Premiership Odds: $201 (via TopSport)
Prediction: 15th
Rugby will rule supreme in Queensland again with both the Lions and Suns a long way away from playing finals footy.
Brisbane will improve on last year's 17th placed finish if they can keep their stars on the park as well as their young guns, after picking up a good bunch of cubs in the draft.
They will be around where St Kilda and Melbourne will be and could finish 13th if things go their way.
With an incredibly difficult start to the season, they may be the team sitting rock bottom at the end of round three.
Coach Justin Leppitch has been given a one-year contract extension which shows those higher up may not fancy his chances as being the one to take this club forward and back to premiership glory, which in fairness is a mammoth task for any coach.
Key Ins:
Ryan Bastinac, Tom Bell, Josh Walker, Josh Schache, Jarred Jansen
Key Outs:
James Aish, Jack Redden, Matthew Leuenberger, Jed Adcock, Matt McGuire, Brent Staker
Key Player: Allen Christensen
Last year's big recruit from the Cats failed to live up to expectations in 2015 and looked a bit on the porky side throughout the year.
However, with a full-preseason under his belt and having settled in at the club, expect a huge second year from the man they call 'bundy'.
Those final few years at Geelong saw Christensen earn rave reviews from commentators along with many predictions that this kid will become a future midfield star.
Brisbane are yet to see that potential, but they will definitely see it this year. Blessed with brilliant ball use and footy smarts, he will be one of the generals of a pretty decent midfield that includes Dayne Beams, Tom Rockliff and Stefan Martin.
Rising Star: Josh Schache
Is this finally what Brisbane needs? A key forward who is set to dominate the game in years to come.
Schache has made waves in the off-season and managed to kick four goals on veteran defender Daniel Merrett in an intra-club match.
He has versatility as a big man and his goal tallies are truly incredible numbers. He kicked 24 goals in the under-18 carnival and 34 in seven games at TAC Cup level.
His accuracy in set shots is also terrific, with some scouts believing the left-footer has the best kicking technique of any draftee who has come through the system in recent years.
At 199cm, Schache has top-end endurance for a player his size and ran a 14.1 beep test. He'll most likely be called upon to play as a pinch-hitting ruckman in the AFL, a role he took on at stages during the season at under-18 level.
The No.2 draft pick from 2015 is set to explode this year and looms as a future great at the Lions.
Under the Pump: Sam Mayes
The No. 8 draft pick from 2013 didn't quite recapture the consistency that saw him finish 10th in each of his first two years in Brisbane's best and fairest.
He's undoubtedly gifted and versatile, but in 2016 Mayes needs to lock down a position, with half-back the most likely fit.
He was dropped to the NEAFL last year and needs to take the next step in his development otherwise South Australian clubs will be circling.
Weakness: Forward line
Although they have got one of most promising forwards in the game on their list, there isn't much else and with that being said, Brisbane will struggle to kick goals once again this season.
There is a lack of key forward strength at the club and there isn't much hope for Josh Walker, Jonathan Freeman and Michael Close who all project as less effective than an average first-year forward.
Schache is seen as the great future hope rather than the man in 2016 so it's doubtful a first-year player will be able to carry the club forward in the attacking half of the ground.
Strength: Midfield
Definitely an area where the Lions can be competitive.
Dayne Beams is an elite midfielder and skipper Tom Rockliff is not far behind. Combine these two with Dayne Zorko, Mitch Robinson and Christensen and you have got yourself a pretty decent midfield.
New recruits Ryan Bastinac and Tom Bell should provide the Lions with quality service to their forwards and if Beams can remain injury-free the Lions may be able to cover the losses of Jack Redden and James Aish.
Stefan Martin committed himself to the club during the off-season and he'll be looking to replicate a successful 2015 when he ranked fifth in hit-outs in the league and first in contested possessions among ruckman, keeping Matthew Leuenberger out of the side.
What the fixture looks like: Good
The Lions have a decent draw, playing just one of last year's top eight (West Coast) twice and also playing fellow strugglers Carlton and Gold Coast on two occasions.
The club also has just five six-day breaks.
However, the first three weeks shapes as a brutal test for Brisbane. The Lions start their season against the Eagles in Perth, followed by matchups with North Melbourne and Geelong. Any hopes of a resurgence may well be dashed by round 4.
Best 22
B: Marco Paparone, Daniel Merrett, Daniel McStay
HB: Tom Cutler, Harris Andrews, Pearce Hanley
C: Lewis Taylor, Dayne Beams, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Dayne Zorko, Josh Walker, Allen Christensen
F: Josh Green, Josh Schache, Mitch Robinson
R: Stefan Martin, Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich
I: Darcy Gardiner, Tom Bell, Sam Mayes, Justin Clarke
