Brisbane list manager Dom Ambrogio has indicated that the club is open to any radical and "helpful suggestions" to replace key forward Joe Daniher following its historic grand final win.
The AFL world was shocked to hear the murmurs that Daniher, on the eve of the decider against Sydney, would hang up the boots. Aย revelation that, if they'd won 12 months earlier against Collingwood, the former Bomber would've ended his career.
However, official news came shortly after Brisbane claimed its fourth AFL flag - following on from the three-peat in the early 2000s.
Daniher's absence in 2025 and beyond will leave a "unique"-sized void in the Lions forward line that will be hard to replace.
But Ambrogio is confident by what's already on their list.
"He's (Daniher) a pretty unique player," Ambrogio said on the opening day of the 2024 AFL Trade Period.
"I don't know if we'll be able to replace him like-for-like because there's only one Joe.
"But we'll look for some cover, but we think we've got some good, young guys on our list that we want to give some opportunity to.
"We're quite hopeful some of those guys will come through as well."
Logan Morris played a pivotal role after being selected in last year's National Draft, while Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy missed the majority of the season with ACL injuries.
Brandon Ryan featured once, while Henry Smith and Darcy Fort were used as second rucks multiple times during 2024.
Tom Doedee is also expected to make his return, which could free up a defender to make the switch forward, which will all be part of the consideration for Chris Fagan.
Outside the club, Ambrogio quipped that many names have been floated to the Lions.
Recently retired Geelong legend Tom Hawkins and St Kilda unrestricted free agent Tim Membrey pose as viable options if a no-fuss deal can be done, while the prospect of Richmond's Tom Lynch is near-impossible given the need to trade for him.
"It was only eight days ago we were in a grand final, so we haven't had a lot of time to go through what our options are, but we'll have a look at all our options and work through that," Ambrogio said.
"We've had a lot of very helpful suggestions, some more realistic than others, but I'm happy to put (Tom Hawkins) in the book of people we need to speak to."
Brisbane is set to welcome father-son Levi Ashcroft and Academy prospect Sam Marshall, who will both warrant a first-round selection.
The Lions currently hold Picks 20, 59 and 72, which will be engulfed by the bids on Ashcroft and Marshall and therefore make any trades unlikely.
Please donโt bring Hawkins out of retirement
As hood a player that he was heโs to old
Use our youth and develop them into a strong team
Donโt make the same mistake as other teams over the years that keep or get old players and then our young leave and we linger at the bottom of the ladder and then our club suffers and the supporters all disappear
We have Logan Morris. Henry Smith. Darcy Gardner Linc McCarthy Tom Dodee. Darcy Forte
Ive been a supporters since day one. As a bears lived through the bad days lets not return
Invest in our Future.
Have Tom as a specialist coach not a player please