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<\/a><\/p>\nFresh off a second straight flag, the Lions didn’t sit still and ensured their prospects for another premiership tilt in 2026 with an aggressive off-season of player movement.<\/p>\n
Utilising free agency, Brisbane acquired West Coast captain Oscar Allen<\/a> and Essendon ruckman Sam Draper<\/a>, who could both be sizeable signings if they return to peak fitness and form in the Queensland capital.<\/p>\n While multiple premiership Lions have also changed clubs, Chris Fagan’s squad is only stronger than it was last September, with the club’s fresh faces, emerging stars and depth chart all combining to have the Lions sitting as the flag favourites early in 2026.<\/p>\n Here we select Brisbane’s best 23 lineup for 2026…<\/p>\n Defenders<\/p>\n The Lions’ premiership backline will only be stronger this year, with key defender Jack Payne<\/a> to eventually return from an Achilles injury that brought a cruel and abrupt end to his 2025 season.<\/p>\n He headlines a list of Lions defenders set to return to the fold after long injury stints, with Keidean Coleman<\/a> and Tom Doedee<\/a> both eyeing Opening Round spots after ACL injuries.<\/p>\n Doedee has been the forgotten man at Springfield, having played one AFL<\/a> game since June 2023 when he was back with the Crows.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’ll be no easy task to lock in a spot in Fagan’s back seven, with co-captain Harris Andrews<\/a> and rebounders Dayne Zorko<\/a>, Darcy Wilmot<\/a> and Jaspa Fletcher<\/a> being the incumbents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Senior duo Darcy Gardiner<\/a> and Ryan Lester<\/a> are likely to face some competition from Payne and Doedee, while the void opened by Brandon Starcevich’s departure to West Coast likely falls the way of Noah Answerth<\/a>.<\/p>\n That leaves Keidean Coleman<\/a> with a squeeze of his own, however the defender who played a starring role in the 2023 Grand Final defeat to Collingwood should slot in somewhere given his ability to also play further up the field.<\/p>\n Utility options Bruce Reville<\/a>, Conor McKenna<\/a> and Shadeau Brain<\/a> will also press their case, while Luke Beecken<\/a> is another to keep in mind after getting a small look at AFL<\/a> minutes last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 28: Brandon Starcevich of the Lions shares a laugh with Jack Payne of the Lions prior to the start of the round 3 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba, on March 28, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts\/AFL Photos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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