Hard-marking youngster Daniel Rich has vowed to put a disappointing 2010 behind him by becoming a true team leader in just his third year at the Brisbane Lions.

The AFL's 2009 Rising Star, Rich is still just 20 but is desperate to carve out a place as a senior player at the embattled club he wants to help guide back to the heights of last decade.

The Perth-bred midfielder on Monday rejected reports he was keen to return home to Western Australia at the end of the year and pledged to lift the Lions out of the mire.

Despite many predicting more tough times for the 13th-placed side of 2010, who have endured a horror off-season by losing Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan and having Brendan Fevola and Albert Proud arrested, Rich stressed it was an "exciting time" for the club.

He said hardened youngsters like himself, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff and James Polkinghorne were determined to lift and ease the burden on midfield veterans Simon Black and Luke Power.

"Last year was unacceptable from our perspective," Rich said. "There's lots of young players who definitely have to step up and we've been training hard this pre-season to do that, so I don't see why we can't this year.

"It's exciting times for the club, (with plenty of) young players, and we've all got numerous games under our belts, so I can't wait to put it on our shoulders and let Blackie and Luke Power and Browny and those types be part of the team."

Skipper Jonathan Brown made a significant step in proving he would be right for the season kick-off by joining the main group at training for the first time on Monday, which included match play at Giffin Park.

Rich is seen as a potential Lions captain down the track and certainly spoke like one when he dismissed speculation he was open to approaches from West Coast and Fremantle.

"I love the club and I love playing with all the boys, we're a family up here in Brisbane and definitely I'm looking forward to years to come at the footy club," the powerful left-footer said.

"Young list, good leaders, good coach, the footy club is on a good track so I can't wait to push forward and win a premiership in years to come."

Rich hasn't missed a match during the Michael Voss era, starting with his debut in round one 2009, to hold the club's current high mark of 46 consecutive senior games.

Although eighth in the Lions' 2010 best and fairest count, he admitted to suffering second-year blues under the weight of extra tagging in a struggling team but made no excuses for a "disappointing" season.

Compared to my personal standards it wasn't up to where I wanted to be," Rich said.

"It doesn't really have an affect whether I'm marked or not I still was not doing what I wanted to do and delivering my role for the team."

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