AHEAD of a massive Academy haul next year, grand finalists Brisbane saw a fair bit move out of the club, while picking up essentially three top 25 picks in the 2026 AFLW Draft. Still able to select one player in the first round this year, the Lions have five list spots to fill which means prior to passes, Brisbane has a live selection at pick 90.

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2025 RECORD: 3rd (H&A) | 9-3 | 161.8% | Eliminated: Grand Final
2025 PICKS: 11, 33, 54, 72, 90
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1 (Brisbane), ’26 R1 Compo #19 (GWS), ’26 R2 (Collingwood), ’26 R2 (Adelaide) ’26 R2 (Carlton)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Lily-Rose Williamson (trade, Collingwood)

OUT
Poppy Boltz (trade, Greater Western Sydney), Ellie Hampson (trade, Port Adelaide), Jacinta Baldwick (delisted), Dee Heslop (delisted), Indiana Williams (delisted), Taylor Smith (trade, Sydney)

Seeing the outs for the club would be of a slight concern for Lions fans, with close friends Boltz and Smith traded to respective New South Wales clubs, while Hampson headed out the door down to Port Adelaide. The Lions also made three delistings with Heslop the one raising some eyebrows in that mix. It means they have five list spots to fill one way or another in the coming days. Williamson fits the Hampson replacement at the very least.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 11

Given the size coming out of the Lions in Boltz and Smith, one would have to think a tall is on the cards here if still on the board. While likely to have already been bid on and matched, a bid on Sydney Swans Academy member Alex Neyland would not be a surprise. Of the players in live play, Olivia Crane seems a perfect replacement for Boltz and would have no issues crossing the other side of the country to run around at Brighton Homes Arena.

Brisbane might also look to the softly spoken Evie Cowcher who would fit a perfect intercepting need and work well with the experienced Lions such as Bre Koenen and Jade Ellenger in the back half of the ground. Furthermore, bids on cross-town rivals Gold Coast Suns in Alannah Welsh and Mikayla Nurse would not surprise in the slightest.

From a more midfield-focused route, then Priya Bowering or Jordyn Allen are two players who can add smarts and skill. Both would be superb selections at the pick with Bowering a strong inside player who has also spent time around the ground, while Allen can play inside, outside and off half-back, the latter of which is where she is likely to start.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 33, 54, 72, 90

Given Brisbane has allowed five list spots, the final two picks might be project talls in ruck Monique Corrigan and developing tall utility Meg Lappin. Corrigan is an Aspley Hornets prospect out of Hervey Bay, while Lappin comes out of the Geelong Falcons and is the daughter of three-time premiership player, Nigel.

Brisbane has a couple of selections before that though, and might bring in some class given the Lions have plenty of hardened inside ball-winners. South Australian Lily Baxter as a wing/forward, or Jovie Skewes-Clinton as a pure utility might be some options who can slot right into the club.

If the Lions opt for a midfield option with their first selection and more defensive depth later on, they might try and pick up either a tall in Zara Neuwirth or the hard-running defensive utilities like Maya Louvel-Finn, Chloe Thorn or Ella Stoddart. Suns Academy member Rhianna Ingram could be a potential option as well depending on how the Suns bids have gone.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the Lions go tall or small with their first selection?
– Do Brisbane pick up their two club-tied players in Corrigan and Lappin?
– What do they look for with the couple of slightly awkardly placed picks?