What Queensland clubs have to get done before next season
The season might be over but there is plenty still to be ticked off for Queensland’s two AFL clubs as they prepare for 2024. Here is what is on the Lions and Suns’ to-do lists.
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In 24 hours the Brisbane Lions squared away two of the looming questions hanging over the club’s head entering the national draft later this month.
The protracted Dayne Zorko contract saga came to a close on Wednesday when the veteran and club agreed to a one-year extension that will take him into his 13th AFL season as a 35 year old next year.
And on Thursday the Lions announced former GWS Giants forward Daniel Lloyd would join the club as a development coach in 2024.
Lloyd, 31, steps into the role vacated by Dale Morris who last month was elevated into an assistant coaching role following the departure of Jed Adcock to North Melbourne.
The announcement came coupled with the news recently retired favourite son Daniel Rich would remain at the club in a multifaceted off-field role working with the development, wellbeing and commercial teams.
Brisbane is not expected to be a major player during the draft given its highest selection is 30. But the Lions are in win-now mode and after adding wantaway Crow Tom Doedee in free agency are eyes ahead to 2024 and returning to the grand final.
One of the few loose ends left to tie up – and it’s not one that will felt for a few more seasons – is where the club will play its home games between 2026 and 2029.
The Gabba is due to be razed and rebuilt ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and the Lions want a redeveloped RNA Showgrounds to be their home away from home during those four years.
But talks have seemingly stalled with the State Government and Queensland Cricket – the former it seems would prefer the Lions to play out of their Brighton Homes Arena base in Springfield.
It was expected that soon after the conclusion of the AFL season there would be a decision. The news as it stands is that there is no news.
In slightly more urgent circumstances there are the 15 players who will come off-contract at the end of next season, headlined by Hugh McCluggage and Keidean Coleman.
Brisbane’s joint-best finals players from last season are both expected to sign on beyond next season, however in the case of McCluggage in particular the question is: How much will the Lions have to pay him?
While not urgent, there is no doubt the future of those two players in particular are at the forefront of the club’s minds entering next season.
On the Gold Coast there are a handful of loose ends to tie up before the playing group reports for its first pre-season under Damien Hardwick – and one crucial contract chat that is yet to happen.
That of course is spearhead Ben King, whose future will remain one of the biggest questions coming out of the Suns until the club can get his signature on a new deal.
It is understood King’s management and the club are yet to enter into formal discussions around an extension beyond his current 2024 deal.
The Suns want it done yesterday. There is still hope it gets done before the start of next season. The longer it drags on, the louder the noise will become.
Ex-Crow Richard Douglas joined club s as a development coach this week. rounding out Hardwick’s coaching panel for 2024.
The triple-premiership coach now has his backroom organised ahead of the first season of a six-year deal on the Gold Coast.
As for more pressing matters, the Suns have three: Sam Day, Hewago Oea, and the draft.
SAM DAY
The club’s equal longest-serving player alongside David Swallow is set to be delisted and re-added by the Suns in the upcoming national draft.
There was a prevailing thought that 2023 might be the inaugural Sun’s final season given he has managed just 13 senior games over the past three years.
When the club announced six re-signings last week and none of those were Day, that seemed it for the 150-game veteran. But he and the club are eager for at least one more go-around in 2024.
Day’s cause was helped by the departures of fellow key forwards Mabior Chol, Chris Burgess and Brodie McLaughlin. He will serve as a veteran depth option in 2024, as he has done for the past few seasons.
Day will be delisted prior to the national draft to open up further list spots for the Suns to access their glut of draft picks that will be used to match bids on their four Academy prospects.
HEWAGO OEA
The Papua New Guinea native was added as a Category B rookie by the Suns in 2020 but will come off the rookie list prior to next season.
Gold Coast has committed to retaining ‘Ace’ for next season and plans to shift him to the main list after the national draft later this month.
In a similar situation to Day, the Suns must keep list spots open entering the national draft however the club will have spots left over after the draft and it’s then that Oea will be elevated.
The 21-year-old played eight games in 2023 but fell out of favour in the back half of the year.
Though not a high possession earner, Oea could be one that Hardwick gets to work moulding into a high pressure small forward – a role that featured heavily in his premiership-winning Richmond sides.
PRE-DRAFT DEALING
As it stands the Suns are confident their heady draft haul of 10 picks will be enough to grab all four of their Academy products later this month.
But there will still be plenty of wheeling and dealing to be done on draft night to maximise the draft hand and also push any superfluous picks into next year where another handful of Academy products will be waiting.
With less than three weeks until the draft, Suns list boss Craig Cameron will be ramping up discussions with rivals to ensure the deals he wants get done on the night.
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