Onballers take Lion's share of heat

Tredrea backs double act at Port

Lions champ Simon Black is no certainty to line up in the season opening clash after undergoing knee surgery. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE Lions coach Michael Voss says he is pleased his incumbent midfielders are feeling the heat on two fronts.

With injured veteran Simon Black no certainty to be available for round 1 of the AFL premiership season, Voss's onballers are rising to face the challenges of the sweltering pre-Christmas weather and competition for their positions.

Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden and Andrew Raines have been making the most of their final training sessions at Coorparoo ahead of a two-week Christmas break.

Despite the humidity, the players charged into one another during opposed drills, a pleasing sign for Voss who had been hoping his players would respond to the injection of former Demon Brent Moloney.

"That was the intended plan," Voss said.

"We've got a list that has to challenge for their spot.

"It puts a rocket under them and what you notice is they're really propelling each other."

Voss said third-year player Claye Beams was another midfielder who was heaping more pressure on the established ball winners with an intense pre-season.

Raines and Moloney are the most experienced onballers on the training track after Black had surgery last week on his knee.

Initial predictions were for Black to make a training comeback by the end of January and a cameo appearance during the NAB Cup. But Voss said the former skipper could be in a race against time and his ageing body to be ready by the round 1 game on March 31, away to Western Bulldogs.

"The surgery doesn't change his actual timeline. But obviously we would like more time for him to feel good about his pre-season," Voss said.

The coach is confident that dealing with Black's knee now will enable the team to see more of the three-time club champion next season.

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