The Brisbane Lions made the conscious decision late last year to pass on their Pre-Season Draft selection and instead fill that vacant senior position with a nominated rookie upgrade before the start of the season.

And with just two weeks until the nomination deadline, competition is starting to heat up among the seven rookie-listed Lions to see who will be officially elevated to the senior list on Tuesday 19 March.

National Talent Manager Rob Kerr told lions.com.au that the strategy was designed to provide the Club with greater flexibility.   

“This option gives the coach some extra flexibility to add a player who either fills a need, or has performed the strongest throughout the pre-season,” Kerr said.

“It also gives each of the rookies the incentive to chase a spot on the senior list, and that bit of extra encouragement to put their best foot forward.”

It’s been almost three months since the Pre-Season Draft, and the decision already seems to be justified with a number of rookies genuinely vying for this one vacant spot.

Defender Justin Clarke is among the players in contention having played in two of the team’s three 2013 NAB Cup matches so far.

Clarke was given added responsibility down back against Greater Western Sydney last weekend in the absence of Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull, and performed admirably against a range of high-profiled Giants opponents.

Like Clarke, versatile big man Sam Michael has been exposed to more senior football this pre-season and is also a worthy nominee.

Michael has played predominantly in the ruck and up forward, and his set-shot goal in the dying seconds last Saturday night helped the Lions secure a three-point victory in Wagga.

Callum Bartlett will also come under serious consideration after successfully completing a full pre-season.

Bartlett spent the majority of his first three seasons in Brisbane on the sidelines, but has since overcome his knee problems and is getting closer to that elusive debut AFL game.

At 25, Stephen Wrigley is another who could find himself on the senior list in the coming weeks.

Wrigley impressed enough to play three senior games last season, and with another pre-season under his belt, looks even more prepared for senior AFL action in 2013.

Meanwhile, fellow rookies Richard Newell, Nicholas Hayes, Jordon Bourke are still relatively ‘green’ in their AFL development and might require more time in the NEAFL before staking their claim for senior selection.

Either way, it promises to be a tough decision for the Lions’ List Management Committee.

“We’ll sit down and have a meeting in the week leading up to the deadline to determine which player has earned his opportunity,” Kerr said.

“The final decision will ultimately be based on both the team’s needs, and the players’ performance over the pre-season.”