The Brisbane Lions have presented two-time premiership hero and top 2026 free agent Zac Bailey with a six-year extension.
The contract would see Bailey recommit to the reigning premiers until 2032, according to AFL Media's Cal Twomey.
However, Bailey is expected to take his time before making a decision, according to Brisbane's football boss Danny Daly, with several significant offers expected to head his way from interstate rivals.
"We've got an offer on the table to Zac. We've been in discussion with his management group, Anthony McConville, who does a great job for him," Lions football boss Danny Daly told SEN on Tuesday.
"That's there, but we also understand that might sit there for a while until his management is ready to come back and discuss it with us."
In October 2025, Tom McConville, a member of Bailey's management group, revealed the company had "fielded calls from almost every club" gauging if Bailey had a desire to move from Brisbane.
McConville stated at the time that while Bailey's decision will come down to football and lifestyle reasons, which Brisbane clearly offers, the financial factor will also be a key component in his eventual decision.
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The rival clubs who look set to approach the 26-year-old include the Essendon Bombers, with AFL Media's Cal Twomey revealing in September of last year that Essendon could offer the star Lion a six-plus year contract, worth about $1.3 million per year, making it the most lucrative contract in Bombers history.
Bailey would be worth such an offer, asserting himself as one of the more versatile forwards in the AFL in Brisbane's successful premiership defence.
Bailey averaged a career-high 20.0 disposals per game in 2025, kicking 42 goals from 26 games. It included a 23-disposal, 10-score involvement effort in Brisbane's Grand Final win, which saw Bailey notch three goals (and six behinds) in the Lions' second consecutive premiership.
