The Maroon Army continues to grow at the Gabba.
During the 2014 trade period, it was All Australian Dayne Beams requesting a trade from Collingwood to the Lions – and just last month it was “bull” Tom Bell returning to Queensland from Carlton.
That's two midfielders in their prime walking in the Gabba doors in the past 12 months and with Bell's acquisition, the Lions have 10 Queenslanders on their extended list – Bell, Dayne Beams, Claye Beams, Daniel Merrett, Dayne Zorko, Harris Andrews, Jono Freeman, Liam Dawson, Matt Hammelmann and Archie Smith.
They hope to add to that at next week's NAB AFL Draft with the addition of Hyundai Help For Kids Lions Academy products Ben Keays and Eric Hipwood.
The Lions have totally remodelled their approach to player welfare under Craig Lambert in an attempt to improve player retention, with the Club just as determined to produce far more home grown talent – and right now it's working.
Bell, who played for QAFL club Morningside before being taken in the 2012 rookie draft by the Blues, has now had a week's training at his new club.
The 24-year-old said he was settling in well after making what was a pretty straightforward decision with his father Stephen overcoming throat cancer.
"I'm really close with dad and I wanted to get back to him," Bell told AFL.com.au.
"He was sick last year and that made me realise maybe Melbourne wasn't the place for me and that I wanted to come back and spend a bit more time with my family."
Stephen Bell is now doing well, passing his tests and coming down to watch his son train on a regular basis.
For Bell though, he's just glad to be back alongside his father, playing for the club he supported as a youngster.
Bell: Living A Childhood Dream
"We were friends with the Leppitsch family when he (coach Justin) was playing," Bell said.
"Him being my coach is a nice coincidence. I'm privileged to play for a club with such good history."
