Jack Payne AFL Finals: Brisbane Lions defender reveals bittersweet career turning point

Jack Payne has gone from a fringe Lion to a player one club legend believes is the most important figure in Brisbane’s premiership tilt. CALLUM DICK finds out why.

In just 12 months Jack Payne has been transformed from fringe key defender to one of the most important pieces of Brisbane’s premiership puzzle.

It took two years for the laid-back lad from Noosa to make his AFL debut and a further four to cement himself within the Lions’ back six.

Now the hulking 197cm, 101kg gentle giant is a staple in Chris Fagan’s defensive scheme and will run out for his 50th AFL game in Saturday’s qualifying final against Port Adelaide.

For years Payne toiled in the twos, occasionally breaking into the seniors for a handful of starts before a returning key defender would relegate him once again.

That all changed this year after veteran defender Marcus Adams was ruled out for the season with delayed concussion symptoms – a health concern that ultimately forced the former Bulldog into retirement – and Payne was the next man up.

Brisbane Lions player Jack Payne. Picture: Nigel Hallett

It was a bittersweet way for Payne to capture a regular starting spot but he has made sure not to take the opportunity for granted.

“It’s obviously really disappointing what happened with Marcus. I wish he was still out there playing with us,” Payne told this masthead.

“In a selfish way, it opened up the opportunity for me and I knew I had to take it with both hands.

“I probably had a fair idea at the end of last year that spot was mine. Then it was just a matter of performing well over the pre-season and building that fitness base to attack the first part of the season, which really set me up.”

The 23-year-old’s emergence as Harris Andrews’ right-hand man has elevated Brisbane’s back six to new heights this season.

Payne’s lock down role has released Andrews’ shackles and allowed the Lions’ skipper to become one of the most damaging intercept defenders in the AFL.

Club great Alastair Lynch believes Payne is the “most important player” in Fagan’s side because of how he enables Andrews to flourish.

Marcus Adams’ forced retirement opened the door for Jack Payne. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It’s a pivotal partnership that was first built within the Lions Academy and has blossomed since Payne was drafted by the Lions in 2018.

“I never really had too much to do with Harris because he was three or four years older than me, but once we both settled in at the Lions he’s someone I’ve really looked up to,” Payne revealed.

“I love playing with him. He’s such a special person and player. He was obviously rewarded with an All Australian squad nomination this season which is awesome.

“Harris’ strength is to be able to float across and intercept which is a really vital part of the game at the moment. I feel like we have great synergy on the field. We know when one has to lock down and the other has to go for that intercept mark.”

Reliable key defenders are one of the hottest commodities in footy and the Lions knew halfway through this season they had a keeper.

And so club and player happily agreed to a hefty five-year contract extension in August – proof of Payne’s standing at the Lions.

The Sunshine Coast product joined the Lions Academy at 13 and by the time his contract expires at the end of 2029, will have spent more than half of his life with the club.

He is suddenly an integral player in Brisbane’s premiership plans.

And he knows the Lions’ defence has been a hot topic ahead of the finals.

Brisbane boasts arguably the best midfield in the business and one of the most potent forward lines in footy. But defensively the Lions have been a middle of the road side in 2023.

Gone are the days of the back six being solely responsible for scores against. But that hasn’t stopped Payne from taking notes on the critique.

“You can’t help but hear the outside noise,” he revealed.

“Obviously you hear a bit of that from the media but internally we know where we’re at.

“Over the summer, defence was number one in our mind and looking at the stats we’ve improved (on last year).”

Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews (middle) and Jack Payne (left) have formed a strong bond in the backline. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Another Lions legend, 2003 Norm Smith Medallist Simon Black, believes the backline will be asked some serious questions in September and has challenged the team to find another gear if it is to win the flag.

Payne is the centrepiece of a new-look Brisbane back six that can turn defence into offence in the blink of an eye.

The electric pace of Darcy Wilmot and Conor McKenna off halfback, coupled with the damaging left boot of Keidean Coleman and uber-consistency of Brandon Starcevich, has fit seamlessly with the aerial feats of Payne, Andrews and reinvigorated veteran Ryan Lester.

Brisbane’s backline is perhaps the most settled in the AFL this season, with the starters missing only a handful of games combined over the course of the campaign.

Payne believes that consistency will hold them in good stead for whatever challenges finals footy presents.

“I feel like the synergy we have been able to create out there will definitely help us,” he said.

“At the end of last year we had 14 or 15 players roll through the backline due to Covid and injuries, so to have seven or eight rotate through there this year has been great.”

Lynch and Black are just two of many club greats who are bullish about Brisbane’s chances in September.

At the club’s recent Hall of Fame evening, which doubled as a 2003 premiership reunion, it quickly became obvious that the past players had high hopes for season 2023.

Intermingled with the fond memories of premiership success were not so subtle messages to the modern Lions to make the most of their opportunity and restore Brisbane to the top of the AFL mountain.

Payne said hearing past greats share their hopes for a flag this season helped motivate the playing group.

“It was obviously nice to hear their comments and know they believe in us,” he said.

“I suppose now there is a bit of pressure on us to reward our supporters and members. Twenty years (between premierships) is a long time.

Brisbane last won the flag in 2003.

“Listening to what those guys had to say that night, there’s a lot of similarities between that (2003) team and this team. They spoke about the brotherhood they shared and I feel like we have a great bond in the team at the moment.

“Jonathan Brown and Mal Michael talked about how strong of a group theirs was 20 years ago and straight away it made me think of our group.”

For all the pressure laid at the feet of the Lions there is an air of calm confidence about the group. And few exhibit that as much as Payne.

The stakes are much higher and the gulf between winning and losing is infinitely greater. But he remains that laid-back lad from Noosa, living out his AFL dream at the club he loves.

And over the next month, Payne will do everything he can to repay that faith and help deliver Brisbane town its first premiership in two decades.

Originally published as Jack Payne AFL Finals: Brisbane Lions defender reveals bittersweet career turning point