With the NAB Challenge complete for another year, there were many things to take out of this pre-season competition.
Despite having the youngest list in the league, the Lions brought a high level of talent to the table as they went up against the Gold Coast SUNS and the GWS Giants.
“We were only better off for the run… There were definitely a lot of positives to come out of it but with every game, there’s also things to work on,” Daniel Merrett told LionsTV after their final NAB Challenge clash on Sunday.
With four recruited in the 2015 Trade Period and six fresh draftees (including one rookie), the Lions had great opportunity to work out the dynamics before the premiership season started.
Let’s take a look at how they went…
New kids
Our recruits have all shown signs of what they can bring to their new side.
Bell and Walker are the two who have played both NAB Challenge games. They have not dominated, but look to have slotted into the team seamlessly. Bell has been used across half forward and in the midfield, his big body adds strength around the contest and he also has the endurance to stay on the ground for longer.
Walker has done exactly what the coaches have asked of him. He creates a contest in the forward line, and if he doesn’t mark it, he brings the ball to the ground for our small forwards.
19-year-old Rhys Mathieson took the first step in his AFL journey when he lined up for the Lions in their opening NAB Challenge clash with the Gold Coast Suns at Burpengary.
Impressing over the pre-season with his competitiveness, Mathieson was fearless around the contest in NAB 1.
He had 13 disposals (seven of those were contested) and kicked a superb banana goal from the forward pocket.
Unfortunately for Mathieson he was dealt a blow in NAB 3 when he copped high bump that resulted in a fractured cheekbone. He is expected to miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season.
Stand outs
After missing most of 2014 with a ruptured ACL, and playing his way back to form in 2015, Rich now looks fitter, sharper and ready to return to his best in 2016.
Rich had 28 possessions for the game 16 of those contested, he also had 10 inside 50s and 10 score involvements.
“He’s been training in the midfield throughout the whole pre-season. He’ll probably play 90% of his time through the midfield,” said Lions Assistant Coach Danny Daly.
“He actually had five centre bounce clearances for the game. His ability to read the play; we all know he has a beautiful kick on him, and his ability to work through the lines as a midfielder and get that ball into our forwards is going to be crucial for us in 2016.”
Dan McStay played his first of 2016 against the GWS Giants in slippery conditions at Metricon and impressed.
After spending a majority of his time in the forward line last year, McStay returned to his native role as a defender and outplayed Jeremy Cameron in most one-on-one contests.
"I thought Dan McStay did a good job in defence on Jeremy Cameron,” Merrett told LionsTV post-match.
New recruits Bell and Bastinac showed their worth in the Lions pre-season. Bell played both of the Lions NAB Challenge matches.
Bell’s bigger body and ability to move through the midfield and forward line is worth its weight in gold for the Lions.
Bastinac may have only played NAB Challenge match but his performance on Sunday showed promising signs for the future.
In his first game for the Club, he notched 22 possessions, 10 contested, six tackles and four clearances and will add to the Lions midfield depth.
“Around stoppages his ability to play his role (is fantastic). He’s going to be a very important cog in the side for us. It’s what we brought him into the Club for; his ability to win contested football, his use of his hands and his smartness around the ground, he’s a beautiful kick of the football and gets the ball going our way,” said Daly.
Needs improvement
The Lions defensive 50 stoppages is an area that they will look to improve with GWS scoring 3.3 from forward 50 stoppages on Sunday.
Lions Assistant Coach Danny Daly said the boys will be working on the area over the next 10 days before their Round 1 clash with the West Coast Eagles.
“West Coast don’t score quite so easily from their forward 50 stoppages,” Daly told LionsTV earlier this week.
In addition, the Club could look to bringing the “Sunshine State” with them when they travel to avoid anymore soggy salads among the group.
Looking forward
Up against last year’s grand finalists West Coast and Hawthorn in the first ten rounds, the Lions will have a tough start to the season but a few early wins could build confidence within the playing group.
