The acquisition of Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen, and Mitch Robinson over the off-season is already being touted by Brisbane Lions fans as one of the greatest recruiting coups in the Club’s recent history.

Beams, in particular, is approaching the prime of his career, having already won a premiership and a best and fairest award at Collingwood.

And at just 24, you can only assume that he is just getting started and that he’ll be a prominent part of the Club for at least the next 6-7 years.

Time will obviously tell how each of the Club’s new recruits will fare in Brisbane.

History has proven that there have been some resounding recruiting successes at the Lions, along with some that probably didn’t work out as planned.

Lions.com.au takes a closer look at some of the Club’s better off-season recruits from opposition sides over the journey (Fitzroy and Bears included).

BERNIE QUINLAN
Quinlan was already regarded as a star centre half-forward when he moved from Footscray to Fitzroy in 1978. He had previously booted 241 goals in 177 games with the Bulldogs, led the club’s goal-kicking in 1971, and had represented Victoria on multiple occasions. However, he ended up being a casualty of Footscray’s financial troubles and, despite being heavily linked with Collingwood, landed at Fitzroy. Quinlan hit his peak at Fitzroy, and went on to win the Brownlow Medal in 1981, boot 100-plus goals in consecutive seasons (1983-84), and earn the nickname ‘Superboot’. He played 189 goals and kicked 576 goals with the Roys, and was honoured as one of the inaugural inductees into the Brisbane Lions’ Hall of Fame.  

ROGER MERRETT
Merrett had enjoyed a successful stint at Essendon, where he played 148 games, kicked 149 goals, and played part in two Bombers premierships, before moving to Brisbane in 1988. The tough-as-nails entre half-forward made an immediate impact at the Bears, and went on to lead the fledgling club throughout a tough period. He was the Bears’ Captain for seven seasons from 1990-96, bettered only by Michael Voss (10 years) and Kevin Murray (eight) in Club history. He played a record 164 games and kicked a record 285 games for the Bears, and importantly proved a face for VFL/AFL in Queensland. After experiencing the tough times in his early time up north, Merrett eventually led the Club to the Finals in his final two seasons. He was inducted into the Lions Hall of Fame in 2014, and remains the only sole Bears player to be part of the exclusive group of absolute champions.

BRAD HARDIE
A highly sought after WAFL player with South Fremantle, Hardie was eventually lured to the VFL by Footscray at the end of 1984. He became just the second player (behind Haydn Bunton) to win the Brownlow Medal in his first season (1985), and was equally as productive the following season, when he won the Bulldogs’ best and fairest and earned All Australian honours. However, after a falling out with coach Mick Malthouse, Hardie left Footscray to join the Brisbane Bears’ inaugural side. While the Bears boasted a number of recruits from other clubs, Hardie proved one of the most successful, and went on to play 101 matches with the Club (9th most of any Bears player in history) and kick 192 goals (second most of any Bears player). He was the Bears’ leading goal-kicker in 1989 and 1990 and booted a Bears record nine goals in a single game against Carlton 1989. He was also the first player to reach 100 games with Brisbane.

JACK MORIARTY
Moriarty was initially recruited to Essendon, and led the Bombers goal-kicking in his debut VFL season in 1922, but fell out of favour the following season so crossed to Fitzroy in 1924. He went on to become one of the League’s greatest full forwards, representing Victoria in every year until he retired. He kicked seven goals in each of his first three games with Fitzroy, and finished his tenure with 626 goals – second only to Alastair Lynch on the Club’s all-time list. His best effort in a single game was 12 against North Melbourne in 1928. He also won Fitzroy’s best and fairest award in 1928 and spent one season (1933) as Club Captain. He was later named as one of the inaugural inductees into the Lions’ Hall of Fame. 

ALASTAIR LYNCH
Lynch might technically not be regarded as a recruit considering he has always represented some form of the Club, however his move to Brisbane at the end of 1994 was considered one of the biggest coups at the time. He had played 120 games with Fitzroy, and was fresh from leading the Lions’ goal-kicking and winning their best and fairest award when he defected North. After a promising first season with the Bears, he contracted Chronic Fatigue Sydnrome and there were fears he might never reach the same level again. But he proved that theory wrong, by going on to play a further 186 games in Brisbane (with the Bears and merged Lions), and booting 480 goals. He was a versatile key position player who probably played his best football late in his career up forward, and helped guide the Club to three consecutive premierships.

JOHN GASTEV
Gastev looked a likely type after playing 30 games and kicking 31 goals in two season with West Coast, but was surprisingly dumped by the Eagles at the end of 1988. Brisbane were more than happy to offer him a lifeline, and he paid them back in spades by winning the Club’s best and fairest in his first season, and then again in 1992. Although not a particularly stylish player, his courage was unquestioned and he soon became a favourite among the Queensland crowds. His six seasons in Brisbane ended up producing 113 games and 41 goals.

MAL MICHAEL
Born in Papua New Guinea, but raised in Queensland, Michael started his career with Collingwood in Victoria, where he played 61 games in four seasons after working his way up from the Rookie List. He had shown great promise as an emerging defender at Collingwood, so it was somewhat of a surprise to see the Magpies trade him back home to Brisbane at the end of 2000 in exchange for Jarrod Molloy. The timing couldn’t have been better for Michael, who was part of three premierships in each of his first three seasons at the Lions. He held down the full-back role in 140 games for the Lions, and was desperately unlucky not to have ever earned All Australian status.  

DAYNE ZORKO
Zorko might never have represented another AFL club before landing at the Lions, but he was technically a Gold Coast Suns player (under the pre-selection zoning rules) briefly before being traded to the Club in exchange for Pick No.34 in 2011. Zorko might have only played 59 games in three seasons at the Lions, but his impact in only a short period of time has been significant. With plenty of football ahead of him, there’s every chance the pint-sized Broadbeach product will eventually be regarded as one of the Lions’ greatest recruits, and potentially a huge regret for the Suns.

MICHAEL McLEAN
A talented wingman from Nightcliff in Darwin, McLean made a big impression in his early years at Footscray, but after struggling with an ankle injury, was eventually cut by the Bulldogs after 95 senior games. The Brisbane Bears selected him with the first pick at the March Draft of 1991 and he went on to become a valuable member of their side from 1991-97. He won the Bears’ best and fairest in 1991 and 1993 – one of only three players to win multiple awards – and played 88 games before hanging up the boots at the end of the first season of the merger in 1997. He was one of the quiet people behind the scenes in the fight against racism, and played just as valuable a role at the Club off the field.

MARTIN PIKE
Pike was twice a boom recruit for the Club, initially moving from Melbourne to Fitzroy at the end of 1994, and going on to be one of the Lions’ best players in their final two seasons before the merger. He made history by winning Fitzroy’s last ever best and fairest award, but was overlooked by Brisbane when it came to selecting players for the newly merged side. He instead went to North Melbourne where he played in one premiership, and narrowly missed another, before eventually finding his way to Brisbane via the 2000 National Draft. Pike ended up spending the bulk of his career in Brisbane (106 games) and, like Michael, proved a vital ingredient in the Club’s 3-Peat premiership success. A journeyman whose off-field antics often overshadowed his on-field prowess, Pike finished his career as one of the Club’s true greats.