THE BRISBANE Lions are confident of retaining their exciting crop of first-year players long-term, and they are prepared to spend a little extra to do so.
The club lost five first round draftees due to homesickness at the end of last season and is desperate to avoid a repeat occurrence this time around.
The Lions got their first glimmer of progress earlier this week, when 19-year-old West Australian Nick Robertson extended his contract for two seasons to tie him to the club until the end of 2017.
Fellow 2013 draftees James Aish (pick No.7), Darcy Gardiner (No.22), Daniel McStay (No.25), Lewis Taylor (No.28) and Tom Cutler (No.33) are all contracted until the end of 2015 but Lions' members and supporters are all itchy after last year's exodus.
The club has not only put a higher priority on its newest recruits but is prepared to shell out extra money to retain them.
"We realise, to re-sign first and second-round draft picks earlier, you've probably got to pay a little more than if they wait," general manager of football operations Dean Warren said.
"They are young guys who have played senior footy now and have shown they're going to be pretty good players down the track."
While the managers of those players have indicated they will facilitate more contract negotiations at the end of this year, the Lions are confident of retaining them.
The club is paying 95 per cent of the salary cap this year, and if needed has scope to pay more than 100 per cent next year and beyond under the new 'banking' system introduced by the AFL in June.
Warren said he understood player managers wanting to hold off a little longer to get a better deal for their clients, who are becoming increasingly more valuable to the Lions.
"We'd like to get something done with the majority of them by the end of this year, but with that said, if not this year, we're happy for early next year. There's no urgency," Warren said.
Aside from having another 15 months on each contract, Warren is comforted by the feedback he is getting.
The Lions added three development/assistant coaches this year in Mitch Hahn, Matt Francis and Simon Black, who are each responsible for dealing with eight players on an individual basis.
Black has a 'mentoring' role with Aish, among others.
The Lions have also beefed up their welfare department, adding Aleisha Whitelock to oversee player education and welfare.
First and second-year players are also granted extra time to return to their home states to visit families.
"Most of them (managers) have been really happy and how their players have settled in. For them, there's no real urgency to sign right now because they're just finishing their first year," Warren said.
"We're not concerned about guys leaving and going home at this point because they're loving their environment … and the group's close.
"The feedback we're getting is super-positive.
"If they're happy to consider extending right now, then we'll do that, but there's no real rush at this stage."
