Eric Hipwood and Cedric Cox re-sign with Brisbane Lions as club continues exciting rebuild

THERE was good and bad news for Eric Hipwood on Friday after the young gun signed a contract extension but is still not certain to face North Melbourne.

Eric Hipwood is one of the AFL’s most exciting young talents.

ERIC Hipwood will play for Brisbane for the next three years after he signed a contract extension this week, but won’t know until this Saturday morning if he can line-up against the Kangaroos.

The Lions had a big week off the field, extending Hipwood’s existing contract by another year to lock him away until the end of 2020.

Exciting teenager Cedric Cox became the second signing when he extended his standard two-year draftee contract by a further two years, and he will also be at the Gabba until the end of 2020.

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Hipwood said the contract decision was an easy one to make.

“It is exciting, it is a good place to be,’’ he said.

“Even though we are on the bottom of the ladder we are all very optimistic and excited for the future and I want to be a part of that.’’

Eric Hipwood celebrates a goal with Lewis Taylor.

Cox’s sentiments were the same.

For him the way the Lions created a home away from his true home in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia played a major part.

“It was easy to stay’’ he said.

“It’s exciting, I just love this place, love the club and the people around it. It’s the reason why I signed.

“I know it’s not a home environment for me, but it takes people around it to make it feel like home and the players, the staff, they’re really close mates to me.

“I think they think the same thing as well. It will be great to spend a few more years with the boys.”

Hipwood has been named to play the Kangaroos in the match at the Gabba that will determine the wooden spoon but is a chance to be a late withdrawal due to knee soreness.

He barely got out of a jog at a light session on Friday and although coach Chris Fagan said he was improving every day, he warned fans he “may or may not” play.

Eric Hipwood has signed until 2020.

Cedric Cox has also re-signed until 2020. Picture: Mark Calleja

“We won’t send him out there if he’s any risk of hurting himself long-term,” he said.

However, the 19-year-old has other ideas.

“I’m not too sure what the club is thinking, but I know there is a six-month wait for the next game so I am desperate to play,’’ he said.

“Obviously we have to make a sensible decision, but injuries are funny things and a lot can change in a day.’’

Brisbane received some good news when Dayne Zorko trained strongly after a stint in hospital during the week battling an infection he picked up from a graze on his left leg suffered in last Sunday’s loss to Melbourne.

“He spent a bit of time in hospital this week, was on antibiotics, on a drip,” Fagan said.

“Not an ideal week for him, but sometimes these things pop up. He’s keen to play.”

Originally published as Eric Hipwood and Cedric Cox re-sign with Brisbane Lions as club continues exciting rebuild