Generation Next's Jack Redden aims to always be a Lion

YOUNG gun Jack Redden wants to be a Lion for life, saying he would be happy to call the Gabba home for his entire career.

YOUNG gun Jack Redden wants to be a Lion for life.

The 21-year-old has been embroiled in trade speculation about a possible homecoming to South Australia in exchange for out-of-contract Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett.

But Redden plans on being a one-club player.

And Brisbane will not be putting the talented midfielder on the trade table.

Redden has committed until the end of 2014 and would be happy to call the Gabba home for his entire career.

"Brisbane has given me great opportunities from the get go, the Lions have been great to me," Redden said.

"I'm signed on for another two years and I hope to play the rest of my career at the Brisbane Lions."

Brisbane coach Michael Voss said Redden's eye-catching form in the past month underlined his long-term importance.

"All I can say is that it's completely non-negotiable. It's not happening," Voss said of a trade for Tippett. "He (Redden) is at the cornerstone of what we are trying to build here.

"I understand that people are going to talk about what might and what might not happen at this time of the year but that core nucleus, which includes Jack, is going nowhere. I can't emphasise that enough."

Redden said there was a "family atmosphere" at the Lions and an overwhelming feeling of being on the way up.

"I'm happy where the club is going. I think there's a bright future here so I'm staying around," he said.

"A lot of the young boys have done a terrific job this year and are standing up and taking the weight off the senior players.

"It's more than just me, Richy (Daniel Rich) and Rocky (Tom Rockliff). All of the young boys are getting the job done and getting a taste of winning."

Teammate Simon Black recently likened Redden to Lions great Nigel Lappin and he is one of the handful of Brisbane's "generation next" that can make the leap to being a genuine A-grader.

"I think I'm capable of taking that next step," Redden said. "I've taken on more of a leadership role in the midfield which has helped drive my standards. Hopefully I can keep improving."