Charlie Cameron signs a long-term contract extension with Brisbane Lions, thwarting interest from cashed-up rivals
Brisbane Lions have warded off interest from Victorian clubs to secure exciting forward Charlie Cameron on a lucrative long-term deal.
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Brisbane has locked away electric forward Charlie Cameron on a five-year deal in a significant coup for the Lions.
Ahead of their Friday night clash against Essendon at Metricon Stadium, the Lions announced that Cameron had inked a new deal to remain at Brisbane until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Cameron, 26, loomed as a target for North Melbourne and Carlton but with the contract freeze over the Lions moved quickly to snap up their star forward.
News Corp revealed on Tuesday that Cameron was set to earn upwards of $750,000 a year with his new deal.
Cameron said he was really excited to commit his future to Brisbane.
“I love the club and have a great bunch of teammates,” he said.
“I also think we have the best fans in the competition and I enjoy celebrating our successes with them.”
Lions general manager of football David Noble said the re-signing of Cameron was a vital part of the club’s goals for the future.
“The extension of Charlie is pivotal to our long-term planning of sustained success,” he said.
“He continues to improve and grow his game, advancing his skills and craft as one of the best small forwards in the game.”
Cameron’s previous deal at Brisbane - after coming from Adelaide in the wake of the 2017 Grand Final loss - expired in 2021.
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Cameron’s manager Andrew McDougall from Corporate Sports Australia is in the final stages of talks on a deal that could be finalised within the next fortnight.
The new contract is set to include a decent pay rise for the sharpshooter who was on about $650,000 a year as the Herald Sun revealed in its top-100 AFL earners investigation.
The former Crows’ livewire has slotted 15 goals from eight games to sit fourth in this year’s Coleman Medal race after booting 57 goals from 24 matches last season.
Cameron, 26, is contracted until the end of next season but Lions’ list manager Dom Ambrogio has moved quickly to cut off any interest from cashed-up Victorian rivals.
Cameron loomed as a potential target for North Melbourne and Carlton but the speedster will stay up north to help spearhead the Lions’ finals assault over the next four to five years.
Recruiters and list managers have labelled quick and dangerous small forwards who pile on the defensive pressure and trap the ball forward an increasingly important piece in the premiership list build.
His signature will be another list management win for the Lions after pulling off one of the most shrewd recruiting moves of recent seasons last year when they nabbed Lachie Neale from Fremantle.
The ball magnet has flourished in his second season at Fremantle and has stormed into a clear $2.50 favourite for the Brownlow Medal (TAB) ahead of Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield ($8).
The Lions also have significant salary cap space to be an active player in this year’s exchange period.
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Originally published as Charlie Cameron signs a long-term contract extension with Brisbane Lions, thwarting interest from cashed-up rivals