Brisbane Lions season preview: Six key figures in 2021
Captain Dayne Zorko was among several Lions who went missing in their preliminary final exit after an underwhelming season. At 32, where is his football?
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Brisbane was the team many people thought could upset the Tigers juggernaut last year, but they couldn’t hold it together in the finals.
This year the recruitment of Joe Daniher has the Lions firmly back at the top of the challengers’ list.
Chris Honnery takes a look at the six key figures who will define the club in 2021:
Chris Fagan
From wooden spooners in 2017 to a preliminary finals appearance in 2020, the Lions have proved they’re the real deal under the guidance of the wiley Fagan.
The 59-year-old coach is the driving force in “continual improvement” among the Brisbane playing group and by all reports, he’s not slowing down.
“It was a no-brainer to re-sign him (earlier this year) because he’s got the drive for us to keep improving,” Lions boss Greg Swann said.
“That’s what he’s doing every day. If we do keep improving, then we’re going to get to where we want to get to. He hasn’t showed any signs of slowing up.”
Joe Daniher
On the topic of improvement, no player has elicited more excitement around Brisbane this pre-season than Joe Daniher.
The former Bomber moved to Brisbane for the 2021 season following an injury-ravaged three years at Essendon and it is hoped the Lions highly-regarded medical staff can get Daniher back to his best.
The 26-year-old provides plenty of firepower in front of goal which is hoped to take Brisbane to another level.
“Everyone’s gone on the record that he hasn’t missed a training session all pre-season, which he hasn’t, and he’s flying,” Swann said.
Cam Rayner
While Lions fans know the matchwinning abilities of players such as Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and captain Dayne Zorko, one player who was set to make a big impact in the middle this year was Cam Rayner.
The 2017 No.1 draft pick finished last year in terrific form and had found another level over the pre-season, until he was cruelly struck down with a season-ending knee injury against Gold Coast in his side’s final dress rehearsal before round one.
How the Lions fill Rayner’s void — both his midfield work and dynamic impact in the forward 50 — will be an interesting subplot in the emerging Lions’ quest for a premiership in 2021.
Zac Bailey
Another player to show glimpses of brilliance last year was Bailey.
Now entering his fourth AFL season, the mid-forward is poised for more game time on the ball as the club turns to him for his evasiveness and speed.
“He’s another one that will get more midfield time this year and getting close to his 50th game and that’s when you look to start making an impact,” Swann said.
“He had some big moments late in the year and it’s something he can build on.”
Keidean Coleman
The Lions youngster made his presence felt during his AFL debut year in 2020.
The 20-year-old was part of Brisbane’s historic win over Richmond in the first week of the finals and the club is confident he can become a key member of their 2021 side.
“He played a handful of games and showed he belonged at that level,” Swann said.
“We’re pretty excited about what he can offer. The thing with Keidean is that he can play anywhere on the ground as well, back, forward or mid so that’s a huge plus.”
Jack Payne
Similar to Coleman, Payne is poised for a big 2021 season.
The Sunshine Coast product was hampered by injury in 2018 and 2019 but managed to play five games last year, including the preliminary final against Geelong.
“He’s a local boy, who had a few injuries and got his chance last year,” Swann said.
“He’s had a great pre-season and we think he will fill a role in defence and help Harris (Andrews) out. He’s a big boy at 197cm and 100kg, who’s quick and a good kick and another one we have really high hopes for.”
FIRST SIX GAMES
Prediction: 4-2
Round 1 v Sydney Swans (Gabba) - W
Round 2 v Geelong (GMHBA) - L
Round 3 v Collingwood (Gabba) - W
Round 4 v Western Bulldogs, Saturday April 10, Mars Stadium, Ballarat (L)
Round 5 v Essendon Bombers, Saturday April 17, The Gabba (W)
Round 6 v Carlton, Saturday April 24, Marvel Stadium (W)
The chance to tackle Geelong early and atone for last year’s disappointing finals exit should be a massive motivation for the ambitious Lions - but can they overcome the troublesome scars from that clash in time? Maybe not.
Lock in wins against the Swans, Pies at home and Essendon at home, but they’ll need to win at least one of the two clashes away against the Bulldogs and Carlton.
Winning both would have them on an early path to a top four finish.
Expected finish: 1st-4th
The Lions pack has all the makings of a true premiership contending squad, from the reigning Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale through to new recruit Joe Daniher.
Brisbane is hoping for “incremental improvements” as it eyes off its first grand final berth in almost two decades.
WHAT CHAMPION DATA SAYS
Positive: The Lions generated the second-most points from a forward half turnover created (24.3) and the third-best inside 50 differential (+5.5).
Negative: Brisbane recorded a shot at goal accuracy of 43 per cent – ranked 17th and below the AFL average of 47 per cent. They also recorded the worst shot at goal accuracy from a set shot of any side across the competition.
BEST 22 FOR ROUND 1
B: Grant Birchall, Harris Andrews, Ryan Lester
HB: Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne, Daniel Rich
C: Hugh McCluggage, Jarryd Lyons, Zac Bailey
HF: Lincoln McCarthy, Eric Hipwood, Dayne Zorko
F: Tom Fullarton, Joe Daniher, Charlie Cameron
R: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Jarrod Berry
Int: Lincoln McCarthy, Keidean Coleman, Callum Ah Chee, Mitch Robinson
Ins and Outs:
In: Joe Daniher (Ess), Nakia Cockatoo (Geel), Blake Coleman (draft, pick 24), Harry Sharp (pick 43), Henry Smith (pick 48), Grant Birchall (relisted), Carter Michael (rookie), Deividas Uosis (Category B rookie)
Out: Stefan Martin (Western Bulldogs), Alex Witherden (West Coast Eagles), Allen Christensen (retired), Mitchell Hinge (Adelaide Crows), Matt Eagles (delisted), Corey Lyons (delisted), Sam Skinner (delisted), Toby Wooller (delisted).
ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES
Brisbane
LIKES
Joe Daniher will take marks, it’s a matter of if he will kick goals.
If he does, the Lions straight away are a better team.
They lost the preliminary final last year so expectations are high. Oscar “Big O” McInerney will ruck, which leaves Daniher and Eric Hipwood to roam the forward line, with Charlie Cameron, Dan McStay, Zac Bailey and maybe even Nakia Cockatoo in the mix.
They have two finals campaigns behind them, and history tells us shooting stars don’t win grand finals, rather teams who consistently play finals.
Not a lot to dislike about the Lions. Jarrod Berry, Brandon Starcevich, Bailey and Hugh McCluggage will get better again,
Lachie Neale is a special player and Harris Andrews a star.
Still, they have to be tougher for longer, which is a marginal gain for a team that lost the preliminary.
DISLIKES
Played their worst half of football for the season against Geelong to lose the prelim and there were many reasons why.
Players went missing. Dayne Zorko, Hipwood, Rayner, Berry, Jarryd Lyons — some of them young, some of them old, and the question is not about talent, it’s about mentality.
Where’s Zorko’s football? He needs to find his best after an average year.
Who is the replacement ruckman if Big O goes down?
Suspect coach Chris Fagan will be even more demanding this year to get over the hump.
VERDICT
Top four
BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson joins Fox Footy experts Nick Riewoldt, David King, Leigh Montagna and Jordan Lewis to give their predictions for 2021 on the Lions.
ROBBO: Brisbane pick up Joe Daniher. If he can get his body right, how much does that separate them from being a preliminary final team to a grand final team?
ROOEY: Well, that was their issue in the preliminary final again. Their forwards didn’t really fire a shot. Eric Hipwood had some moments, but he, Daniel McStay, Charlie Cameron and Oscar McInerney didn’t really impact the scoreboard. I really like Hipwood as a player. McStay, I’m not really sure if he’ll make it as a forward or not. Daniher is clearly the missing piece, but can you get him on the park? It’s a big unknown for me, but if it’s the best version of him, then he’s the sort of player that can tip them over.
JOEY: Collectively I think they tick every box. They’re cherry ripe, and adding Daniher to that forward mix is the only missing piece. I think we forget Marcus Adams will come back into the side and he’s a very good intercept mark. Although I feel a lot falls on McInerney to stay healthy as he becomes really important to them without Stefan Martin.
KINGY: For me, their prelim loss in 2020 has got to hurt. It was the perfect opportunity for them last year to win the flag and they didn’t get to the grand final. I personally don’t know if they’re nasty enough. You look at the great teams like the unsociable Hawks that played on the edge. They have Mitch Robinson, but outside of Mitch who really flies the flag when it gets willing? I’m not saying go out and bash people up, but suspensions for great teams aren’t a problem. I don’t know if they’re nasty enough and I hope they haven’t taken on the persona of the coach.
ROBBO: I spoke to Chris Fagan and he was bitterly disappointed at losing that thinking they could have won it, but I think he’s aware they need to get more aggressive. Verdict, Kingy?
KINGY: I have them in the top four. I like them, and I loved them at stages in 2020. I just think they need to play with more of an edge. Port Adelaide is bringing it, Geelong is bringing it and Richmond have had it for three or four years. I think all the great sides play at a level of toughness when the game really happens with a moment that shifts the course of a meandering game. Who’s that for Brisbane? 2021 will show us.
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