The Brisbane Lions will celebrate 20 years in 2016 and five players will approach significant playing milestones.
Veteran defender Daniel Merrett in his 14th season of AFL (drafted in 2002 but debuted in 2005) is nearing a significant personal milestone of 200 games for the Lions. While four players – Allen Christensen, Stefan Martin, Dayne Zorko and Rohan Bewick could notch up their 100th game milestones in 2016.
As we draw near to the 2016 football season, lions.com.au takes a look at the Club’s potential upcoming season milestones.
20 years of the Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions made their first official AFL appearance as a merged entity in Round 1, 1997 against eventual Premiers, Adelaide, at Football Park. The entire competition watched with interest to see how a team merged from two Clubs would fare under a new banner. 20 years later and with three premierships to the Club’s name, the Brisbane Lions are building towards the future, and with successful off season recruiting and a fit squad ready to commence training in November – the Lions are primed for a better and brighter 2016.
Allen Christensen, 100 games
The 24-year old premiership player from Geelong averaged 20 disposals and a goal a game in 2015 after he was traded from the Cats at the end of 2014. Christensen ticked the right boxes for the Lions in both youth (24 years-old) and experience (65 games at the Cats). He was rewarded for his strong season when he was recognised as runner-up in this year’s Merrett-Murray Medal and is set to celebrate his 100th game milestone in 2016 against Collingwood in round six.
Stefan Martin, 100 games
At the end of the 2012 season, the Lions approached Melbourne in a bid to secure ruckman Stefan Martin’s services. A trade was ultimately struck which saw Martin pack his bags for Brisbane. Martin has been regarded as one of the League’s best big men over the past 12 months. His consistency across the year (playing for the majority of the season as the Lions’ sole ruckman) has earned Martin the respect of the Club and fans alike. Martin needs just six games to notch up his milestone this season.
Daniel Merrett, 200 games
Daniel Merrett was missing in action for the majority of 2015, with a nasty hamstring injury forcing the talented defender and club leader to sit on the sidelines for much of the season. As he approaches his 14th season and a major personal milestone in 2016, he will be relied on for leadership as the Club’s junior players continue to mature.
Dayne Zorko, 100 games
A quick and gutsy midfielder, Dayne Zorko dominated the local Queensland competition for a number of years before getting his chance at an AFL career. Fleet-footed Zorko claimed his first Merrett-Murray Medal last season (he was runner-up in 2014), averaging a career-best 22.95 disposals per game, including a season high 38-disposals against Adelaide in Round 21. The Vice-Captain will need 19 games to notch up game 100 in 2016.
Rohan Bewick, 100 games
The West Australian, who has played 78 games for the Club since making his debut in 2011, recently signed a new one-year deal. Playing 15 games for the Lions in 2015, as well as travelling frequently as the team’s emergency, Bewick played roles between half forward and the wing. He showed his potential kicking three goals against the Giants in Round 10 and collecting a season-high 25 disposals against the Western Bulldogs in Round 23 and with the arrival of some key off-season players through trade, Bewick will be looking to cement his place in the Lions’ best 22.
