Lions retain top four players

THE trio of Andrew Raines, Matt Maguire and Rohan Bewick are set to follow Simon Black by re-signing with Brisbane.

Andrew Raines

THE trio of Andrew Raines, Matt Maguire and Rohan Bewick are set to follow Simon Black by re-signing with Brisbane.

Black's re-commitment to the Lions for a 16th season in 2013 was rubber-stamped yesterday, with the 33-year-old coming to terms on a one-year deal at the Gabba.

It will almost certainly be his final campaign, with the midfield marvel set to take up an assistant coaching role with an AFL club after he hangs up the boots.

West Coast and Carlton have expressed their interest in Black joining their coaching panels while the Gold Coast could also loom as a possible destination.

Brisbane's retention drive will continue in the coming days with Raines, Maguire and Bewick all poised to put pen to paper.

Raines, 26, has developed into Brisbane's No.1 tagger since joining the Lions at the end of 2009 and recently celebrated his 100-game milestone. The former Tiger averaged more than 16 touches a game in 2012 while also negating some of the best midfielders in the AFL.

Maguire's 2012 was punctuated by elbow and foot injuries and he missed six games, but did produce his best season for Brisbane since heading north from St Kilda in 2009.

With vice-captain Daniel Merrett spending a large chunk of the year up forward, the 28-year-old was required to shoulder a greater load in defence.

He is expected to sign a one-year deal.

Bewick kicked 18 goals in 16 senior games in 2012, with the left-footer having established himself as a regular member of Brisbane's first-choice side.

The West Australian turns 23 next month and helped form part of Brisbane's mosquito squad in the forward line.

It is understood that negotiations with out-of-contract free agents Ash McGrath and Josh Drummond are not as advanced but both veterans are considered required players at the Lions.

Black is now in striking distance of two coveted club records. He is set to surpass Marcus Ashcroft (318 games) as Brisbane's games record-holder and Kevin Murray (333 games) for the games record across Brisbane and Fitzroy.