The Brisbane Lions will welcome Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Alex Witherden, Cedric Cox, Jacob Allison and Corey Lyons to the Club, with potentially more players to be welcomed to the den after today's pre-season draft.
Take a look the Media's take on our Draft night:
What Draft expert Callum Twomey (AFL.com.au) said:
Callum Twomey's verdict: Nailed it. The Lions needed midfield class desperately and landed McCluggage, who offers that in spades and gives their on-ball brigade a goalkicker. They took another two North Ballarat products in Berry and Cox, with Berry offering leadership and physicality and Cox genuine class. Having the three players from the same TAC Cup club on board will help their retention strategy. They rated Witherden highly, too, and he is the type of smooth ball-user that will be able to step into an AFL side. The Lions should walk away very happy with their crop of prospects and see them as a big part of their future. The Lions chose not to match a bid on academy defender Declan Watson and saved their last picks to take Allison through the bidding process and then busy midfielder Lyons.
What Fox Sports had to say:
Analysis: A huge win to snare McCluggage with Pick 3, given many believed he was the best player in this year’s draft pool. To then team him with his good mates, Berry and Witherden, is a massive plus. Cox, academy prospect Allison and Lyons add a layer of polish to the club’s draft night. - Riley Beveridge
What The Age had to say:
This is a great group. The Lions' decision to swap pick 2 for picks 3 and 16 ended up being a great move, netting them North Ballarat teammates McCluggage and Berry. Berry (courage) and Witherden (kicking skills) will add to their backline. McCluggage and Cox have huge class. The Lions decided not to match North Melbourne's bid for defender Declan Watson, but brought the long kicking Allison in. Passing on Watson allowed them to pick up Corey Lyons at 71. That's a good price for a well performed midfielder who'll live just down the road from brother Jarryd at Gold Coast. - Emma Quayle
What The Herald Sun had to say:
The big winner of the draft, the Lions picked up Hugh McCluggage at No.3, the guy I rated as the best player in this year’s draft. He will be a star. Jarrod Berry was also a very good get at pick No.17 and it’ll be valuable for the Lions to have three teammates from North Ballarat go up there together in terms of player retention with Cedric Cox also joining and brings x-factor. Alex Witherden is a really nice player who has had some injury concerns but makes good decisions and has composure — attributes the Lions obviously targeted because they are characteristics McCluggage and Berry are known for. McCluggage, Berry, Witherden and Cox can all step into the AFL side next year.
Bucky’s verdict: A very good result for Brisbane, their best haul at the draft for a very long time. - Gary Buckenara
How did you rate our Draft:
