Brisbane veteran Daniel Rich is excited by the prospect of what Zac Bailey can deliver for the Lions this season.
The 23-year-old produced another quality season in 2022, kicking 37 goals and averaging 17 disposals as a small forward who spent time through the midfield.
Bailey has developed incrementally since his debut year of 2018 and now with 94 games and five seasons under his belt, is ready “to go to another level” according to teammate Rich.
“There’s a couple of guys that have been going well,” Rich said on SEN WA Breakfast.
“I think Zac Bailey is ready to go to another level. He’s shown that he’s a pretty classy player.
“I think he’s at that age where he’s ready to take the next step and go to another level.”
Bailey finished 10th in the club’s best and fairest last year, following on from his eighth-placed finish in 2021 when he booted 31 goals and averaged 18 disposals.
The experienced Rich also touched on some of the emerging Lions who he believes will help the club challenge again this year.
“Guys like Harry Sharp and Darcy Wilmot, young guys who are ready to go as well,” he added.
“It’s a pretty exciting time. We’ve got a lot of those kind of 18 to 25-year-olds who are pushing the club forward, so it’s good.”
Rich insists he is loving his time in the game as much as he ever has after enduring nine tough years prior to Brisbane’s finals return in 2019.
But at the ripe old age of 32 and having been a senior footballer since 2009, does he ever feel old with so many vibrant youngsters coming through?
“Some days I feel 20, some days I feel 40,” Rich laughed.
“But it’s the best job in the world.
“We’re at a point now where we get to roll into a whole variety of things - new facility, a pretty good list, we’re in a position where we can hopefully achieve what we want to achieve - especially being what I’ve been through.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, I’m pretty happy.”
The Lions will tune up for 2023 with practice matches against Sydney (February 24) and Geelong (March 2) before the season proper against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on March 18.