The Brisbane Lions want for very, very little.
The reigning, defending, back-to-back champs have a clean bill of health and will be well rested for the week off that Wildcard Round granted them. Their path to an historic three-peat is laid out before them. But what about beyond that?
Zac Bailey's free agency leanings are still yet to be revealed, despite confidence some six weeks ago that he'd be remaining in the River City. Lachie Neale appears a moral to opt against adding to the exemplary eight seasons of service he has provided coach Chris Fagan.
So where to next? What are some savvy acquisitions the league's best-run club could feasibly make this off-season to keep their proverbial premiership window jammed open?
Liam McMahon
Another Bomber who could be forgiven for eyeing an exit is Liam McMahon.
He was one of a few shining lights for Essendon in late 2025, booting 12 goals from seven appearances after being picked up from Carlton's VFL program at the mid-season draft, earning a one-year extension after his initial six-month contract.
Despite that promise, he failed to feature at AFL level in 2026, despite impressive VFL form.
McMahon booted two goals per game for the first seven rounds of the reserves season before injury struck. Upon his return, some eight rounds later, the 24-year-old, first drafted by Collingwood in 2020, notched 19 goals from seven outings.
The Lions got a firsthand glimpse of his craft. McMahon put six of those 19 majors past their twos team, on their own deck.
Eric Hipwood is closer to the end of his career than the start, and McMahon looms as an obvious, and cheap, replacement.
