Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney can hardly include his pleasure at his aspect’s midfield additions because the Lions plot to maneuver one step additional right into a Grand Final.
The 28-year-old says he has been blown away by the standard of the Lions’ on-ball brigade as he enters his seventh season within the AFL.
Visiting a major college in Brisbane’s south as a part of the Lion’s pre-season group camp on Tuesday, McInerney mentioned the gamers have been indebted to the membership’s recruiters for bringing in gamers of such excessive calibre.
“Pre-season has been really good – we’ve had the introduction of some really high quality talent and both the draft and recruiting, so that’s really exciting,” McInerney mentioned.
“It’s been a good two, three months of solid work running around and getting fit, getting stronger.”
Western Bulldogs recruit Josh Dunkley and no. 2 draft decide Will Ashcroft had already made an enormous impression on the Lions of their first pre-season, McInerney mentioned.
“One thing to credit to our club is we draft really high quality people … the people we are getting into the club have been amazing,” he mentioned.
“Young Will Ashcroft, he’s been amazing. Jaspa Fletcher, and Shadeau (rookie draft selection Shadeau Brain) … they’re 18 turning 28, they’re so mature but they’re so willing to learn and so willing to buy into our culture and our structure – and it’s only going to help them into really strong and fruitful careers.
“These guys just add so much value to our club … it’s genuinely so exciting.”
Ashcroft had starred in his VFL season with Brisbane final yr and McInerney was glad the membership had “kept him under the radar”, he mentioned.
“He was really impressive then and his three months here have been nothing short of that again,” he mentioned.
“You’ve got to remember he’s only an 18-year-old kid, but it’s so exciting to keep supporting him and being a part of his journey.”
Ashcroft, who has been working with the midfield and ahead teams and kicked 3.2 in a Brisbane intraclub match on Friday, and Dunkley had contributed to wealth of choices for the Lions’ midfield rotation once they play away to Port Adelaide in Round 1.
“It’s genuinely exciting just to get to line meetings when we have our midfield group meetings – to see those numbers that can go through there and start to work on those connections, it’s such a great opportunity,” McInerney mentioned.
He mentioned the Lions, who’ve misplaced two semi-finals and two preliminary finals of their final 4 seasons, knew what it will take to advance additional this season.
“A great lesson we’ve had over the last six years is every year, every team improves.
“If you sit on your hands, you’re going to get left behind.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
