Callum Ah Chee ready to push for regular first-team spot after Brisbane Lions move
The struggle was real on the Gold Coast, but the short trip to Brisbane brings new hope and, Callum Ah Chee hopes, new life to a stop-start career that is yet to deliver on its promise.
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He’s barely touched down in Brisbane after coming off a horror season with Gold Coast but new recruit Callum Ah Chee says he’s fit and ready to prove his worth by slotting into a key defensive role beside Grant Birchall for the Lions in 2020.
Following Luke Hodge’s retirement in the wake of Brisbane’s semi-final loss to GWS, the Lions are in need of additional firepower from the halfback line.
Despite playing just one senior game last season, the versatile Ah Chee looms a suitable replacement for Hodge if fully fit and could potentially partner Birchall and 2019 standout Daniel Rich in an aggressive halfback trio.
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“Hopefully I can slot in alongside Birch — he’s a great player of the game and he’ll definitely bring a lot of experience to the team which is good,” Ah Chee said.
“But I’m just worrying about meeting my teammates at the moment and getting to know everyone so I can set myself up for a good year next year.
“The body’s feeling really good. Obviously had some pretty unlucky injuries throughout the year which was disappointing but I’m fine now and doing all my off-season training so fit and ready to go for day one of pre-season. Not looking forwards to the 3km though.”
Ah Chee requested a move to Brisbane back in September but had to wait longer than expected for confirmation as Lions and Suns officials worked out a draft week deal that eventually handed Gold Coast future second and fourth round picks in exchange for the 21-year-old.
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“It got to the last day (of the draft) and I was pretty nervous so it took a week but I was really confident in the Lions to get me across,” Ah Chee said.
“I met with Fages (coach Chris Fagan) and Nobes (football manager David Noble) and (list manager) Dommy Ambrogio … and they’ve got a really good vision of where they want the club to be.
“Fages himself is such a welcoming and caring coach and that was a drawing point for me just the way he develops relationships is great so I can’t wait.”
The 45-gamer admits the lure of finals football at Brisbane was a “drawing point” in leaving Gold Coast but refused to talk down the Suns, describing his former team as a club “on the way up.”
“(Brisbane) have turned the club around really quickly and they know where they want to be and I truly want to be a part of that, but really enjoyed my time at the Suns,” Ah Chee said.
“They were really good to me and I developed a lot of relationships with them but I think for me personally, I just wanted to really enjoy football and I think be best opportunity for me to play my best footy is at the Brisbane Lions.”
Originally published as Callum Ah Chee ready to push for regular first-team spot after Brisbane Lions move