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Opinion
The Brisbane Lions finished in the top four on the ladder in season 2021, with 15 wins and seven losses, as they had a percentage that was slightly higher than fifth-placed Western Bulldogs.
In the finals they lost two successive games, the first to the Melbourne Demons by 33 points in the qualifying final. They also lost the semi-final to the Western Bulldogs by just one point. Since the other semi-final was lost by the GWS Giants who finished in seventh on the AFL ladder in season 2021, the Lions are fifth for the purpose of this exercise.
Darcy Fort is a new recruit from the Geelong Cats who will take the pressure off Oscar McInerney in the ruck. The other player who is effectively like a new recruit is Cam Rayner, who missed the entirety of season 2021 through injury, and will play as a midfielder and as a forward in season 2022.
The Lions had five players in the AFL All Australian squad in season 2021, so they would be disappointed after being knocked out in straight sets in the finals. They should use their losses as motivation in season 2022.
It’s clear that Lions coach Chris Fagan is going to throw the magnets around, with Jarryd Lyons probably going to spend time forward and Lachie Neale on the wing and up forward at times, which should take the pressure off Charlie Cameron.
Joe Daniher will be arguably the most integral player for the Lions structurally, as Eric Hipwood is unavailable to play until May, which should mean that Daniher has to work harder to hit the scoreboard.
It will mean that Daniher should be the most important key forward for the Lions. Daniel McStay will need to step up and play centre half forward until Hipwood returns from injury.
Daniher will need to hit the scoreboard more as he tends to be a bit inconsistent, as he showed in season 2021. He will need to kick more accurately; he kicked 46 goals and 32 behinds. A player of his calibre needs to kick straighter. That’s what his job is.
There’s no doubt that Daniher shouldn’t have finished outside the top ten in the Lions best and fairest, as he featured in all 24 games that the Lions played in season 2021.
Will Daniher aim up in 2022? (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see how Daniher copes with the extra attention after signing a contract at the Lions; will the weight of expectation weigh heavily on him or motivate him to improve this season?
Zac Bailey needs to win more of the ball to have more of an impact on the Lions. Bailey featured in all 24 games that the Lions played in season 2021, but only finished eighth in their best and fairest.
Bailey is adaptable and it’s going to be interesting to see him play a fair portion of his game time in the midfield in season 2022. He should benefit from getting the opportunity to play a different role; it’s a fresh start for him, one that he could profit from.
There’s no doubt that Bailey wouldn’t be in the midfield group if Fagan didn’t believe that Bailey has the ability to adapt and play a key role in the Lions’ pursuit of success in season 2022.
Daniel Rich provides plenty of run out of defence for the Lions. He averaged the second most metres gained of any player in the competition with an average of 630.50 metres gained. He was also durable, as he featured in all 24 games that the Lions played.
Rich was named on the half back flank of the AFL All Australian team in season 2021. He was a pivotal part of the Lions finishing in the top four in the home-and-away-season. He needs to replicate the consistency he showed in season 2021, when we look back at season 2022, if the Lions are to be in the contention for the premiership.
Harris Andrews finished sixth in the Lions best and fairest in season 2021 and wasn’t a part of the All Australian squad. Andrews featured in 23 of the 24 games that the Lions played. He averaged the second most intercepts of any player in the competition, with an average of 9.22 intercepts per game.
Andrews was unlucky to miss out on All Australian selection in season 2021. There’s a chance for him to prove the AFL All Australian selectors wrong in season 2022. He should play at centre half back and help the Lions perform to their optimum level.
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