AFTER breaking through for its first premiership since the early-2000s threepeat, Brisbane will have the luxury of adding a pair of highly touted club-tied talents at this year’s AFL Draft. The Lions have adjusted their draft position to do so, expecting bids within the top five, and 25 selections on night one.

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2024 RECORD: 5th | 14-8-1 | 121.9% (Premiers)
2024 PICKS: 27, 34, 42, 43, 49, 58
FUTURE PICKS: BL R1, ESS R3, BL R4
LIKELY ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Levi Ashcroft (Father-Son), Sam Marshall (Academy)

FIRST PICK:

The Lions’ opening selection currently stands at pick 27, though that will quickly be adjusted once a bid for father-son nominee Levi Ashcroft arrives. While touted by some as the top prospect, Ashcroft is unlikely to have his name called out by Richmond or North Melbourne inside the first two picks.

The son of 318-game, three-time premiership player Marcus is a perennial winner himself, achieving a raft of team and individual accolades over the journey. This year alone, he helped Vic Metro, Sandringham Dragons, and Brighton Grammar School take out their respective titles.

Ashcroft, a prolific accumulator who hardly plays a bad game, holds similarities to elder brother Will for his sheer output. Will has famously gone on to become the youngest player in the AFL era to win a Norm Smith Medal, and Levi is primed to make a similarly fast start at the top level.

With Carlton (pick three) seemingly the club most likely to make a bid, the Lions would only have to cough up 1787 points of their 2475 total allotment. That scenario leaves Brisbane with 688 points leftover to then match for Academy graduate, Sam Marshall – expected later in the first round.

Of course, a bid further down the line from Adelaide or Melbourne is also possible, though seeing Ashcroft slide outside of the top five is extremely unlikely. A best case scenario would see a bid matched at pick three, before taking Marshall in the 20-25 range, and one more player late in the piece.

REMAINING CROP:

Ashcroft’s Sandringham Dragons premiership teammate Sam Marshall is Brisbane’s other priority at the draft. He famously dominated the Coates Talent League Grand Final this year to be named best afield, running the house down to amass 28 disposals, six inside 50s, and two goals.

He’s another prolific type whose speed-endurance running and consistency elevate him among the draft crop. Should the Ashcroft bid come at pick three, Brisbane is well placed to match and grab Marshall in the 20-25 range, with Sydney a likely suitor to keep the Queenslanders accountable.

With a 20 per cent discount applied in the first round, Brisbane would have enough points to match a bid at pick 22, for example. Shuffles in the order would likely see the Lions have just enough leftover to make at least one more selection in the National Draft, very late in the piece.

Given a pair of midfielders – inside and out – are certain inclusions, perhaps a tall talent is on Brisbane’s radar. Academy prospect Tom Gillett should be available as a mobile ruck-forward with VFL experience, along with powerful key forward Ty Gallop and over-age key position utility Billy Richardson.

Should the Lions look interstate, athletic ruck-forward Floyd Burmeister would be difficult to overlook. He hails from the happy GWV Rebels hunting ground and projects as a suitable replacement for the retiring Joe Daniher with his versatility, mobility, and high upside.

Other ruck-forward options late in the piece include dominant combine performer Gabriel Stumpf, and South Australians Charlie West and Jacob Molier. All three boast strong athletic profiles, while the former two will likely ply their trades as forwards with the option to pinch-hit in the ruck.

Given the profile of their list, perhaps Brisbane will opt against the developable types in favour of more readymade options. That puts over-age rucks with strong craft like Aiden Riddle and Lucas Impey in the frame, while a mature-ager like Southport’s Brayden Crossley has proven his worth in the VFL.

Brisbane’s final point of call will be to re-list delisted pair Darragh Joyce and Darcy Craven via the Rookie Draft on Friday November 22.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Where will bids for Ashcroft and Marshall land?
– Has Brisbane accrued enough draft points to avoid a deficit?
– Can Brisbane land a developable tall late in the piece?
– Will Brisbane pick up another of its nine Academy nominees?