In-demand free agent Tom Doedee chooses next AFL club

Adelaide Crows vice-captain Tom Doedee will inform the Crows of his desire to play for Brisbane in 2024.

The 26-year-old AFL star spent the weekend weighing up his options in Sydney, with the race for his services down to premiers Collingwood and runners-up Brisbane.

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But 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary revealed on Wednesday that the restricted free agent had settled on the Lions as his preferred choice.

Doedee had been courted by the Lions to play as a hybrid third-tall defender alongside Harris Andrews and either Jack Payne or Darcy Gardiner.

In Payne and Gardiner, the Lions have a rising talent and an experienced role player, respectively, but Doedee adds genuine class and will slot in next to Andrews in the prime of his career.

Tom Doedee is weighing up an offer from the Lions. Credit: Getty

The former first-round draft pick would have been just the player the Lions needed during this year’s finals series when Payne went down — though Gardiner, who had played just two games during the home and away season, acquitted himself well in Payne’s absence when called upon.

That Doedee is recovering from an ACL injury sustained in Round 12 might have been a contributing factor in his decision to choose Brisbane, given the Lions’ track record of getting the best out of previously injury-plagued players.

Lincoln McCarthy and Joe Daniher had struggled to get on the park for their previous clubs but have both hardly missed a game since coming to the Lions, and each played a key role in the Lions’ tilt at this year’s premiership.

Cleary revealed early last month that the Lions had emerged as a suitor for the star defender, and that he was “weighing up a big offer” from them.

He had recently planted his flag in the Adelaide camp — publicly at least — saying he would love to stay at the club, but that his injury and a modest contract offer had changed things.

“The knee’s complicated matters but hasn’t changed the overarching feel for me, which is to be a Crow for life,” Doedee told FIVEaa in August.

“But we’ve got to make that work for both parties.

“Ideal world I’m at Adelaide, but unfortunately with the way things have changed with the knee, certain stuff is still working itself out.”

In a separate interview, he went on to say that he was after a long-term deal, but was open to considering a two-year deal, if it “leads to benefits maybe later on”.

Tom Doedee went down with an ACL injury in Round 12. Credit: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Cleary confirmed in September on Talking Finals night that Doedee has been kicking tyres at the Lions.

“The Crows are desperate to keep Tom Doedee. He he said that he wants to stay at the Crows but he is now weighing up a big offer from the Brisbane,” Cleary said shortly after the home and away season finished.

“He has spoken to the Lions in recent weeks. It is playing on his mind now what this free agent does.

“It is always a concern when you get to this stage of the season; the Crows have been out for a week, his season has been finished for the best part of a couple of months after his knee injury, still unsigned — watch this space on what happens with Tom Doedee.”

James Brayshaw added: “Someone tells me has has met with the leadership group at the Lion, is that true?”

“I think he has spoken to people around the Lions, not necessarily people around specific players but it is one to watch in the next few weeks,” Cleary answered.

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