Brisbane Lions Player Departures – Full List, Reasons and Impacts

The Brisbane Lions have navigated significant list changes across recent AFL seasons, including departures that have reshaped the club’s premiership-contending roster. From delistings and retirements to trade requests and voluntary exits, the Lions have experienced notable player movement following their back-to-back 2023 and 2024 premiership victories. This comprehensive overview examines every confirmed departure, the circumstances behind each move, and what the changes mean for the club’s future direction.

The departures span multiple categories, reflecting the complex realities of AFL list management. Players have left through retirement, delisting, trade requests, and other contractual means, each decision carrying implications for the Lions’ playing list depth and salary cap flexibility. Understanding these movements requires examining both the official announcements and the broader industry context surrounding professional football list management.

Who Are the Brisbane Lions Players Departing in 2024?

Brisbane Lions player departures have occurred in distinct phases, with the most recent announcements following the club’s second consecutive AFL premiership victory. The departures encompass players who contributed to the premiership success alongside those who sought opportunities elsewhere. Three trade requests, two delistings, and one retirement have been confirmed as part of the list management update released by the club ahead of the 2026 season draft period.

Trade Request Departures

Three premiership players have lodged formal trade requests seeking moves to other clubs. Callum Ah Chee, who played 124 AFL games across six seasons with the Lions, requested a trade to Adelaide. Brandon Starcevich, selected in the 2018 draft, departs after 132 games and requested a move to the West Coast Eagles. Midfielder Deven Robertson, with 47 games to his name, also submitted a request to join West Coast.

Delisted Players

Two players were delisted following the 2024 season. Darcy Craven, who joined as a mid-season rookie in 2024, departs without having played an AFL game for the club. Brandon Ryan, acquired in a trade from Hawthorn in 2023, played only one AFL game before being delisted ahead of the new season.

Retirement

Sam Day retired after a distinguished career spanning 168 AFL games total. The 33-year-old key forward contributed 13 games to the Lions in 2024 after joining via the Pre-Season Draft from Gold Coast. Day notably played in the Qualifying Final during his single season at the club.

Why Are These Players Leaving the Brisbane Lions?

The reasons behind Brisbane Lions player departures vary significantly across the group. Trade requests typically stem from players seeking greater opportunities, different club environments, or personal circumstances that align better with other organizations. The Lions, as a successful premiership club, face the challenge of retaining talent while managing salary cap constraints and list composition requirements.

Career Opportunity Factors

Several departing players cited opportunity concerns as motivation for their requests. The Lions’ premiership contention status means established players often face reduced game time as the club prioritizes winning in the short term. This dynamic creates natural tension between player development goals and immediate success objectives.

Industry List Management Realities

Lions list manager Dom Ambrogio acknowledged the disappointment of losing premiership talent while accepting the industry realities facing all AFL clubs. Delistings occur when players cannot break into the senior side despite dedicated training and VFL contributions. The Lions organization emphasized that each departure had contributed meaningfully to the club culture regardless of their AFL standing.

Player-Initiated Departures

All three trade requests originated from the players themselves, indicating mutually agreed separations rather than club-initiated removals. Players like Callum Ah Chee, Brandon Starcevich, and Deven Robertson demonstrated professional approach by requesting formal trades rather than forcing contract situations, allowing the Lions to receive appropriate draft compensation where applicable.

What Is the Timeline of Brisbane Lions Player Departures?

The timeline of Brisbane Lions departures reveals distinct announcement phases aligned with AFL calendar requirements. Understanding when each departure became official helps contextualize the list management process and the club’s strategic planning cycle.

2023 List Changes Finalization

The Lions completed their 2023 list changes ahead of the 2024 season, finalizing departures that included Rhys Mathieson, Blake Coleman, and Darryl McDowell-White Junior through delisting, alongside retirements from Marcus Adams, Daniel Rich, and Nakia Cockatoo. These moves addressed list imbalances accumulated during the previous season.

Post-Premiership 2024 Announcements

Following the club’s second consecutive premiership victory, the Lions announced their latest round of departures through their official list management update. The announcements came ahead of the 2026 season draft period, allowing adequate time for trade negotiations and list planning across the league.

1. 2023 list changes finalized with Mathieson, Coleman, McDowell-White Junior delistings plus retirements
2. Lincoln McCarthy delisted with club commitment to redraft in rookie draft
3. Sam Day retirement announced after single Lions season
4. Darcy Craven delisted following mid-season 2024 rookie addition
5. Brandon Ryan delisted after one AFL game since 2023 Hawthorn trade
6. Trade requests lodged by Ah Chee, Starcevich, and Robertson confirmed
7. Official announcements released via club channels and media partners

What Impact Do Departures Have on the Brisbane Lions Roster?

The cumulative effect of recent departures creates both challenges and opportunities for the Lions’ list composition. Losing experienced premiership players removes institutional knowledge while simultaneously freeing salary cap space and creating openings for developing talent within the organization.

Experience Loss Assessment

The departures remove significant AFL experience from the Lions’ playing list. Combined, the trade requesters account for over 300 AFL games, representing substantial leadership and match-day expertise that must be distributed among remaining players or replaced through the draft and trade period.

Roster Flexibility Benefits

List management decisions provide the Lions with improved salary cap flexibility and additional draft picks where trades are completed. This resource allocation enables the club to address specific list needs through the AFL Trade Period and national draft, potentially targeting players who fill immediate positional requirements.

Youth Development Implications

Delistings and departures create openings for younger players within the Lions’ talent pipeline. The club’s VFL side serves as a crucial development environment, with several delisted players continuing to contribute at that level. This approach allows promising players to demonstrate their readiness for AFL selection.

Who Is Joining Brisbane Lions Amid Player Exits?

While player departures dominate headlines, the Lions have simultaneously pursued list additions to maintain competitive balance. The club’s list management strategy addresses outgoing departures through targeted recruitment during trade and draft periods.

Incoming Player Additions

The Lions have previously acquired players including Tom Doedee and other talent through various list management mechanisms. The club’s approach balances immediate needs against long-term list sustainability, targeting specific positions where departures create gaps.

Re-drafting Commitments

A notable aspect of the Lions’ list management involves commitments to re-draft players who have been delisted. Lincoln McCarthy represents an example where the club indicated intention to select the player in the rookie draft following his delisting, maintaining connection with a player who demonstrated value at the VFL level.

Key Departures: A Deeper Look at the Players

Each departing player brings unique circumstances to their exit from the Brisbane Lions organization. Examining individual cases provides insight into the human elements behind list management decisions.

Callum Ah Chee’s Contribution

Callum Ah Chee departs as a dual premiership player after 124 games across six seasons. His versatility across multiple positions provided valuable tactical flexibility for the Lions, with his departure representing both a playing and leadership loss for the club.

Brandon Starcevich’s Journey

Selected in the 2018 draft, Brandon Starcevich developed into a reliable contributor over 132 games. His request to join West Coast reflects personal circumstances and opportunity factors that aligned with his career trajectory.

Sam Day’s Retirement

Sam Day’s retirement ends a 168-game career that included stints with Gold Coast and Brisbane. His brief but impactful contribution to the Lions included a Qualifying Final appearance, providing valuable experience in key forward roles during the premiership season.

Summary

The Brisbane Lions have navigated significant player departures following their historic back-to-back premiership victories. Seven players have departed through trade requests, delistings, and retirement, encompassing over 300 combined AFL games of experience. List manager Dom Ambrogio acknowledged the realities of these departures while praising each player’s contributions. The Lions face the dual challenge of replacing experience while maintaining their winning culture. As trade negotiations continue and the draft approaches, the club’s list management strategy will determine how effectively they maintain premiership competitiveness through the 2025 season and beyond.

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