CAN LIONS TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

The Lions almost stole a flag from Collingwood last September. They were clearly the second-best side that day but still came within a kick of winning a premiership. That was far from the best version of the Lions, and they know that better than anyone. Chris Fagan is a master at harnessing heartbreak to make his sides better. He used their previous preliminary final failures to fuel the ascent to the 2023 grand final and will no doubt lean on those lessons again this season in an effort to go one better. There is no reason why they can’t.

MAKE IT RAYNER

It’s easy to forget Cam Rayner is only 24 years old. The former No.1 pick has all the attributes to be a superstar of the competition, it’s just about finding the best way to use him. Last pre-season the Lions tried him across halfback before throwing him forward, where he played the third tall role with aplomb. But his midfield minutes this pre-season have reminded the world of what he can do with more of the ball in his hands. A more consistent Cam Rayner could be the Lions’ version of Christian Petracca. Can Brisbane get the best out of him? In Fagan we have to trust.

WAITING ON WILL

Will Ashcroft was an almost unbackable favourite for the Rising Star before his debut season was cruelled by an ACL injury last July. The young midfielder is expected back around the mid-season bye, which would give him enough time to find form and fitness for the Lions’ expected finals push. So impressive were his first 18 AFL games that the expectations around what he can do on return are through the roof. How long will it take him to get back to his best? Hopefully for his and Brisbane’s sake, he can hit the ground running.

HAPPY HOME HUNTING

There is no more daunting road trip in the AFL right now than to Brisbane. The Lions went unbeaten at home in 2023 and were rarely even tested within the walls of their Gabba fortress. It looms as one of the great advantages in footy and one the club will again lean on heavily this season. With the future of the $2.7b Gabba redevelopment now up in the air, this could be one of the last chances for the Lions to cash-in on their home ground advantage until the turn of the decade.