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High rise development

The Lions reached ground zero a year ago, and young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger expects the club's tall timber to lead the revival.

TALK to Matthew Leuenberger for a moment and it's instantly apparent he is a glass-half-full guy.
Asked his thoughts on the departure of emerging star Mitch Clark to Melbourne in the off-season – a move that hit loyal Lions fans hard given the club had invested a lot in the former No. 9 draft pick – Leuenberger had a very different mindset.
"I'm a bit more excited about it, to be honest," he said.
"I mean he was a pretty handy player and he was one of our leaders too, so it was sad to see him go from that respect, but the club's done remarkably well to cover it and it's an exciting time.
"We've recruited Ben Hudson and drafted Billy Longer and I'd like to think in years to come we can make a pretty formidable partnership."
Formidable is a word the 23-year-old hopes shadows his name in 2012 as he looks to build on consecutive 22-game seasons after enduring a horror run with injury for the previous three years.
For the first time in his career, the East Perth product commenced pre-season with the main group and already has carved out personal bests in the running component.
Combine that with the fact that almost every football indicator – from his kicks and tackles to best and fairest finishes – has trended upwards over the past three years, it's easy to see why the 66-game Lion is excited.
"I'd love to think I can take a big jump next year," he said.
"I can see where I want to be as player and I'm not quite there yet. But if I put in a good pre-season I can get that consistency at the right level."
Where he wants to be isn't making All-Australian or winning the best and fairest, it's about consistency of productivity.
He looks no further than Western Australian duo Dean Cox and Aaron Sandilands as the benchmarks.
"In the past I've had a game where I've set a standard that I can aspire to reach every time and I can walk away and feel like I've played a really good game," he said.
"The following week I just didn't back it up. The real quality players like Cox and Sandilands play great games but they back it up and that's what I want to do.
"At the moment I jag one every now and then but I'm a bit hit and miss."
Having balanced himself at the ideal weight of 102kg – he tried to play a practice game last year at 108kg but was unable to cope with the load – Leuenberger says past experiences have very much shaped his attitude and will continue to drive his future.
A series of injuries when he joined the club continually derailed his plans to not only play, but also get continuity into his training and preparation.
"It was actually really difficult in my first three years because mentally it was very challenging spending more time on the sidelines than on the field," he said.
"I felt like I started behind in many ways and just to get that trust in my body that I can back up sessions and back up games has helped my development a lot.
"No matter how much tape you watch the only way you learn is by getting out there and training and playing games."
While upbeat about his own goals for next season, the 204cm ruckman is equally buoyed about the prospects for a team that claimed only four scalps in 2011 and finished the year in 15th place. Only Port Adelaide and newcomer Gold Coast won fewer games.
But, as Leuenberger points out, the win-loss ratio was irrelevant. What counted was intensity and effort, both of which he says were there in spades.
Of Brisbane's 15 losses in 2011, 10 were by 30 points or fewer. In Round 17 it had Geelong on the ropes until injuries to skipper Jonathan Brown and key forward Clark eroded its winning chance.
Two weeks later it ran Collingwood to three goals at the MCG.
While winning seven games in 2010 the Lions lost another seven games by 40-plus margins.
"We came close in lots of games against quality sides, including Geelong and Collingwood. The intent and effort was there," he said.
"And the guys who were driving that were young guys like Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich, James Polkinghorne and Todd Banfield and it's exciting to think that after another pre-season together we can't help but go up the ladder.
"Definitely the attitude is a lot better and that's something I've noticed.
"The group is over losing."
Having re-signed with the club for a further two seasons, the commerce student said the decision to remain at the Lions was easy.
While others were swayed by money or a return home, Leuenberger said the pull of his mates and the thought of achieving something together was enough.
"It was pretty evident midway through last season that we'd changed around massively," he said.
"It just would have been hard to leave my mates."
While not wanting to leave them, the ruckman is also keen to lead them.
After five years of finding his way among a group that initially included Nigel Lappin, Jason Akermanis, Luke Power and Simon Black, he says the time has come to emerge even further from his shell.
"I just need to take more ownership out on the ground because all the good ruckmen do," he said.
"I'm feel like I'm ready to do that now whereas before I wasn't comfortable telling someone like Nigel Lappin where he should stand."
Part of the increased leadership role has begun with the club's prized draft pick, Northern Knights ruckman Billy Longer, already under the wing of his ruck partner.
Longer, rated the best young ruckman in the land, has moved in with Leuenberger while he settles into his new surrounds.
The similarities between the pair are uncanny with Longer, who captained the Vic Metro Under 18 side, boasting the same skinny but supremely athletic frame.
At 202cm and 96kg he has similar dimensions to a young Leuenberger and the experienced Lion is looking forward to guiding the youngster.
"I'm really looking forward to helping fast-track him with his learning and it's something I'm enjoying," he said.
"I have actually been at the footy club for a fair while now and what guys did for me it's up to me to do that with guys like Billy who have joined us.
"The best thing you can do as a young kid is just do every session and stay healthy enough to keep backing them up. It was something I really battled with in my first few years and as a result I struggled with injury and form at times."
With those injury concerns a thing of the past, expect Leuenberger to elevate himself into the top echelon of ruckmen by season's end.