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BEGLEY ELEVATED

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007 at 11:17 am

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

BRISBANE Lions second- year Irish recruit Colm Begley has been elevated to club’s senior list, replacing retired former skipper and club champion Michael Voss.

Begley, 20, who hails from Stradbally in County Laios in Ireland, was elevated as result of impressive performances with the Lions during their 2007 NAB Cup campaign, playing as a medium- sized defender.

Begley will now be available for selection in the Lions season opener against Hawthorn at the Gabba on Saturday night.

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BROWN UNDER PRESSURE

Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 at 9:14 am

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

BRISBANE Lions star forward and co- captain Jonothan believes the loss of Daniel Bradshaw to a season ending knee injury, is set to increase his work load significantly and put added pressure on him to perform.

As reported in today’s Herald Sun, Brown admitted yesterday his job would now be a lot tougher without Bradshaw, who was the clubs leading goal kicker last season, but believes he is has the experience to handle the extra work load.

“I think I will have to work overtime this year, but hopefully Leigh will have a couple of other options up his sleeve,” Brown said.

“It probably does mean a greater workload but I’m an experienced enough campaigner now to get out there and get the job done.”

Brown will be looking to start the season off with a win, when the Brisbane Lions play Hawthorn in their season opener at the Gabba on Saturday night.

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BRADSHAW INJURES KNEE

Friday, March 23rd, 2007 at 10:58 pm

BRISBANE Lions forward Daniel Bradshaw is in danger of missing the 2007 Premiership season after suffering a knee injury last night.

Bradshaw suffered the injury early in the first quarter in a reserves pracitce match between the Lions and Morningside at coorparoo.

The Lions forward who was the clubs leading goal kicker last season will undergo an arthroscope early next week to determine whether he will need a full knee reconstruction.

FIVE TO LEAD LIONS

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

THE Brisbane Lions have named five co- captains for season 2007. Jonothan Brown, Simon Black, Luke Power, Chris Johnson and Nigel Lappin were announced co- captains today.

Coach Leigh Matthews said he was happy to go with a large leadership group, stating the way teams are led in the modern era has changed drastically.

“The way sport teams are being led is a changing environment in the modern era - why not go with this system? It seems like a better system,” Lions coach Leigh Matthews told the Brisbane Times.

Matthews also said that during the season there would not be a different captain every week, but rather the co- captains would share the on- and off -field duties and responsibilities equally throughout the season.

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HOOPER RETURNS HOME

Friday, February 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 am

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

THE Brisbane Lions have received some good news on the eve of the NAB Cup with the return of young gun Rhan Hooper, who suddenly left the club two months ago citing personal reasons for his departure.

Hooper and his manager Peter Whitehead met with Brisbane Lions Coach Leigh Matthews and football manager Graham Allan yesterday to discuss his future with the Lions. Hopper told the Club he had wished to continue his 11- game career with the Lions and resume training immediately.

Coach Leigh Matthews said the Club would honour Hooper’s request, but ruled out an immediate return to senior action.
“We owe it to our members and supporters to be transparent wherever possible,” Matthews said. “Rhan has said he wants to resume training and the Club has agreed to his request.

“However, he will require a couple of months of serious catch- up training before he can even be considered to play.”

The Lions have taken measures within the AFLPA guidelines to discipline Hooper with a $7000 fine for his two- month absence.

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LIONS PLAYERS QUESTIONED

Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at 10:24 am

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

THREE former Brisbane Lions players, including former premiership captain and Brownlow Medallist Michael Voss, as well as present Lions midfielder Simon Black were interviewed by Victoria Police yesterday regarding a Melbourne hotel brawl last September.

As reported in today’s Age, Police flew to Brisbane this week to interview 2002 Brownlow medallist Black, recently retired premiership captain Voss and former teammate Craig McRae as well as former Lion and present assistant coach Craig Lambert over a ugly incident that occured at St Kilda’s Prince of Wales Hotel that left a man unconscious.

“Two officers from the St Kilda police station have travelled to Brisbane to gather information from the current and former Lions employees about the matter that occurred back in September 2006,” a Lions spokesman said.

“The club understands that all concerned are giving the police full co-operation with their inquiries.

“The club is disappointed at having any employees involved in police investigations.

“No further comment can be made by the club at this stage as the matter is now in the hands of the police.”

There have been no charges laid over the incident at the present time.

from FootyHeads: Lions lose Mal

LIONS SET TO LOSE MAL

Thursday, November 30th, 2006 at 9:40 am

BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

BRISBANE Lion’s full- back Mal Michael began pre- season training in Brisbane this week, with his desired move to Essendon becoming more of a reality after approval from AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou.

As reported in today’s Australian, with the AFL’s investigation of the Michael saga, headed by the league’s football operations manager Adrian Anderson still in progress, Demetriou yesterday suggested he didn’t think the Bombers or Michael had done anything that would warrant either party being sanctioned.

“At the moment we don’t think they are (in breach of any rules) but there is an investigation going on and we will have to wait for the outcome of the investigation,” Demetriou said on the AFL’s website.

As it stands, the Lions are at long odds to receive any positive response from the AFL, and are set to lose one of the games finest backmen and receive nothing in return.