The success of the Brisbane Lions' premiership defence rests with Chris Fagan's ability to maximise the considerable talent at his disposal.
The Lions find themselves in second position on the ladder at the completion of Round 17 with 11 wins โ one more than at the corresponding juncture last season โ but Fagan's charges are yet to replicate the breathtaking form that saw them lift the premiership cup last September.
The Lions' damaging best is still very, very good. They boast victories over fellow contenders Geelong, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, but have also stumbled, with a draw against a lowly North Melbourne, and an Easter Thursday horror show against runaway ladder-leaders Collingwood, also populating their record.
With a wealth of experienced players soon due to overcome injury concerns, or biding time in the club's seemingly finals-bound VFL team, the experienced Fagan faces the enviable task of fitting everyone in - a far cry from the unavailability crisis he navigated en route to Brisbane's first flag in 21 years, last season.
Keidean Coleman was primed to explode off half-back after a stellar 2023 finals series, that culminated in a second-place finish in the Gary Ayres Medal. Unfortunately for the Lions' Academy product, his breakout was stymied by an ACL tear in Opening Round last season, condemning him to watch from the stands as his teammates claimed the ultimate prize, having fallen agonisingly short the year before.
Coleman is due to return from another setback within the fortnight, after suffering a quad strain at training just days after making his long-awaited return against Melbourne in Round 10. The lethal ball user unquestionably changes the complexion of the Lions' backline; a backline already boasting the dash of Darcy Wilmot and Dayne Zorko.
Prized recruit Tom Doedee is yet to debut for the club, having signed a four-year deal following Brisbane's grand final appearance in 2023. After overcoming a third knee reconstruction in March, the intercepting defender strung together seven consecutive matches in the VFL, before another concussion halted a potential charge to a maiden appearance for the reigning premiers' senior side.
Doedee offers a ready-made replacement for Jack Payne, whose ruptured patellar tendon will see him miss the remainder of the campaign. Co-captain Harris Andrews shapes as a lone true key back, should Doedee fail to break into the side; a worry with contenders like Collingwood, and Doedee's former club, Adelaide, possessing multiple tall forwards.
Ryan Lester was pivotal in last year's flag tilt, but has seen the quality of his disposal regress this season, averaging his fewest disposals per clanger since 2019. The veteran turns 33 next month, and age has slowly started to weary him.
The continued development of Noah Answerth, the returns of Coleman and Brandon Starcevich, and the increased key position coverage Doedee offers, may see fan favourite Lester pushed out of the side.
Such is the depth of small/medium defenders, damaging commodity Conor McKenna has been re-tooled as a forward this season, biding his time in the reserves, alongside utility Bruce Reville, who is averaging 18 disposals in a variety of roles.
Versatile swingman Darcy Gardiner has also been deployed as a forward this season, in hopes of replicating the production of the retired Joe Daniher. The Queenscliff junior looms as injury coverage at either end of the ground, should an untimely injury befall a key position player on the run into September.
Another viable piece of key position coverage is former Hawthorn tall Brandon Ryan, who has represented the Lions at the top level just once since joining the club as part of the trade that sent Jack Gunston back to Waverley Park in late 2023.
Ryan has been deployed in every key position post in the Lions' VFL side across his 18 months at the Den, showcasing his versatility.
Premiership ruckman Darcy Fort has again been called upon, due to a raft of niggling injuries to popular incumbent Oscar McInerney, and has comported himself admirably at the level. From 10 games this season, Fort has posted a ruck contest win percentage of over 40%, winning 29.5 hitouts per game - solid numbers from a career back-up. This production has allowed Lions staff to manage McInerney's body conservatively, and may well mean Fort is a hard-luck story himself, this September.
Talented youngster Deven Robertson currently finds himself at the back of the Lions' midfield queue, such is the depth of prowess across that line.
Robertson averages 26 disposals from 10 appearances at VFL level this season, with mere months remaining on the two-year deal he signed at the end of 2023. Significant interest from clubs in his home state of Western Australia promises to come again, with the pull of consistent exposure to AFL football likely to factor heavily in his decision-making.
If there is a culture in the league that can withstand the uncomfortable conversations that come with such selection migraines, it is the one fostered by the grandfatherly Fagan. The embarrassment of riches he stewards is a credit to the Lions' list management team, and Fagan's ability to optimise it could very well steer Brisbane to back-to-back premierships.
