Brisbane have enjoyed a huge day of contract re-signings with premiership winning leadership group Emily Bates, Shannon Campbell and Bre Koenen inking contract extensions that tie them to the club for two more seasons.

The 2021 premiership winning side are all locked away for season six of the AFLW and a total of 14 players have already taken the opportunity to add a further year to their deals.

Today flag winners Belle Dawes, Nat Grider, Tahlia Hickie, Taylor Smith all added an extra year to their existing deals.

Lions head of Women’s Football Bree Brock said it was a testament to what the Club was building that so many players were committed to sticking together to try and turn the breakthrough premiership into an era of sustained success.

“The girls are really committed to the Club and to each other and that shows in the way so many have signed extensions,’’ she said.

“Stability is the key to any successful sporting organisation and that is what we are creating here at the Lions.

“The premiership was a huge achievement for our Club and the players but these girls have shown they are really only just getting started.’’

While having the nucleus of his premiership side secured for two more seasons would be music to the ears of coach Craig Starcevich, the Club’s commitment to injured youngster Lily Postlelthwaite has provided the feel-good story of the re-signing period.

The Lions have demonstrated that Postlethwaite remains a key figure in the Club’s long-term plans by locking the silky defender away for the next two AFLW seasons.

Having played every game for the club in 2020, Lily Postlethwaite was on track for another solid year in 2021. 

She made a strong start to the season before suffering a heartbreaking season-ending ACL injury in the loss against Adelaide.  

She will take no part in season six of the AFLW but her new deal ensures she will join her teammates for pre-season training in 2022.

Brock said Postelthwaite had developed quickly in her short time at the Lions, and shows much potential given her young age of 19-years. 

“It’s such a shame for Lily to miss the upcoming season with the change in start date, but she’s part of the long-term plan here at the Lions so there was no question that we would recommit to her,” she said.

“She’s attacking her rehab really well and coming along nicely.”