2025 AFL Team Previews

Brisbane Lions AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 14 Feb 2025

Jeremy Darke 14 Feb 2025

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Brisbane Lions predicted to finish second in the 2025 AFL season.
Brisbane's depth after their Premiership their biggest strength.
Can the Lions win back-to-back premierships?

Brisbane Lions predicted to finish second in the 2025 AFL season. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brisbane Lions AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Brisbane Lions AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement
Where the Brisbane Lions finish in 2025: 2
Projected Win total: 15
Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale
What’s to like
What’s NOT to like
Brisbane Lions Offseason Player Movement
Brisbane Lions Predicted Round 1 Squad

Where the Brisbane Lions finish in 2025: 2

Halfway through the season with their backline filled with development players and reserves the Lions were ruled out, but they showed us winning the whole thing and becoming the 2024 Premiers. What a ride for Chris Hagan and his men turning a 2-5 record into 14-8-1 and winning the final from fifth.

If the Lions can avoid a premiership hangover then we should see them improve on their record from last season and fight for the minor premiership in 2025.

Projected Win total: 15

Fifteen wins this season should be the minimum for the Lions who have an absolute plethora of talent at their disposal in 2025. With Tom Doedee, Keidean Coleman and Lincoln McCarthy to return from their knee injuries after watching the Lions Premiership run from the sidelines, Chris Fagan is going to have some hard selection choices if his best-18 stay fit this season.

The only real question the Lions have heading into the 2025 season is who is to replace stalwart Joe Daniher in the forward line.

Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Lachie Neale

With the Lions expected to contend for another premiership, the 2020 and 2023 Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale will be looking to claim his third and join the list of legends Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy), Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bob Skilton (South Melbourne) and Ian Stewart (St Kilda and Richmond) who have all won the award three times.

Neale led the Lions to the premiership as their captain in 2024 still hitting over his career averages in most statistical columns. Arguably the most integral part of the Lions run to play in their third consecutive grand final, will be the performance of Lachie Neale.

What’s to like

Depth. Brisbane overcame a hurdle of multiple season-ending injuries in 2024 and still won the Premiership. That is real scary.

The Lions are stacked and they are back heavy with arguably the best center to back nine in the competition. Even with their developing players holding the fort, the Lions ranked fourth in the AFL in opposition goals per game, giving up the thor-least amount of shots.

What’s NOT to like

Brisbane had an accuracy on goal of just 47% last season ranked 14th in the AFL, while ranking third in scoring shots per inside 50 and second in inside 50s per game. That spells out a lot of missed opportunities for the Lions who struggled to kick majors in relation to chances created.

To make this more of a concern, veteran Joe Daniher has now retired and the Lions will need an untested forward like Henry Smith to now be the target and attempt to fill the hole.

Brisbane Lions Offseason Player Movement

Levi Ashcroft (No.5 draft pick, father-son), Sam Day (Pre-Season Draft), Ty Gallop (No. 42 draft pick, Academy), Sam Marshall (No.25 draft pick, Academy)

OUT

Joe Daniher (retired), Kalin Lane (delisted), Jarryd Lyons (retired), James Madden (delisted), Carter Michael (delisted), Jaxon Prior (delisted), Harry Sharp (trade, Melbourne)