A surprise delisting from Richmond has turned into the perfect replacement for reigning premier Brisbane.

Defender Phoebe Monahan was let go by the Tigers, having been a shining light of the club's under-siege defence in the tough 2020 season, and the Lions pounced on the delisted free agent.

"I guess with the retirements, we had four retirements this year – two we probably thought were on the cards, but two not. So that probably, not caught us by surprise, but wasn't in our planning," Brisbane head of women's footy Bree Brock told Credit to the Girls podcast.

"Phoebe will essentially, almost like-for-like, replace Emma Zielke in that half-back role. They're a similar sort of size, different sort of players, but Phoebe's got an amazing ability to run, which suits our team and in particular that background. 

"We think she'll fit in really nicely, and she's looking for a new challenge, coming to a place where she'll be pushed – certainly physically – with other good runners around her, which she's always been the one out the front at the other clubs she's been at. It'll be interesting to see how she'll go in the 2km time trial with Orla O'Dwyer and Emily Bates and all those good runners we've got."

Brock also discussed the delisting and reinstatement of Ruby Svarc, battling time zones with coach Craig Starcevich overseas and the young list of the premiers.

EPISODE GUIDE

1.25 – Rebounding from expansion losses to a flag

4.05 – List management when the senior coach lives overseas

5.30 – Ruby Svarc's 180 list spot

7.56 – Trying to replace the experience and leadership of Emma Zielke and Lauren Arnell

10.20 – Brisbane's draft plans