Brisbane coach Chris Fagan expects veteran Dayne Zorko to continue playing in 2027 despite a litany of injuries that has plagued his season.
Zorko is on the way back from a quad issue, and has been limited to seven outings this year.
However, despite his restricted minutes, the 36-year-old has more than proven his value.
"If he finishes the year off well, I'm sure that he'll get a contract for next year. I wouldn't have thought that's in any doubt," Fagan said.
"He's had a few injury challenges this year, but he's working hard to get his body right.
"We'll give him every opportunity to play on next year.
"In some ways it'll be Zorks' call, I would have thought ... given the career he's had. It'll be his call whether to go on.
"I don't see that as a major issue. That'll just be sorted out some time over the next few weeks."
Zorko re-signing would go a long way in keeping the back-to-back premiership group together, with the club expected to lose Zac Bailey and Lachie Neale.
Bailey is being courted by Adelaide and Essendon, and its likely the former who will sign his services, while Neale is tipped to join Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent.
Fagan, on AFL360, was cognisant of the fact that players will look to move for a variety of reasons
“At the end of the day, the way football is now, players move. We don't like it when they move, but it's a fact of life,” Fagan said.
“And I think the main thing is, whether they stay or go, as long as they continue to play and give the best they've got each week, I think that's all you can ask for.
“In the case of Zac and Lachie, that's what we're getting at the moment.
“No doubt this will all unfold. I may need to get involved at some point in time down the track.
“But for now, the focus is just them, their footy and performance and helping them with whatever else they need help with in their lives.”
Meaning a player, like Zorko, who has pledged his loyalty to the Lions after they took a punt on him in his early days, is pivotal to the club's success next year.
"He's a good playing coach within the group," Fagan said.
"His story is amazing. He wasn't an 18-year-old prodigy. It took him until he was 22 or 23 to break in and start up his career.
"He's got a lot of life lessons he can pass on to others about perseverance and resilience and those sorts of things. He's incredibly valuable in that way.
"He's not hesitant to pass that on to others. He wants to leave a legacy and I'm sure he'll leave a great legacy."
Zorko has played 311 AFL games for Brisbane, and if he signs a new deal for next year, he should topple Simon Black's club record of 322.
He, along with Hugh McCluggage, will not return for Thursday's blockbuster against Geelong.
