Throughout the pre-season, lions.com.au has featured regular stories detailing some of the more significant physical improvements that have been made by the Club’s younger players.

Now, as the NAB Cup pre-season competition approaches, the Club has revealed the updated heights and weights of the entire 2012 Lions list.

Possibly the most noteworthy weight change from this time last year was recorded by 20 year-old forward Bryce Retzlaff who tipped the scales at 95kg - after weighing 86kg at the beginning of the 2011 season.

Retzlaff’s nine kilogram gain was closely followed by Patrick Karnezis, Jesse O’Brien, Josh Dyson and Jack Redden who have each added eight kilograms to their frames over the past 12 months.

Rohan Bewick (7kg), Todd Banfield (5kg), Claye Beams (5kg) and Jared Polec (5kg) have also seen marked improvements in their physique over summer.

The Lions’ first round draft selection Billy Longer is now listed at 101kg after arriving at the Club six kilograms lighter only two months ago. Like Longer, rookies Justin Clarke and Sam Michael have also benefited from their first AFL pre-season by putting on five kilograms each in only a short time.

Meanwhile, Captain Jonathan Brown has dropped a couple of kilograms compared to last year, largely thanks to an uninterrupted training program, but remains an imposing 102kg.

One of the more interesting quirks of the 2012 list surrounds reigning Club Champion Tom Rockliff, who has grown in stature - literally - since this time last year.

The 21 year-old midfielder has not only added an extra two kilograms of bulk, but seems to have also grown two centimetres taller - from 183cm to 185cm.

CLICK HERE to visit the Lions’ player profile pages which lists the updated height and weight figures for every player. 

2012’S BIGGER BODIES
Todd Banfield: +5kg (from 78kg to 83kg)
Callum Bartlett: +4kg (from 75kg to 79kg)
Claye Beams: +5kg (from 78kg to 83kg)
Rohan Bewick: +7kg (from 76kg to 83kg)
Josh Green: +3kg (from 77kg to 80kg)
James Hawksley: +4kg (from 80kg to 84kg)
Patrick Karnezis: +8kg (from 80kg to 88kg)
Ryan Lester: +4kg (from 83kg to 87kg)
Billy Longer: +6kg (from 95kg to 101kg)
Jesse O’Brien: +8kg (from 71kg to 79kg)
Jared Polec: +5kg (from 80kg to 85kg)
Jack Redden: +8kg (from 76kg to 84kg)
Bryce Retzlaff: +9kg (from 86kg to 95kg)
Justin Clarke: +5kg (from 83kg to 88kg)
Josh Dyson: +8kg (from 71kg to 79kg)
Sam Michael: +5kg (from 93kg to 98kg)