Season 2025 - Brisbane Lions

Brisbane

Coach – Chris Fagan

2024 –

Points For – 5th
Points Against – 2nd

Top 5 Best and Fairest

  1. Lachie Neale
  2. Dayne Zorko
  3. Josh Dunkley
  4. Hugh McCluggage
  5. Darcy Wilmot

2024 Rising Star Noms

Kai Lohmann (Rnd10)
Logan Morris (Rnd 15)

Ins – Levi Ashcroft, Sam Day, Ty Gallop, Sam Marshall

Outs – Joe Daniher. Kalin Lane, Jarryd Lyons, James Madden, Carter Michael, Harry Sharp

My Prediction

Ridiculously, Brisbane has had five separate Rising Star nominations over the past two seasons. They have possibly the best player out of last years draft on top of another academy kid in the first round. They have young talent coming out of everywhere. The question this year is all about how important was Joe. Everything else is essentially upside.

The backline had it’s challenges last year with losing Doedee and Coleman but they sounds replacements and Zorko ended having almost the best year of his career despite being 58 years old. Coleman will come back in and will be interesting to see what they do with him. Andrews is still the prototype tall full back, throw in Wilmot who was outstanding, Starcevich who might be the best small stopper in the game and it is a very good backline. Could be the best in the AFL.

The midfield is ridiculous. Neale, Berry and Bailey have plenty of grunt and often get first hands, McCluggage is a great user (unless it’s a shot at goal), throw in both of the Ashcroft boys and they may struggle to fit Dunkley into their starting midfield. Coleman may see some time on the wing when he comes back from his knee and you have Rayner on the HF line but able to push through the middle.

Last year you would have thought they needed a big year from Cameron but he was bog average for large parts of the season. Lohmann stood up and looks a very exciting player. Hipwood has not come along and will interesting to losing Joe helps him in being the main focal point of their attack. The forward line looks like being their weakest part of the field and will be interesting to see how Fagan structures it.

Oscar McInerny was very good last year before injury ruled him out of the grand final and allowed renowned spud. Darcy Fort to stand up and play a ripper. They will still be hoping the big O can stay on the field. They are a better team with him. Fagan has now answered all critics with a resounding premiership win and there is no pressure whatsoever on him. He does have the list though to run deep into September again.

There aren’t many holes in the Brisbane list. They have quality youth, they have good veterans and are well coached. You could argue that they are a KP forward short but the game isn’t really moving in that direction. They started so slow last year before timing their run to perfection. The only thing that stops them being a top two team is attitude and I think they will be switched on. Top Two for mine.

2 Likes

Top 2 and probably should win it again.

Stacked on all lines

2 Likes

Apart from losing Daniher, they lost noone else significant.
Plus gained possibly the best player in the draft.

A lot rests on Hipwood staying fit.

But Lions would be a shoe in for finals and likely be in their third grand final in a row.

Finish 1-4 - will make grand final or its a poor result.

Fox Footy best 23
B: B.Starcevich, H.Andrews, T.Doedee
HB: K.Coleman, J.Payne, D.Zorko
C: J.Fletcher, W.Ashcroft, H.McCluggage
HF: C.Rayner, L.Morris, J.Berry
F: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, Z.Bailey
FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale
I/C: K.Lohmann, C.Ah Chee, R.Lester, D.Wilmot, L.McCarthy

I would be squeezing Levi Ashcroft into that side.

Note: Kiedan Coleman, Lincoln McCarthy, Darcy Gardiner and Tom Doedee all returning from acl injuries.

They are the benchmark and with good reason. Losing Joe is a big hole in the forward line as Hipwood is not in the same class. How Brissy covers that loss will determine how far they can go this season. Their new players are setting them up for a period of sustained success, top 4 is the minimum and they are strong contenders once more.

2 Likes

GF certainties

Lions to win the flag, if I had to pick a winner in February.

I have them as a top four lock but not going back to back.

Daniher is a huge loss for them. It’s not just key forward, it’s his quality around the ground as a pinch hitting ruck. Good overhead and excellent field kick.

But they’ll still be very good.