The Lions lost Billy Longer, Sam Docherty and Elliot Yeo at the end of their second season in last year's exchange period, as well as youngsters Jared Polec and Patrick Karnezis, who finished their third years.

Partly as a response to the exodus, the Lions put forward several options for consideration in a submission to this year's mid-term review of the AFL's collective bargaining agreement.

 

The Lions also suggested the living interstate and parental allowance (multiple flights for the player and their family) available to first-year players when they move interstate should be available to players in their second year.

 

Under current rules, each player selected in the NAB AFL Draft is automatically contracted to their club for two years, although clubs often try to secure them for three.

 

The Lions have made no secret that they learned several lessons last year as a result of losing so many youngsters, and have bolstered the resources devoted to player development and wellbeing. 

The club has increased the support afforded to its recent draft picks (they took six selections inside pick No.34 at this year's draft) and is making a concerted effort to ensure they settle well.

 

It also has a new coach, Justin Leppitsch, leading several new faces in the football department.

 

The Lions argue the four clubs operating in NSW and Queensland need support because of the number of players on their list living away from their home state. More than three quarters of the players on the lists of the Giants, Lions, Suns and Swans come from outside the state the club resides.

Six of the 40 players on the Lions' primary list (15 per cent) were raised in Queensland. In comparison, for example, 28 of North Melbourne's 40 primary listed players (70 per cent) come from Victoria while 27 of the Eagles' 40 primary listed players are from Western Australia.

 

"(The go-home factor) is an ongoing challenge for those four clubs, so you need to put some certainty and some protection for those clubs, as well as the players. There are suggestions we have put forward in our submission to the CBA [review]," Brisbane Lions CEO Malcolm Holmes told AFL.com.au.

 

Four of the top 13 picks from the 2011 NAB AFL Draft have already changed clubs, with the Giants trading Dom Tyson and Taylor Adams to Melbourne and Collingwood respectively last year. 

 

In recent seasons Josh Caddy (Suns to Geelong), Jamie Cripps (St Kilda to the Eagles) and Jack Gunston (Adelaide to Hawthorn) returned to their home state after two years at the club that used an early draft picks to select them.

Several recruiters are concerned that players can just nominate rival teams after two years, which makes it difficult for clubs to receive fair exchange in a trade, as was the case this year for the Lions.

 

While the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney have been able to use the cost of living allowance, the Lions have not had any support mechanism to address player retention or recruitment since their golden run of three consecutive premierships.

 

Holmes said it was also worth considering a game development bonus that sat outside the cap for players at clubs outside the traditional football states. This would recognise the work players in those states do to grow and promote the game.

 

After suffering a tough 2013, Holmes said his club had made significant recent advances in a range of areas. He cited the new facility at Springfield and the Brisbane Lions' Academy as positive indicators of the club's direction.

 

Holmes also said the Lions are appreciative of the AFL's support and the development of the Suns was healthy for the game in Queensland.

 

However AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou acknowledged to AFL.com.au on Wednesday that the Lions had been left to fend for themselves in recent times as the League helped the Suns become established.

 

"It's forced them [the Lions] to compete more fiercely and, in fairness to them we've probably put a lot of resources and our time into the Suns to get them up and running," Demetriou said. "[It] probably means we took our eye off the Brisbane Lions so we are prepared to address that and remedy that."