The manager of dual Brisbane Lions premiership player Callum Ah Chee is adamant the 28-year-old won't return to the Lions.
Ah Chee came out of contract at the end of 2025, with Adelaide offering a future second and future third round pick, which didn't satisfy Brisbane's demands of a first round pick.
He is set to nominate for the pre-season draft and will set financial terms and particulars around his contract that have been agreed upon by Adelaide and other clubs will be unable to meet so is all but certain to return to his home state.
West Coast Eagles list manager Matt Clarke on Wednesday night effectively ruled out a play for Ah Chee with their number one selection in the pre-season draft.
Brisbane will now get nothing in return for Ah Chee.
It's the first time since Jack Martin in 2019 that a deal has fallen through for a player, who has then gone to the pre-season draft.
"He's leaving. He's going to Adelaide."
Despite no trade being completed, the Crows are certain that Cal Ah Chee will be a Crow in 2026 through the pre-season draft.#AFLTrade pic.twitter.com/YeIvwumOFQ
— AFL Trade Radio (@traderadio) October 15, 2025
Ink Sports Management's Ben Williams criticised Brisbane for not getting a deal done given the move has been widely anticipated for an extended period.
“Zero chance,” Williams said when asked whether Ah Chee will return to Brisbane.
“He's, leaving, he's committed to the Adelaide Footy Club.
“Adelaide used the best endeavours to facilitate a trade – it wasn't to Brisbane's liking so the only avenue for Cal to get there is through the pre-season draft and that's what he'll do.
“I'm disappointed in Brisbane...We've told them for months what we wanted to do, and we tried to go through the front door and be as transparent as possible.
“We'll pick up the player welfare pieces after this and then concentrate on getting to Adelaide.”
Adelaide List Manager Justin Reid reinforced that the Crows remain committed to Ah Chee.
“I don't think we let him down, we put our best foot forward with a fair and reasonable deal which is out there publicly already,” Reid said.
“We're disappointed for Cal and his family but he's committed to us and we're committed to him so unfortunately we'll have to take the long route now but that's the way it goes.”
Brisbane list manager Dom Ambrogio defended the club's position, indicating the situation was “out of our control.”
“Our main aim has been trying to retain him the whole time,” Ambrogio said.
“We put a lot of effort into that.
“We put a long term deal to him.
“At the end of the journey I don't think there was that that much difference between the deals.
“We think he's a great player and we'd love to have him around.
“He'll be disappointed – I'm disappointed for him, but at the end of the day, it was largely out of our control.”
