After a strong 2022 campaign, the Lions fizzled out in a disappointing preliminary final defeat against the Cats. With a deep list that's in its prime, they would have been hoping for so much more, leading to a big off-season of recruiting.
They were a powerhouse for much of 2022 and made a statement ending the Demons' season at the MCG in the semi-final, showing that they were a contender. While they won 15 games and plenty went right on-field for the Lions, things started to go awry when Marcus Adams went down, costing them a crucial piece of their defensive foundation.
Injuries, form and a perceived lack of big bodies at the contest looked to leave them exposed when push came to shove, which the Cats capitalised on. Their much-vaunted midfield was smashed in the contested game in their most crucial match of the season.
Season 2023 has already started off in interesting fashion for the Lions, being smashed by Port Adelaide and found wanting against the Western Bulldogs. Yet they've also managed to beat the two teams that most consider being the benchmark in the competition in Melbourne and Collingwood.
At the moment, they are a bit Jekyll and Hyde, searching for consistency while clearly in their premiership window, having gone about solidifying their talented list by recruiting Josh Dunkley, Conor McKenna, Jack Gunston and landing gun father-son recruit Will Ashcroft.
While there are still minor concerns with bedding in all their new assets, at their best, they are a force to be reckoned with and absolutely a premiership chance once things click.
Yet they would still happily take another player or two to match the kind of depth that the likes of Collingwood now possess.
Here are some options we think might be of interest to the Lions if they were able to 'steal' a rival player.
3. Ben McKay
Losing Marcus Adams to concussion has made life tough in defence for the Lions, who are now without a key defender to take the really big bodies in the AFL. The likes of Tom Hawkins have found the going much easier against Brisbane without Adams, making a big-bodied defender a key item on the wish list. Ben McKay is exactly what they would be after.
His size, ability and age make him the ideal candidate for a Lions team looking to challenge for a flag this year and for the next several. While he has had his injury troubles in his career to date, the Lions have a good track record with players who've had a similar history. Lincoln McCarthy and Joe Daniher arrived having had their own injury issues yet both appear to have put their woes behind them.
Having endured a frustrating start to season 2023 due to another injury, McKay's statistics are not as prevalent as they could be. However, it's worth noting that in season 2022 he ranked fifth for total contested marks per game and in 2021 he ranked 10th for total one percenters. With a clean bill of health, the potential to become a dominant key defender is there.
A fully fit and primeย McKay would slot seamlessly into the Lions' backline, relieving the pressure on Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner and creating stability against clubs like Geelong and Richmond, who boast tall and powerful forward lines. Though the Brisbane backline is not necessarily weak, there's no doubting that McKay would instantly improve it, providing a strong foundation on which to build a challenge for a premiership.
