As has already been reported in the media, the Brisbane Lions took to the field without any premiership players for the first time since 2001 last Saturday afternoon.

Only three players remain on the Lions’ list from the Club’s last Grand Final triumph in 2003 – Simon Black, Jonathan Brown and Ash McGrath – and all were sidelined for the Round 20 clash against Richmond at the MCG.

It left the Lions even less experienced than usual, considering the trio are also the only members of the current side to have played 200-plus AFL matches.

Richmond were also without any former premiership players, but still boasted a far more experienced line-up.

The Tigers had 12 players with 100 or more senior AFL games to their name, while the Lions had just seven.

The Lions also had five players with 25 games or less games of senior experience, compared to the Tigers’ one (Nick Vlastuin).

These stats are by no means an excuse for Saturday’s loss, but clearly indicate that both sides are currently in a different stage of development in terms of their respective lists.

With Brown, Black and McGrath in the twilight of their careers, the Lions are focussed on building their next premiership team and are slowly learning not to rely so heavily on those players who guided the Club to its former glory.

The Lions took a significant step forward in Round 17 against Melbourne when they won for the first time in eight years – and only the third time since 2000 – without Brown and Black in the side.