Brisbane has emerged as a keen suitor for Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee given their need for defensive reinforcements and limited first-round draft capital.
The Lions have looked to rejig their rearguard in the past 12 months due to the ongoing concerns surrounding the future of Marcus Adams' playing career, with the key defender continuing to battle with concussion symptoms from a head knock sustained last year.
Brisbane moved to attain former Saint Darragh Joyce through the Supplemental Selection Period earlier this year, however, the Irishman has struggled to cement his place in Chris Fagan's side.
Fagan has been delighted with the emergence of second-string tall Jack Payne in 2023, with the 23-year-old forming a lethal partnership on the Lions' last line alongside co-captain Harris Andrews in the absence of Adams and senior defender Darcy Gardiner, who has faced a number of setbacks of his own in recent months.
The uncertainty surrounding their defensive depths has potentially led to the Lions looking toward Doedee as an off-season target come the end of the season, according toย AFL.com.au'sย Cal Twomey.
Doedee's status as a restricted free agent means the Lions may not have to hand Adelaide draft capital for his services, a move that would heavily benefit the Queensland club, given they traded their 2023 first-round pick to the Western Bulldogs last year to acquire Josh Dunkley.
Speaking onย Gettable,ย Twomey revealed Doedee, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, is on Brisbane's radar.
"Doedee's decision-making process has been changed by the fact he's out for the rest of the season with that knee reconstruction, but I don't think that's going to get in the way of the interest in him," Twomey said.
"He's out of contract as a versatile tall defender who we know has had that interest in him previously. There's clubs there taking a look at him.
"One of those clubs interested, I understand, is Brisbane. You look at the Lions and you think that's probably an area they could bolster. We know they went searching for a tall defender in the off-season. Marcus Adams went down with concussion, they went and grabbed Darragh Joyce as a reinforcement.
"They do have an interest in Doedee, and I think it makes sense from their point of view and from a list point of view as well. Not just from what they're trying to bring in, but they also don't have a first-round pick this year, so it's much easier to target the free agents and try and get them on board that way.
"There's an appeal there for (Brisbane) to get him, there are a number of clubs that do have interest. Tom Doedee has been weighing up a decision to make."
Doedee is among seven restricted free agents still unsigned for 2024, with Bombers pair Mason Redman and Darcy Parish, North Melbourne's Ben McKay, Port Adelaide veteran Charlie Dixon, Saint Jade Gresham and GWS swingman Harry Himmelberg also falling under the same free agency band.
Himmelberg has been previously tied to the Lions, given his ability as an interceptor, while both Redman and McKay are in-demand from rivals clubs looking to bolster their backline.
Redman is understood to be on the radar of the Crows, who could look to pry the hard-nosed defensive flanker to West Lakes to fill the void Doedee might open in departing the club.
McKay has been murmured to be on the radar of Port Adelaide, who are believed to be on the lookout for tall defenders this off-season, with Geelong's Esava Ratugolea another name tied to the South Australian club.
