BRISBANE Lions leader Ryan Lester has urged free agent Tom Rockliff to stick around at the Gabba, saying the club is in its best position in five years.

Lester was instrumental in Sunday's win over Carlton, and said the crop of exciting young players should encourage Rockliff to commit beyond 2017.

Rockliff recently told AFL.com.au he was still a long way off making a decision on his future, and would put his family first.

Lester hopes that means staying in Brisbane.

"He's one of my close mates," Lester said.

"I know he's certainly enjoying his time under Fages (coach Chris Fagan) and (football manager) David Noble, and same as all of us leaders, we're seeing real positives in lots of the young guys.

"I really think the club's in the best shape it's been in for four or five years now, so I don't see why he'd leave."

Lester is a good one to judge the plight of the Lions, being drafted in 2010 and watching the club bottom-out with a string of top-end talent departing.

First-year players Hugh McCluggage, Alex Witherden, Jarrod Berry and Cedric Cox have all made strong impacts in their first season.

However, it was the leaders that stood up to steer the ship on Sunday, bouncing back from a poor collective performance against Richmond the previous week.

Vice-captain Rockliff was one to have a huge influence, keeping Bryce Gibbs to just eight disposals, playing a rare run-with role.

Fagan lauded the ball magnet's "selfless" attitude post-match, and Lester agreed.

"Rocky had been quiet for a couple of weeks and it was seen as a way for him to get himself back into a bit of form," he said.

"As Fages spoke about, Rocky didn't get a lot of the ball but he negated Gibbs' influence on the game.

"He's had a really really good year Rocky and he's very well liked and well respected around the club."