A dozen Lions delisted in big Gabba shake up

BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss has continued to shake up his side's list by cutting a whopping 12 players from the club's books.

The Lions have delisted senior players Joel Macdonald, Scott Harding, Rhan Hooper, Jason Roe, Scott Clouston, Kieran King and Matthew Tyler, and rookies Daniel Dzufer, Pat Garner, Daniel Murray, Adam Spackman and Joel Tippett.

Having traded in West Coast's Brent Staker, Swan Amon Buchanan, Tiger Andrew Raines, Saint Xavier Clarke and Carlton's Brendan Fevola during last week's AFL exchange period, the Lions needed to make at least five changes to their senior list before the first list lodgement on October 31.

However, Voss cut much deeper than that by adding a further seven senior players and five rookies to the outgoing list that already featured the traded Bradd Dalziell and Lachie Henderson, and the retired Tim Notting.

Macdonald, 25, was offered as trade bait last week but the Lions failed to strike a deal for the Victorian.

Harding, 23, has played 48 games for the Lions since 2006 and played 15 this year.

Hooper, 21, was also put on the trade table last week after the club was reported to have lost patience with his off-field antics.

In January, Hooper was fined $40,000 and suspended for 28 days after persistently breaching his playing contract. 

He walked out on the club for three weeks in the pre-season of 2007 owing to personal problems and a lack of motivation. He was later fined $7000 by the leadership group.

Roe, 25, played just eight games this year, which left him with an even 50 matches in Lions' colours.

Young key position player Clouston played just two matches in total, while King, Tyler, Dzufer, Garner, Murray, Spackman and Tippett all leave the club having not played a senior game.

After parting with four draft picks (Nos. 12, 28, 44, 60) in the trade period, the Lions will enter the November 26 NAB AFL Draft with selections 27, 47, 76, 92, 108, 124 and 140.
 
In other Lions' list news, international Irish rookie Pearce Hanley will be upgraded to the senior list, while vice-captain Luke Power will become the club's third current veteran-listed player.