The Brisbane Lions secured five players in last night's National Draft in Adelaide.
Josh Schache (pick 2), Eric Hipwood (pick 14), Ben Keays (pick 24), Rhys Mathieson (pick 39) and Sam Skinner (47) join the Lions.
AFL's Callum Twomey looks at how he thinks we fared in the draft:
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 2, 38, 39, 40, 41
Selections after bidding: 2, 14, 24, 39, 47
Who they picked: Josh Schache, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Sam Skinner
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Lions will leave the draft as one of the big winners, having fulfilled their need for a quality young tall forward. Josh Schache has known for some time he will be a Lion next year and his selection at No.2 gives the club a young, up-and-coming key forward to build around. He might take some time but he'll get opportunities next year. The Lions then matched an early bid for academy prospect Eric Hipwood, but that was offset by the later bid for Ben Keays, which came at No.24 by the Western Bulldogs. The later bid on Keays meant the Lions had leftover picks they may not have budgeted for. Rhys Mathieson is a super get at pick 39 and Sam Skinner is a good choice at pick 47 as he recovers from his knee reconstruction. The Lions would go close to the three votes for their draft.
Fox Footy's Riley Beveridge was also impressed with our Draft efforts:
What They (The Lions) Said:
"We didn't just take them because they're Queensland boys. We rated them. It is much harder with the key position players and we drafted three of them, so it won't be that easy for them." - Stephen Conole, Brisbane recruiting manager.
Riley Beveridge's Analysis:
The big achievers in thie year's draft. We all knew they'd get Josh Schache and two quality academy kids in Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays, but they also managed two other fantastic prospects. Rhys Mathieson is a big-bodied midfielder who was long billed a potential top 10 pick before sliding, while Sam Skinner is a feisty key defender that loves a contest.
