Introduction Local Queenslander Bryce Retzlaff is a highly competitve and mobile key position prospect who arrived at the Lions via the 2009 AFL National Draft. He possesses a great work rate, attitude and has good skills below his knees for a big man. Background • Retzlaff was a promising junior footballer with his local club in Mudgeeraba before shifting his focus to cricket in 2008. • He returned to football the following year with the Labrador and featured in a number of reserves matches before he was eventually elevated to the Tigers' senior side for the final six matches of the QAFL season. • He impressed during his time in the QAFL floating between key position posts at centre half-back and centre half-forward. • Although he missed the AFL's State Screening through injury, Retzlaff proved a surprise of the 2009 AFL National Draft when he was chosen by the Lions with their fourth selection (pick number 84 overall). • He became the first ever player from local Queensland club Labrador to be drafted onto a senior AFL list.
2010 • After struggling with injury throughout the pre-season, Retzlaff had a solid debut 2010 for the Lions’ Reserves, with the young key position player displaying consistent form through the season. • He particularly impressed in the Reserves’ loss in round 5 to Retzlaff’s former Club, Labrador, with four goals to his name. • He was a solid contributor throughout the remainder of the season, regularly named among the team’s best, collecting 20 marks in round 14, and a three-goal haul in round 15. • Retzlaff was rewarded for his strong form with the Lions Reserves with selection in the QAFL Team of the Year at centre half-forward. He was one of only two Lions Reserves players to achieve this feat along with fellow Labrador product Claye Beams. • He also got his first taste of senior AFL when he lined up for the Lions against Melbourne in China as part of the Shanghai Showdown. Retzlaff impressed up forward in his first hitout with the Club. 2011 • An eye-catching start to the NEAFL season with the Lions Reserves saw Retzlaff in line for a senior promotion - particularly given the hole in the Lions' forward line left by injured skipper Jonathan Brown. • He was eventually selected to make his senior AFL debut in Round 7 against the Gold Coast SUNS - collecting 12 possessions and taking three marks in a promising first-up appearance. • He went on to play in nine of the Lions' next 10 matches, largely working in tandem up forward with Brown who had returned from injury in Round 9. • Retzlaff's best performance was in Round 10 at AAMI Stadium, when he collected 12 disposals, took seven marks and kicked two goals in the team's surprise win over Adelaide. • After being used for a couple of weeks as a substitute, Retzlaff was eventually sent back to the Reserves where he continued his development in the NEAFL, before being recalled to the senior team for the final two matches of the season. • His second AFL season produced 11 senior games and six goals - and proved a valuable stepping stone in his AFL journey.
The number 37 guernsey hasn’t been particularly prevalent throughout the Club’s 115-year history.Friday, May 06, 2011 - 10:28AM
#37 Bryce RetzlaffMonday, March 15, 2010 - 8:57AM
Key position player Bryce Retzlaff went from shattered to elated in a matter of minutes on draft nightTuesday, December 01, 2009 - 2:07PM
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