Fagan can’t say if Lion cubs are getting roar deal

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has more important things on his mind than the Lions securing a Rising Star nomination.

Alex Witherden is the fourth best performed Lion this year.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has more important things on his mind than the Lions securing a Rising Star nomination.

Securing a win is the chief priority for the Lions, who have been competitive in several games without breaking through.

Another opportunity presents against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium tonight.

Fagan considers the 2016 premiers another young side boasting some similarities to the Lions in terms of their maturity, which enhances Brisbane’s chances of springing a surprise.

But a query this week as to why talented young Lions Cameron Rayner, Zac Bailey and Alex Witherden had not yet landed a nomination for the 2018 Rising Star Award stumped him.

“That’s a hard question to answer. I had given absolutely no thought to that,” he said.

“I guess what we hope is that at some stage they will be nominated. They have played footy that is deserving of nomination, but it is a little bit hard for me to answer that because there are a lot of young players that play each weekend and I don’t get to see them play, so it is hard for me to compare the form of our boys to theirs.”

Of the three, Witherden is the best performed in 2018 after an exciting finish to his rookie season, though the two first-year footballers have also shown promise.

After recovering from a broken leg, the 23rd pick in the 2016 ­national draft debuted in round 14 last year and averaged 24 disposals and five marks a game, earning a Rising Star nomination in his nine matches.

AFL 2018 rising star winners

But he is eligible to earn selection again this year and, based on a statistical breakdown, is the fourth-best performed Lion this year behind star ruckman Stefan Martin, Mitch Robinson and captain Dayne Beams.

“Alex is another one. His numbers have been outstanding,” Fagan said.

“I thought a couple of weeks ago that perhaps he could have been nominated, but they went for somebody else. But it is not all about that. It is a team game and if he keeps playing well, that will handle itself.”

Fagan is not the only coach surprised that his charges are yet to earn a nomination.

His opposing coach tonight, Luke Beveridge, is stunned Bulldog Aaron Naughton has been overlooked given the poise he has shown as a key defender manning some of the best forwards in the game.

“Didn’t he get one this week?” Beveridge said, his sarcasm clear when asked.

“It would be nice for Aaron to get one. He’s been outstanding for us. He takes intercept marks for us, he’s brave and he is starting to use the ball better as well.

“He’s a very mature player ­already and we’re rapt with the way he’s going, so hopefully he gets a nomination this week.”

2017 top 10 draft picks

The flip side to the surprise shown by Beveridge and Fagan is that it is clear there is young talent performing extremely well across the competition, a point noted by Fagan.

The days of clubs failing to ­secure a long-term prospect with early draft picks are almost gone, such is the due diligence performed by recruiters, who identify players to watch years before they are eligible to be selected.

And those at the top of the draft enter ready to perform, even youngsters like Naughton who are considered key position prospects.

The top 10 draft picks from last November have all played at least four of the seven games to date this year, with half of them stepping out in every match.

Despite the thrashing the Dockers received from Richmond last Sunday, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was rapt with the efforts of Andrew Brayshaw and Adam Cerra in the middle after halftime, describing the first-year players as “hidden gems”.

And the Kangaroos continue to throw Luke Davies-Uniacke into the midfield in the hope this experience will build resilience and excellence, just as it did for Jack ­Ziebell and Ben Cunnington at the start of the decade.

The only one of the top 10 draftees to claim a Rising Star nomination in 2018 is Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson, who underlined his talent when kicking five goals in Collingwood’s upset of the Crows in Adelaide in round four.

Witherden has always been short in betting markets and is considered a leading chance to claim the honour this year.

The TAB listed him at $5.50 when the markets opened in ­November, $4 before the season started and he is currently equal-second pick at $5.

Sam Murray, the Magpie whose recruitment from Sydney puzzled some critics, has shortened from $101 to $5 alongside Witherden, with Collingwood ben­efiting from his daring play out of defence.

Crow Tom Doedee, the outright favourite at $3.25 after being listed at $34 before round one, has slotted into the Crows’ backline with aplomb in place of high-priced departee Jake Lever.