The Brisbane Lions can be genuine contenders in 2020 if Eric Hipwood can take his game to the next level.
That is the opinion of Nick Dal Santo who feels Brisbane’s hopes hinge on the talents of the key forward who is entering his fifth AFL season.
Following an 11-goal (from 10 games) debut campaign in 2016, 22-year-old Hipwood has hovered between the 30-40 goal mark over the past three seasons, culminating in a return of 35 majors in 2019 which coincided with the Lions’ first finals appearance in a decade.
It could be seen that Hipwood held ground in his development last year but he now must raise his standards if the Lions are to repeat their run to September, according to Dal Santo.
“I know they were fantastic during the year and they jumped out of the blocks and held on, then ultimately lost those two finals,” Dal Santo said on SEN Summer Breakfast.
“But I still believe they need a big, central focal point in their forward line that’s mobile, that’s tall enough, who is uncanny and can do some X-factor stuff.
“That’s Eric Hipwood. They’ve got him, they’ve got that particular person.
“I just want to see more than 35 goals.
“Some of those games were bags of goals against teams they were running over anyway. I’m not saying he’s filling his boots, you get those as well. I just want to see more from him for longer.
“Do they need 50 from him to take the next step?”
Breakfast co-host Jack Heverin concurs with Dal Santo but feels Hipwood would be better served with some assistance inside Brisbane’s forward 50.
“That to me could potentially be the difference between the Brisbane Lions being a finalist and winning the whole thing,” Heverin opined.
“Do they need support (for him)? Does he need a second tall to be working with him?
“Daniel McStay is there and he’s solid, but does he (Hipwood) need something greater than that?
“Does he need more support from McStay or do they need a Connor Ballenden to emerge really quickly?”
To which Dal Santo responded: “It would all help but the situation they are in right now, they don’t have all those options.
“So it’s up to ‘Hippy’.”
In 75 games for the Lions, Hipwood has kicked 113 goals with a season-best return of 37 in 2018.
Catch up on Tuesday's edition of SEN Summer Breakfast below: