The Brisbane Lions certainly can’t be accused of not blooding new talent in 2014, with a total of eight players getting their first taste of senior AFL action with the Club.

The Lions have unveiled eight debutants in 2014, the most by any club in the competition this year.

James Aish (Round 1), Michael Close (Round 1), Lewy Taylor (Round 1), Tom Cutler (Round 4), Nick Robertson (Round 4), Darcy Gardiner (Round 5), Zac O’Brien (Round 11), and most recently Daniel McStay (Round 15) have all had their chance so far this season.

Of the eight, Taylor (16 games), Aish (15), and Gardiner (11) have become regular fixtures in the senior side, while Close (nine) is getting plenty of opportunities in the absence of retired champion Jonathan Brown.

Interestingly, reigning premiers Hawthorn have had the second most debutants in 2014 with six, while Essendon (five) rounds out the top three.

In terms of total games played, the eight Lions debutants have combined for 72 senior matches, which is almost twice the amount of both Essendon and the Gold Coast who rank equal second for most debutant games with 37.

At the other end of the scale, Fremantle and Carlton are positioned 18^th and 17^th respectively in terms of games from debutants.

The Lions’ are necessarily done yet either, with a further six listed players still a chance to secure their senior AFL debut before the season is finished.

20-year-old key forward prospect Jonathan Freeman probably heads the list of potential debutants; while third-year utility Patrick Wearden might struggle given his campaign has been cruelled by injury.

There are also four rookies – Isaac Conway, Archie Smith, Nick Hayes, and Jordon Bourke – who are yet to taste senior action, but could be elevated to replace one of any number of long-term injured Lions.

In what has been an otherwise difficult season for the Lions, the injection of such a wealth of talent has been cause for much optimism around the Club.