While several talented players have moved on, with each successive season the culture of the club and consistency of their on-field performances has grown, something which speedy forward/midfielder Kate McCarthy is quick to highlight.

“Our team’s changed a lot, we’ve lost a lot of players which was probably going to happen with expansion...we’ve also got a lot of new young girls and the experience of [former Blues skipper] Lauren Arnell from Carlton. We haven’t lost too much [culturally] and we’ve gained a lot of new perspectives and fresh ideas.”

Of these fresh new faces set to join the side in season three, almost all hail from the Sunshine State, a powerhouse for women’s and girl’s Australian Football development. This is something much lauded by AFL Queensland and the Brisbane Lions, though it hasn’t necessarily cut through in the traditional hub of the game, Melbourne.

“Since we’ve started, the growth in Queensland of women’s football has been phenomenal [however] the media coverage from the draft would probably indicate that we’re still not getting a lot of attention up here, which suits us perfectly fine; we kinda use that as a little bit of fuel for the fire.

“I think it’s because we’re not from a ‘traditional football state’ - but when you look at the girls coming through, they’ve played football their entire lives. I also know that girls who have been playing other sports have changed to football because they see a pathway there and somewhere where they can be themselves.”

The gains for the women of Brisbane have also had an impact on the men’s side of the Lions, according to McCarthy.

“We’re in such a good phase with where we want to be as a club, both the men and women. I think our success at the women’s team has helped breed a better culture of success at the club, it’s given fans, the boys, everyone...something to be proud of and I think that’s filtered down to the men’s season as well.

“I think the culture of the boys’ side has changed a lot - we’ve seen that over the last two years with the recent signings of Lachie Neale and Lincoln McCarthy & strong re-signings of young players who have been drafted from interstate, something we haven’t seen for really the past five years.

“We’re on a similar journey of building respect in our games.”

Always open to new challenges, the former Australian touch football representative still holds a candle to the possibility of adding another string to her sporting bow, having previously alluded to the attraction of playing rugby league for her beloved Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW.

“I watched a lot of the [NRLW] games and ‘Woosh’ [Jessica Wuetschner] and I were talking about how it seemed like a good idea...but they get absolutely smashed! Then they just get straight back up – I think like I’d just be on the ground in a ball, wanting to cry.

“Who knows though? I’ve never backed down from a challenge, if the club was interested enough to approach me, I’d absolutely go and have a pass around to see if I was good enough and if I was then I’d definitely have a crack at it.”

For Kate, the shared “one club, two teams” culture of an organisation like the Lions has also led to other off-field opportunities for the mathematics and physical education teacher.

“I do love teaching and kids and love giving back to the community in that way, but I’ve always had a passion for media and public speaking, that’s just something that comes naturally to me and I find it enjoyable.

“I’ve really loved doing the commentary for Triple M for the men’s games. If there was an opportunity in the media come up, I’d think long and hard about that because it is something I am very passionate about, not just for the AFL, but all sports & female sport in particular.

“If I could play a part in helping to portray in the media and giving people more of an insight into what [female] athletes have had to go through to get where we are today that would be something that I’d love to do.”

Image supplied: Kate McCarthy

Despite Brisbane’s overwhelmingly positive momentum, injuries can upset the best laid plans of even the strongest clubs. With rookie Bri McFarlane recently joining young star Sophie Conway on the rehabilitation trail, Kate points out another Lion at the end of her comeback journey for an indication of how the club deals with this type of adversity as they look to go one better in 2019.

“Sam [Virgo] took up our role of team manager last year. She was still contracted, they aligned her role with management so she could still be around all of the girls and do her rehab, still be involved in the team environment.

“Sophie and Bri, they’re pretty much just listed players except for the fact that they’re not out doing field sessions; we don’t see them as people in rehab, they’re just part of the group that are in a different phase of training at the moment.

“Those girls do really feel a part of everything because they are...they’re still aware of our tactics, our culture of what we want to be as a team, as soon as they’re able to play and train again they’ll just be able to walk straight back in. It’ll be great to see them back.”