At just 21 years of age and now in his fourth year at the Brisbane Lions, Daniel McStay will notch 50 games against Fremantle on Saturday.

Rewind 12 months and McStay was playing in the Lions’ loss to the Dockers at the Gabba – one of the Club’s worst performances of the 2016 season.

Reflecting on the time between then and now, McStay says that the Lions have changed significantly as a group.

“There is a lot of different personnel. I think we’re in a different position list wise. We’ve got a lot less injuries than what we had in that game,” said McStay.

“We’ve been playing good footy, but just playing it in patches. I think if we can find that continuity in our game and play four quarters of football that we know we can play, I think we’ll definitely be able to match it with them.

“It’s a great opportunity coming off the bye –  all the boys are really fresh. The energy around the Club is really good at the moment.”

Right now McStay’s best football is in defence and the promising 195cm defender could be the Club’s next 200-game centre half-back.

Reflecting ahead of his 50th match, McStay said it was the development he has gained from some Lions stalwarts that has been most beneficial:

“My first game after beating North Melbourne, Round 15, 2014 – walking off the ground with big Jonathan Brown, that was a highlight for me.

“Playing in the backline, I always had good conversations with Dan Merrett and it’s good to have him around the Club in a coaching capacity. 

“Even though it’s only part time it’s still good to have conversations with him. I really looked up to the way he played and his ferociousness. I still get along really well with him and have learned a lot from him in my time here.”