THERE'S an excitement in Brent Moloney's voice when he talks about the Brisbane Lions' midfield, but it's not with the names you'd expect.
Moloney, 30, is entering his second season as a Lion and will take on more responsibility in an engine room now devoid of retired champion Simon Black.
Alongside Moloney, all eyes generally turn straight to the 'Three Rs', Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich and Jack Redden.
All played their first matches of the year against Gold Coast in Sunday's NAB Challenge win in Townsville, and the quartet were among the Lions' best.
Rockliff (32) and Redden (28) led the disposal tally, with Moloney's 24 through three quarters and Rich's 16 were also more than useful contributions.
"Rocky, Reddo and Richy have been together six years," Moloney says matter of factly.
"They've taken steps each year, I think. We just want a consistent performance and a consistent effort each time they step out on the training track and step out on the field. It's not rocket science.
"I think you know what you'll get out of Rocky, Rich and Redden. They can come to another level again though. If we can all go to that next level … the midfield is one of our strongest points."
That trio are starting to stack up the experience, with Rich and Redden both perched on 98 games, and Rockliff on 83.
It's the next wave that now needs to develop, and it's that wave that excites the former Geelong and Melbourne midfielder.
With Jared Polec (Port Adelaide) and Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood) among the 'homesick five' that departed in the off-season, there's extra pressure on the younger midfielders to fill the void.
Claye Beams returns after a knee reconstruction wiped out his 2013, while the club's past two first-round picks (South Australians Sam Mayes and James Aish) will also see plenty of game time.
Moloney had plenty of praise for both, saying they weren't just the "outside" players that many may have thought.
He said Aish was like a "sponge", always asking questions and absorbing more information.
"He'll play bits inside, he'll play bits on the wing. He's very clean inside. Everyone keeps saying he's an outside player, but I can see him being both."
But Moloney saved his hidden gem for last.
While five youngsters left the club in the off-season, one from the same draft as Polec and Karnezis stayed on and looks set to flourish.
Ryan Lester has eased his way into the midfield rotation in the past two years and quietly played 35 of the past 44 matches.
He had 24 disposals in the thumping from Hawthorn in the first NAB Challenge match and backed it up with 19 against the Suns at the weekend.
But it's how the 191cm Victorian gets his touches that is impressive.
"I've been really impressed with Ryan Lester," Moloney said. "He's going to be that inside, contested ball player that we need.
"We've worked pretty close together. He's had a great pre-season and I think he can develop into that … I don't want to say like Josh Kennedy, but that type, that bit taller inside midfielder."
With 11 years experience to draw on, Moloney knows a good midfield when he sees one, and despite not having a host of household names, he says the Lions' mids are in very good shape.
