On afl.com.au’s Road to the 2015 Draft, Lions Talent Acquisition & Retention Manager Peter Schwab spoke about the Lions’ position going into the 2015 AFL Draft.
See below a quick wrap of his chat with hosts Nat Edwards and Callum Twomey.
After a tough year for the Lions, with just three wins going into the final game of the season, Peter Schwab acknowledges that we’ve got a lot on our plate going forward into 2016.
“We’ve got our list as it stands and you start from there. We’ve seen some real development in our young players and last year we added some experience,” said Schwab.
“I still think we do need more experience on our list, but it’s hard to get.”
“It’s still a work in progress. We will keep bolstering through our draft and Academy and get the best quality kids and in time they will be outstanding players and we’ll have the core of a really good team.”
Looking back at the season, Schwab said that we’ve lacked goal power in our key forward positions and no club wants to give away a good key forward.
“Fundamentally, injury has killed us. We’ve been short a key forward so we haven’t had that target up front half and that’s really hurt us. It’s been a hole we’ve been trying to fill but it’s not easy.”
On Jack Redden:
“Jack’s contracted to 2016, when he would be a free agent at the end of that period,” said Schwab.
“Yes, he is thinking of requesting to move and we’re reluctant with that.
“He’s an experienced player, which we haven’t got many of. He’s a 100-game player, is popular around the club and a required player.
“When that happens it’s always disappointing. We’ll try to talk to Jack and see if we can change his mind but if we can’t and that doesn’t happen well that will get the ball rolling and we will see what happens.”
On James Aish:
“There are noises that Aish hasn’t signed and that he will ask to leave. Well at this stage James hasn’t said that, so I can’t comment anymore than that."
On Daniel Rich:
“We’ve got Daniel Rich who’s a free agent next year and I’d be hoping to do something with Daniel before it gets to that point.”
On Stef Martin:
“He’s had two great years and I spoke to him the other day. He turns 29 this year but he’s only played 90 games and I think the way he looks after himself he could play another five years.
“I suggested to him that he could play another five years and hopefully playing it with us. At this stage I hope that’s the case.”
On retention:
“Three wins always hurts you when you’re talking about retention. With successful teams, it’s definitely easier,” said Scwhab.
“Our proposition for Brisbane is always about opportunity, in many ways. It’s opportunity as well as the fact they’ll get looked after.
“Some come for financial tenure and for others it’s a lifestyle thing, Brisbane’s a great city.
“People have their own reasons for why they want to move.”
On the Hyundai Help for Kids Lions Academy:
“Anyone who hasn’t worked in the Northern states doesn’t understand how challenging it is.
“The problem with the Academy is that the Broncos, the Reds and the Brisbane Roar can approach them and say ‘you can play for us’, just like that. Those players don’t have to go through a draft and we’re competing with that.”
On Harris Andrews:
Schwab is impressed with young gun Harris Andrews who signed for an additional two years to take him through until 2018.
“He’s been a highlight for us,” said Schwab.
“He turned 18 in December so he’s a late birth and to do what he’s done this year, in his first year of footy and play to that maturity, is absolutely high level.
“Harris is definitely more advanced than what I thought, he’s a very mature young man and I think he’s going to be a great long-term player for the Lions.”
On Lewy Taylor:
“I think the first thing you look at with anyone is talent, and he can certainly play the game. Married into talent is that game understanding and natural game sensibility – it’s critical and he’s got that.”
“If they’ve got resilience and competitiveness, then they’ve usually got a good character and Lewy ticks all those boxes.”
On the No. 1 Pick:
“We could certainly do with a key forward but we also wouldn’t mind a key defender.”
