The Brisbane Lions hopes of back-to-back AFLW premierships has received a huge boost with almost its entire 2023 Grand Final winning team re-committed for 2024.
Adding further excitement to the pre-Christmas signings is the Club securing the long-term signatures of exciting trio Courtney Hodder, Taylor Smith and Charlie Mullins.
Hodder (2027), Smith and Mullins (2026) will all remain at the den after putting pen to paper on respective four and three-year extensions.
Arriving just before the 2021 season, Hodder and Smith have both played in three of four Grand Finals since and are dual premiership players.
While Mullins’s had a dream start to her career with the Lions winning the flag in her debut season.
Despite receiving interest from rival clubs, Hodder said it is the successful and high-performing culture at the Brisbane Lions that helped her remain at Brighton Homes Arena.
“I’m super excited to be sticking around for another four years at the Lions,” Hodder said.
“It is an exciting time at the Club, and I love this group of girls, they really feel like a second family to me.
“We were able to achieve something amazing this year, so it be able to look forward to coming back and trying to do it all again for the next few seasons is an incredible feeling.”
Smith, a consistent performer across the 2023 season, took on a bigger role up forward for the Lions in 2023 and will continue to foster her partnership with Dakota Davidson in a potent Brisbane attack.
At 23-years old, Smith has now played 48 AFLW games as is among of the more seasoned played on the Lions list.
Mullins, this year’s Rising Star nomination in Round 9, is another exciting signing for the Lions given how quickly the 19-year-old developed in 2023.
The charismatic youngster put on display her craftiness as a small-forward, and showed she can step up on the big stage by booting her team’s first goal of the Grand Final.
Brisbane Lions senior coach, Craig Starcevich said he looked forward to leading the Club towards future success with the help of the talented trio.
“To have three girls win a Grand Final, turn around and say they want to continue their footballing journey with us is a credit to our group as a whole,” the two-time AFLW premiership coach said.
“Courtney, Tay and Charlie all played a key role for us this season across multiple lines and we feel that they are only going to continue to develop.
“2024 and beyond will be an exciting time for our AFLW group and the Club as a whole.”
The remainder of the Lions team which defeated North Melbourne by 17 points in the 2023 AFLW Grand Final have accepted their contracts for the 2024 Season, ensuring the Premiership core will remain intact.
Captain and Grand Final Best on Ground Bre Koenen headlines this group of names with best and fairest winner Ally Anderson also confirming her place in the Lions squad for 2024.
Only two premiership players won’t go around again in 2024 for the Lions, with Phoebe Monahan retiring and Mikayla Pauga traded to the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS.
The Brisbane Lions have also bolstered their list by adding talented West Coast duo Shanae Davison and Eleanor through the 2023 AFLW Sign and Trade period.
