Cameron Rayner during the round 22 AFL match between St Kilda and Brisbane on August 12, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)
After several years of being top four and going so close, the Lions have gone hard via the trade period and the draft to take the next step as genuine contenders. Season 2023 looms as crunch time for this outfit who undoubtedly have the quality to feature on the last Saturday in September.
The arrivals of Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft, Jack Gunston and Conor McKenna have sent a ripple through the competition and put everyone on notice. The Lions mean business and are determined to make the most of a deep list that is in its prime.
Last season they again went deep into September, however, were unceremoniously dumped from the finals by a rampant Geelong. That follows their straight-sets exit in season 2021 and another preliminary final loss to the Cats in 2020.
Though they finished sixth on the ladder, the Lions won 15 games and were one win off a top-four spot given their healthy percentage. They didn't need the double chance in the end, knocking Richmond out narrowly before stunning reigning premiers Melbourne at the MCG.
See Also: Five burning questions: Melbourne Demons
Though the season ended on a sour note, the Lions have plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into 2023. They are in their prime, boast one of the best on-ball brigades in the competition and have recruited elite talent all over the park.
Brisbane are going to be one of the great teams to watch in 2023, however, with so much potential also comes a heavy weight of expectation. Here are the burning questions ahead of this season for the Lions.
The Lions were aggressive in their pursuit of quality players to add to their list, crucially acquiring Josh Dunkley to add more of a presence at the contest and class at stoppages. He looms as the missing piece for Brisbane, who have been crying out for a bull with class in the midfield.
They have finally had some luck when it comes to the father-son rule and like Collingwood the year before with Nick Daicos, it couldn't have turned out any better for the Lions. Despite finishing in the top four, they managed to land the best young player at the draft in Will Ashcroft.
By all reports, Ashcroft and Dunkley have slotted in seamlessly and added crucial depth to the Lions' midfield. The cherry on top was landing former Hawthorn sharpshooter Jack Gunston and former Essendon speedster Conor McKenna to compliment their already bulging list.
All are going to make the Lions a better team, though McKenna may find it tough going breaking into their backline. But will the class and power of Dunkley, the premiership-winning forward craft of Gunston and the youthful fearlessness of Ashcroft be enough to return Brisbane to the Grand Final? It shapes as a fascinating watch in 2023.
Quite simply, no, they don't. They have the talent, the coach, the game plan and the experience now to make the Grand Final. The past few years have seen them fall short for a number of reasons, but eventually, there can be no more excuses. The time has come for the Lions to prove themselves a genuine premiership contender.
They have every reason now to deliver and none to prevent them from doing so. But with this comes an added layer of pressure, not that this Lions outfit will care about that. As the great Billie Jean King said; "pressure is a privilege", and this group has the potential for greatness.
If they can shut out the external noise and focus on their own internal expectations, while executing under pressure, there is every reason to believe that this team can make the Grand Final.
Watching how they go about it in season 2023 will be one of the great sub-plots of the year.
Despite featuring heavily in finals over recent seasons, the Lions have somewhat flattered to deceive. They have shown glimpses they could be a premiership side, only to let themselves down the very next week.
This could not have been more stark than last year's preliminary final against Geelong, where they were smashed all over the park, suffering a 71-point humbling. Having beaten the reigning premiers Melbourne the week before, the nature of the loss to the Cats no doubt drove their quest for greater depth and talent, and will surely have been burning in their minds during the long pre-season sessions in the Queensland heat.
The Lions need to prove they are the real deal when it comes to finals. The best teams can have a bad finals game here or there but they generally show a level of consistency that sees them go deep into September frequently. Brisbane are yet to prove that they can produce to this level reliably, making their potential finals appearance in 2023 must-watch footy.
While not the most glamorous of players, Adams has proven to have been a dependable rock at the heart of the Brisbane backline when fully fit.
The Perth native played 18 matches for the Lions last season, sadly going down with a heavy concussion in August.
It's no coincidence that without him, the Lions struggled to contain Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch in week one of the finals, both big men finishing with three goals in a very tight contest. Likewise, the Cats ran rampant against them in the preliminary final, with Tom Hawkins booting four goals.
Without that stay-at-home tall in Adams, who averages 2.5 intercept marks a game (which ranks as above average), the Lions struggled to contain teams with two key forwards. His importance to their defensive structure is clear and his loss for what is being reported to be the entire 2023 season will hurt.
While they still have Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner, with Jack Payne and Darragh Joyce as backups, it's an area of the ground where depth is critical and losing a key pillar like Adams is likely to be felt sooner rather than later. Just how much it will impact their season remains to be seen but it's not an ideal start to a crucial year.
As a number one draft pick, Cam Rayner was already going to have lofty expectations placed upon him.
He is a fine player, showing in bursts just why the Lions took him first in the draft. The one criticism of him is that he doesn't yet do it consistently and for long enough in games.
He absolutely has the talent, yet the doubts are beginning to creep in on whether he can become a full-time midfield beast in the mould of Dustin Martin or Christian Petracca. That's not to say he won't get there, these types of players can take time, yet for Rayner, it is starting to run out.
With a new role across half-back being mooted, the potential for him to take his game to another level is certainly there. We've seen the likes of Jack Sinclair and Nick Daicos excel across half-back, it's a position that suits quick, efficient kicks who like to give and go.
Returning from an ACL rupture in 2021, Rayner had a solid 2022, averaging a goal, 2.8 inside 50's, 2.4 clearances and 2.3 tackles per game. While solid, those numbers are unspectacular for a player of his calibre and a move across half-back may not just build his confidence, but allow him the chance to play a more prominent role.
He will be one to watch in 2023.