Dayne Zorko, Elliot Yeo, Jack Crisp - the crop of young players in 2012 have certainly given Lions fans something to cheer about.
With Michael Voss and his coaching team determined to get games into the team’s younger players, fans have been catching a glimpse of just what the future will look like at the Club over the coming years.
And the results have been impressive.
While Zorko, at 23, might be pushing the ‘young’ description, there’s no doubt that the first-year pocket rocket has been a breakout sensation this year.
He has become a cult figure among fans and the media, with commentators labelling him “the Zork” and “Zorko the magician”.
He has averaged 19 disposals, kicked 13 goals and laid a staggering 93 tackles across his 14 senior AFL games - not bad for a first-year player.
Then there’s Rookie Jack Crisp, who was overlooked at the 2011 National Draft, despite being highly-fancied among recruiting experts, and expected to be picked in the first few rounds.
It’s a story reminiscent of Lions Vice Captain, and Crisp’s fellow country Victorian, Tom Rockliff.
In a whirlwind three years, Rockliff was overlooked at the National Draft in 2008, given a lifeline in the Pre-Season Draft in 2009, won the Club’s Rookie of the Year award in 2010, and went on to win the Club Champion award in 2011.
Crisp has shown football smarts and a hardness at the contest that has made fans sit up and notice - and many are hoping that the Lions have the next Rockliff on their hands.
Fellow first-year player Elliot Yeo has also managed seven senior games so far this year.
He played one of his best games against Adelaide on Saturday night after coming on as the substitute at quarter time - and impressed both the coaching staff and Lions supporters with his poise, control, and decision-making under pressure.
Throw in the group of exciting second-year players like Claye Beams, Mitch Golby (both Rising Star nominees), Ryan Lester, Jared Polec and Josh Green, who have all upped the ante this year.
The list could go on, but one thing’s certain: the future looks bright indeed at the Brisbane Lions.
