{"id":21997,"date":"2026-09-08T04:21:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T04:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/21997\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T04:21:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T04:21:16","slug":"rapt-lions-star-bailey-explains-contract-decision-camden-haven-courier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/21997\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Rapt’: Lions star Bailey explains contract decision | Camden Haven Courier"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ZacZac Bailey has signed a long-term contract with the Brisbane Lions. Photo: Morgan Hancock\/AAP PHOTOS<\/p>\n

Brisbane Lions premiership hero Zac Bailey has re-signed with the reigning champions, ending a long-running saga about whether he would move to Adelaide.<\/p>\n

In an added subplot to this Saturday night’s semi-final between the Lions and the Crows at the Gabba, Bailey officially turned down a monster offer from Adelaide.<\/p>\n

The restricted free agent has penned a new eight-year deal to remain with the Lions until the end of 2034.<\/p>\n

“This club means so much to me – I came here as a young player and have grown up here and to know I will be here long-term is something I’m really proud of,” Bailey said.<\/p>\n

“I would like to thank the club, my partner Em, my family and my management for being so supportive throughout this process.<\/p>\n

“I love what we as a club have achieved during my time here and I am super excited about what we can continue to achieve together.”<\/p>\n

Bailey has joined Sam Walsh (Carlton), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne) and Caleb Serong (Fremantle) as the only AFL players contracted until the end of 2034.<\/p>\n

A two-time All-Australian, Bailey has enjoyed another outstanding season with 31 goals and averaged a career-high 21.7 disposals.<\/p>\n

The 26-year-old’s call comes as the Lions prepare to farewell star veteran Lachie Neale, who is expected to move to Collingwood during the trade period.<\/p>\n

Lions football boss Danny Daly hailed Bailey’s decision as a significant moment for the club.<\/p>\n

“There is no doubt Zac was highly sought after, so for him to choose to stay says a lot about his belief in the club, his teammates and the environment we have built here,” Daly said.<\/p>\n

Bailey’s signature comes just three days after the Lions were unexpectedly smashed by Sydney in the qualifying final at the SCG.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Rowan Marshall is demanding a trade from St Kilda, a year after Geelong tried to lure the experienced ruckman.<\/p>\n

Marshall is contracted at the Saints until the end of next season, with the Cats and Essendon his strongest suitors.<\/p>\n

He tried to leave for Geelong at the end of last season but hasn’t yet nominated his preferred new club.<\/p>\n

Cats coach Chris Scott was tight-lipped on his club’s prospects of signing the 30-year-old.<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Scott is not giving much away on the prospect of signing Rowan Marshall. (James Ross\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

“If I was (interested), I wouldn’t tell you,” Scott told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Scott said the fact Marshall remained contracted at the Saints complicated matters.<\/p>\n

\"StSt Kilda preferred Tom De Koning (right) ahead of Rowan Marshall (left) as ruckman. (Adam Trafford\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

Marshall played 21 games this season for the Saints, who opted for ex-Carlton recruit Tom de Koning as the club’s first-choice ruck.<\/p>\n

St Kilda said they would consider their options ahead of the trade period which opens on October 5.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the No.4 pick from the 2023 draft, Zane Duursma, has told North Melbourne he wants to move to Melbourne.<\/p>\n

The Demons have long been linked to the 21-year-old, who has played 38 games for the Kangaroos in three seasons.<\/p>\n

\"ZaneZane Duursma is understood to have told North he wants to join the Dees. (James Ross\/AAP PHOTOS)<\/p>\n

The Demons are understood to have separately told former captain Jack Viney that he’s welcome to explore a trade after an injury-cruelled season.<\/p>\n

Viney, 32, played only one game – in Melbourne’s wildcard finals loss to Carlton – after having pre-season Achilles surgery and then suffering with back and toe injuries.<\/p>\n

Viney, a premiership player in 2021, is contracted until the end of 2028.<\/p>\n

Australian Associated Press<\/p>\n

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Loading…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Zac Bailey has signed a long-term contract with the Brisbane Lions. Photo: Morgan Hancock\/AAP PHOTOS Brisbane Lions premiership…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21998,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[8],"class_list":["post-21997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-camden","tag-camden"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21997\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/gbr\/london\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}