Gary Buckenara analyses Brisbane’s list after the 2020 season
Joe Daniher’s arrival at Brisbane is the cream on top of one of the most talented lists the AFL has seen. Gary Buckenara on the dynasty the Lions can create.
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Brisbane is set up for a period of sustained success with a dynasty similar to that of the 2001-2004 Lions a genuine possibility.
The club has nailed its drafting and recruitment of experienced players from rival clubs over the last five years and it’s put them in this position. The challenge now is for coach Chris Fagan to capitalise on the talent at his disposal and make the most of the countless opportunities to win premierships that will present over the next five years.
Brisbane is a destination club and any player looking for the opportunity to win a premiership or to reignite their career would have the Lions as one of their top potential new clubs.
The development of the list has occurred over a five-year period and is the perfect example of how clubs, in particular North Melbourne who have just started a complete rebuild, should attack a list overhaul. The Lions traded out players who didn’t want to be there and while it was a blow to lose the likes of Dayne Beams, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff and Pearce Hanley, Brisbane stockpiled draft picks and backed their recruiters to nail the selections and rebuild that way, while at the same time overhauling the culture to develop an environment where players see their long-term footy future.
There’s no quick fix when it comes to rebuilding. You must be patient and back your recruiters and development staff to get it right, rather than grabbing any established player you can because there’s pressure from the media and supporters who are desperate for you to bring in players they’re familiar with, rather than 18-year-olds they’ve never seen before.
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Brisbane is now reaping the rewards for its patience as players including Hugh McCluggage, Cam Rayner, Jarrod Berry, Eric Hipwood, Brandon Starcevich, Alex Witherden and Oscar McInerney continue to mature and are the reason for the team’s rise.
The Lions have also been very selective in recruiting from rival clubs in the past 3-4 years, which is smart. Only bring players into your club who genuinely want to be there and offer traits on or off the field that you need. You can’t bring in players for the sake of it. Brisbane struck gold with Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron and Luke Hodge but the beauty of what the club has done is it hasn’t always targeted stars – they’ve identified gaps in their list and scoured rival clubs for players who have either had limited opportunities but have potential such as Jarryd Lyons or been unlucky with injury, like Grant Birchall and Lincoln McCarthy.
Now with the addition of Joe Daniher, whose decision to leave Essendon for Brisbane is the culmination of this whole process, is going to make this group a seriously scary outfit for opposition teams.
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LIST NEEDS
Brisbane’s list is in a really good place and after stockpiling elite talent via the draft, it can focus on bringing in established talent from rival clubs who can help win a premiership. The only real area of concern is in the ruck. Stefan Martin will be 34 in November and missed a lot of footy this year. Has he got another season in him? Oscar McInerney battled well in his absence and showed he can be damaging around the ground with his aggressive work at the contest but he’ll need help when/if Martin leaves. Archie Smith hasn’t come on as hoped.
TRADE TARGETS
Daniher’s arrival proves Brisbane is a destination club – what a coup it is to get him, especially after he wanted to go to Sydney last year. If he can get his body right, the partnership with Eric Hipwood will be a nightmare for opposition coaches because both players are over 200cm, they’re very athletic, they move extremely well for their size and when they’re able to run and jump at the footy, they’re nearly unstoppable. What a combination they’ll be. It’s a double win for Brisbane that Essendon didn’t match the bid. They get him for free in terms of trading out assets. Absolute steal.
Injury-prone Cat Nakia Cockatoo looks set to join the Lions and like Daniher, if he can get his body right he’ll be one of the recruits of the year. He’s explosive, has great pace and can play forward, in the midfield or even across halfback to provide more run and creativity. His potential is enormous. Given he’s only played 34 games in six seasons, he’ll come relatively cheaply in a trade for a player with his potential. A draft pick in the 40-plus range.
UNTOUCHABLES
Hipwood, McInerney, Neale, J. Berry, McCluggage, Birchall, Cameron, Lyons, McCarthy, Rayner, Starcevich, Robinson, Harris Andrews, Zac Bailey, Thomas Berry, Noah Answerth, Keidean Coleman, Callum Ah Chee, Darcy Gardiner, Ryan Lester, Daniel Rich, Deven Robertson, Mitch Robinson, Alex Witherden and Dayne Zorko.
TRADE BAIT
Given the arrival of Daniher, Daniel McStay could be a player who attracts interest from rival clubs in need of a forward target.
Alex Witherden is being chased by West Coast but I wouldn’t entertain trading him. He’s a seriously good player and despite falling down the pecking order this year, he’s got a long-term future at Brisbane – and he’s got two years to run on his contract. Birchall and Robinson, who was used in defence at times this year, won’t be around forever. He’s a big part of the future. The Eagles would need to trade a first-round pick for him at least, or a second-round pick plus small forward Jarrod Cameron, brother of Charlie.
RATING THE LIST
A-grade: Andrews, J. Berry, Cameron, McCluggage, McInerney, Neale, Zorko
B: Ah Chee, Birchall, Gardiner, Hipwood, Lester, J. Lyons, Martin, McCarthy, McStay, Rich, Robinson
C: Adams, Cox, Ellis-Yolmen, Hinge, Mathieson, A. Smith
Developing (with A-B grade potential): Answerth, Bailey, T. Berry, Coleman, Rayner, Robertson, Starcevich, Witherden
Developing: Ballenden, Fullarton, Joyce, Madden, McFadyen, Payne, Prior, B. Smith, E. Smith
What the ratings mean:
A-grade: Elite player on any AFL list
B: Top 10-18 player on most lists
C: An 18-30 player on a list
Developing: Aged 21 or under
CRYSTAL BALL
With seven A-graders, 11 B-graders and eight potential A or B-graders coming through, Brisbane is building one of the most talented playing lists we’ve ever seen. As long as this group stays together and develops the hunger and selfless attitude you need to win premiership/s, then the sky is the limit. The Lions will be premiership contenders from 2021-2025 as a minimum and should win at least one premiership, if not two in that time. The talent is there, it’s now up to the players to decide how successful they want to be.
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