Now in his 10th season, co-captain Jed Adcock is one of those players and development coach Josh Drummond explained just how important he is.
"Adcock's their general down there," the former Lion Drummond said.
"He has the ability to play as a good small defender but he also sets the defence up from a structural point of view. He's now their co-captain, so it shows how well regarded he is by the club."
Disposing of the ball at more than 80 percent efficiency for his entire career, Adcock doesn't need a high possession count to hurt opposition. It's reflected in his career numbers - he's never averaged more than 21 possessions a game over a whole season in his 144-game career.
While Adcock takes one back flank, Pearce Hanley usually occupies the other. The Irishman, described by Drummond as 'extremely raw' when he first came to Brisbane, has become a critical component of the Lions outfit.
"Hanley's improved every year and he hasn't taken anything for granted. Over the last two to three years, he's been a good player and then in the last 12 months he's taken his game to another level. He's also started this year extremely well.”
In his sixth season, Hanley has played 59 career games. As a measure of his improvement, the last 55 games have been consecutive.
While Adcock doesn't collect too much of the ball on one flank, Hanley is the opposite as Brisbane attempts to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.
In the three games so far this season, Hanley has had 22, 30 and 26 possessions respectively. With a kick to handball ratio well over two, it's a safe bet to assume the Irishman will attempt to break the lines.
Joel Patfull is the ‘Mr. Fix It’, asked to fill a different role almost every game.
"Patfull's an unsung player across the league and very underrated but inside the four walls of the Brisbane Football Club, he's very highly respected," Drummond said.
"He can play on just about anyone, tall or small depending on how the match-ups fall each week."
Patfull won Brisbane's best and fairest in 2012. Standing at 189cm, he often gives away height against taller opponents but makes up for it with his smarts and ability to read the play.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see him on Lindsay Thomas at stages and then possibly Lachlan Hansen later in the afternoon.
On the last line of defence will be Daniel Merrett.
"Except for patches last year when he was asked to play forward, Merrett has been the pillar of the defence for some time. He gives a strong presence on the last line of defence and he's one of the best spoilers in the game.
"He'll generally take the opposition's biggest and most dangerous forward as Brisbane like to have him on the last line of defence," Drummond added.
With 28 spoils in his first three games this season, Merrett sits third in the entire competition and will most likely pick up Drew Petrie.
The delivery from the midfield could be the key for a North victory at Etihad Stadium.
