Yeah, I know where your coming from, I'm not sure they had the Westpac center in those days or what their facilities were like, but the Lions were on the cutting edge in other ways back then. Hopefully Leigh, Leppa & a few $$$ might see us up there again.
All the best facilities in the world won't matter if you don't have the talent to match, the 02 team was all heart and carried by a few stars the 03 team was less grunt and too many soft young outside types Lonie, R.Shaw etc.
Brisbane 01-04 had the best spread of talent I've seen not a single line had a weakness better then the current Geelong team 07-11.
Paine should of got more games then he did had some decent blocks in the VFL,
- good kick at goal
- has strong hands generally
- isn't the best below his knee's
- is not a "quick" tall but leads hard most the day
- is slightly undersized in Height but so was Fev back in his day
- Not a Bradshaw type, isn't as athletic and can only see him (Paine) play as a fwd.
I think he can make it but is more the 2nd or 3rd banana then 1st.