It’s no secret that at different times throughout the past couple of seasons, persistent rumours have circulated about the potential movement of some out-of-contract Lions players, with these ‘contract sagas’ quickly becoming popular news items and topics for discussion.
Regardless of whether players in question ultimately re-sign or decide to join another club, the constant innuendo places additional stress and unrest among Lions fans.
But that lingering threat of losing quality players should be of little concern in 2012 with the Lions successfully implementing part of their list management strategy.
More than a dozen key players have signed new contracts with the Club over the past six months, which effectively keeps them out of the immediate grasp of new franchise Greater Western Sydney and other potential ‘poachers’.
21 year-old midfielder Jack Redden became the latest player to re-sign after putting pen to paper on Tuesday, and joins a host of fellow young guns who are determined to lead the Lions back into the AFL Finals.
Some of the other recent re-signings include Pearce Hanley (23 years old), Ryan Harwood (21), Patrick Karnezis (19), Matthew Leuenberger (23), Niall McKeever (22), Jesse O’Brien (20), Jared Polec (19), James Polkinghorne (23), Tom Rockliff (21) and Daniel Rich (21).
It is testament to these young players’ loyalty, the Club’s improved culture, and a promising future that the Lions have been able to shore up this talent.
The emergence of the Lions’ next generation was probably most evident at last year’s Club Champion dinner when four of the top six placings for the Merrett-Murray Medal were held by players aged 23 or under, with Rockliff becoming the youngest ever recipient of the honour.
Redden, who finished a career-best third in the 2011 Lions’ Best & Fairest award, said his team-mates have quickly developed a strong camaraderie and are determined to take the Club forward.
“We’ve got a good young developing group here at the Brisbane Lions, and it’s good to see that the boys are showing a bit of loyalty and hanging around,” Redden said.
“I’m also good mates with a lot of the boys here, so am really excited about the future.”
