Lions' AFL cubs to drive 2015 standards Eds warning language in 11th par By Jim Morton BRISBANE, Nov 10 AAP - Footy team standard-bearers are usually the grizzled veterans. But the Brisbane Lions aim to do it the other way around this pre-season. With the Lions boasting a stack of young cubs at the end of an down-and-up 2014 season, talented second-year player Sam Mayes says it will be the youth brigade leading the way. Mayes acknowledged the additions of premiership midfielders Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen, plus ex-Carlton hard-nut Mitch Robinson, had added important depth. But, he said, the onus was on Brisbane's young guns to lead them towards a first finals finish since 2009. "I think it's important that the blokes training at the moment, the second to fourth years, it's up to us to lift the standards and drive the standards from the bottom up," Mayes said. We know the senior boys are going to hold their own up there, so it's up to us younger players to lift the standard. In a sign of the hunger at the club, captain Jed Adcock was among a group of six older players who returned to work a week early on Monday morning - joining the 15 who already have three weeks of fitness work under their belts. Adcock, club champion runner-up Dayne Zorko, luckless utility Brent Staker, Rohan Bewick, Mitch Golby and Luke McGuane hit the training track at Yeronga to show competition for positions would be intense. Mayes, who made an immediate impact in his 2013 debut season, denied he was worried about his half-forward/midfield spot, but was well aware he'd have to "ramp it up another notch." "It's going to be a competitive pre-season," he said. Even in the running out there, you see guys around your position and think 's**t, I've got to beat these blokes'. It's going to be the blokes that put in the most work and the blokes that are in form that get the spots. Brisbane have also launched their predominantly white clash guernsey for next season, pairing the 'Y' of Fitzroy's foundation jumper with the lion of Brisbane's 2001-03 premiership era.