Saturday afternoon marks an important milestone for energetic forward Zac Bailey, as he celebrates his 100th game for the Brisbane Lions.
A fan favourite for many Lions supporters, Saturday’s clash with the GWS Giants is one that Bailey is incredibly grateful to be a part of.
“When I got to the Club I just wanted to play one game and to think I’m playing 100 after six years is amazing and I’m super grateful to the Lions for giving me that opportunity,” Bailey said.
“Early on I got a few games in, which fast tracked my development and helped me as a young player. I think as the years have gone by, I have been able to improve my game and got to where I am now.”
Bailey will become the Lions 59th 100-gamer, and at 23 years and 111 days on Saturday he’ll be the 13th youngest Lion to the magical milestone.
“It is pretty special, I got to the Club at a pretty good time, I think the years before I got there weren’t as good, so to have been able to be here as part of the Club’s rise is awesome.
“I came in as a skinny boy with not much knowledge about the game. Being in the AFL environment has helped me a lot and being able to put on a little bit of size and get a bit bigger and fitter has helped me get to that AFL standard.
“I think especially over the last couple of years my confidence has really grown.”
Hailing from Darwin, Bailey moved to Adelaide to complete his schooling at Price Alfred College and was drafted in 2016 by SANFL club, Norwood Redlegs.
Selected at pick 15 in the 2017 AFL National Draft, Bailey was part of a historic night for the Lions who would also draft Cam Rayner, Brandon Starcevich and Jack Payne.
Bailey debuted in Round 4 against Richmond at the MCG in 2018, a game which many Lions fans would rather forget, a 93-point loss from the in-bound premiers.
Boasting the 10th best win ratio with 63 victories from 99 games, Bailey has only missed 17 games enroute to 100.
He is known as a game-breaker who loves kicking goals, needing four more majors to reach 100 goals for the Lions, tying him with former captain Dayne Zorko.
Zac’s Magic Moment
“I’ve spoken about it a fair bit, but that 2021 Collingwood game was a highlight for me personally, it was a dream come true, kicking that goal after the siren to get the win, is something I’ll never forget,” Bailey reminisced.
In Round 3, 2021, the Lions travelled to Marvel Stadium to take on the Magpies.
With the Pies leading with less than two minutes to go, Lions fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was a repeat of the week before against Geelong, a heartbreaking one-point loss.
Enter Zac Bailey, with less than 30 seconds on the clock, the Lions moved the ball through the corridor and found Daniel Rich.
Rich bulleted a pass to Bailey who had led up and marked, only a 45-metre set shot directly in front stood between him and fulfilling a childhood dream.
As though he had done it hundreds of times before, Bailey went back and nailed his shot as the siren sounded to the raucous cheers of Lions supporters at the ground and around the country.
