The Brisbane Lions may have finished the season on the bottom of the ladder, but the competition's best players are full of admiration for their improvement under new coach Chris Fagan.

Speaking less than 24 hours after earning his first All Australian selection, dynamic midfielder Dayne Zorko was pleasantly surprised by the buzz around the Lions at Wednesday night's function.

"Even talking in the room last night among a lot of the opposition players, they really admire what we've been able to achieve this year," Zorko said on Thursday afternoon.

"I was taken by surprise. 

"That fact it came from so many players was good recognition for the club and it shows we ae on the right track and that they may be potentially worried when we play them down the track."

Although winning just five games and finishing with the wooden spoon, the Lions improved by 14 percentage points – and two wins – on 2016.

Zorko's season has been spectacular.

He has averaged 25 disposals, seven tackles and kicked 34 goals in a brilliant year.

The diminutive midfielder was overlooked in four drafts before being traded by Gold Coast to the Lions at the end of 2011 and conceded he had doubts he'd reach these lofty heights.

"I think most players do when you keep getting overlooked so many times," he said.

"I just tried to continuously work on areas I need to improve my game and at that time it was speed and endurance."

Now the 28-year-old, who is favoured to make it a hat-trick of best and fairests on Friday night, says he is convinced the Lions are on the right track.

"I think Chris (Fagan) has really bought in an attitude and culture shift that we want to get better every time we take the field, whether it's playing, training or in the gym," he said.

"I consistently run with that mindset now and it's something ingrained with me.

"I feel like the club is in a really strong position now. I feel like we've certainly turned a corner.

"I think as a team we understand now what it takes and we understand it takes a lot of hard work.

"We've all bought in and we're ready for the ride."