Keidan Coleman and Ally Anderson recommit to Brisbane Lions

Two key Lions have committed their future to Brisbane, one driven by the hunger of grand final heartbreak, and another who’s done it all in the Lions’ dominant AFLW side.

Two buzz words beamed brightly when re-signed barometer Keidean Coleman reflected on Brisbane’s journey since losing last year’s grand final.

They were “honesty” and “hunger”. Plenty of clubs plonk tapes of their losing grand finals in the garbage.

But Brisbane brought its players in to relive the four-point heart-stopper the following week.

Players were reminded that they had played finals for five consecutive seasons and broken through for a maiden premiership decider in that time.

But there were still lessons to be learnt in order to breakthrough for a flag.

Keidean Coleman is comforted by his daughter after the siren after their grand final loss. Picture Lachie Millard

“We definitely watched the game back the week after,” Coleman, who has re-signed until 2027, told this masthead.

“We came in to the footy club and identified room for improvement and some key moments in the game why we lost.

“It was honest and I guess if we’re going to go forward we have to identify the little things that will make us better.

“The coaches led it. It was just an honest chat – we’re a very honest footy club. We support each other.

“There would be stages in the game that we thought we actually could’ve stopped a goal … things like that.

“Thankfully, the AFLW won the premiership so it was a great year for the whole footy club.”

And that is the sentiment at Springfield. This masthead can also reveal that Ally Anderson has also signed on for three more seasons.

As far as resumes go, Anderson’s is all aces. Two best-and-fairests in premiership seasons – an accolade plenty of legends regard as top of the tree – and two All-Australian selections headline her CV.

In 2022 Lachie Neale predicted on live TV that Coleman, then a 22-year-old who had played 33 games, would also win multiple All-Australian blazers.

Coleman’s confidence spiked when he was told, and this contract ensures that if Neale had a crystal ball they will most likely be in maroon, yellow and blue.

Coleman, Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry were this year’s list priorities at the Lions. One down, two to go.

Both Coleman and AFLW star Ally Anderson have recommitted to the Lions. Photo Steve Pohlner

No disrespect to the Vic Country boys, but after the last two finals ‘Kiddy’ might have been climbed the queue.

Remember his preliminary final against Carlton? He was best-on-ground and then runner-up in the Norm Smith (won by Bobby Hill).

“It was a game I’ll hold close to my heart for the rest of my career,” Coleman said of the prelim.

Where does that lethal left foot come from? The one that bazooka’d a ball to Callum Ah Chee, who kicked a critical goal in the first half?

“My dad played footy and I grew up in a small community, it’s called Barunga. It’s an indigenous community full of kids and we all love footy,” Coleman said.

“I was able to have an impact offensively and play to my strengths which is my skills and play on instinct.

“Hippy (Eric Hipwood) got a free kick and worked a little short 15m kick to hit me and I sort of just faced the game and saw Cal in the middle.”

At home there are two fresh faces waiting for him. The man they call ‘Kiddy’ has a two-year-old daughter and an infant son. He was deliberately born during last season’s bye.

Coleman played a starring role in Brisbane’s run to the 2023 grand final. Picture Lachie Millard

“He was born on August 9. My partner was good in that department, we had a scheduled C section. So she planned it right on the bye weekend so I didn’t have to miss training or footy,” he said.

“It worked out well and I was able to focus on my footy in the back half of the season.

“Our club as a whole is very supportive when a player and their partner is going through pregnancy or whatever it is.

“Fages (coach Chris Fagan) is very supportive of that and Danny Daly (footy boss) as well and Damien Austin, our performance manager. They all understood it’s an exciting time and they allowed me to be there for my partner.

“It worked out pretty well.”

As for the hunger? And who to watch out for in 2024?

“We’re very hungry this year, I know that as a fact,” he said.

“Kai Lohmann has had a pretty good pre-season. He’s fit and pretty keen to get into the AFL team, which is great.

“He’s got a really big tank and can potentially he can push up to the wing.

“And (injured recruit) Tom Doedee’s leadership and knowledge of the game is outstanding.”