theteamtobeat
Premiership Player
Brisbane Lions Trade List Targets 2013:
Dale Thomas
Bio: (Height: 185 cm, Weight: 86 kg, Age: 25)
Pace, high marking, freakish goals and the ability to do the impossible are his trademarks. Thomas had developed an elite fitness base that allowed him to spend most of his time on the wing where his flair and speed made him a key factor in the club's premiership campaign.
Reason:
Thomas should be the 1st target that the Brisbane Lions should attempt during free agency period. The Lions midfield needs a midfielder who can hurt the opposition team by foot and on the scoreboard. With Daniel Rich struggling to cope with a tag and 2013 being Blacky’s last year before retiring, the Lions engine room needs Thomas while the likes of Mayes, Polec, Beams and Karnezis develop their games. By getting Thomas during free agency allows the club to use their first round draft pick on the best available forward available. End of the day Thomas is a low risk, long term investment.
Lachlan Keeffe
Bio: (Height: 204 cm, Weight: 102 kg, Age: 23)
Plucked from a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely touched a Sherrin before walking in the door at Collingwood. Has a long reach, has great agility and has the capacity to play in key position posts at both ends of the ground as well as pinch hit in the ruck.
Reason:
Lachlan Keefe is a Queenslander from Gympie who can play key position posts at both ends. Keefe plays his best footy down back as that big strong gorilla defender for the Pies. Lions need a replacement and depth for when Merrett retires or gets injured. Would cost us a second rounder at best considering he got injured last year after being touted by experts as a replacement for the injured Nathan Brown at full back. Has a good scope for improvement and is in the right age bracket regards to our list.
Mark LeCras
Bio: (Height: 183 cm, Weight: 80 kg, Age: 27)
The highly skilled forward did not play a game in 2012 after sustaining a pre-season knee injury which required reconstruction. Should make a seamless return to the field in time for the 2013 season where his clean hands, clever ball use and goal accuracy will be put to good use.
Reason:
Unlikely to leave West Coast but, if he is available during free agency the Lions need to try to tempt him to come to Brisbane. LeCras would add another dimension to our forward line. The Lions can’t afford to be a one trick pony if they want to play finals. Would not cost anything via free agency.
Colin Sylvia
Bio: (Height: 186 cm, Weight: 86 kg, Age: 28)
What an enigma. Everyone knows Sylvia’s best performances are equal to any of the game’s elite. He kicked 25 goals for the season in 2011, finished 10th in the best and fairest and polled 10 votes in the Brownlow Medal. He has pace, strength, clean hands and can break a game open with his ability to do the unexpected. He also finished second at Melbourne for tackles, led the club in goal assists and was in the top five for possessions playing as a midfielder/forward.
Reason:
With Simon Black retiring during the end of this year, Lions engine room will lose 300 odd games worth of experience. If we fail to get Dale Thomas then we should attempt Sylvia to come and join his good mate Moloney at Brisbane. I see Sylvia being a midfielder who can push forward and impact the scoreboard. This is something the Lions midfielders lack in regards to impacting the score board on a regular basis. Would not cost anything via free agency.
Shaun Hampson
Bio: (Height: 201 cm, Weight: 104 kg, Age: 25)
This Queensland product from Mount Gravatt is an athletic big brute forward and ruckmen. Could be the perfect replacement for Brown. Can take a contested mark and be a player that the Lions can build a forward line around.
Reason:
Shaun can be a real target up forward and be that support pillar to assist Brown. Shaun would cost our second round pick and maybe a player like Cornelius or upgrade of picks. If there are limited quality forwards in the national draft then the club needs to take a punt.
Leroy Jetta
Bio: (Height: 180 cm, Weight: 78 kg, Age: 25)
As one of the most exciting small forwards in the game, there is no doubt that when Leroy Jetta is up and running it usually means the Bombers are firing. Jetta finished 2012 ranked 10th in total goal assists in the AFL and booted 27 goals of his own.
Reason:
Leroy has been dominating in the midfield for the Essendon Reserves. Good small forward that would add depth. Would cost a second or third round pick at best.
Dale Thomas
Bio: (Height: 185 cm, Weight: 86 kg, Age: 25)
Pace, high marking, freakish goals and the ability to do the impossible are his trademarks. Thomas had developed an elite fitness base that allowed him to spend most of his time on the wing where his flair and speed made him a key factor in the club's premiership campaign.
Reason:
Thomas should be the 1st target that the Brisbane Lions should attempt during free agency period. The Lions midfield needs a midfielder who can hurt the opposition team by foot and on the scoreboard. With Daniel Rich struggling to cope with a tag and 2013 being Blacky’s last year before retiring, the Lions engine room needs Thomas while the likes of Mayes, Polec, Beams and Karnezis develop their games. By getting Thomas during free agency allows the club to use their first round draft pick on the best available forward available. End of the day Thomas is a low risk, long term investment.
Lachlan Keeffe
Bio: (Height: 204 cm, Weight: 102 kg, Age: 23)
Plucked from a Queensland talent search, Keeffe had barely touched a Sherrin before walking in the door at Collingwood. Has a long reach, has great agility and has the capacity to play in key position posts at both ends of the ground as well as pinch hit in the ruck.
Reason:
Lachlan Keefe is a Queenslander from Gympie who can play key position posts at both ends. Keefe plays his best footy down back as that big strong gorilla defender for the Pies. Lions need a replacement and depth for when Merrett retires or gets injured. Would cost us a second rounder at best considering he got injured last year after being touted by experts as a replacement for the injured Nathan Brown at full back. Has a good scope for improvement and is in the right age bracket regards to our list.
Mark LeCras
Bio: (Height: 183 cm, Weight: 80 kg, Age: 27)
The highly skilled forward did not play a game in 2012 after sustaining a pre-season knee injury which required reconstruction. Should make a seamless return to the field in time for the 2013 season where his clean hands, clever ball use and goal accuracy will be put to good use.
Reason:
Unlikely to leave West Coast but, if he is available during free agency the Lions need to try to tempt him to come to Brisbane. LeCras would add another dimension to our forward line. The Lions can’t afford to be a one trick pony if they want to play finals. Would not cost anything via free agency.
Colin Sylvia
Bio: (Height: 186 cm, Weight: 86 kg, Age: 28)
What an enigma. Everyone knows Sylvia’s best performances are equal to any of the game’s elite. He kicked 25 goals for the season in 2011, finished 10th in the best and fairest and polled 10 votes in the Brownlow Medal. He has pace, strength, clean hands and can break a game open with his ability to do the unexpected. He also finished second at Melbourne for tackles, led the club in goal assists and was in the top five for possessions playing as a midfielder/forward.
Reason:
With Simon Black retiring during the end of this year, Lions engine room will lose 300 odd games worth of experience. If we fail to get Dale Thomas then we should attempt Sylvia to come and join his good mate Moloney at Brisbane. I see Sylvia being a midfielder who can push forward and impact the scoreboard. This is something the Lions midfielders lack in regards to impacting the score board on a regular basis. Would not cost anything via free agency.
Shaun Hampson
Bio: (Height: 201 cm, Weight: 104 kg, Age: 25)
This Queensland product from Mount Gravatt is an athletic big brute forward and ruckmen. Could be the perfect replacement for Brown. Can take a contested mark and be a player that the Lions can build a forward line around.
Reason:
Shaun can be a real target up forward and be that support pillar to assist Brown. Shaun would cost our second round pick and maybe a player like Cornelius or upgrade of picks. If there are limited quality forwards in the national draft then the club needs to take a punt.
Leroy Jetta
Bio: (Height: 180 cm, Weight: 78 kg, Age: 25)
As one of the most exciting small forwards in the game, there is no doubt that when Leroy Jetta is up and running it usually means the Bombers are firing. Jetta finished 2012 ranked 10th in total goal assists in the AFL and booted 27 goals of his own.
Reason:
Leroy has been dominating in the midfield for the Essendon Reserves. Good small forward that would add depth. Would cost a second or third round pick at best.
