Brisbane utility Jaspa Fletcher is hopeful of being ready for Opening Round as he faces a delayed start to the pre-season following a shoulder operation.
Not long after his second consecutive premiership, Fletcher underwent shoulder surgery to clear up any underlying problems, setting him up for a big 2026.
He hasn't missed a game since he debuted in Round 13, 2023, playing 68 unbroken games.
The 21-year-old has been in rehabilitation alongside Jarrod Berry, who was the hard-luck story of the 2025 flag triumph.
Berry dislocated his shoulder in the preliminary final win, and has been on limited duties since.
"Unfortunately, I had my shoulder touched up during the off-season," Fletcher said on Monday.
"It's a different challenge for me. It's something I haven't quite experienced before, coming back from an operation, so I'm looking forward to it. And I have a great mate in Bez (Jarrod Berry) beside me to get me through as well.
"He's really fit, so I'll be able to work off that as well."
Fletcher emerged as one of the Lions' most important players, taking on a new role across half back as Brisbane needed to fill a vacancy.
The father-son gun has been grossly underrated during his time in the AFL, given he joined the Queensland club alongside Will Ashcroft, who also followed his father's footsteps to Brisbane and has won two Norm Smith Medals.
Fletcher's efforts have been recognised internally, finishing fifth in the Merrett-Murray medal this year.
Albeit stopping and smelling the roses for a brief moment, the Lions youngster is focused on putting his head down and bum up ahead of the chase for a third straight flag.
"I was pretty proud of my year last year, but I know I can get better," he said.
"That's what I try and focus on. I was able to soak up the grand final, but come two weeks and post my operation, I was ready to go and look forward to 2026.
"For me personally, I will be attacking my rehab and getting my body ready to go. I am able to run now, which is nice, so I can come into the season fit and ready to go; that'll be my goal."
The Lions' first-to-fourth-year players began the pre-season at Springfield, but were met with a host of veterans, including free agent recruits Oscar Allen and Sam Draper.
Fletcher said the "numbers were pretty high today" at training, indicating the club's desire to achieve a third-straight premiership, a feat executed two decades ago by Brisbane.
"To have all the senior boys come back (is great)," he added.
"The numbers were pretty high today, and they don't have to be here so as younger boys, so it's great to see and to see the senior boys get around the group. They are in great nick as well.
"To have Osacr (Allen), Sam (Draper), Dan (Annable) and the other draftee Tai (Hayes) today, and we're looking forward to having the other boys in, but to see them fit and firing as well, is pretty exciting."
Brisbane's AFLW side has reached another grand final after its dominant performance against Carlton in the preliminary final.
In what will be a rematch of the 2024 decider, the Lions will face North Melbourne at Ikon Park in a bid to seek vengeance on last year's result.
Both programs have made three consecutive grand finals, and in 2025, following changes to the criteria of the McLelland Trophy, Brisbane was rewarded with the $1,000,000 payday.
