Key Lion re-signs; Pie’s contract status revealed

Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko is returning next year to complete unfinished business, officially inking a one-year deal to play in his 12th season.

The 33-year-old and five-time club champion remains a key contributor for the Lions, whose fourth-straight finals campaign ended in a 71-point preliminary final loss to eventual premier Geelong.

Zorko averaged almost 20 disposals and played 22 of 25 games to help Brisbane secure a top-four finish with consecutive finals wins over Richmond and Melbourne.

“The club has been building towards something really exciting the past few seasons and with that looking to continue next year, I really wanted to be a part of it,” Zorko said.

“Even though I am not getting any younger; I have been really enjoying my football, as we have such a great group of players and people at the club.

“I am extremely thankful for the Brisbane Lions to back me to go around again.”

News Corp has also confirmed Collingwood forward Will Hoskin-Elliott, who was widely believed to be out of contract, quietly re-signed last year until the end of the 2024 season.

The Magpies never announced the 181-gamer’s contract extension but his commitment means only restricted free agent Jordan De Goey, Ollie Henry, Jack Madgen and Caleb Poulter are yet to re-sign for next year.

They also didn’t reveal Steele Sidebottom had re-signed, which only came to light with his absence from the AFL’s official free agency list this year.

De Goey is refusing to sign a five-year contract while Henry is weighing up whether to request a trade to Geelong, where his brother Jack plays.

Elsewhere, Hawks Tyler Brockman and Emerson Jeka re-signed for another year, while ex-Blue Levi Casboult is in negotiations to return for another season at Gold Coast after kicking a career-most 35 goals in 2022.