Retired GWS forward Daniel LLoyd could return to AFL at the Brisbane Lions

A former Giant could make his way back onto an AFL list in the mid-season draft, but it would take the league’s approval to make him eligible. JON RALPH has the details.

Brisbane is considering a left-field decision to secure ex-GWS forward Daniel Lloyd in the mid-season draft but would need AFL approval to make him eligible to play in the back-end of the season.

The Lions list team will this week consider how to fill some of their four vacant list spots after recent knee reconstructions to Tom Doedee, Kidean Coleman, Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy.

Lloyd is working with Brisbane as a development coach but the club has been urged by its players to consider nominating him for the May 28 mid-season draft given how well he has performed on the track in his duties helping players.

Brisbane players including Dayne Zorko and Joe Daniher have remarked upon his incredible level of fitness and footy smarts since he started with the Lions in a development capacity over summer.

Daniel Lloyd could return to the AFL playing ranks for Brisbane. Picure: Getty Images

Zorko threw up his name as a potential recruit in recent days given how fit he looks as he works with the club’s younger players.

The problem is that he does not perfectly fit the criteria for the mid-season draft because he has not played three state league games in the VFL or a comparable league this year.

The mid-season draft is only for players overlooked in a draft or recently delisted who have played at least three state league games before May 28.

The Giants officially declared him retired last year but the Lions believe as a delisted player he could overcome that obstacle, but the league would have to use its powers to nominate him with only two VFL games.

He played his first game of the season for Morningside last weekend and kicked a goal.

This weekend the Lions VFL team had a bye, so there are only two VFL games before May 28.

If the Lions attempt to secure him a nomination he could play the next two VFL games for their side.

He played all three finals in a 23-game season last year for the Giants to finish his AFL career with 101 games and at only 32 years of age might be a perfect addition for the Lions.

Lloyd would be a direct replacement for ACL victims Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner at Brisbane as a leading small target.

Brisbane has four spots available for the May 28 mid-season draft but is only likely to take three spots at most.

Lloyd kicked 75 goals in 101 games for GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The club has frantically been scouring the state leagues to assess potential recruits who could help it fill holes in its team.

But bringing state league players into the side can be challenging given their levels of fitness and difficulty in learning a game plan in a matter of weeks.

Many clubs with multiple list spots are despairing at the quality of the mid-season draft given clubs did so well to secure players overlooked for the national and rookie drafts as summer rookies.

Clubs like Carlton with two list spots given ACL tears to Sam Docherty and Jack Silvagni could end up not taking a pick given they will be choosing players beyond the first 10 picks.

Marlion Pickett is the most famous graduate of the mid-season draft given he won a premiership in his first season at the Tigers after making his debut in the Grand Final.

But players including Sam Durham (Essendon) and Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn) are forging exceptional careers after being taken in the 2021 mid-season draft.

North Melbourne and Richmond have top-three picks in the mid-season draft but West Coast does not have a selection at the moment.

Small forward Noah Long is out with a PCL sprain and could eventually be put onto the long-term injury list but is currently on the senior list.

Andrew Gaff has no intention of retiring mid-season despite playing only a single game this season in the last year of his deal.

He is determined to win back his spot in the side and is even open to playing on next year at a club if he can find a suitor.

Originally published as Retired GWS forward Daniel LLoyd could return to AFL at the Brisbane Lions