BRISBANE’S desperation to find and develop young players that can restore the Lions’ pride has taken an extraordinary step with almost two thirds of the list to be sent for blood screening.

Josh Schache is among the group of first to fourth year players – which make up the majority of the Lions list – who will be subject to exploratory blood tests, scheduled to run-out over the next two weeks.

The Lions believe the age of their list means greater physical load is placed on their young players and they want prior warning if any are carrying viruses or are prone to illnesses such as glandular fever.

Schache is so out of sorts he could only manage four possessions in the NEAFL on Saturday and observers say he struggled to get out of first gear.

The 19-year-old is out of contract and weighing up his future amid reports of interest from several Victorian clubs.

The Lions are mindful the deliberations may be affecting his mood and form and are sympathetic to that.

However, the lack of energy is alarming, prompting some to query if he was struggling with a virus.

media_camera Josh Schache had only four possessions in the NEAFL on Saturday. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Lions football manager David Noble said the tests were not motivated by Schache’s form but were an initiative that had been in the planning for several months.

He said organisations such as the Australian Institute of Sport put their athletes through blood tests.

“We think it makes sense, it is something we decided to do a while ago,’’ he said.

“They were always planned for just prior to winter.’’

Should Schache opt to leave, the Lions face a tough decision on whether to trade for draft picks or established players.

The profile of the list shows gaping holes in the mid-twenties players around the 70-120 game mark.

Brisbane have great young talent in the shape of Harris Andrews and Eric Hipwood, exciting draftees Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry and waiting in the wings are Alex Witherden and Cedric Cox.

They are receiving acceptable service from senior players such as Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich.

media_camera The majority of Brisbane’s list is made up of young players such as Ben Keays. Picture: AAP

At the top end, captain Dayne Beams is producing a brilliant season and former captain Tom Rockliff was getting plenty of the footy before he was injured.

But the middle tier of their list in terms of age bracket and experience is a wasteland of productivity.

Players brought to the club in recent years such as Tom Bell, Ryan Bastinac and Josh Walker simply haven’t worked.

The Lions have been hit and miss with their recruitment, Mitch Robinson, Beams and Allen Christensen were good pick-ups but too many end up clogging the list.

Coach Chris Fagan has become frustrated with that and has dropped Bell and Bastinac at times.

Both were regulars under former coach Justin Leppitsch.

“Sometimes some of our blokes in the middle part of our list don’t put in enough effort for the number of games they have played,’’ he said.

“And that is disappointing.’’

Originally published as Young Lions to be tested for illnesses