The AFL Trade Period might have officially closed at 2pm on Thursday afternoon, but the Brisbane Lions’ list management process ahead of 2015 is far from complete.

Since the completion of the 2014 season, the Lions have farewelled nine players from their senior list (plus three rookies), and welcomed five fresh faces – Dayne Beams (from Collingwood), Allen Christensen (from Geelong), Liam Dawson (Academy), Harris Andrews (Academy), and Josh Clayton (Father-Son).

That leaves the Club with up to four available senior spots left to fill, although it can choose to enter the season with a 38-man senior list (rather than the maximum 40) and reserve a couple of places for potential rookie upgrades.

Six weeks from today, the Lions will head to the 2014 NAB AFL Draft in a vastly different position than it was in 12 months earlier.

In 2013 the Lions boasted six selections inside the top 34 – and early indications would suggest that the recruiting team was spot on with each of them.

But this year promises to be quite the opposite.

Having traded away their first and second round selections (Picks 5 and 25 overall) and committing their third and fourth selections (Picks 44 and 63) on Dawson and Harris respectively, that means the Club’s first live pick won’t be until Pick No.67.

It means Recruiting Manager Stephen Conole and his team will have quite a task ahead of them.

They will have a total of four picks at their disposal – Picks 67, 81, 99, and 117 – with Clayton guaranteed to be drafted with whatever their final selection ends up being.

It’s important to note that the Club must use at least two of these ‘live’ selections, but doesn’t necessarily have to use all four.

Passing on any ‘live’ selections would give the Lions the option of either: signing a delisted free agent; recruiting a player via December’s Pre-Season Draft; or elevating an existing rookie-listed player.

So the off-season activity is set to continue over the next couple of months.

CONFIRMED LIST CHANGES

IN: Harris Andrews (Academy pre-selection); Dayne Beams (Collingwood); Allen Christensen (Geelong); Josh Clayton (Father-Son pre-selection); Liam Dawson (Academy pre-selection)

OUT: Jonathan Brown (retired); Jack Crisp (Collingwood); Jordan Lisle (delisted); Ash McGrath (retired); Brent Moloney (retired); Joel Patfull (GWS Giants); James Polkinghorne (delisted); Andrew Raines (delisted); Patrick Wearden (delisted); Isaac Conway* (delisted); Nick Hayes* (delisted); Sam Michael* (delisted).

*Rookies

OFF-SEASON KEY DATES:

Friday 31 October by 2pm - List Lodgement (1); Rookie Promotion to Primary List; Retained 2nd & 3rd Year Rookies; Scholarship Players; Alternate Talent Player Nominations, TPP Estimates.

Saturday 1 November - NAB AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences.

Wednesday 12 November - NAB AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Closes; Out of Contract Listed AFL Primary List Players Draft Nomination Form and Player Request for Removal from List Form Lodged with AFL; New or Expired (after 3 years) Draft Nomination Form Lodgement.

Thursday 13 November by 2pm - List Lodgement (2).

Friday 14 November - NAB AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences.

Wednesday 19 November  - Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Non–Retained Rookie Players Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Players Not Registered or Played for Three years Rookie Nomination. NAB AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes.

Thursday 27 November – (CONFIRMED DATE) - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Gold Coast Convention Centre).

Friday November 28 – NAB AFL Delisted Free Agency Period (3) Commences.

Monday December 1 - NABAFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3) Concludes.  AFL Club List Lodgement (3) and TPP Estimates. International Players Inclusion on Rookie List Form; Scholarship Players Rookie List Form Lodged; Father-Son and Academy Pre-Selected Rookie Nominations.

Wednesday December 3 - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting (11am, Telstra Webex); Notification of Pre-Selected Rookies Nominated on Monday November 25 if not selected in the Pre-Season Draft (11.05am); NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting (11.10am, Telstra Webex).

Monday 5 December – Final Club List Lodgement.

Friday 12 December by 2pm - International Players Inclusion on Rookie List.