Brisbane Lions Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch has agreed to terms on a contract extension to  the end of 2017.

The new deal was announced by Brisbane Lions Chairman Bob Sharpless at the Club’s Season Launch in Brisbane tonight in front of 300 sponsors and supporters.

During his two years as Senior Coach, Leppitsch has been central to an overhaul of the playing list and Football Department operations that has the Club poised to reap the rewards in the years ahead.

Football Director Leigh Matthews said Leppitsch and the Brisbane Lions’ Board were “fully aligned” on the Club’s progress in its rebuild both on and off the field.

“There has been a lot of change around the Club and there was never any doubt as a Board that we would continue with Justin,” said Matthews.

Lions CEO Greg Swann said the Club was convinced Leppitsch had the team headed in the right direction.

“You only have to look at the young talent on our list and the growing number of our best players who’ve re-committed to the Club to know that we are in a good place ,” said Swann.

“The kind of football we played in the win over the Bulldogs at the end of last season shows what a team coached by Leppa can produce, and we are looking forward to much more of that in the years to come.”

Leppitsch’s reappointment comes on the back of a hugely successful off-season for the Club during which 10 players re-signed including Vice-Captains Dayne Zorko and Pearce Hanley as well as Stefan Martin,  Mitch Robinson, Marco Paparone, Harris Andrews, Ryan Harwood, Jaden McGrath, Rohan Bewick and Josh Clayton.

Quality players Tom Bell, Ryan Bastinac, Josh Walker and Jarrad Jansen have also chosen to come to the Club through the trade period, following Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen and Mitch Robinson the year before.

Off the field, a number of highly-regarded staff including Assistant Coach Danny Daly, High Performance Manager Damien Austin, as well as Retention & Strategy Manager Craig Lambert and Player Welfare Manager Melissa Lambert have all come to the Club as part of a full revamp.

Leppitsch said he was happy to have  the extension finalised and was looking forward to the start of the 2016 season.

“Our football club is on a journey and the hardest part of our journey is now done in many respects,” said Leppitsch.

“We have made a lot of changes over the past two years but they have been changes for the better and we will see positive results in the years ahead.

“The recommitment of so many of our current players, as well as the influx of quality players and staff show that we are on the right track.

“We still have a lot of work to do but our foundation is strong and our future is bright.”