Second-year Brisbane forward Kai Lohmann has settled on remaining in Queensland beyond 2023, knocking back interest from "a lot of Victorian clubs" to recommit to the Lions.
Lohmann was the last remaining first-round selection from the 2021 National Draft to add to his two-year draft contract, with all other top 20 selections either penning extensions or seeking a new home last off-season as Pick 1 selection Jason Horne-Francies returned to South Australia in a move to Port Adelaide.
Essendon, the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn have all been tied to the 20-year-old since he ventured north to Brisbane from Victoria's west, with his unsettled future likely piquing the interest of clubs from Lohmann's home state.
However, any interested suitor is set to miss out on acquiring the exciting half-forward, with Lohmann deciding to extend his stay with the Lions until the end of the 2025 season.
The Lake Wendouree junior will look to add to his eight career matches with Brisbane, who confirmed on Thursday that he and fellow 2021 first-round selection Darcy Wilmot have re-signed for the future.
Lohmann played six games at AFL level this year before suffering a season-ending collarbone injury in the VFL earlier this month. His best outing under Chris Fagan would come in the only defeat of his career so far, having recorded 11 disposals, six tackles, two clearances and a goal against Gold Coast in July.
Half of the midfield-forward utility's appearances would come as the tactical sub, with Lohmann often left to press his case for selection at the state league level.
He would boot 31 goals in the VFL from his 15 games in 2023, including a seven-goal haul against Coburg in Round 9.
A new deal for Lohmann will leave Nakia Cockatoo,ย Blake Coleman,ย Tom Fullarton, Rhys Mathieson,ย Darryl McDowell-White,ย Carter Michael,ย Deven Robertson and Dayne Zorko as the remaining Brisbane players without a contract for 2024.
Wilmot has re-signed until the end of 2027, adding a further two years to a contract that had him already tied to the club for the next 24 months.
"We are thrilled to have Darcy and Kai staying at the Brisbane Lions as they are both promising talents who we believe will play important roles in the future success of our Club," Lions football boss Danny Daly said in a club statement.
"Darcy made his debut in the finals for us last year and from that moment he has just looked at home at AFL level and continues to improve each week.
"Kai has worked hard and was rewarded with several AFL games in what was an injury interrupted year, but we know what he is capable of over the next two years."
Wilmot has played 27 games for the Lions, 24 of which have come in 2023 after the Montmorency product cemented his place in the senior side.
