Brisbane Lions are ready to roar again with the best young list in the AFL, writes David King

THE Brisbane Lions have the best young list in the competition, says David King, and its time for the club’s investment in youth to pay dividends. Plus, Robbo’s likes and dislikes.

Brisbane captain Dayne Beams celebrates a goal.

JUST like the Bitcoin phenomenon, it is only a matter of when, not if, the Brisbane Lions arrive.

Chris Fagan also likes to remain as anonymous as the Bitcoin founders, but he has a code of his own. A Lions culture that demands honesty and professionalism.

It’s time for the Lions’ investment in youth to start to pay dividends. In the past four seasons they have given their national draft selections more games than any other team, and by some margin – over 100 games more than Melbourne, which ranks second.

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The excitement around the six players picked inside the draft’s top 20 in the past two seasons is palpable.

The Brisbane Lions have the best young list in the competition.

Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry and Alex Witherden (a steal at No.23 in the 2016 draft) are all yet to play 20 games and will become a major part of their midfield.

An immediate midfield/forward opportunity is there for Cameron Rayner, the nation’s best junior, with the departure of Tom Rockliff.

Cameron Rayner should walk into Brisbane’s Round 1 team.

Jarrod Berry is one of Brisbane’s exciting young talents.

Dayne Beams’ 2017 season was undersold and surprisingly rated only average by Champion Data. In a five-win season Beams, who played more than 18 games for only the third time in his nine-year career, finished in the Brownlow Medal’s top 10.

Only four AFL midfielders averaged 20-plus disposals and one goal a game last year – Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and the Lions duo of Dayne Zorko and Dayne Beams.

Don’t underrate this midfield in 2018, with more support for these two stars coming through.

The Lions are finally addressing their contested possession game, or lack of, in a physical pre-season that went back to basics.

They have ranked no higher than 16th in the past five seasons with contested possession differential, ensuring they would have to defend for longer than their opposition.

The Lions conceded the most inside forward opportunities to their opponents, averaging 61 a game, which is clearly 10-12 too many for any defence to handle.

Brisbane’s leadership group (from left) Ryan Lester, Dayne Zorko, Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Harris Andrews and Allen Christensen.

They have done poorly at clearances and were the easiest team to score against once the opposition exited the stoppage with the football, hence the cultural shift.

Expect shock victories against high quality opposition this season as the trip to the Gabba becomes feared again.

But a strong home base needs to be rewarded more often than just the five wins they have recorded in their past 22 Gabba battles.

I’m bullish on the Lions’ rebuild and expect an 8-10 win season.

ROBBO’S TAKE

WHAT I LIKE

A well-thought-out plan under CEO Greg Swann, and the board is delivering quality people and confidence on and off the field.

The kids are not only staying but recommitting, and that builds confidence and trust and a “we’re in this together’’ attitude — which also builds success.

Luke Hodge arguably will be more valuable during the week than on the weekends, and Charlie Cameron will be the opposite.

The first step for the coach is to make the Lions at Brisbane a danger game while continuing to get games into the under-22s.

Let’s hope Cameron Rayner is a first-year rocket. Hugh McCluggage, Daniel McStay, Harris Andrews, Tom Cutler, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Jarrod Berry and Alex Witherden ... the future is there and the footy world will be watching.

Eric Hipwood has to take his game to a new level.

Luke Hodge was an excellent off-season get. Picture: Mark Stewart

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

The Lions won’t play finals, and five, three, four and seven wins in their previous four campaigns is stretching the loyalty of fans.

More wins like the one over Essendon (Round 15, 2017) are needed.

It’s not that you dislike the Lions, simply they aren’t ready to seriously threaten the finals. Have stars in Dayne Zorko and Dayne Beams, but need Hipwood to go to the next level, like Joe Daniher.

Hipwood’s highlight reel is superb, but he needs to work on his consistency.

VERDICT: bottom four