With the 2017 Trade period well underway, we at lions.com.au have pored through the history books to come up with our five best trades in Brisbane Lions history.
5. Mal Michael - 2000
Traded to the Lions in 2000 alongside draft selection 22 from Collingwood, in exchange for Jarrod Molloy and draft selection 44, Mal Michael’s arrival was a golden move with rewarding results.
The AFL’s first PNG player enjoyed his first three seasons with the Lions the best way he could, playing a role in each of the three premiership successes. During his six years with the Lions, Michael played 140 of a possible 145 games, also finishing top 10 in the Club’s Best and Fairest every year.
Whilst at the Club, the powerhouse fullback earnt a reputation as one of the competition’s most respected backmen. Michael retired from the game at the end of 2005, but not for long. Returning to the game he loved 50 days later under an Essendon contract, before retiring again at the end of 2008. In 2015, Mal Michael was honoured as a Life Member of the Lions.
4. Luke Power - 1997
The 1997 Trade saw the Lions receive draft selection 5 from Fremantle in return for Adrian Fletcher. This No. 5 pick proved to be a game-changing move for the Lions who picked up Luke Power.
Power was quick to become an out-and-out Lions champion, playing 282 games and kicking 226 goals for the Club over 14 years from 1998-2011. A consistent contributor and prolific midfielder, he averaged 21 possessions per game and finished top five in the Club Champion a phenomenal eight years in a row from 2003-2010.
Power’s accolades include All-Australian selection, three premiership flags, Lions Team of the Decade (1997-2006) and numerous Captaincy roles. For the Brisbane Lions, 1997 proved to be a flash point of the victorious era to come, with the drafting of Luke Power playing an enormous role in the Club’s success.
3. Dayne Zorko – 2011
2011 saw the Lions complete a trade with the Gold Coast SUNS to receive rover Dayne Zorko and draft selection 47, in exchange for draft selection 34 and 52.
Known as a quick and gutsy midfielder who had dominated the local Queensland competition, Zorko proved to be one of the Lions’ best acquisitions of all time.
Fast forward to 2017 and the fleet-footed Zorko claimed his third consecutive Merrett-Murray Medal in what has been his career-best form. 2017 saw Zorko named vice-captain, while also gaining All-Australian selection and finishing as the highest goalkicker at the Club. His leadership role has had an influential impact upon fellow younger players over the years. Undoubtedly, it’s safe to say that the Club’s decision to give Zorko a shot in the AFL was well worth it.
2. Dayne Beams - 2014
Former Collingwood premiership player and Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams was a highly sought-after player during the 2014 Trade period. Beams was traded to the Lions alongside draft selection 67, with Collingwood receiving Jack Crisp, draft selection five and 25.
Beams’ trade was well justified in his first season at the Lions where the midfielder made history by becoming the first player to claim the Merrett-Murray Medal having played less than 18 games.
His fantastic form at the Lions came to an abrupt end with news of a season-ending shoulder surgery in 2015 and knee surgery in 2016.
However, this year Beams made a great return in his first season as Captain, showcasing A-grade talent and experience, proving 2014’s trade to be an excellent move by the Lions.
1. Simon Black – 1997
It will forever be hard to go past the 1997 trade with the Sydney Swans.
The Lions traded Simon Hawking and Brent Green to Sydney in return for selection 31. The No. 31 draft pick, Simon Black, proved to be one of the Club’s greatest blessings, winning three premiership flags throughout the Lions’ era of dominance.
Simon Black is honoured as one of the most decorated players in the merged Club’s history, having achieved almost every individual honour in the game. From All-Australian selections to Brownlow Medals, Club Champion and Norm Smith Medals, Black’s trophy cabinet
The 1997 draftee grew to be one of the elite players and leaders in the competition, co-captaining the side in 2007 and 2008. In 2016, Simon Black was honoured with the title ‘King of the Pride’ and will forever reign as a legend of the game and our best trade in AFL history.
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