RE-SIGNED Brisbane Lion Sam Mayes says it was an easy decision to buck the recent trend of departures and stick around at the Gabba for the next three years.
Mayes signed a new deal that will keep him at the Lions until at least the end of 2016 and says he didn't think twice before putting pen to paper.
Retaining the no.8 pick from the 2012 NAB AFL Draft was a huge win for the club after it lost Jared Polec, Patrick Karnezis, Billy Longer, Sam Docherty and Elliot Yeo – all aged 21 and under – to trades in the recent off-season.
But South Australian Mayes has slotted into his new home seamlessly and was never going anywhere.
During the early stages of his first off-season break, the 19-year-old stayed in Brisbane to watch his mates play in the NEAFL cross conference Grand Final when he could have easily been holidaying.
He also returned to Brisbane early to attack his first full pre-season.
Mayes said signing an extension when he had another eight months to make his mind up was not difficult.
"I wouldn't say it was a tough decision at all, it was easy for me," Mayes said after Sunday's NAB Challenge win against Gold Coast.
"I'm happy up here. (We've got a) good bunch of players, good group, good future, so it was not hard to stick around."
Despite being shy when he first came to the club, Mayes said settling into a house with fellow first-year players Jordon Bourke, Michael Close and Nick Hayes had made a huge difference.
"You've got to put yourself out there a bit," he said.
"You've got to mingle with the players. I've found it a little big easier because me and three other first year boys moved into a house together. We've got a pool out the back, so it's pretty easy to get the other boys to come around."
Mayes was bullish about the Lions' future and said they could push for a finals berth this season.
"You can tell with the likes of Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich, the leaders of the club through the coming years, they're gun players and great leaders, so if we can follow in their footsteps and keep pushing forward, it'll be good for the team."
Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting https://twitter.com/AFL_mikewhiting
