AFL 2016: Brisbane Edition | Thebigtip

CAPTAIN

Daniel Rich

With Jonathon Brown hitting 36 years of age in 2016, a new captain will be on the look out. Jed Adcock captained the side throughout 2011 with Brown sitting on the sidelines although with Adcock being 33 years old, the Lions will be looking for a more youthful captain to take them through a exciting era in the next 10 years. Daniel captained the under 18's for WA and is a leader at the Lions after just 3 years in the system. With Nathan van Berlo already captain of the Crows, Rich would possibly be the 2nd Sacred Heart College student to be captaining an AFL side. No matter who the Lions give the role to, they have big shoes to fill with two of the greatest captains of all time Voss and Brown being the last captains of the Brisbane Lions.

STARS

Jack Redden

Brisbane have a nack for having a star studded midfield. Aka, Voss and Black all winning Brownlows in the equal most succesful team in millenum and their is no reason why this is not a carbon copy. Redden, Rockliff and Rich will be household names in 2016 if they aren't already. Jack Redden finished 3rd in the Lions Best and Fairest this season in only his third season. Redden's lack of consistency at the age of 21 will only improve as he hits a succesful prime in the come years.

Tom Rockliff

Redden's achievment of 3rd in only his 3rd year was only out done by Rockliff's 2011 Best and Fairest win in only his 3rd year. This boy has a morgage on a Brownlow in the coming years, his ability to be a prolific ball winner in a youthful team is nothing short of amazing and you can only imagine how good he will be with Leuen and Long tapping it down his throat for the next 10 years.

Matthew Leuenberger

2012 will be the year for Leuenberger. Without Mitch Clark he will get the best ruckman at the 2011 draft Billy Longer as his apprentice. With modern day football throwing up the chance to have 2 ruckman on the ball having the cream of the crop will be a vital part of the Lions vision in the next 5 years. Leuenberger is agile enough to collect the ball like a Cox and athletic enough to win taps like Natinui. He is the key to a 2016 premiership for the mighty Lions.

OUTS

Jonathan Brown

Sadly, this is were the good news stops for Lions fans. 1 of 2 of Brisbane's greatest player will depart in the next 5 years. JB will go down as one of the greatest players to play with the oval shaped ball, but with injuries and a faster paced game starting to set in Brownie will have to hand up the AFL's Man's Man mantle. With still a good 3 years in him i think, but surely their cant be a 36 year old Brown throwing himself at every contest like its his last and be ready to offer it next week. All good things must come to an end and we are all privilegded to have seen a once in a lifetime player happen before our eyes every week.

Simon Black

With Brisbane's midfield in safe hands with the LongRedRock(et) and the RedRockBerger for the next generation, Blackie may have to deliever his swan song after 300 games and 3 premierships with the Lions. Although a 4th is only years away it will be a test to see the Brownlow Medal Maestro find enough wind in his sail. Im sure he will be happy to know that when he leaves the legacy of the best midfield mantle will not be leaving the Lions Den.

PREDICTION FOR 2016

Genuine Top 4

Premiership Contenders if they can find a replacement for Brown