Brisbane’s array of players recruited from rival clubs key to meteoric rise, Alastair Lynch writes

This QClash is the first with genuine ramifications for one team. While Gold Coast will try to derail Brisbane’s finals campaign they should try to emulate its recruitment strategy, Alastair Lynch writes.

Lachie Neale has been huge for the Lions in his first season at the club.

All the Gold Coast Suns would be talking about this week is how to wreak havoc on Brisbane’s finals aspirations.

The Lions have already secured a spot in September but a shock loss in the QClash would not only give their confidence a battering it could also have serious ramifications on their hopes for a top-four finish and the double chance.

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Brisbane are suddenly the pride of the state with crowds and membership figures to back that up, so the opportunity to trip up their closest and most-hated rivals would be huge motivation for the Suns.

We’ve seen just about everything in the QClash’s colourful 17-game history — from Simon Black kickstarting proceedings ahead of the first derby with his infamous “mercenaries” sledge about former teammates Jared Brennan and Michael Rischitelli to last year’s “soft” comments about the Suns by Lion Nick Robertson.

Lachie Neale has been huge for the Lions in his first season at the club.

In between there has been some on-field incidents that have added to the rivalry between the two clubs, most notably Steven May’s big hit on Stefan Martin.

But we have never been in this situation before.

For nine years, as our two clubs have been stuck in the bottom half of the ladder, these games have basically been faux finals.

Now Brisbane are in premiership contention and it is ironic that by elevating themselves to the point where the derby isn’t the game they want to win most in a season, this QClash has become the one with the most at stake.

The Suns would be looking closely at Brisbane and asking, what have they done to get where they are at and we want to be?

The Lions have gone from leaking players to fixing their retention issues to becoming a destination club.

Luke Hodge talks with coach Chris Fagan.

Both clubs have invested heavily in the draft and have a swag of high-quality youngsters emerging through their ranks.

Where Brisbane have been able to elevate themselves is through their targeted recruitment.

Assembling a foreign legion that not only have had a huge impact on the development of the Lions’ elite young talent but in most part have enhanced their own performances to career-best levels since arriving.

About half the Lions’ best 22 each week have come from other clubs.

Martin, Mitch Robinson and Allen Christensen have been here for a few years but it is the influx since coach Chris Fagan and footy manager David Noble arrived that have made the major difference.

It has been a strategic build that Gold Coast would undoubtedly love to replicate.

After playing in a Grand Final, Charlie Cameron left Adelaide for Brisbane.

What the Lions have been able to do is advance beyond players who were striving for an opportunity or who were considered finished by their former clubs to players entering their prime.

Luke Hodge came out of retirement to provide leadership while Lincoln McCarthy was seeking a fresh start after a horror run with injuries at Geelong.

But in Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron — who left a Grand Final side to join one that won the wooden spoon that year — and Jarryd Lyons, the Lions have recruited very good players who have now elevated their status in the game since arriving in Brisbane.

Marcus Adams has every chance of slotting into that category as he continues to build his form after a long injury lay-off.

There is no reason the turnaround can’t happen just as quickly for the Gold Coast, the challenge is to pick the right experienced players that not only can develop the young squad but also elevate their own game to new levels.

Brisbane have shown you don’t need to be in the top eight to do that.