Trade talk: Cornes questions Brisbane recruiting amid Bailey offers

The Brisbane Lions may not have the means to keep All-Australian star Zac Bailey as he enters restricted free agency at the conclusion of 2026.

And Kane Cornes believes it could have been avoided if not for the Lions' off-season recruitment.

As reported by Caroline Wilson on Tuesday night, Brisbane have been taken aback by the sudden inflation of contracts within the market, with their disappointment aimed directly at their Round 3 opposition in St Kilda.

After the Saints splashed millions of dollars on the retention of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and the acquisition of free agent recruits Tom De Koning, Sam Flanders and Jack Silvagni, the market has significantly shifted, with top players suddenly expecting to earn close to the $2 million mark awarded to St Kilda's star man.

Bailey, a two-time premiership player at just 26 years of age, has garnered the attention of several interstate clubs, with Adelaide reportedly tabling a monster $1.6 million deal for the star's services.

Wilson stated that the Lions simply aren't willing to match the Crows' offer, with fears of throwing off the wage spread at the club.

“Hugh McCluggage has signed until 2031 – recent extension. You’ve got (Josh) Dunkley, 2030, and Harris Andrews, 2029,” Wilson told Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

“All of those guys have stayed for significantly less money. Around the $1 million to $1.1 million, potentially one of them $1.2 million marks - but I doubt it. They’ve all stayed for less, and I could go down the list.

“The senior leaders, on and off field at the Brisbane Football Club, are not prepared to have a player at their football club earning $1.6 million in Zac Bailey, because they just think it’s going to upset the apple cart.

“This is the road that Geelong have been going down for many years. Chris Fagan knows that he is going to struggle. He is not going to be able to match any offer, even if their salary cap would allow it.

“We think there might be a bit more room at the end of this year for Zac Bailey. There is genuine anger, not only from the Brisbane Football Club, but specifically the Brisbane Football Club, because of what St Kilda have done to inflate the market.”

With Brisbane ill-prepared to match Bailey’s interstate offers, Cornes has questioned whether the back-to-back premiers got it wrong in their off-season recruitment.

Signing unrestricted free agent Sam Draper from Essendon on a five-year deal and West Coast captain Oscar Allen for six years, the Lions committed a significant portion of salary to their shiny new recruits.

“Did Brisbane get it wrong with Oscar Allen and Sam Draper?” Cornes told SEN Locked In.

“Did they not see these offers coming for Zac Bailey?

“If they didn’t have Oscar Allen, who is not shooting the lights out, let’s be honest, and he’s not moving like he’s got four or five years left in him. Draper’s going to be an injury hazard for the remainder of his time at Brisbane and would be on big money.

“Did they need to go to those two at the expense of someone like Bailey? Have they botched that?”

Sam Edmund added: “I think it’s a legitimate question.

“We are speculating, but the Sam Draper deal was somewhere around $800,000 over the six years to join. That’s not chump change in today’s day and age, but it’s not what it was.

“They definitely would have planned for Zac Bailey to be out at this point in time, and what his market value is – probably somewhere in the low ones?

“They will always be offered more to go. Brisbane can’t ever change that, but they’ve got their own pay structure. That’s a fair deal to stay, in a team that is contending and has won the last two premierships.”

Cornes: “He is in a great position because he has got the success as well. If he leaves, you go, ‘well I’ve won my two, now it’s for my future’.

“We all understand and go well done, congratulations, you’ve earned it.”