The Brisbane Lions are excited to announce emerging stars Brandon Starcevich and Zac Bailey have agreed to new deals with the Club.
The pair arrived in Brisbane via the 2017 NAB AFL draft and will continue to play alongside each other until at least the end of 2024 having both signed three-year contract extensions.
The 2017 draft is proving to be a major success for the Lions with number one pick Cam Rayner, Bailey (15), Starcevich (18) and Hyundai Help for Kids Academy selection Jack Payne all performing solidly in last year’s AFL finals series.
The 21-year-olds are both low key personalities off the field and excitement machines on it.
Bailey, who broke through for his first top ten finish in the Club Championship in 2020 with a 9th placing in the Merrett-Murray medal voting, said he was thrilled to have committed his future to the Club.
“I love playing here, I’ve built strong relationships with all the boys and our coaches and I’m excited by the future with the Lions,’’ he said.
“There’s a group of us who are coming through together and I’m really happy to have this deal locked away so we can get stuck into the season.’’
After some injury issues in his first two years at the Club, Starcevich burst onto the scene in a big way in 2020, earning a Rising Star nomination and claiming the Lions’ rookie of the year award.
“I got a lot of confidence out of last year and to have the Club show their confidence in me by offering this extension will only add to that,’’ he said.
“I’m really motivated to try and improve my own game and help make our team better and this is a great environment for that, the coaching group give us every opportunity to learn and develop and I think our senior players really contribute to that.
“I am really excited by the future.’’
Lions GM of Football Danny Daly said Starcevich and Bailey had key roles to play in the Club’s future.
“This is great news for our footy club,’’ he said.
“They are both pretty quiet guys, but they are certainly making their presence felt out on the footy field.
“Their determination to constantly improve through hard work is very impressive.
“It is exciting when young players start to generate the belief that they can help propel the team forward and begin to not only feel comfortable in the big moments in games but relish them and that’s what we are seeing with both Zac and Brandon.’’
The re-signings capped off a great week for the Club which also included the start of an exciting new partnership with United Petroleum.
United Petroleum are the official Fuel Partner and match ball sponsor of the Brisbane Lions.
As part of the partnership, Lions members are offered a fuel card that entitles them to a discount of 4c per litre off fuel purchases at any of the 350 United Petroleum stores across the country.
Lions CEO Greg Swann said the new partnership with United Petroleum was a terrific outcome for the Club and its members.
“We are delighted that one of the fastest growing brands like United Petroleum has joined the Lions family,’’ he said.
United Petroleum CEO David Szymczak also welcomed the new partnership.
“We are excited to partner with Brisbane as their Official Fuel Partner in 2021,’’ he said.
“We are looking forward to offering all Brisbane Lions and LIONS@springwood members a discounted fuel offer across our 350 United Petroleum stores around Australia.”
