Brisbane list manager Dom Ambrogio has provided the latest on a number of players and scenarios involving the club.
The Lions have been working with other clubs in order to trade draft picks so they can compile the points required to select both Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher in November’s draft.
Tom Berry departed the Lions for the Gold Coast Suns in a deal involving pick swaps, while there was also business completed with GWS in the form of swapping draft selections.
Ambrogio says these moves are geared towards how they can bring in the talented pair whose fathers Marcus (Ashcroft) and Adrian (Fletcher) both played for the club.
“We moved some picks around to put us in a better position to do all those deals,” he said on Sportsday.
“Obviously we’ve got some consideration when it gets to draft time with the father-son boys, and the fact we have to go in carrying some points, I don’t think that’s a mystery to anyone.
“Clearly that was the motivation behind doing what we did today (on Wednesday) and Tom Berry finding a new home at the Gold Coast Suns.”
Brisbane will need the required points to secure Ashcroft and Fletcher after expected bids come for them early in the first round of the draft.
A key piece of Brisbane’s trade period puzzle is that of Western Bulldogs best and fairest winner Josh Dunkley, who has requested a trade to the Lions.
Ambrogio is confident a deal will be done with the Dogs in due course.
“We’re rapt that Josh is keen to come to Brisbane,” Ambrogio said.
“It’s always nice when a player of Josh’s quality is so determined to become a Lion.
“We respect the Bulldogs greatly so we’re not keen to have the negotiations with them played out in public.
“But we’re very confident and we’ll keep working together to land on a fair outcome in the timeframe we need to.”
Veteran Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston also wants to become a Lion.
Ambrogio says that trading for Gunston is important so the compensation for Dan McStay, who has joined Collingwood, is not impacted.
“We’ve had some preliminary talks with the Hawks about that,” he added.
“That’s something we’ll explore to see if we can come up with something that is mutually beneficial, absolutely.”
Emerging midfielder Deven Robertson is a player who has been linked with a potential Lions exit with Dunkley’s impending arrival, but the former no.22 draft pick is going nowhere anytime soon.
“He’s very much a required player with the Lions,” Ambrogio said of the 21-year-old.
“We only need to watch his finals series to see how valuable he is as a player to us with his defensive intent, his toughness and his two-way running.
“We’re really keen to retain him because we think he’s got a very bright future for us.”
Listen to Ambrogio on Sportsday below: