the Suns. He could also do a 180 and blindside brisbane which has happened with their father sons over the past few years what with Lachie Johnson going to the Bombers