2 hours ago
1
Breakout Lions star Zac Bailey insists he has not given his future thought beyond the end of his 2026 deal, despite rival clubs plotting multimillion-dollar moves to pry the livewire away from the defending premiers.
The 25-year-old has cast aside what he labelled a disappointing 2024 campaign – despite lifting the AFL premiership cup – to produce a career-best season that culminated in his maiden All Australian blazer.
Such has been his form – averaging 19.83 disposals, 6.24 contested possessions and 3.25 inside 50s a game, to go with 37 goals – the dynamic small forward or midfielder has reportedly attracted interest from Essendon and Adelaide.
Zac Bailey has reportedly attracted extensive interest from rival clubs.Credit: AFL Photos
The potential offer from the Bombers has been reported as being up to $8 million over six years, while Bailey also has Adelaide roots, having moved from Darwin to attend Prince Alfred College.
Speaking ahead of the Lions’ preliminary final clash with Collingwood on Saturday, Bailey said he currently had no intention of leaving.
Loading
“I absolutely love it here,” Bailey said.
“I think the next two weeks is pretty important for this club as a whole, and we’ve got a really big opportunity, so that’s where all my focus has been.
“I’ve got another year-and-a-half here at the club, so I think there’s plenty of time to sort that stuff out.”
A niggling ankle issue suffered in April last year kept Bailey from performing consistently – his 22 goals and 358 disposals his lowest output since 2020.
But come 2025, he exploded to become key to Brisbane’s star-studded line-up, with his highlight reel including his second five-goal haul against Port Adelaide and first since round six in 2022.
That could be the level of performance he needs to counter the potential comeback of Magpies pocket rocket Bobby Hill.
Hill claimed the Norm Smith Medal when the two sides battled in the 2023 grand final, but has played just once in the past three months after stepping away for personal reasons.
He returned to training on the eve of Collingwood’s qualifying final triumph of the Crows.
Loading
Bailey insisted he was focused on ensuring the reality check dealt to him by Lions midfield coach Cam Bruce to inspire his form resurgence was not in vain.
“There was a fair bit of reflection done at the end of last year. Even though we had a good year as a team, and we won it, from a personal standpoint it probably wasn’t my best year,” Bailey said.
“[Bruce] hit me between the eyes with a little bit of feedback at the start of the year. It was just around that consistency and the way I was prepping for games, I could have made some improvements there, and just working with certain things to take me to the next step.
“I was very inconsistent and there were things that needed to be done to become a more consistent player.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
Loading
