Brisbane Lions frontrunners to sign free agents Oscar Allen and Sam Draper
As the Lions hunt back-to-back premierships, they are also set to be a major player in the off-season with two big moves looming.
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Brisbane have long been seen as the likely landing spot for West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen and now it looks like Draper will also head north.
Both Allen and Draper are sidelined with injury and remain unsigned at their respective clubs.
Allen has previously met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell during the season, while Draper was also heavily courted by Adelaide.
However, the Crows now have security in their ruck department with Reilly O'Brien recently inking a three-year extension.
'Look, I think that Oscar Allen, who is a near certainty now to sign with Brisbane, is going to be joined by Sam Draper,' Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters.
'Now, it's been mentioned in dispatches in recent days, but I'm getting more and more confident that that is going to happen for the Brisbane Lions, who, it must be said, have been unbelievable in luring big-name free agents and mature players to the club and developing from the bottom.'
The Lions will hope Allen slots straight into the forward line and fill the hole that was left by Joe Daniher's shock retirement after last year's grand final.
The likely arrival of Draper will give Brisbane some valuable depth in the ruck department.
No.1 big man Oscar McInerney has been hampered by a back injury this year that coach Chris Fagan conceded was 'degenerative'.
He has since returned to the side and is playing alongside side Darcy Fort, who incidentally replaced McInerney in last year's grand final team.
Both McInerney and Fort are contracted until the end of 2026.
Luke Hodge highlighted McInerney's back worries when discussing Draper's likely move.
'Oscar McInerney's been an absolute star for the Brisbane Lions,' he said.
'I think he's averaged 22, 23 games the last six years, but he's played 11 this year and there's a real concern with his back.
'He's a heart and soul player. So if they could get him right, they would keep him without a shadow of doubt.
'I think they're looking as a fallback plan in case this back is a real issue.'
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