If the jingle writers were on the job here they’d come up with a clever line as to why Brisbane Lions fans can’t afford to miss the Gabba clash with the Adelaide Crows on Saturday. Because it’s time for a “Double McFeast”.

Corny? Yes. Very. So apologies to the good jingle-writers. It’s why the professionals are worth their weight in fries and a large drink. But accurate? Absolutely.

Because Saturday really will be time for a double mc-feast, with Hugh McCluggage to play his 150^th game for the club, and Conor McKenna set his 100^th career game.

The McCluggage milestone, which will make the Lions vice-captain the fourth “Mc” in club history to reach automatic qualification for life membership, is further fodder for the jingle-writers.

Such seniority, they’d suggest, would earn him a starting on-ball spot in the All-McLions team.

Co-incidentally, the numbers are perfect. Exactly 22 players with “Mc” or “Mac” to begin their surname have played for the club, and there’s a 23^rd, yet to play, who can be the substitute.

So, before you read on, stop and pick your All-McLions to honour the extension of Lions sponsorship with McDonalds through to the end of 2025, confirmed last November. And remember, it’s late in the season and stakes are high so a little jocularity isn’t out of place.

The All-McLions side is going to be a little top heavy because (excuse the pun) we’ve got too many Big Macs. Too many talls. But there’s no shortage of class and goal-kicking power, and even a coach. 

So, from the backline, a possible All-McLions side is:-

Ash McGrath, 214-game star and 2003 premiership is the small back pocket beside 22-game Irishman Niall McKeever and ex-Adelaide and Geelong utility Martin McKinnon, who finished his career with seven games at the Lions.

McKenna, enjoying an excellent first season with the club, is a must at half back beside Luke McGuane, Queensland-born Richmond star who finished his career with seven games at the Gabba, and Queenslander Joel Macdonald, who played 80 games for the Lions before 44 games at Melbourne.

Gold Coaster Steve McLuckie, who had 25 possessions and four goals on debut for the Bears in 1991, gets one wing spot, with Queensland great Scott McIvor, a club champion at Fitzroy before returning home to close out his 200-game career with the Bears/Lions, a must in the centre. Brendan McCormack, ex-Fitzroy utility who finished with the Bears, is on the other wing.

Lincoln McCarthy, so good against Fremantle last weekend and one of the club’s best Mc-Recruits,  is automatic on one flank besides ex-Lion Dan McStay, who gets the nod at centre half forward on the basis of past service.

Goal sneak turned Collingwood coach Craig McRae, three-time Lions premiership player, must start in the forward pocket and if Chris Fagan wants the game off he could be coach.

Ex-Hawthorn premiership player Mick McCarthy, who played the first two years with the Bears, starts at full forward, and to keep the old-timers happy, the ‘resting ruckman’ in the other forward pocket is 2001-02 Lions premiership player Beau McDonald.

Oscar McInerney, set to return to the Lions side this week from injury, gets the first ruck spot given ‘Bozo’ McDonald is now a ruck coach at Fremantle, and starting in the midfield is the silky-skilled Michael McLean, an ex-Footscray utility who was the 1991-93 Bears club champion.

That leaves only one choice for the last starting spot – the Cheesy Angus Burger – because ‘Angus’ is a baby boy’s name of Celtic origin which means ‘one choice’. Very cheesy. McClugagge.

On the bench in the All-McLions side are 2004 grand final ruckman Dylan McLaren, ex-Bulldog turned inaugural Bear Rod MacPherson, ex-Southport ruckman Broc McCauley, who played briefly for the Lions and Hawthorn, and 2014 ex-Bendigo draftee Jaden McGrath, who played the first three games of 2015 and never played again.

And the sub? Has to be Will McDowell-White, a 2023 Lions newcomer and son of Lions triple premiership star Darryl White.

All mcjokes aside, Saturday will confirm McCluggage’s standing as the No.1 graduate of the 2016 AFL National Draft. Pick #3 in what has proved a quality group, he will be the first player from his draft year to 150 games. Next best is Geelong’s Tom Stewart (145) from Sydney’s OIllie Florent (138), Richmond’s Tim Taranto (134), Port’s Sam Powell-Pepper (134), Sydney’s Will Hayward (133), Essendon’s Andrew McGrath (131) and North’s Jy Simpkin (131).

With 3194 possessions from 149 games, McCluggage is just shy of Taranto (3268), and ahead of Stewart (3050). And going into this season, McCluggage’s 34 Brownlow Medal votes, which will be increased by any he picks up this year, was top of the list from the 2016 draft – just ahead of Taranto (33)

McCluggage will be the 31^st Brisbane player to 150 games and the sixth-youngest at 25 years 162 days. Younger have been Nigel Lappin (24/52), Marcus Ashcroft (24/247), Michael Voss (25/36), Jason Akermanis (25/97) and Harris Andrews (25/194).

The McCluggage possession count is just ahead of ex-captain Dayne Zorko (3189), Voss (3127) and Chris Scott (3041), and behind only Tom Rockliff (3996) and Simon Black (3394).

And the Round 22 man of the mount has them all covered for durability – he has missed only five games since his debut in Round 3 2017. He sat out two games when he was rested in 2017, one each with a minor hamstring in 2019 and 2022, and one due to concussion protocols this year.

McCluggage will be the second Brisbane player to play 150 games in jumper #6 behind Luke Power (282) after Warwick Irwin (206), Fred Hughson (164) and Jack Moriarty (157) did so for Fitzroy.

And if old Fitzroy fans want to pick an All-McFitzroy side there are 66 options among 1157 players all-time, including five 100-gamers – Team of the Century choice David McMahon (218), Hal McLennan (134), Bill McSperrin (127), Gordon McCracken (109) and Graeme Mackenzie (105).