It’s taken three seasons but Daniel Rich is delivering as the exciting Brisbane Lions midfielder that his breakout debut AFL season promised.
Rich emphatically won the 2009 Rising Star award when the Lions last made the finals before his 2010 and 2011 form fell victim to his club’s dramatic fall from grace.
But Brisbane are back up and running thanks to a vibrant past month and will go into Sunday’s Gabba clash with Melbourne in the rare position of overwhelming favourites.
The Perth product with the booming left boot has played a big midfield role in the Lions turnaround along with fellow future stars Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden, while a host of other youngsters have also emerged.
But Rich, the most experienced of the Lions’ youth brigade with 74 AFL games, maintains he’s not completely satisfied with his development.
“I’ve made a few inroads over the off-season and coming into this season, I suppose that’s a positive sign, but I’ve still got a fair bit to go to where I want to be yet,” the 22-year-old said.
“You can’t put it down to me making big inroads, it’s all the other boys playing well and makes it easier on each other.
“You see it in any good team; if all the midfield’s playing well then it picks up everyone’s game.”
It’s been 13 months since Brisbane scored consecutive wins and coach Michael Voss has underlined the importance of his side backing up their 58-point smashing of the Western Bulldogs against Melbourne.
The Demons have a tough assignment to overcome the loss of their two most dangerous players with ex-Lion Mitch Clark (foot) and Aaron Davey (hamstring) both sidelined.
They were also thumped in round one by the Lions at the MCG but Rich says that result is now irrelevant as Melbourne are also searching for their third win from four matches.
“Obviously they didn’t start the way they wanted to start the season,” he said.
“But they’ve changed their game plan and their game style a little bit and they’ve been super competitive over the last six weeks so it’s going to be a tough game.”
The visitors have recalled concussion victim Rohan Bail and big man Stef Martin while overlooking speedster Sam Blease.
It will be the 50th match for Demons co-captain Jack Trengove and midfielder Jordie McKenzie while Lions star Simon Black will play his 306th to join Alister Lynch in third spot on the club’s all-time list behind Kevin Murray (333) and Marcus Ashcroft (318).