Brisbane could make up to four selections at this week's AFL Draft, where the club may find their replacement for retired star Joe Daniher.
A large part of the Lions' draft plans are already well known, with the club placing a focus on accumulating the needed draft points to match expected first-round bids for father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft and Academy talent Sam Marshall.
Ashcroft could fetch a bid in the opening five selections, while Marshall looms as a chance to have his name called in the top 20. A situation that sees both players taken in that range would mean the Lions are likely to need more draft points on top of their current tally of 2,475.
After a series of trades across this year and 2023, the Lions hold Picks 27, 34, 42, 43, 49, and 58, with a majority of those selections likely absorbed in a matched bid for Ashcroft should he be taken second overall.
Speaking onย Gettable,ย Lions recruiter Steve Conole stated the club is expecting to make more trades come Wednesday night to best prepare for bids on both Ashcroft and Marshall.
"I would've thought so," Conole said.
"Dom (Ambrogio, Brisbane list manager) is a points wizard. There'll be a bit more going on I'm sure, we'll be trading on top of our trades (laughs).
"It's very similar to (2022), I think we're really well equipt."
Following the selection of Marshall, the Lions are set to make at least one more selection in the National Draft, with that pick likely coming in the final stages of Thursday night's proceedings.
The Queensland club might look into moving for a fourth selection if the right player is available to them, with Conole confirming the Lions will recruit up to four prospects via the national intake.
"It'll be one or two (more picks)," he said.
"We'll be a bit governed by who's on the board and where we sort of see them. One (extra selection) you would think, and two potentially.
"We'll just wait and see."
Brisbane are yet to decide on whether they'll look to add some experience or further depth to their front-half ranks after the departure of Daniher, with the club having premiership pair Eric Hipwood and Logan Morris likely to lead from the front in 2025.
Henry Smith and Brandon Ryan firm as fringe options to be considered for larger roles next year, but Conole isn't ruling out the chance of adding more firepower via this year's draft.
"We'll go to the draft and see who's there," Conole said when asked about a potential Daniher replacement.
"We drafted Henry Smith a few years ago, who really started to establish himself in our senior team in the back end of the year, then he had the shoulder injury.
"We'll just see who's there, you can't just manufacture them. [Daniher] is going to be hard to replace. You never know, there's been a history of [good selections late into the draft]."
The 2024 AFL Draft will take place across Wednesday and Thursday night, with the Pre-Season Draft and Rookie Draft to be held on Friday.
