The Brisbane Lions will hunt a third consecutive premiership in 2026, but will be required to do so with significant list changes following the departures of three key pillars from their 2024 and 2025 premiership sides.
All three lines have taken a hit in the Queensland capital, with defender Brandon Starcevich, ruck Oscar McInerney and forward Callum Ah Chee either moving clubs or calling time on their AFL careers.
However, captain Harris Andrews believes the club won't be fazed by these exits, given their successful off-season recruitments and the club's "next man up" mentality that has enabled them to win back-to-back premierships.
"You're always evolving as a footy club," Andrews told media on Monday.
"To lose Starcevich, Ah Chee and McInerney, we'll miss those guys, but we had a fair bit of change over the year before as well. We're not naive guys will move on, but we'll get new players in as well.
"It's next man up."
This mentality is nothing new for Brisbane.
In the final month of Brisbane's home and away season, a potentially devastating injury to Lachie Neale was resolved with Will Ashcroft's deployment into the centre square, the young gun elevating his play to maintain Brisbane's engine room as the most damaging mix in the competition.
It was evident even earlier than that juncture, with ruck Darcy Fort earning the call-up for the 2024 Grand Final after McInerney's heartbreaking shoulder injury in the preliminary final. He matched the efforts of star Brodie Grundy around the ground to be the unlikely story of the premiership, having played just two senior games prior to the grand final that season.
Andrews highlighted how the club's culture has helped them push through adversity, and believes the new arrivals will add to Brisbane's resilience, most notably acquiring ex-Eagles captain Oscar Allen and versatile ruck Sam Draper.
"It's really enjoyable to be there on the last Saturday of September and win, but none of us are naive to the fact that it's a massive mountain to climb," Andrews said.
"If you get caught looking too far ahead you end up falling behind.
"[Allen and Draper] are super experienced guys. I'm really keen to pick their brains about things that the clubs they were at did really well and get some good feedback on where we can improve as a group."
The Lions' premiership defence begins in Opening Round, taking on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, March 7 at the Gabba.
