A fresh face for Lions' honour

BRISBANE could crown a first-time club champion at tonight's Merrett-Murray Medal presentation at the Gabba.

Jack Redden

BRISBANE could crown a first-time club champion at tonight's Merrett-Murray Medal presentation at the Gabba.

The race for the best-and-fairest gong appears to be a three-way affair with on-baller Jack Redden, defender Joel Patfull and midfielder Daniel Rich the leading contenders.

The likes of Daniel Merrett, Pearce Hanley and Andrew Raines could also poll well.

Rookie Dayne Zorko is expected to surge home late in the count.

Reigning club champion Tom Rockliff, captain Jonathan Brown and veteran Simon Black are the only Merrett-Murray Medal winners on Brisbane's current playing list and should also poll well.

But Redden, Patfull and Rich are considered the favourites.

Brisbane's best-and-fairest voting is based on how each player performs his role in each game and what impact he has on the result. Players who turn out for all 22 home-and-away matches have a distinct advantage over those who miss games through injury, suspension or poor form.

Gold Coast will hold their best-and-fairest presentation at Southport tomorrow night with captain Gary Ablett certain to claim back-to-back club champion awards.

While the club's experienced guns-for-hire filled most of the places behind Ablett in 2011, the top 10 is likely to be filled by young Suns stars led by Harley Bennell, who had an outstanding year.

Redden and Patfull played all 22 games, aiding their chances, while Rich missed two matches through suspension.

Meanwhile, Black fronted the cameras yesterday to film a promotion for the club's 2013 membership drive and is poised to officially re-sign for next season.

Black's management team declined to comment.

Brisbane's strength and conditioning staff have already designed Black's pre-season training program.

Lions coach Michael Voss said yesterday: "We are expecting that we'll announce what's happening there shortly.

"We've had that ongoing dialogue with him. He's keen to make sure that he gets the chance to mentor this group.

"He's done a lot of hard work and if we can get a little bit of success, that's in the forefront of his mind too."