After not participating in the draft's first round, the Lions selected Geelong Falcons ball-winner Callum Bartlett (Pick No.27 overall), Tasmanian midfielder Ryan Harwood (Pick No.47 overall), North Adelaide wingman Jesse O'Brien (Pick No.73 overall), home-grown key position prospect Bryce Retzlaff (Pick No.84 overall) and 25 year-old former St Kilda defender Matt Maguire (Pick No.91).
The Club also used its final selection (Pick No.95) to officially promote second-year International Rookie Pearce Hanley to the senior list.
Lions National Recruiting Manager Graeme Hadley believes the Club was successful in finding a range of quality midfield prospects with their first three selections.
"We were delighted to add three different types of quality midfielders to our list," Hadley said.
"Callum Bartlett missed most of this season with an ACL injury but he was an outstanding 17 year-old, young Ryan Harwood is a tough-as-nails inside midfielder and Jesse O'Brien is a lean fleet-of-foot outside midfielder."
The Club also added some height in the form of 195cm Queenslander Bryce Retzlaff.
"Bryce is an athletic key position prospect who filled both the centre half-forward and centre half-back positions at times with Labrador this season," Hadley said.
"He has good kicking skills and is highly competitive. We see his future in a key position role."
The Lions' final selection was used on former St Kilda defender Matt Maguire who will now resume his 99-game AFL career in Brisbane.
Senior Coach Michael Voss was thrilled that the Club was able to recruit the experienced 25 year-old with its final selection at the draft meeting.
"We are really excited to have Matt on board," Voss said. "He is getting another opportunity at an AFL career so we know that he will be desperate and hungry."
"He will certainly add a lot of good characteristics and experience to our group."
DRAFTEE PROFILES
Name: Callum Bartlett
Pick No: 27
Height: 179cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 19/6/1991
Recruited From: Geelong Falcons (VIC)
Callum is a quick and agile goal-kicking midfielder who has an excellent ball-winning ability. His disposal by foot is a feature of his game. He missed the 2009 TAC Cup season following a knee reconstruction.
Name: Ryan Harwood
Pick No: 47
Height: 183cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 8/7/1991
Recruited From: Glenorchy (TAS)
Ryan is an impressive inside midfielder who represented Tasmania strongly at the NAB AFL U18 Championships averaging 21 disposals and six clearances per game, earning All-Australian honours. He is also an AIS-AFL Academy Graduate.
Name: Jesse O'Brien
Pick No: 73
Height: 184cm
Weight: 71kg
DOB: 13/2/1991
Recruited From: North Adelaide (SA)
Jesse is a dashing midfielder/wingman who has the ability to break a game open with his run. He is a smart player with good awareness through traffic, has quick hands and sound endurance. He represented South Australia in the 2009 U18 Championships.
Name: Bryce Retzlaff
Pick No: 84
Height: 195cm
Weight: 86kg
DOB: 29/6/1991
Recruited From: Labrador (QLD)
Bryce is an 18 year-old Queenslander who endured an injury interrupted year. He played the last six senior games for Labrador in the local QAFL where he played between centre half-back and centre half-forward - showing plenty of promise in both positions.
Name: Matt Maguire
Pick No: 91
Height: 192cm
Weight: 100kg
DOB: 30/5/1984
Recruited From: St Kilda
The former St Kilda key defender recovered from foot stress fractures in 2009 but was unable to find his way back into the Saints' strong senior side. He has played a total of 99 matches and kicked 19 goals in his eight-year AFL career and is now headed to Brisbane to help bolster the Lions' defence.
