Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault are a team full of young players and with youth comes inconsistency, so the Lions could find themselves as high as sixth or as low as last.
Either way, it’s hard to see them finding a way into the final five.
The young players HBL maintain are arguably the best in the competition, but without a good basis of more seasoned players it will be hard for the young team to find much success.
Players like Logan Hughes and Ty Armitage impressed in 2013 and will be given more opportunities in 2014.
The ruck position is a serious worry for HBL.
Losing Scott Delmenico is a massive blow and has left young players who would rather spend time down forward to contest the ruck.
David Newman is set to miss most of the season due to travel which leaves a huge lack of experience on the HBL roster.
John Klumpp will be welcomed back to the side after a knee injury sidelined him for 2013 and Bryce Thornton will also help boost their ranks but it’s hard to see HBL getting off the bottom of the ladder this year.
Goal scoring this season could become a real headache for the Lions.
Brayden Prentice played at full forward last year but the youngster doesn’t seem quite ready for the assignment of taking on the opposition’s best backmen each week yet.
The Lions will want to cause a few upsets and aren’t a club likely to stay down for too long, but 2014 certainly isn’t looking like a great year for HBL.
