From Bradd Dalziell to Llane Spaanderman: Brisbane Lions’ forgotten favourites

We are familiar with Brisbane’s recent champions, but what about the others who wore the maroon, blue and gold? This is sure to give you your footy nostalgia fix - can you recall all 10? VOTE on your favourite.

How many of these forgotten favourites can you remember?

Footy fans are well aware of Lions greats Michael Voss and Simon Black, but what about others who donned the maroon, blue and gold?

Here are the Lions’ Forgotten Favourites, featuring a star debutant, a fresh-faced premiership player and one of the best names in football history.

Relive classic AFL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly

BRISBANE FORGOTTEN FAVOURITES

Bradd Dalziell

Pick No. 52, 2007 National Draft

Games: 43 (2008-2013)

Bradd Dalziell etched himself into football folklore in Round 16, 2008 after one of the most dominant debuts the game has seen – 32 disposals, seven marks and 119 KFCSuperCoach points. He went on to average 26 disposals per game in his first seven games, even being tagged by stopper Kieran Jack. Dalziell was unable to live up to lofty standards he set from thereon, playing another eight games for the Lions before being traded to West Coast for Brent Staker and a third-round draft pick at the end of 2009.

Bradd Dalziell celebrates the first goal of his career.

Dalziell got close checking from Swan Kieran Jack in his debut year.

James Polkinghorne

Pick No. 41, 2007 National Draft

Games: 101 (2008-2016)

James Pokinghorne was a Brisbane regular during the late 2000s and early 2010 as a lively midfield-forward. Best remembered for his matchwinning barrel from inside the centre square in the dying seconds against West Coast in Round 10, 2012. Polkinghorne played 94 games in Lions colours before being cut in 2014, but reached the 100-game milestone in 2016 as an Essendon top-up player.

The moment before James Polkinghorne launched that matchwinning goal.

And the reaction after it sailed through.

Patrick Karnezis

Pick No. 25 in 2010 National Draft

Games: 25 (2011-2015)

A player that Champion Data number cruncher Fantasy Freako dubbed a ‘NAB Cup specialist’, Karnezis trapped many SuperCoach owners with scores of 104 and 97 in the pre-season of 2013. Lions coach Michael Voss – in what would be the final year of his tenure – then started him in the sub vest in Round 2. After 24 games in three seasons for the Lions, the utility was traded to Collingwood in a straight swap with Jackson Paine – rivalling the Nathan Buckley deal as the biggest swap between the two clubs. Karnezis added another four games with the Pies before announcing his shock retirement in 2015, aged just 23.

Karnezis was the NAB Cup specialist.

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) March 27, 2020

Llane Spaanderman

Pick 18, 2003 National Draft

Games: 3 (2004-2005, 2007)

Here comes the Spaanderman. To the detriment of footy fans, commentators were only able to utter that legendary last name across three games, rather than 300. Played all of those matches at Brisbane, but had a brief stint at the Eagles as well. Will go down as one of the better names in AFL history.

Mal Michael and Llane Spaanderman posing at Dreamworld before riding ‘The Claw’ in 2005. Picture: Fiona Harding

Josh Drummond

Pick 47, 2003 rookie draft

Games: 94 (2005-2012)

Was there a better kick in the AFL in the late 2000s? Few possessed the grace that Josh Drummond had with the footy, and the mature age recruit burst of the blocks with a SuperCoach average of 113.4 in just his third season. Persistent soft tissue injuries denied him a long and prosperous career, keeping Drummond to just 94 games (yep, 94), managing above 15 games in a season once.

Josh Drummond had no luck with injury during his career.

Rhan Hooper

Pick No. 58, 2007 National Draft

Games: 101 (2008-2016)

The pressure small forward booted 49 goals in 48 games for the Lions but was unable to show his true potential at the level. Hooper commitment to the rigours of AFL footy were lacking, suspended for a month at the end of 2008 for missing pre-season training sessions and then duly fined $40,000 by the club for multiple breaches of his playing contract a week after his return. Recall him being an absolute handful up forward in video game AFL Premiership 2007.

Rhan Hooper goes off after slotting a goal.

MORE AFL NEWS:

From Ryan Fitzgerald to Nick Gill – here are the top 10 Forgotten Favourites from the Adelaide Crows

James Hird shocked by son Tom’s decision to sign with Essendon

AFLW star Darcy Vescio has taken up the hula hoop during isolation as revealed in hilarious video

Richard Hadley

Pick 22, 2000 National Draft

Games: 66 (2001-2010)

What do Marlion Pickett, Jack Graham and Richard Hadley have in common? They all played in a winning Grand Final before their sixth game. Richard Hadley – not to be confused with the lesser-known cricketer with the same name – played his first game in 2001, having to wait another two-and-half years later to play his second in the 2003 semi-final. Hadley played another 27 games for the Lions following that premiership triumph, adding another 25 for the Blues in the late 2000s.

Richard Hadley lines up for goal during the 2003 Grand Final.

Robert Copeland

Pick 66, 2001 rookie draft

Games: 143 (2001-2008)

A role player of the highest order, Copeland got the job done week in, week out as tagger and in defence. So much so that he was given the job of superstar Nathan Buckley in the Grand Final. He may have been Collingwood’s leading disposal getter, but who really won on the day? The unassuming Lion played in two flags in his 143 game career.

Robert Copeland was a trusted defensive player. Picture: Patrick Hamilton

Justin Sherman

Pick 45, 2004 National Draft

Games: 138 (2005-2012)

Justin ‘Shermanator’ Sherman gave the Lions electrifying pace and drive forward of centre, having an immediate impact at AFL level, booting three goals on debut. Sherman then finished runner-up in the Lions best-and-fairest in just his second season. Remained a regular at the Lions until he was traded to the Bulldogs at the end of 2010, who secured him and Patrick Veszpremi in the same week. Talk about all your Christmas’ coming at once!

Cheynee Stiller and Justin Sherman of the Lions celebrate a win in the rooms.

Cheynee Stiller

Pick 49, 2006 rookie draft

Games: 100 (2006-2012)

Part of a rare club who have played exactly 100 AFL games, Cheynee Stiller gave nothing away as a tagger, regularly deployed on the competition’s best. As far as we are aware, Stiller is the only Cheynee to have played in the big league and far better at fulfilling roles than Ben Stiller. Post-football, Stiller has maintained his stringent manner as a financial advisor.

Originally published as From Bradd Dalziell to Llane Spaanderman: Brisbane Lions’ forgotten favourites