Not much fazes Jonathan Brown.

He stood tall as the once mighty Brisbane Lions copped their licks during their post-premiership rebuilding period.

The big fella didn't flinch as departing niggler Jason Akermanis lobbed one verbal grenade after another.

And he seemed to be the only one at the club who told it like it was after another problem child - Brendan Fevola - was finally shown the door in the 2011 pre-season.

The captain was a regular pillar of strength - until the extent of Fevola's fallout at the Lions was revealed by the club's football manager Dean Warren.

As the club reached a settlement believed to be around $1 million with Fevola, Warren was asked how long it would take to build a premiership list due to "salary cap issues" compounded by the troubled star's exit.

In a sobering assessment, Warren said "up to five years".

Not what 30-year-old Brown wanted to hear.

Indeed it was enough to make the Lions hard man finally crumble.

Not many caught it at the time, but Brown physically recoiled when hearing the news at the press conference that confirmed Fevola's messy stay was officially over.

What a difference a season made.

This time last year the Lions were talking finals after Fevola emerged as the key to a bold mature player recruitment policy - one that eventually exploded in coach Michael Voss' face.

Suffice to say "finals" is not the `f' word the Lions are thinking of right now.

Following a disastrous 3-15 run that relegated them to 13th place in 2010, all Brown wants from his club this season is "decent footy".

"It was a big learning year, 2010," Brown said.

"We had a lot of external expectations coming into last year but I don't think we have those now - maybe the pressure is off a little bit there.

"Hopefully we can get back and play some decent footy.

"I always have high expectations for the group (but) I expect that a long way down the track we are playing finals football.

"We are not going to sit here and make predictions.

"We have to rebuild ourselves - we took a big step backwards last year."

But do they have the right tools with which to rebuild?

Veteran midfielders Simon Black and Luke Power may be approaching their final AFL season but still ooze class, and youngster Daniel Rich is only getting better each year.

Brown is expected to fill the full-forward role vacated by the sacked Fevola in a bid to give his huge frame a much needed break, while Mitch Clark has the ability to pinch hit between the forward line and ruck to assist Matthew Leuenberger.

Tom Rockliff and Todd Banfield are emerging stars.

And the likes of Daniel Merrett, Josh Drummond and Jed Adcock ensure the Lions' back six looks solid.

But depth remains a problem - especially following the departures of 2010 best and fairest winner Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan to Gold Coast and Justin Sherman to the Western Bulldogs.

Albert Proud was also sacked for repeated breaches of the club's code of conduct.

Off-field, there was the departure of long-time chief executive Michael Bowers, contributing to a $2.4 million operating loss.

Bowers has recently been replaced by Malcolm Holmes.

And by all reports former golden boy Voss' days may also be numbered depending on Brisbane's season start.

In all, the Lions won't be lacking motivation to turn it around in 2011.

Especially with cashed-up arch rivals Gold Coast licking their lips at the thought of Brisbane becoming the first team in AFL history to finish 17th.

Their round seven "Sunshine Stoush" is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the season.

But first the Lions face arguably a much sterner test - and it has nothing to do with three of their season's first five games being in Melbourne.

The Lions' 10-year anniversary celebration dinner of their 2001 premiership on March 18 will double as their season launch - and Akermanis has made it abundantly clear he will attend.

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