2017 Brisbane Lions season

The Brisbane Lions' 2017 season was the club's 21st season in the Australian Football League (AFL) and 1st in AFL Women's (AFLW).

Brisbane Lions

2017 season
President	Bob Sharpless
Coach	Chris Fagan (AFL) Craig Starcevich (AFLW)
Captain(s)	Dayne Beams (AFL) Emma Zielke (AFLW)
Home ground	The Gabba (AFL) (Capacity: 42,000) South Pine Sports Complex (AFLW) (Capacity: 3,000)
Highest home attendance	21,749 vs Essendon (Round 2)
Lowest home attendance	11,455 vs Greater Western Sydney (Round 14)
Average home attendance	16,520
← 2016 2018 →

AFL

List changes

Main article: 2016 AFL draft

After suffering a heavy knock to the head at training on January 18, 2016, defender Justin Clarke was ruled out of football indefinitely, eventually retiring due to long-term health concerns.^[1] At the end of the 2016 season Trent West and Daniel Merrett both retired as well, Trent due to injury frustrations^[2] and Merrett due to wanting to spend more time with his family.^[3] The Lions also delisted five players: Hugh Beasley, Billy Evans, Josh McGuinness, Jackson Paine and Josh Watts.^[4]

During the trade period, Brisbane traded Irishman Pearce Hanley to rival club Gold Coast in a complicated three-way trade also involving Port Adelaide.^[5] Out of contract Collingwood player Jack Frost requested a trade to Brisbane after not managing to play an AFL match in 2016.^[6] He was traded to Brisbane along with Pick 76 in the 2016 national draft and Collilngwood's third round pick in the 2017 national draft in exchange for Brisbane's third and fourth round picks in the 2017 national draft.^[7] After the trade period Brisbane delisted forward Josh Green.^[8]

Retirements and delistings

Player	Date	Reason	Career games	Career goals	Ref.
Justin Clarke	31 March 2016	Retired, effective immediately	56	1	[1]
Trent West	15 August 2016	Retired, effective at end of season	70	28	[2]
Daniel Merrett	16 August 2016	Retired, effective at end of season	200	70	[3]
Hugh Beasley	5 September 2016	Delisted	6	0	[4]
Billy Evans	5 September 2016	Delisted	7	1	[4]
Josh McGuinness	5 September 2016	Delisted	0	0	[4]
Jackson Paine	5 September 2016	Delisted	16	11	[4]
Josh Watts	5 September 2016	Delisted	0	0	[4]
Josh Green	25 October 2016	Delisted	98	124	[8]
Jaden McGrath	9 November 2016	Retired	3	0	[9]

Trades

Date	Gained	From	Lost	Ref.
13 October 2016	Pick 3 Pick 16	Greater Western Sydney	Pick 2 Pick 31 Pick 51 Pick 60	[10]
18 October 2016	Pick 22	Gold Coast	Pearce Hanley	[5]
	2017 first round pick (Port Adelaide)	Port Adelaide	Pick 19
20 October 2016	Jack Frost Pick 76 2017 third round pick (Collingwood)	Collingwood	2017 third round pick (Brisbane) 2017 fourth round pick (Brisbane)	[7]

National draft

Round	Pick	Player	Recruited from	League	Ref.
1	3	Hugh McCluggage	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup	[11]
1	17	Jarrod Berry	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
2	23	Alex Witherden	Geelong Falcons	TAC Cup
2	24	Cedric Cox	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
4	55	Jacob Allison	Aspley	NEAFL
5	71	Corey Lyons	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
Rookie elevation		Archie Smith	Brisbane Lions	AFL	[12]

Rookie draft

Round	Pick	Player	Recruited from	League	Ref.
1	2	Jake Barrett	Greater Western Sydney	AFL
2	20	Mitch Hinge	Glenelg	SANFL
3	37	Oscar McInerney	Casey	VFL
Category B		Matt Eagles	North Ballarat	VFL
Category B		Blake Grewar	Redland	NEAFL

Squad

Brisbane Lions

Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Ben Keays  2 Ryan Harwood  3 Allen Christensen  4 Ryan Bastinac  5 Mitch Robinson  6 Hugh McCluggage  7 Tom Bell  8 Rohan Bewick  9 Dayne Beams (c) 10 Daniel Rich 12 Stefan Martin 13 Jarrod Berry 14 Josh Walker 15 Dayne Zorko (vc) 16 Jarrad Jansen 17 Claye Beams 18 Nick Robertson 19 Josh Clayton 20 Cedric Cox 21 Sam Skinner		22 Marco Paparone 23 Josh Schache 24 Liam Dawson 25 Daniel McStay 26 Tom Cutler 27 Darcy Gardiner 28 Lewis Taylor 29 Alex Witherden 30 Eric Hipwood 31 Harris Andrews 32 Sam Mayes 33 Michael Close 34 Jonathan Freeman 35 Ryan Lester 36 Rhys Mathieson 37 Jacob Allison 38 Tom Rockliff (vc) 39 Corey Lyons 44 Archie Smith 45 Jack Frost				11 Cian Hanley (B) 40 Matthew Hammelmann 41 Matt Eagles (B) 42 Mitch Hinge 43 Jake Barrett 46 Oscar McInerney 47 Reuben William 48 Blake Grewar (B)		Head coach Chris Fagan Assistant coaches Dale Tapping (midfield) Murray Davis (backline) Ben Hudson (forwards and ruck) Jed Adcock (assistant midfield) Danny Daly (football strategy) Scott Borlace (head of development) Paul Henriksen (development) Zane Littlejohn (development) Mitch Hahn (NEAFL coach) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Injury list Upgraded rookie(s) (B) Category B rookie Updated: 25 May 2017 Source(s): Senior list, Rookie list, Coaching staff

Results

Pre-season

See also: 2017 JLT Community Series

	2017 JLT Community Series
Sunday, 19 February (3:40 pm)	Gold Coast 0.11.15 (81)	def.	Brisbane Lions 1.7.6 (57)	Kombumerri Park, Merrimac (crowd: 2,174)	Report
Thursday, 2 March (7:40 pm)	Western Bulldogs 1.6.13 (58)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 0.10.6 (66)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 4,901)	Report
Saturday, 11 March (3:40 pm)	Adelaide 1.20.13 (142)	def.	Brisbane Lions 1.15.4 (103)	Hickinbotham Oval (crowd: 4,350)	Report

Premiership season

See also: 2017 AFL season

Brisbane started the season with a two-point win over Gold Coast in the first QClash of the season despite Gold Coast fighting back from a 47-point deficit,^[13] but they went on to lose their next nine matches, going into their bye round with a 1-9 record and on the bottom of the ladder.^[14] After the week off they played against top eight side Fremantle and won by 57 points to end their losing streak and take the Dockers out of the top eight.^[15] Their form improved somewhat for the rest of the season, winning a total of five games before the final round. Their final match was against North Melbourne with the loser to finish on the bottom of the ladder. When North Melbourne won the match by 51 points, Brisbane secured their first wooden spoon since 1998.^[16]

	Round 1 (QClash)
Saturday, 25 March (6:25 pm)	Gold Coast 14.12 (96)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 15.8 (98)	Metricon Stadium (crowd: 12,710)	Report

	Round 2
Saturday, 1 April (6:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions 12.12 (84)	def. by	Essendon 17.9 (111)	Gabba (crowd: 21,749)	Report

	Round 3
Sunday, 9 April (1:10 pm)	St Kilda 14.23 (107)	def.	Brisbane Lions 11.10 (76)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 23,097)	Report

	Round 4 (Easter)
Sunday, 16 April (4:40 pm)	Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67)	def. by	Richmond 17.17 (119)	Gabba (crowd: 21,669)	Report

	Round 5 (Anzac Round)
Saturday, 22 April (1:45 pm)	Western Bulldogs 17.20 (122)	def.	Brisbane Lions 14.6 (90)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 31,822)	Report

	Round 6
Saturday, 29 April (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67)	def. by	Port Adelaide 22.18 (150)	Gabba (crowd: 13,638)	Report

	Round 7
Sunday, 7 May (1:10 pm)	Sydney 20.15 (135)	def.	Brisbane Lions 12.9 (81)	SCG (crowd: 25,619)	Report

	Round 8
Saturday, 13 May (1:45 pm)	Hawthorn 17.11 (113)	def.	Brisbane Lions 11.9 (75)	University of Tasmania Stadium (crowd: 10,553)	Report

	Round 9
Saturday, 20 May (7:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions 7.18 (60)	def. by	Adelaide 21.14 (140)	Gabba (crowd: 13,802)	Report

	Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)
Sunday, 28 May (1:10 pm)	Collingwood 18.21 (129)	def.	Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84)	MCG (crowd: 32,750)	Report

	Round 11
	Bye Brisbane Lions

	Round 12
Saturday, 10 June (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 18.13 (121)	def.	Fremantle 9.10 (64)	Gabba (crowd: 11,742)	Report

	Round 13
Saturday, 17 June (4:05 pm)	Port Adelaide 18.13 (121)	def.	Brisbane Lions 12.9 (81)	Adelaide Oval (crowd: 31,772)	Report

	Round 14
Saturday, 24 June (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 12.14 (86)	def. by	Greater Western Sydney 22.14 (146)	Gabba (crowd: 11,455)	Report

	Round 15
Sunday, 2 July (1:10 pm)	Essendon 11.16 (82)	def. by	Brisbane Lions 13.12 (90)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,246)	Report

	Round 16
Saturday, 8 July (7:25 pm)	Brisbane Lions 11.12 (78)	def. by	Geelong 25.13 (163)	Gabba (crowd: 18,769)	Report

	Round 17
Sunday, 16 July (1:10 pm)	Richmond 16.16 (112)	def.	Brisbane Lions 12.9 (81)	Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,188)	Report

	Round 18
Sunday, 23 July (4:40 pm)	Brisbane Lions 17.10 (112)	def.	Carlton 11.16 (82)	Gabba (crowd: 18,847)	Report

	Round 19 (Multicultural Round)
Sunday, 30 July (2:40 pm)	West Coast 17.11 (113)	def.	Brisbane Lions 6.9 (45)	Domain Stadium (crowd: 32,652)	Report

	Round 20
Saturday, 5 August (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 13.11 (89)	def. by	Western Bulldogs 14.19 (103)	Gabba (crowd: 16,148)	Report

	Round 21 (QClash)
Saturday, 12 August (4:35 pm)	Brisbane Lions 22.10 (142)	def.	Gold Coast 12.12 (84)	Gabba (crowd: 17,772)	Report

	Round 22
Sunday, 20 August (1:10 pm)	Melbourne 16.8 (104)	def.	Brisbane Lions 14.7 (91)	MCG (crowd: 30,422)	Report

	Round 23
Saturday, 26 August (2:10 pm)	Brisbane Lions 11.13 (79)	def. by	North Melbourne 19.16 (130)	Gabba (crowd: 15,416)	Report

Ladder

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Adelaide	22	15	6	1	2415	1776	136.0	62	2017 finals
2	Geelong	22	15	6	1	2134	1818	117.4	62
3	Richmond (P)	22	15	7	0	1992	1684	118.3	60
4	Greater Western Sydney	22	14	6	2	2081	1812	114.8	60
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	8	0	2168	1671	129.7	56
6	Sydney	22	14	8	0	2093	1651	126.8	56
7	Essendon	22	12	10	0	2135	2004	106.5	48
8	West Coast	22	12	10	0	1964	1858	105.7	48
9	Melbourne	22	12	10	0	2035	1934	105.2	48
10	Western Bulldogs	22	11	11	0	1857	1913	97.1	44
11	St Kilda	22	11	11	0	1925	1986	96.9	44
12	Hawthorn	22	10	11	1	1864	2055	90.7	42
13	Collingwood	22	9	12	1	1944	1963	99.0	38
14	Fremantle	22	8	14	0	1607	2160	74.4	32
15	North Melbourne	22	6	16	0	1983	2264	87.6	24
16	Carlton	22	6	16	0	1594	2038	78.2	24
17	Gold Coast	22	6	16	0	1756	2311	76.0	24
18	Brisbane Lions	22	5	17	0	1877	2526	74.3	20

Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Attendances

2017 Brisbane Lions attendances

Club	Total	Games	Avg. per game	Home total	Home games	Home avg.
Brisbane Lions	481838	22	21902	181007	11	16455

AFL Women's

In May 2016, the club launched a bid to enter a team in the inaugural AFL Women's season in 2017.^[17] The Brisbane Lions were granted a license on 15 June 2016, becoming one of eight teams to compete in the league's first season.^[18] Former AFL Queensland employee Breeanna Brock was appointed to the position of Women’s CEO the following day.^[18]

Tayla Harris and Sabrina Frederick-Traub were the club's first signings, unveiled along with the league's other 14 marquee players on 27 July 2016.^[19] A further 23 senior players and two rookie players were added to the club's inaugural list in the league's drafting and signing period. Emma Zielke will captain the team for their inaugural season.^[20]

Former Collingwood and Brisbane Bears player and AFL Queensland coach Craig Starcevich was appointed the team's inaugural head coach in June 2016.^[21] The rest of the coaching team was announced on 8 November 2016 as David Lake as the midfield coach, Daniel Merrett as the backline coach and Brent Staker as the forward coach.^[22]

Existing club sponsor Hyundai, along with Epic Pharmacy, will sponsor the team in 2017.^[23]

The team plays its home games at the South Pine Sports Complex in Brendale.

2017 squad

Brisbane Lions (AFL Women's)

Senior list						Rookie list		Coaching staff
1 Emily Bates  2 Shaleise Law  3 Breanna Koenen  4 Sharni Webb  5 Sam Virgo  6 Megan Hunt  7 Tayla Harris  8 Emma Zielke (c)  9 Kate McCarthy 10 Kaitlyn Ashmore 11 Leah Kaslar 13 Kate Lutkins 14 Sabrina Frederick-Traub		15 Jade Ransfield 16 Tahlia Randall 17 Jamie Stanton 18 Ally Anderson 19 Selina Goodman 20 Shannon Campbell 21 Caitlin Collins 22 Nicole Hildebrand 23 Jess Wuetschner 24 Nikki Wallace 25 Brittany Gibson 27 Jordan Membrey				12 Kate Deegan 26 Delissa Kimmince		Head coach Craig Starcevich Assistant coaches David Lake (midfield) Daniel Merrett (backline) Brent Staker (forwards) Legend: (c) Captain(s) (vc) Vice-captain(s) Updated: 12 January 2017 Source(s): Players, Coaches

Results

2016 Exhibition games

See also: AFL Women's § Women's exhibition games (2013–2016)

	Game 1
Saturday, 16 April 2016	Brisbane 5.8 (38)	def.	Gold Coast 3.6 (24)	Gabba (crowd: 20,041 (D/H))	Match report

	Game 2
Sunday, 22 May 2016	Melbourne 14.7 (91)	def.	Brisbane 3.2 (20)	MCG (crowd: 26,892 (D/H))	Match report

2017 Pre-season

	Trial game
Saturday, 21 January (3:05 pm)	Brisbane 3.10 (28)	def.	Greater Western Sydney 2.0 (12)	Coorparoo (crowd: 1,000)	Report

2017 season

See also: 2017 AFL Women's season

	Round 1
Sunday, 5 February (5:05 pm)	Melbourne 1.4 (10)	def. by	Brisbane 4.1 (25)	Casey Fields (crowd: 6,500)	Report

	Round 2
Sunday, 12 February (4:05 pm)	Fremantle 3.5 (23)	def. by	Brisbane 5.6 (36)	Fremantle Oval (crowd: 10,000)	Report

	Round 3
Saturday, 18 February (3:35 pm)	Brisbane 4.3 (27)	def.	Collingwood 3.5 (23)	South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 5,500)	Report

	Round 4
Saturday, 25 February (3:35 pm)	Brisbane 6.7 (43)	def.	Greater Western Sydney 1.3 (9)	South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 3,500)	Report

	Round 5
Saturday, 4 March (6:40 pm)	Adelaide 4.6 (30)	def. by	Brisbane 5.3 (33)	Norwood Oval (crowd: 12,108)	Report

	Round 6
Saturday, 11 March (10:05 am)	Brisbane 2.11 (23)	def.	Western Bulldogs 2.4 (16)	South Pine Sports Complex (crowd: 4,200)	Report

	Round 7
Sunday, 19 March (3:35 pm)	Carlton 6.1 (37)	drew with	Brisbane 5.7 (37)	Ikon Park (crowd: 5,801)	Report

	2017 AFL Women's Grand Final
Saturday, 25 March (1:00 pm)	Brisbane	def. by	Adelaide	Metricon Stadium (crowd: 15,610)	Report
	1.0 (6) 2.1 (13) 3.3 (21) 4.5 (29)	Q1 Q2 Q3 Final	2.1 (13) 2.7 (19) 4.9 (33) 4.11 (35)	Best on ground: Erin Phillips Television broadcast: Seven Network National anthem: Megan Washington
Wuetschner 2, Frederick-Traub, Harris		Goals	Phillips 2, Gibson, Varnhagen
Bates, Frederick-Traub, Virgo, Kaslar, Hunt, Ashmore		Best	Phillips, Randall, Marinoff, Cramey, Gibson, Bevan
Koenen (ankle)		Injuries	Anderson (shoulder)

Ladder

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts	Qualification
1	Brisbane	7	6	0	1	224	148	151.4	26	Grand Final
2	Adelaide (P)	7	5	2	0	291	185	157.3	20
3	Melbourne	7	5	2	0	258	183	141.0	20
4	Carlton	7	3	3	1	261	232	112.5	14
5	Collingwood	7	3	4	0	224	262	85.5	12
6	Western Bulldogs	7	2	5	0	237	232	102.2	8
7	Fremantle	7	1	5	1	191	298	64.1	6
8	Greater Western Sydney	7	1	5	1	157	303	51.8	6

Source: AFL.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

NEAFL

Brisbane also fielded their reserves team in the North East Australian Football League for the 7th season. They won 15 of their 18 regular season games to finish 2nd on the ladder, then won finals against Sydney University and Sydney's reserves team to claim their 3rd premiership in the league.^[24]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	D	PF	PA	PP	Pts
1	Sydney	18	16	2	0	2350	1008	233.1	64
2	Brisbane	18	15	3	0	2138	1373	155.7	60
3	Sydney University	18	14	4	0	1948	1278	152.4	56
4	Gold Coast	18	10	8	0	1767	1528	115.6	40
5	NT Thunder	18	10	8	0	1632	1673	97.5	40
6	Aspley	18	8	10	0	1448	1805	80.2	32
7	Canberra	18	7	11	0	1158	1919	60.3	28
8	Redland	18	4	14	0	1402	1927	72.8	16
9	Southport	18	4	14	0	1257	1870	67.2	16
10	WSU Giants	18	2	16	0	1251	1970	63.5	8

Updated to match(es) played on 10 September 2017. Source: NEAFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.

See also

• Brisbane Lions
• 2017 AFL season
• AFL Women's
• 2017 AFL Women's season