AFL: Brandon Starcevich is now a key member of the Brisbane Lions’ defensive unit
Brandon Starcevich has gone from being on the selection outer to being a key figure in Brisbane’s backline.
AFL
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Brandon Starcevich wasn’t even close to playing finals football for the Brisbane Lions last season.
But come selection day for Brisbane’s qualifying final against Richmond at the Gabba next Friday night, the 21-year-old defender should be an automatic pick such has been his meteoric rise this year.
“He’s really asserted himself our backline,” star Lions fullback Harris Andrews said of Starcevich.
“He does an awesome job each week playing on the really dangerous small forwards of the league.”
That could mean a match-up on Richmond star Dustin Martin next week, and it’s a challenge Starcevich will relish.
“There were a lot of guys fighting for a spot in our defence, so I had to find out what I could bring that was different to what others had,” the West Australian product said in recalling the task he set himself after last season.
“I had to find out things that separated me from other guys, and being able to lock down and play a defensive role on someone was a big part of that.”
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Starcevich played in 16 of the Lions’ 17 regular season matches this season, and if not for a bout of concussion that forced him out of Brisbane’s 32-point win over Sydney on September 13, he would not have missed a game.
“It’s been nice to break into the team finally. Last year was a bit more of a learning year, learning the role,” said Starcevich, who played further up the ground as either a midfielder or a forward when he was chosen by the Lions at pick No.18 in the 2017 national draft.
“In my second year, (Lions coach) Chris Fagan said he wouldn’t mind trying me on the half-back line, so it was a good challenge, and it was an opportunity to get a spot in the team, and having that versatility as well where I could play a lot of positions on the field.
“This year I’m pretty confident about where I fit in.”
His form earned him a Rising Star nomination for his effort in Brisbane’s two-point Round 13 win over St Kilda at the Gabba.
“It’s good to get a bit of recognition for that,” he said.
Starcevich has also been grateful for the presence of his uncle, Lions AFLW coach Craig Starcevich, at the club.
Craig won a premiership with Collingwood in 1990 and later finished his playing career with the Brisbane Bears in 1995.
“It was nice to have him here, and to know I wasn’t coming here just by myself,” Brandon said.
Originally published as AFL: Brandon Starcevich is now a key member of the Brisbane Lions’ defensive unit