Lions.com.au takes a look at the statistical standouts throughout the team’s five-match NAB Cup campaign.  

Ranking points (Avg)
Using Champion Data’s ranking points system, Daniel Rich was clearly the most effective player at the Lions throughout the pre-season competition. It was therefore fitting that he could cap off last Friday night’s win by becoming the first player in Club history to claim the Michael Tuck Medal.

Patrick Karnezis’ solid pre-season also paid off with him finishing second at the Lions with an average of 97 ranking points across his four matches.

118.8 – Daniel Rich (4 games)
97.0 – Patrick Karnezis (4 games)
93.8 – Pearce Hanley (3 games)
92.8 – Tom Rockliff (3 games)
92.0 – Ryan Lester (2 games)

Disposals (Avg)
Karnezis and Pearce Hanley shared the honours as the Lions’ most prolific ball-getters, averaging 20.3 disposals in the matches they played.

Karnezis’ ability to average more than 20 disposals per match was even more remarkable considering he played in one of the shortened matches in the first round, and was subbed off at three quarter time in the Grand Final.  

No surprises to also see the likes of Jed Adcock, Tom Rockliff, and Rich round out the top five.

20.3 – Patrick Karnezis (4)
20.3 – Pearce Hanley (3)
19.7 – Jed Adcock (3)
18.0 – Tom Rockliff (5)
17.0 – Daniel Rich (4)

Marks (Avg)
After missing the first round of matches with hamstring tightness, Pearce Hanley quickly found his mojo with stunning performances in the final two matches against Collingwood and Carlton.  

Not only did Hanley find plenty of the ball, he also averaged more marks than any other player. The Irishman certainly seems to be enjoying his new-found freedom on the wing.

5.7 – Pearce Hanley (3)
4.8 – Patrick Karnezis (4)
4.7 – Matt Maguire (3)
4.4 – Dayne Zorko (5)
3.8 – Stefan Martin (5)
3.8 – Mitch Golby (5)

Hard Ball Gets (Avg)
New recruit Stefan Martin's competitiveness shone through during the Lions’ NAB Cup campaign, and it was reflected in his ability to get the hard ball. In fact, Martin gathered the equal most hard ball gets at the Club – alongside midfielder Tom Rockliff.

Emerging second year defender Elliot Yeo also proved valuable in this category, ranking fourth at the Club. 

3.2 – Tom Rockliff (5)
3.2 – Stefan Martin (5)
3.0 – Pearce Hanley (3)
2.6 – Elliot Yeo (5)
2.5 – Jack Redden (4)

Loose Ball Gets (Avg)
Another new recruit, Brent Moloney, led the way in terms of loose ball gets this pre-season.

3.6 – Brent Moloney (5)
3.2 – Tom Rockliff (5)
2.8 – Patrick Karnezis (4)
2.8 – Daniel Rich (4)
2.7 – Pearce Hanley (3)
2.7 – Joel Patfull (3)

Hitouts (Avg)
It comes as no surprise to see Billy Longer’s name at the top of the hitouts column, considering he played first ruck for most of the pre-season.

In Matthew Leuenberger’s absence, Longer’s efforts in the ruck would have done his chances no harm for Round one selection.

14.0 – Billy Longer (4)
5.0 – Matthew Leuenberger (1)
4.0 – Niall McKeever (1)
3.2 – Stefan Martin (5)
3.0 – Sam Michael (3)

Clearances (Avg)
Brent Moloney was signed to help out with the team’s clearance rate, and he delivered in spades by averaging the second most clearances of any Lions player.

However, it was Daniel Rich who was the Lions’ ‘clearance king’ this pre-season, with Tom Rockliff a close third.

4.5 – Daniel Rich (4)
4.2 – Brent Moloney (5)
4.0 – Tom Rockliff (5)
2.5 – Ryan Lester (2)
2.3 – Patrick Karnezis (4)

Tackles (Avg)
New Co-Captain Jed Adcock proved his new title wasn’t going to affect his game by being the Club’s leading tackler across his three NAB Cup games.

Rockliff and Moloney shared second place.

3.3 – Jed Adcock (3)
3.2 – Tom Rockliff (5)
3.2 – Brent Moloney (5)
3.0 – Dayne Zorko (5)
3.0 – Callum Bartlett (1)

Inside 50 (Avg)
Dayne Zorko pumped the ball inside 50m more than any other Lions player, closely followed by Rich and Hanley.

Adcock also snuck into the top five, despite playing largely in defence!

4.6 – Dayne Zorko (5)
4.5 – Daniel Rich (5)
4.0 – Pearce Hanley (3)
3.5 – Ryan Lester (2)
3.3 – Jed Adcock (3)

Rebound 50s (Avg)
Adcock not only averaged more than three inside 50s per game, he also led the way in terms of rebound 50s.

Newly elevated rookie Justin Clarke ranked second, while Patrick Karnezis’ improved fitness saw him find his way down back at times as well.

3.0 – Jed Adcock (3)
2.7 – Justin Clarke (3)
2.5 – Patrick Karnezis (4)
2.3 – Joel Patfull (3)
2.3 – Matt Maguire (3)

Goals (Total)
Aaron Cornelius was the Lions’ leading goal-kicker throughout the NAB Cup, booting nine goals from his four matches – eight of which came from two games (against Collingwood and GWS).

However, Jonathan Brown’s five-goal haul in the NAB Cup Grand Final gave him a greater average of goals per game.

The mosquito fleet of Dayne Zorko and Josh Green were also busy, while Rohan Bewick continued his good form from 2012.

9 – Aaron Cornelius (4)
6 – Jonathan Brown (2)
5 – Dayne Zorko (5)
5 – Rohan Bewick (5)
4 – Josh Green (5)

Goal Assists (Total)
Zorko not only ranked equal third in overall goals, but also gave more goals away than any other Lions player.

His total of five goal assists put him one ahead of Daniel Rich.

5 – Dayne Zorko (5)
4 – Daniel Rich (4)
3 – James Polkinghorne (5)
3 – Claye Beams (5)
3 – Jack Redden (4)