# 2023 Brisbane Lions season

The 2023 Brisbane Lions season was the club's 27th season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL). The Lions were captained by Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale. This was the first year of their co-captaincy. Chris Fagan completed his seventh season as the senior coach of the Brisbane Lions.

## Overview

| Captain | Coach | Home ground | W-L-D | Ladder | Finals | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker |
| Harris Andrews & Lachie Neale | Chris Fagan | The Gabba | 17-6-0 | 2nd | Runners-Up | Harris Andrews | Joe Daniher (61) |

## Squad

Playing List & Statistics :
| Player | No. | Games | Goals | Behinds | Kicks | Handballs | Disposals | Tackles | Marks | Hitouts |
| Kai Lohmann | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Devon Robertson | 2 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 71 | 73 | 144 | 42 | 34 | 0 |
| Joe Daniher | 3 | 26 | 61 | 37 | 316 | 72 | 388 | 20 | 154 | 48 |
| Callum Ah Chee | 4 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 81 | 45 | 126 | 27 | 42 | 0 |
| Josh Dunkley | 5 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 261 | 321 | 582 | 165 | 120 | 0 |
| Hugh McCluggage | 6 | 25 | 13 | 13 | 327 | 231 | 558 | 91 | 117 | 0 |
| Jarrod Berry | 7 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 268 | 172 | 440 | 64 | 119 | 0 |
| Will Ashcroft | 8 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 200 | 198 | 398 | 63 | 61 | 0 |
| Lachie Neale (c) | 9 | 26 | 3 | 11 | 311 | 383 | 694 | 106 | 109 | 0 |
| Daniel Rich | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 113 | 24 | 137 | 2 | 38 | 0 |
| Lincoln McCarthy | 11 | 24 | 28 | 11 | 188 | 93 | 281 | 72 | 62 | 0 |
| Nakia Cockatoo | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blake Coleman | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Madden | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dayne Zorko | 15 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 272 | 106 | 378 | 71 | 118 | 0 |
| Cam Rayner | 16 | 26 | 23 | 17 | 215 | 153 | 368 | 58 | 102 | 0 |
| Jarryd Lyons | 17 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 46 | 93 | 24 | 12 | 0 |
| Keidean Coleman | 18 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 306 | 86 | 392 | 62 | 120 | 0 |
| Jack Gunston | 19 | 17 | 22 | 14 | 134 | 36 | 170 | 16 | 88 | 0 |
| Jaxon Prior | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 7 | 43 | 11 | 14 | 0 |
| Tom Fullarton | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harry Sharp | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 6 | 40 | 5 | 13 | 0 |
| Charlie Cameron | 23 | 26 | 59 | 27 | 196 | 61 | 257 | 76 | 88 | 0 |
| Marcus Adams | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Smith | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conor McKenna | 26 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 358 | 81 | 439 | 38 | 95 | 0 |
| Darcy Gardiner | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 12 | 34 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| Jaspa Fletcher | 28 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 102 | 63 | 165 | 17 | 65 | 0 |
| James Tunstill | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Eric Hipwood | 30 | 26 | 41 | 29 | 200 | 57 | 257 | 49 | 140 | 5 |
| Harris Andrews (c) | 31 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 281 | 88 | 369 | 31 | 203 | 0 |
| Darcy Fort | 32 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 22 | 59 | 11 | 12 | 90 |
| Zac Baily | 33 | 24 | 29 | 19 | 254 | 148 | 402 | 72 | 76 | 0 |
| Shadeau Brain | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Lester | 35 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 197 | 71 | 268 | 38 | 119 | 0 |
| Rhys Mathieson | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Starcevich | 37 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 233 | 72 | 305 | 40 | 116 | 0 |
| Carter Michael | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Payne | 40 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 48 | 225 | 20 | 124 | 0 |
| Darragh Joyce | 41 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 6 | 43 | 2 | 25 | 0 |
| Noah Answorth | 43 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
| Darcy Wilmot | 44 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 297 | 109 | 406 | 43 | 107 | 0 |
| Kalin Lane | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oscar McInerney | 46 | 25 | 9 | 7 | 173 | 137 | 310 | 72 | 44 | 0 |
| Darryl McDowell-White | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Squad changes
#### In

| No. | Name | Position | Previous Club | via |
| 8 | Will Ashcroft | Midfielder | Sandringham Dragons | AFL national draft, first round (pick No. 2) |
| 34 | Shadeau Brain | Forward | Noosa | Category B rookie selections |
| 5 | Josh Dunkley | Midfielder | Western Bulldogs | trade |
| 28 | Jaspa Fletcher | Midfielder | Sherwood Magpies | AFL national draft, first round (pick No. 12) |
| 19 | Jack Gunston | Forward | Hawthorn | trade |
| 50 | Darryl McDowell-White | Forward | Brisbane VFL | Category B rookie selections |
| 26 | Conor McKenna | Defender | Essendon | pre-season supplemental selection period |

#### Out

| No. | Name | Position | New Club | via |
| 13 | Tom Berry | Forward | Gold Coast | trade |
| 42 | Mitch Cox | Forward | Williamstown Seagulls | delisted |
| 26 | Connor McFadyen | Forward | Sturt | delisted |
| 25 | Daniel McStay | Forward | Collingwood | free agent |
| 5 | Mitch Robinson | Midfielder | - | retired |
| 8 | Ely Smith | Midfielder | South Adelaide | delisted |
| 41 | Deividas Uosis | Defender | - | delisted |

## Season
### Pre-season matches

Brisbane's 2023 practice match and AAMI Community Series fixtures :
| Date and local time | Opponent | Scores | Scores | Scores | Venue | Ref |
| Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Ref |
| Friday, 24 February (4:20 pm) | Sydney | 8.6.54 | 15.9.99 | Won by 45 points | Tramway Oval [A] | |
| Thursday, 2 March (12:00 pm) | Geelong | 13.13.91 | 6.9.45 | Won by 46 points | Brighton Home Arena [H] | |

### Home & Away Season

| Round | Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Attendance | Ladder position | Ref |
| Ref |||
| 1 | Saturday, 18 March (4:05 pm) | Port Adelaide | 18.18.126 | 11.6.72 | Lost by 54 points | Adelaide Oval [A] | 34,255 | 15th | |
| 2 | Friday, 24 March (7:55 pm) | Melbourne | 14.9.93 | 13.4.82 | Won by 11 points | The Gabba [H] | 30,047 | 12th | |
| 3 | Thursday, 30 March (7:20 pm) | Western Bulldogs | 10.7.67 | 7.11.53 | Lost by 14 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 23,665 | 14th | |
| 4 | Thursday, 6 April (7:35 pm) | Collingwood | 18.8.116 | 11.17.83 | Won by 33 points | The Gabba [H] | 33,565 | 8th | |
| 5 | Saturday, 15 April (12:40 pm) | North Melbourne | 22.20.152 | 12.5.77 | Won by 75 points | Adelaide Hills [H] | 7,329 | 8th | |
| 6 | Saturday, 22 April (4:35 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | 13.9.87 | 16.12.108 | Won by 21 points | Manuka Oval [A] | 10,461 | 6th | |
| 7 | Saturday, 29 April (1:45 pm) | Fremantle | 17.13.115 | 10.7.67 | Won by 48 points | The Gabba [H] | 25,528 | 4th | |
| 8 | Friday, 5 May (7:50 pm) | Carlton | 11.8.74 | 15.10.100 | Won by 26 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 45,548 | 4th | |
| 9 | Saturday, 13 May (7:25 pm) | Essendon | 12.15.87 | 6.9.45 | Won by 42 points | The Gabba [H] | 31,898 | 3rd | |
| 10 | Saturday, 20 May (7:25 pm) | Gold Coast | 16.11.107 | 9.10.64 | Won by 43 points | The Gabba [H] | 23,286 | 2nd | |
| 11 | Sunday, 28 May (6:55 pm) | Adelaide | 14.11.95 | 10.18.78 | Lost by 17 points | Adelaide Oval [A] | 33,188 | 3rd | |
| 12 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | 4th | Bye |
| 13 | Saturday, 10 June (1:45 pm) | Hawthorn | 15.8.98 | 11.7.73 | Lost by 25 points | MCG [A] | 35,869 | 4th | |
| 14 | Friday, 16 June (7:50 pm) | Sydney | 13.19.97 | 12.9.81 | Won by 16 points | The Gabba [H] | 28,561 | 4th | |
| 15 | Friday, 23 June (7:50 pm) | St Kilda | 8.8.56 | 12.12.84 | Won by 28 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 28,985 | 3rd | |
| 16 | Thursday, 29 June (7:20 pm) | Richmond | 20.14.134 | 7.11.53 | Won by 81 points | The Gabba [H] | 30,022 | 3rd | |
| 17 | Saturday, 8 July (1:45 pm) | West Coast | 16.20.116 | 5.5.35 | won by 81 points | The Gabba [H] | 24,843 | 3rd | |
| 18 | Friday, 14 July (7:50 pm) | Melbourne | 16.9.105 | 16.8.104 | Lost by 1 point | MCG [A] | 38,030 | 3rd | |
| 19 | Saturday, 22 July (4:35 pm) | Geelong | 9.10.64 | 7.1153 | Won by 11 points | The Gabba [H] | 32,586 | 3rd | |
| 20 | Saturday, 29 July (4:35 pm) | Gold Coast | 15.6.96 | 7.3.55 | Lost by 41 points | Heritage Bank Stadium [A] | 14,097 | 3rd | |
| 21 | Sunday, 6 August (2:40 pm) | Fremantle | 11.8.74 | 11.11.77 | Won by 3 points | Optus Stadium [A] | 37,845 | 3rd | |
| 22 | Saturday, 12 August (4:35 pm) | Adelaide | 15.9.99 | 13.15.93 | Won by 6 points | The Gabba [H] | 30,107 | 2nd | |
| 23 | Friday, 18 August (7:50 pm) | Collingwood | 15.10.100 | 19.10.124 | Won by 18 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 38,350 | 2nd | |
| 24 | Saturday, 26 August (4:35 pm) | St Kilda | 9.18.72 | 9.6.60 | Won by 12 points | The Gabba [H] | 31,689 | 2nd | |

### Finals Series

| Round | Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Attendance |
| Ref |||
| 2nd Qualifying final | Saturday, 9 September (7:25 pm) | Port Adelaide | 19.9.123 | 11.9.75 | Won by 48 points | The Gabba [H] | 36,020 |
| 2nd Preliminary final | Saturday, 23 September (5:15 pm) | Carlton | 11.13.79 | 9.9.63 | Won by 16 points | The Gabba [H] | 36,012 |
| Grand Final | Saturday, 30 September (2:30 pm) | Collingwood | 12.18.90 | 13.8.86 | Lost by 4 points | MCG [A] | 100,024 |

### Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Collingwood (P) | 23 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 2142 | 1687 | 127.0 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2180 | 1771 | 123.1 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Port Adelaide | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2149 | 1906 | 112.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 4 | Melbourne | 23 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2079 | 1660 | 125.2 | 64 | Finals series |
| 5 | Carlton | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1922 | 1697 | 113.3 | 54 | Finals series |
| 6 | St Kilda | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1775 | 1647 | 107.8 | 52 | Finals series |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2018 | 1885 | 107.1 | 52 | Finals series |
| 8 | Sydney | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 2050 | 1863 | 110.0 | 50 | Finals series |
| 9 | Western Bulldogs | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1919 | 1766 | 108.7 | 48 | |
| 10 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 2193 | 1877 | 116.8 | 44 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1838 | 2050 | 89.7 | 44 | |
| 12 | Geelong | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 2088 | 1855 | 112.6 | 42 | |
| 13 | Richmond | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 1856 | 1983 | 93.6 | 42 | |
| 14 | Fremantle | 23 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 1835 | 1898 | 96.7 | 40 | |
| 15 | Gold Coast | 23 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 1839 | 2006 | 91.7 | 36 | |
| 16 | Hawthorn | 23 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 1686 | 2101 | 80.2 | 28 | |
| 17 | North Melbourne | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1657 | 2318 | 71.5 | 12 | |
| 18 | West Coast | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1418 | 2674 | 53.0 | 12 | |

### Awards & Milestones
#### AFL Awards

* Brownlow Medal - Lachie Neale
* 2023 22under22 selection – Will Ashcroft
* 2023 All-Australian team – Charlie Cameron

#### AFL Awards Nominations

* 2023 22under22 selection 44-man squad – Will Ashcroft, Darcy Wilmot
* 2023 All-Australian team 44-man squad – Harris Andrews, Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher, Lachie Neale

#### Milestones

* Round 1 - Will Ashcroft (AFL Debut)
* Round 1 - Jack Gunston (Brisbane Debut)
* Round 1 - Conor McKenna (Brisbane Debut)
* Round 1 - Josh Dunkley (Brisbane Debut)
* Round 2 - Darragh Joyce (Brisbane Debut)
* Round 2 - Jarrod Berry (50 Goals)
* Round 6 - Zac Bailey (100 Games)
* Round 7 - Eric Hipwood (200 Goals)
* Round 8 - Charlie Cameron (100 Consecutive Games)
* Round 8 - Zac Bailey (100 Goals)
* Round 9 - Joe Daniher (300 Goals)
* Round 14 - Cam Rayner (100 Games)
* Round 14 - Jaspa Fletcher (AFL Debut)
* Round 16 - Lachie Neale (100 Brisbane Games)
* Round 16 - Charlie Cameron (150 Brisbane Goals)
* Round 22 - Hugh McCluggage (150 Games)
* Round 22 - Conor McKenna (100 Games)
* Round 23 - Cam Rayner (100 Goals)
* Round 24 - Eric Hipwood (150 Games)
* Second Qualifying Final - Charlie Cameron (200 Games)