The AFL have rated the impact of last years' Trade and Draft players. They've rated us in position 7 out of the 18 teams. Here's what they said:
EVERY club hopes its off-season wheeling and dealing has an immediate impact but it doesn't always work out that way. With the halfway mark of the season past us, it's time to assess who got their trading and drafting right last year - and who's paying the heaviest price for missing the mark.
The Brisbane Lions
Trade/FA ins: Ryan Bastinac, Tom Bell, Jarrad Jansen, Josh Walker
Draft ins: Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Josh Schache, Sam Skinner, Reuben William
Impact on 2016: Bastinac and Bell, before his season-ending knee injury, have been welcome additions to the Lions' midfield. Former Cat Walker has struggled to provide the tall target coach Justin Leppitsch was hoping for in attack, but first-year talls Schache and, more recently, Hipwood have shown they should be able to handle that role in time. The Lions have also been encouraged by how first-year midfielders Keays and Mathieson have performed in their senior games.
Longer-term: The Lions' lack of a strong spine is their most glaring list shortcoming and Schache, Hipwood and Skinner should help them address that, but they need time to develop. The Lions are well positioned to bring in more young talent at this year's draft, having acquired additional second- and third-round picks in last year's three-club trade involving James Aish and Bastinac.
Where they rated us compared to other teams:
1. Geelong
2. Carlton
3. Collingwood
4. Melbourne
5. Western Bulldogs
6. Essendon
7. Brisbane Lions
8. Sydney Swans
9. Port Adelaide
10. Greater Western Sydney
11. Gold Coast
12. Adelaide
13. West Coast
14. St Kilda
15. North Melbourne
16. Hawthorn
17. Richmond
18. Fremantle
More on lions.com.au
Leppitsch: "We'll grow from here"
Hall of Fame speech: Akermanis
