Gary Buckenara analyses Brisbane’s needs and potential players to target during off-season

DANIEL Rich doesn’t do enough for Brisbane, but he has currency and trading him could be a win-win, writes GARY BUCKENARA. What could the Lions get in return?

Chris Fagan is doing a terrific job with the Lions. Picture: Getty Images

THE Lions are definitely on the right track and the basis of what could be a good team is there so it’s a wait and see approach on Brisbane.

The club has invested heavily in the draft and picked up some good young talent so we all need to be patient and watch as hopefully, these highly-rated youngsters develop into good AFL players.

There will be another list cleanout — and there needs to be — with the likes of Ryan Harwood, Rohan Bewick, Marco Paparone, Tom Cutler, Jono Freeman and Josh Clayton are or have been overtaken by young players to which the club need to give senior experience to fast track their development.

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As a club Brisbane still needs to go back to the well and get young talent coming through but with that comes challenges because they obviously want to be attracting some ready-made players who will add to their list and not just clog it, given the acquisition of some players from other clubs in recent years.

The Lions have a lot of C-grade players on the list who take up the bottom six spots in the side every week and continue to be swapped with players of a similar calibre from game to game.

Eric Hipwood is an exciting prospect for the Lions. Picture: Getty Images

Eric Hipwood and Josh Schache might not be in the Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead class but they will be those key position forwards who are really dangerous.

What the Lions are lacking is a quick small forward. Having one or two of that type of player running around alongside that pair would really boost them.

I’m going to raise Daniel Rich’s name. What does Brisbane do with him? He definitely has currency and would get them a nice draft pick or player swap.

Rich just simply doesn’t do enough and would more than likely benefit from being in a better side and copping less attention from the opposition. It would be a win-win.

Tom Rockliff is an interesting one. He’s played some good footy this year and the Lions seem to be happy with that situation but given he’s a free agent, would they be happy to let him go if they’re going to get a first-round pick as compensation?

I believe Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry have the potential to be A-graders, they have loads of talent and Cedric Cox has the ability to play outside, so would the loss of Rockliff be covered in the near future? Plus the Lions would get another top pick into the club. I would look at it.

WHO THEY SHOULD TARGET

Hawk Paul Puopolo would be an ideal fit for that small forward role Brisbane really need. He’s had premiership success, so could he be convinced to move on in a similar way to Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell? He would add so much experience to the Lions team — not to mention he’s a forward pressure specialist who takes marks and kicks goals. Perfect fit. He would make a huge difference.

Should Hawthorn trade for Paul Puopolo? Picture: George Salpigtidis

The Lions have a pretty good midfield but they need more depth in there and a player who would be a really good fit is David Armitage from St Kilda. He’s a Queensland lad who has had some injury troubles this year and the Saints probably have some younger options now.

He’s 29 but is a grunt in and under player who excels at stoppages and would add experience and play an important leadership role. He would be a great addition.

BUCKY’S UNTOUCHABLES

Eric Hipwood, Harris Andrews, Dayne Beams, Hugh McCluggage, Mitch Robinson, Stefan Martin, Jarrod Berry, Dayne Zorko, Cedric Cox, Daniel McStay, Josh Schache.

Please note: AFL clubs have a list of a number of players they are targeting at the end of the season and this is the list Gary Buckenara would have in the hope of luring at least one to the club.

Gary Buckenara was Hawthorn’s sole full-time recruiting staff member from 2004 before the Hawks brought in Chris Pelchen and then Graham Wright as recruiting and list manager and expanded the recruiting department.