Why both McCluggage and Taylor turned their back on rival interest to stay put

Hugh McCluggage always knew he would remain a Brisbane Lion.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who is the club’s co vice-captain, put pen to paper on a mammoth seven-year deal that will keep him in Lions colours until 2031.

McCluggage was set to enter free agency this year, but has now turned his back on that to focus all of his energies on life as a Lion.

He admits the reported rival interest from the likes of Collingwood, Geelong, Essendon and St Kilda was not something he did not pay much attention to.

“It wasn’t something I entertained seriously,” McCluggage said on SEN Breakfast.

“I think I’ve been pretty open and honest from the start (of the process), and also from the end of last year that I wanted to hang around here.

“I didn’t take too much notice of them (the offers). I was set on getting the job done and playing here.”

The South Warrnambool product said loyalty has always been important to him.

“When you first start your career you don’t look too far ahead because you’re just trying to make your way and play some solid footy early on,” he added.

“One of the core things that I wanted to make sure happened, was that I gave my best for the Lions and put everything into it. Eventually I was able to stay on here for as long as I could.

“The climate is changing in the AFL, there’s a little bit more (player) movement, but I’m someone that really wants to be loyal and thinks that if you’ve got the opportunity to give your best, put in to the team you get drafted to, and stay there for as long as possible, then you should do that.”

Joining McCluggage on a long-term deal to remain at his original club is GWS defender Sam Taylor.

The 2022 All-Australian was garnering interest from West Australian clubs Fremantle and West Coast as well as the Magpies, among others, but was always intent on staying with the Giants.

“They were nice to see (the reports of interest) and I knew they’d come even more, so that was why I chose to sign early,” Taylor told SEN Breakfast.

“I knew that I was always going to stay at the Giants and I didn’t want to keep going on and on with it. If we met at some fair ground I was really happy to sign.”

Taylor, 25, was contracted until 2025 and has now signed on until 2032, keeping rivals at bay.

He added: “Even in pre-season when there were some rumours about me and interest I was getting elsewhere, I felt I was still two years away so why was this coming up?

“I felt the pressure to do something. Creating a lot of fuss and rumours, I didn’t really want that.

“I just wanted to play footy, I love the club and that was how I went about it.”