WE LOVE a team on the rise and the Lions certainly gave us that last year.

Fortunately they don't look like falling away, with a list inundated with young stars on the verge of taking their game to the next level.

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Look for the likes of former first-round selections Jarrod Berry (MID, $591,000) (No.17) and Cameron Rayner (FWD, $334,000) (No.1) to provide plenty of value as both appear to be priced well below what they are set to produce in 2020 after notching up 57 and 46 games respectively.

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Lock them in

Lachie Neale (MID, $777,000) is a genuine star of the competition as we saw early in his debut season with the Lions, scoring an impressive 146, 135 and 139 between rounds two and four. He looked well and truly on track to smash his career-high average of 111 at that stage but slowed down to eventually average a second-best 105. Although he can be prone to the odd disappointing score with three in the 70s last season, the flipside of 162 in last year's Fantasy GF makes up for it. You want your premiums to be durable and that's where Lachie is worth his weight in gold, missing just two games in six years.

Track their pre-season

Alex Witherden (DEF, $555,000) is certainly one to watch after having a quiet season by his lofty standards. After bursting onto the scene with back-to-back averages of 88, Witho recorded a career-low 75 last year. Defenders with his kind of scoring punch are hard to find, as we saw in 2018 when he scored 120+ on four occasions and he has good durability, missing just two games in the past two years. Ironically, it is also injury that has assisted us with his bargain price, given his score of just three where he suffered a minor calf complaint which brings his average and price down.

Dual-position tempter

Brandon Starcevich (DEF/MID, $189,000) could be a prime candidate for our bench following a solid season in the NEAFL which included two hundreds from his 11 games. The first-round pick from 2017 (No.18) has battled injuries since making his was to the Den but is determined to repay the faith, most likely across half-back, as opposed to the midfield role he was more accustomed to as a junior.

Bargain basement

Deven Robertson (MID, $228,000) was somehow left hanging after the first round at the NAB AFL Draft, much to the excitement of the Lions who didn't hesitate to pick up the young gun with the 22nd selection. He is a contested beast who is ready to make an impact at the top level after winning the Larke Medal following averages of 30 possessions, seven tackles and four marks for 113 points while captaining WA at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

Draft sleeper

Hugh McCluggage (MID, $678,000) had an impressive breakout season, taking his average from 78 in 2018 to a career-high 91. Drafted at No.3 in 2016, the elite ball winner had a traditional third-year breakout and he showed plenty of potential to take his game to the next level with five hundreds, including two in the final two rounds of the season.

Forgotten warrior

Dayne Zorko (MID, $775,000) had a slow start to the year, managing just one triple-figure score in the first seven rounds. From that point however, he didn't look back, falling below 100 on just five occasions from that point while also reaching 130 or more on five occasions. He averaged 114 in 2017 and his post-bye form reflected that with an average of 112.

Buyer beware

Grant Birchall (DEF, $428,000) has hopefully put his torrid run of injuries behind him and can enjoy a fresh start at the Lions. In 2011 the star defender averaged a career-high 90 while he also looked great upon return for the Hawks last year with scores of 80 and 73. The concern is obviously injury and durability after playing just eight games in the past two seasons.  

 
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