QUALITY ADDITIONS MEAN SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR LIONS
HOODOO BUSTING
LAST year’s preliminary final flogging by the Cats was a big cross, but the two ticks from earlier in September mean a lot for the new season. Richmond had owned the Lions until a Joe Daniher match-winner with 80 seconds to go in the elimination final ticked that one off. Winning at the MCG had been a major issue – they hadn’t done it since 2015 – but that was washed away with a dominant second half against Melbourne in the semi-final.
OH JACKIE BOY
GRABBING a reigning best-and-fairest from a premiership rival would normally be earmarked as the recruiting move of the year – and Josh Dunkley will be excellent – but the luring of Hawks veteran Jack Gunston north could be more pivotal. While the Lions have always had a good spread of goalkickers – Daniher, Eric Hipwood, Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and Lincoln McCarthy were all 25-plus last year – the forward line can be erratic but adding the nous of Gunston could be a masterstroke.
STEPPING UP
THERE is no escaping that for Brisbane to be a contender, Harris Andrews needs to wind back the clock. The defence is their achilles heel now that Marcus Adams is gone for the season. While Andrews has been good, he hasn’t been 2019-20 All-Australian good and that’s what the Lions need. Elevation to co-captaincy could be the spark he needs.
HYPE TRAIN
WILL Ashcroft has been living with hype for a couple of years. The fatherson selection, who went at No.2 in the draft, has been experiencing leather poisoning throughout his junior career. The ball magnet has already shown in pre-season games that nothing is likely to change in the big time. Has modelled his game on dynamic Carlton young gun Sam Walsh and looks set to have a similar impact.