While it was a disappointing season for the Lions, with only four wins and a spate of injuries, players on the Club's young list impressed in their development and a number of the older hands showed great leadership, consistency and commitment to the team.

Today lions.com.au looks at guernseys 17-20 in the fourth part in its series of player reviews.

#17. Claye Beams

Claye Beams’ season came to an abrupt end in Round 9 when he injured his medial ligament in the Lions loss to St Kilda. The defender played the remainder of the match with his knee strapped before undergoing surgery the following week. It was the second serious knee injury for Beams, who underwent a full reconstruction in 2013 after a training mishap. The 24-year-old had a consistent start to the year, playing off half-back and gathering a season best 22 disposals in Round 1 against Collingwood and 20 possessions against the Tigers in Round 3. Fully recovered, Beams will be hoping to pick up from where he left off in 2016.

#18. Nick Robertson

The 20-year-old, known for his aggression at the contest, made a strong impression in his second season at The Gabba, despite missing a series of games through injury (Robertson returned to the NEAFL after Round 18 and suffered a season-ending hamstring injury). He has become a firm fan favourite as a result of his hard-playing style and commitment to the game, playing both half-back and as a capable midfielder. He recorded a disposal high of 24 in Round 5 against the Gold Coast Suns, where he also took 10 marks. Robertson will be a player to watch in 2016.

#19. Josh Clayton

19-year-old Josh Clayton began his first year of development for the Lions by playing for the Reserves in the NEAFL. His versatility was his greatest asset throughout the season, taking up a number of roles around the ground as the Club attempted to deal with the growing injury list. A hard runner (his GPS results were a consistent strength) Clayton used the season to improve his decision-making skills and positioning on opponents. Looking forward to 2016, Clayton will be searching for senior selection.

#20. Josh Watts

Praised for his progression throughout the season, Josh Watts adapted to the rigours of an AFL environment well. Missing seven weeks during the season with a groin injury, the 19-year-old from Tasmania played as a third tall/defender in the Lions’ Reserves, rebounding well off half-back and making improvements to his offensive play. At 194cm, Watts will add bulk to his frame over the summer months.

#21. Daniel Merrett

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. After playing in Round One, Merrett missed 13-weeks before returning in Round 15 against the Swans, where he proved himself as one of the league’s best big-bodied defenders (taking on Sydney’s tall forwards) and provided much-needed experience to the Club’s developing backline. Merrett is set to play his 200th game in 2016 and will be relied on for leadership as the junior players continue to mature.