The Gold Coast SUNS can expect the toughest test of their NAB Challenge campaign on Friday night after the Brisbane Lions named a full strength squad for the final dress rehearsal ahead of the premiership season. Only Pearce Hanley, who won’t feature in the first-half of the season due to hip surgery, is absent.
Former Geelong premiership midfielder Allen Christensen will represent the Lions for the first time following his decision to elope from regional Victoria during last October’s trade period due to personal issues.
The exciting on-baller managed only eight appearances for the Cats last season due to a back injury which required surgery in February and then again in September. His signing was a massive recruiting coup for the Lions who will be hoping to see Christensen add another element to their midfield.
On top of that signing, Brisbane lured Collingwood premiership star Dayne Beams to the Gabba after he signalled his desire to relocate at season’s end for family reasons. Beams has shone brightly in the opening two games of the NAB Challenge series, gathering 25 possessions and seven clearances against St Kilda and 19 touches and four inside 50’s against Sydney.
Whilst not of the same class as Christensen and Beams, former Carlton hard nut Mitch Robinson joins the Lions onball brigade that also contains All-Australian Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich and budding star James Aish.
READ: The Gold Coast SUNS add experience for final NAB Challenge game
Rich and Redden, along with ruckman Matthew Leuenberger all continue their progression back from long-term injuries. Rich has looked sharp in glimpses in his two return games of the pre-season competition, whilst Leuenberger has got two valuable hit outs into his injury prone body.
In the absence of Leuenberger last season, former Melbourne player Stefan Martin emerged as one of the game’s most damaging all-round ruckman. After coming into Justin Leppitsch’s side in round 12 against the Western Bulldogs, Martin played the final 12 matches of the season, averaging 23 possessions, six marks, four clearances and 28 hitouts per outing. The athletic big man is under an injury cloud heading into Friday night following a knock to his patella tendon at training last week, but is expected to play.
Ahead of their second season at Brisbane, highly rated pair Aish and Lewis Taylor look to be humming along nicely at this time of year. Taylor eclipsed his teammate in their debut season, winning the Rising Star award. But, Aish has started impressively this year by averaging 20 disposals and 4 clearances a game in the opening two NAB Challenge fixtures.
NAB Challenge 3 Brisbane Lions Squad:
3. Allen Christensen
4. James Aish
5. Mitch Robinson
6. Josh Green
7. Jed Adcock
8. Rohan Bewick
9. Dayne Beams
10. Daniel Rich
12. Stefan Martin
14. Brent Staker
15. Dayne Zorko
17. Claye Beams
21. Daniel Merrett
22. Marco Paparone
23. Matthew Leuenberger
24. Liam Dawson
25. Daniel McStay
26. Tom Cutler
27. Darcy Gardiner
28. Lewis Taylor
29. Jaden McGrath
30. Jack Redden
32. Sam Mayes
33. Michael Close
35. Ryan Lester
38. Tom Rockliff
42. Justin Clarke
