Brisbane
Coach – Chris Fagan
2021 –
Points For – 1st
Points Against –5th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
- Dayne Zorko
- Hugh McCluggage
- Jarryd Lyons
- Brandon Starcevich
- Daniel Rich
2021 Rising Star Noms
Deven Robertson (Round 15)
Ins – Darcy Fort, Darcy Wilmot, Kai Lohmann, James Tunstill,
Outs – Connor Ballenden, Grant Birchall, Tom Joyce, Archie Smith, Brock Smith
My Prediction
Gee, it hurt the first time I saw big Joe run around in a Lions jersey. By half way through I couldn’t have cared less. It is pretty much how I feel about the Lions in general. There is a mild dislike but more than anything, they don’t really matter. They have done a good job turning around their list but in the heat of finals, two years in a row, they have been found out.
Their backline is solid, Andrews is a gun and they love Adams, I am not sure why. Starcevich and Rich are in the mix for best half backs in the competition from an attacking standpoint but not sure on their stopping ability.
The midfield is quality, Neale (who may or may not want to be there anymore), Lyons and Zorko compete with Essendon for shortest midfielders. They win the ball though and hurt the opposition when they have it. At times they lack the two way running needed come finals but that is what Mitch Robinson is for, every team needs a meathead and they have a good one. Rayner seemed destined to up his midfield time last season and will be interesting to see if he comes back ready for that or another season up forward.
Best performed forward line in the competition from a scoring perspective but playing so often at the Gabba doesnt hurt that. Daniher was solid for them last year until that first final where he was ■■■■■. They have recruited Fort from Geelong which seems weird because Geelong havent been able to find a decent ruckman in ten years. They would really like Cameron to come back to his best this year, he felt a bit lazy last year.
McInerney is a good start from a ruck perspective and I think they need him to stay fit. Daniher looked ok up the ground but he isnt a permanent solution and I dont think someone Geelong gave up is the answer to anyones ruck problems. Fagan has shown an enormous amount from a player manager perspective and has the players all working together, he needs to start winning some finals though as there is a nasty pattern developing.
The Lions are a hard team to read. Their absolute best 22 is very good but the quality after that drops off pretty rapidly. I think a really good run with injuries and they are a challenger, a poor run and they are bottom half of the eight. I will split the difference and expect them to finish 4-6.