Lions member Carl Nimb puts his match committee hat on and attempts to select his 'Best 22' ahead of the Lions' season opener against Hawthorn on Saturday 22 March.   

The Brisbane Lions head into their third and final practice match of the pre-season against the Sydney Swans this Saturday 8 March as part of the ‘Festival of Football’ at Burpengary.

The match coincides with the opening of the Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex – a new AFL precinct in Queensland and home of the Caboolture Lions.

The hitout will give Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch one final opportunity to watch his team perform against quality opposition and help solidify in the minds of the coaching staff who will line-up against Hawthorn in Round One at Launceston.

It is also the time of the year for supporters and AFL Fantasy aficionados to hypothesise their own ideal Lions line-up.

In this first of this three part series, I’m taking on the task of reviewing the defenders on the Lions’ list with the aim to pick my starting back six.

The defenders on the Lions’ list that I considered were; Jed Adcock, Jordon Bourke (Rookie), Justin Clarke, Tom Cutler, Darcy Gardiner, Mitch Golby, Ryan Harwood, Matt Maguire, Daniel McStay, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull, and Patrick Wearden.

I also added James Polkinghorne to that list due to the fact that he’s spent most of his time training with the defenders over summer.

Starting with the key positions of full-back and centre half-back, I expect that Daniel Merrett and Justin Clarke will be first in line for these roles.

Merrett is the Lions’ best key defender and will take the opposition’s premier key forward on a weekly basis. He has added the extra string to his bow of becoming a potential ‘swingman’ having spent some game time forward last season.

Although he suffered a gruesome broken ankle in Round 22 last year, which required 10 screws and a plate to repair, Merrett is back at full fitness and got through his first hitout against the Suns a couple of weeks ago.

Clarke had a very impressive year in 2013 and stepped up as a key in the Lions’ defence after being elevated from the rookie list and playing 14 games. He is big bodied and a tough competitor, and is a fantastic long-term prospect for the Club.

I see Clarke lining up at centre half-back against the Hawks after a solid pre-season, which included playing in both of the Lions’ NAB Challenge games.

The next positions to consider are the half back flanks, and I expect to see Captain Jed Adcock and two-time Club Champion Joel Patfull line up in those spots.

Adcock will be the Lions’ sole skipper this year after sharing the duties with Jonathan Brown in 2013. He played every game last year and averaged 20 disposals playing predominantly across halfback and also through the middle of the ground. I expect to see Adcock play a similar role again in 2014 and continue to provide his leadership and attack from the backline.

Patfull is a no-fuss defender who completes his job every week for the Club. He can play on both tall and small forwards, which provides the Lions with great versatility.

Patfull led the Lions in total marks last season (114) and gives plenty of drive from the backline. He is highly rated within the Club for his work ethic and dedication, evidenced with his Best and Fairest wins. Patfull is a key component for the Lions against a dangerous Hawthorn forward line.

Finally this leaves the back pockets, I’m thinking those roles will be given to Ryan Harwood and Mitch Golby.

Golby had a breakout season in 2013, playing 18 games and averaging 20 disposals. He also snuck forward to kick six goals. He is set to take on the opposition’s best small forward each week this year and, like others from the Lions’ backline, Golby has a great turn of pace with excellent vision and decision-making.

Harwood cemented his position in the Lions’ backline last season with a seamless transition from midfielder to defender. He has excellent one-on-one defensive skills and a very sharp turn of pace. Harwood looks primed for a breakout season this year should his form continue on from the second half of last year.

Accordingly, I see the Lions’ starting back six to look something like this:
 

The Lions seem to have the key defensive positions covered with Merrett and Clarke, with Patfull providing the third tall option, and they will be supported by three counter-attacking backmen.

This platform provided by the backline, and led by the Captain Adcock, is something that should fill Lions fans and members with great confidence.

What’s better is that there’s plenty of talent waiting in the wings who could fill a senior position should anyone suffer injury, or struggle for form, during the season.

Matt Maguire is the first defender that comes to mind, who can comfortably come into the side and play his role should injury become an issue for the Lions. Although he struggled with injury during the first half of 2013, Maguire did play a key role towards the end of the year when injury struck down both Merrett and Clarke. The former Saint provides valuable depth for the Lions as a back-up key defender.

Jordon Bourke has enjoyed a solid pre-season so far, holding down a key defensive post in both of the Lions’ NAB Challenge games. He was one of the better players in the team’s heavy loss to Hawthorn, and also had a great battle with Suns’ young gun Tom Lynch in last week’s game in Townsville. Bourke, however, is still a rookie so won’t be available to play senior football unless there’s a long term injury. However, he looks like he could develop into a future key defender in time for when Merrett and Patfull eventually hang up the boots.

Patrick Wearden is another young Lion who has continued to build on his strength and endurance since joining the Club in the 2011 National Draft. He has the ability to play a variety of roles, but has spent the majority of his time on the half backline for the Lions’ NEAFL team. Wearden will be hoping to crack it for a senior debut in 2014 – which is his third season at AFL level. 

James Polkinhorne has generally spent his time at the Lions operating through the midfield and half forward and is a great mark for his height. His time spent playing volleyball as a junior has assisted enormously with the timing of his jump to take a mark. However, he has been training with the Lions defenders throughout the pre-season and I suspect that Leppitsch might be grooming him to play on small forwards throughout the course of the season.

At the end of 2013 the Lions identified their backline depth was an area that they wanted to  bolster for the future and in the 2013 NAB National Draft picked up Tom Cutler, Darcy Gardiner and Daniel McStay.

All are great defensive prospects, but you have to expect they will spend the bulk of their time playing with the Lions’ NEAFL team this year to gain experience and fitness. They have all had great junior careers and their journey to become regular first team AFL footballers for the Lions has already begun this pre-season.

One added benefit for these young defenders is that they will be able to learn and hone their craft in front of a Senior Coach who was one of the competition’s premier defenders in his heyday. This will be invaluable as their careers begin with the Lions.

Well, that’s my wrap of the Lions’ defenders and prediction of who will form the starting back six for the season opener.

The next part of this three-part series will be focusing on the Lions midfielders and will be published on lions.com.au soon.

Carl Nimb is an independent writer and Lions Member (#2604559) who will contribute to lions.com.au throughout the season.

You can follow him on Twitter @CarlNimb