Brisbane Lions veteran Ryan Lester signs new one-year deal ahead of AFL grand final
At 34, Lions veteran Ryan Lester says he has never played better, re-signing for a 17th AFL season ahead of Saturday’s grand final against Fremantle.
Brisbane veteran Ryan Lester says his decision to extend his career has come on the back of becoming more than merely a “role player” for the Lions.
Morale in Brisbane’s camp continues to soar ahead of Saturday’s AFL grand final against Fremantle, with the popular Lester signing a new one-year deal with the Lions.
The 34-year-old defender believes he’s playing the best football of his career, making the decision to play for a 17th season an obvious one.
However, Lester said it was a different case last year when he seriously considered hanging up his boots before signing a season-long contract.
“I was probably more chance to retire last year than this year,” he said on Tuesday.
“From sort of halfway through this year, I felt like I’ve played as well as I ever have, which has meant I’ve enjoyed it as much as I ever have.”
Lester felt he was having more of an aerial impact on matches this season.
“A lot of times I’d lead into Harris (Andrews) because he was one of the best defenders in the game, but I felt like I could improve in that area … which is giving me more involvement in the game,” he said.
“Last year I felt like I was just playing my role for the team. I felt like as a 33-year-old, potentially it was in the club’s best interest for someone else to do that, whereas this year I feel like I’ve added a little bit more and become a bit more harder to replace.”
Lions football manager Danny Daly said Lester was “incredibly important” to the club on and off the field.
“He lives our values every day and helps drive the standards and culture we want across the football program,” Daly said.
“His experience, selflessness and genuine care for his teammates have a significant influence on the entire playing group.”
Lester’s re-signing comes soon after Brisbane’s retention of key trio Zac Bailey, Logan Morris and Dayne Zorko.
“We’ve worked really hard to put ourselves in a position where we’re a respected club that contends every year, and to have guys like that re-sign is huge,” Lester said.
Lester and the Lions hope to clinch a third successive flag this weekend at the MCG, but they might have to do it without talisman Lachie Neale.
The star midfielder will face the AFL judiciary on Tuesday night in the hope of winning an appeal against a one-match ban he received for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in Brisbane’s nine-point preliminary final win over the Hawks.
If Neale fails to escape his ban, Lester was confident the Lions could cover his absence.
“I feel like we’ve got lots of good players in our team that (can cover) anyone out really. We have the mantra of someone comes in and replaces them that we feel is also a very good player,” he said.
“(Neale) has experience and he’s a great player, but whatever happens, happens and we can deal with it either way.”
Defender Noah Answerth, who has missed the Lions’ past two games with an ankle injury, trained on Tuesday in his bid to be recalled for the decider.
Originally published as Brisbane Lions veteran Ryan Lester signs new one-year deal ahead of AFL grand final