The Brisbane Lions were unsurprisingly quick to match the bid on Academy prospect Dan Annable on Wednesday night, ensuring he remains a part of the club for the foreseeable future.
The midfielder emerged as a reliable ball winner in his draft year, often the key figure in whichever engine room he resided in, and will press his case for a spot in Chris Fagan's midfield mix despite the star-studded pecking order in the Queensland capital.
However, Annable understands patience will be key to break into the Lions loaded midfield group, highlighting his willingness to change his role to make an impact at AFL level consistently.
It's a rite-of-passage that premiership rookie Levi Ashcroft also handled in his first AFL campaign, often featuring as a winger or half-forward before injuries opened up an opportunity in the centre square, which the soon-to-be 19-year-old grasped immediately.
That's a path Annable is keen to follow, as he looks to expand his repertoire at the next level.
"Obviously, it's extremely likely to be the case [that I'm pushed out of the midfield]," Annable told media following his selection.
"That wing role, that high forward role, similar to what Levi did this year, is something I can see myself doing. I'm open to playing anywhere, being really versatile and have a growth mindset."
Annable won't hold expectations on how regularly he features in the senior side, however, highlighting how important his stint in the VFL this year was to his development.
"It's definitely going to be a goal coming into the year [to play AFL] but there's no expectations," Annable said.
"I'm extremely ready, I've started off-season training already so I'm excited to get to know the boys a bit more and meet the coaches and the staff as well.
"Whether I play Round 1 or Round 10, it doesn't really matter. I know I've put the work in, and I'll continue to do that.
"The VFL games I played have helped heaps and the experiences I got were invaluable.
"The leadership group in the VFL have been very good at making me feel comfortable and helping me get to know the group a bit better.
"So it's unreal. I'm going to a back-to-back premiership club; there's no better place to be.
"It's a club I have so much love and passion for, just as a fan, so I'm excited to finally be joining them and get to work."
