Brisbane Lions head to AFL Draft looking for bargain after trading away top picks

BRISBANE have left no stone unturned as they scour the country for the best bargain at this Thursday’s AFL national draft.

Former Redcliffe Tigers player Liam Dawson has been drafted to the Brisbane Lions. Photo: Paul Guy

BRISBANE have left no stone unturned as they scour the country for the best bargain for their buck at this Thursday’s AFL national draft.

The Lions will have slim pickings at the Gold Coast Convention Centre with their top selection at No.67 followed by No.81 and No.99.

Brisbane traded away draft picks 5 and 21 for gun recruits Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen respectively and used further picks on Academy selections Liam Dawson (44) and Harris Andrews (63) as well as father-son recruit Josh Clayton (117).

Lions recruiters have been pouring over vision of potential recruits who could still be available at pick 67 and have travelled interstate to meet them and their families.

Brisbane gave up picks 5 and 21 to unite brothers Claye and Dayne Beams. Picture: Jono Searle

Brisbane Talent Acquisition and Retention Manager Peter Schwab said the Lions were armed with as much knowledge as possible as they head into draft night but there was always an element of the “great unknown’’.

“Knowing we would be coming into it that late at no. 67, it’s allowed us to really narrow down who we look at,’’ he said

“We’ve watched a countless amount of vision and we’ll watch it all again to make certain we are across the players who could still be up for grabs.

“We’d like to think we are pretty well versed in the type of player who may be there.

Brisbane recruit Josh Clayton with his father, Suns recruiter, Scott Clayton.

“We expect teams to pass and not use some of their late picks so we are looking at the players around that 50-60 mark.

“You never know on draft night, it might throw up a player we have ranked a lot higher and he might slide through to 67.’’

There can be genuine value at No.67 even though it has not been used six times since the inception of the draft in 1986.

Dual premiership player, 2004 Norm Smith Medallist and 204-game veteran Byron Pickett was recruited by North Melbourne with pick No.67 in 1996.

Brisbane secured Allen Christensen in the trade period. Picture: Colleen Petch

Adelaide also recruited long-time servant Graham Johncock (227 games) with pick No.67 in 2000.

His Crows teammate Robert Shirley (151 games) was pick No.67 in 1999.

Adelaide premiership player Shane Ellen — who kicked five goals in the 1997 grand final — was selected by the Bulldogs in 1991 with pick No.67.

Morningside product Matthew Hammelmann could still be available in the fourth round when Brisbane has its first selection.

Schwab said Brisbane had not given the 197cm-tall, 88kg Lions Academy member any guarantees that the club will take him if he is still available at No.67.

Hammelmann was set to be used as one of Brisbane’s Academy picks until Andrews demanded selection with an eye-catching performance in the NEAFL in 2014.

Schwab said Brisbane had done well to pick up two second round-quality players in Dawson and Andrews with their Academy selections.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions head to AFL Draft looking for bargain after trading away top picks