Deven Robertson will provide an answer to the Brisbane Lions about his future in the coming days.
The 22-year-old, who is out of contract this year, is a target for the West Coast Eagles this trade period but is yet to confirm his plans for next year and beyond.
The Western Australian product played 16 games for the Lions in 2023, including in Saturday’s Grand Final loss to Collingwood, for a total of 41 across four seasons.
Brisbane’s GM of footy Danny Daly says the Lions are hoping Robertson stays as they wait for an answer either on Wednesday or Thursday.
“We’re hoping to get an answer from ‘Dev’ either today or tomorrow,” Daly said on SEN Breakfast.
“We’ve been in constant contact with his management group over the last two or three days. Dev has been out and about for a couple of days, enjoying life (post the Grand Final defeat).
“Hopefully today when he’s a bit fresher and a bit more settled in the mind, he’ll come to a decision today or tomorrow.
“But we’re hoping he stays. He’s an important part of our team, he played 16 games this year so we’re hopeful that he stays with us.”
Robertson was selected by Brisbane with Pick 22 in the 2019 draft.
The Lions added several players last trade period with the likes of Josh Dunkley, Conor McKenna and Jack Gunston coming in, but Daly says they won’t be as active this time around.
They are in the mix for Adelaide defender Tom Doedee but short of that they will not be active as they prepare to draft Will Ashcroft’s talented younger brother Levi as a father-son in 2024.
“Probably not as active as last year,” Daly said of the club’s trade plans.
“We’ve obviously got the Dev Robertson scenario and the Tom Doedee one.
“Outside of that, unless something pops up really late with players that might be out there for us, we probably won’t do a hell of a lot.
“We’ve obviously got Levi Ashcroft hopefully coming to us next year, so we probably need to save up a few points for next year to get him as well.
“So nowhere near as active as last year.”
Veteran Dayne Zorko is another Lion whose future is not set in stone right now.
He is finishing up another one-year deal and at 34 years of age, retirement has been floated.
However, Daly is confident that Zorko will play on again in 2024 with a decision imminent.
“We’ll sit down with him today, once we do our team review,” Daly said of the former captain.
“Myself and ‘Fages’ (Chris Fagan) will sit down and have a chat with ‘Zorks’ and see where he’s at, what he’s thinking, what we’re thinking and hopefully we can resolve that pretty quickly this afternoon and move on.
“No doubt he wants to play on and I think Zorks showed in the back half of the year, especially the last few games, that he still hasn’t lost any of his pace and was important for us during the finals series.
“I’m sure that will be worked out today.”
Listen to the full Daly chat below: