Luke Hodge

In big games, he stands up.

His speed, his burst from a stoppage.

He will add so much to that football club if he stays there just by he knows what to do on that turn of speed that we've seen him do it over the last three years.

And if Lockie does go, there's a void for him to go into that midfield as well.

The question is the money side of things.

And will the rest of the players be happy that he's on the touted 1.5, 1.6 over a seven-year contract?

That's the biggest question for the football club.

I feel that the Lions can understand why this has taken Zach Bailey a long time to make a decision because...

Let's be honest, it could be $3 million difference between the Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions deal, and you sit back and go, where's loyalty?

When you're finished football, that's a lot of money in football, but outside of football, what are you thinking of his future?

So I think the club can definitely understand why it's been such a hard decision for Zach.

Um...

Considering their list and where they've tried to move their list to get younger, it did... I was scratching my head when I did hear that, the fact that they got Pendlebury, they got Sidebottom.

They couldn't commit to my check, even though their biggest weakness this year has been their forward line, and they couldn't commit to my check because of the funds that Melbourne were offering him.

Whether they were leading some money there for King to come back to, Colin, because that was touted that he'd been speaking to them as well.

So it did scratch my head at their age...

And where they are list-wise, as good as Lockie Neal is, I don't think he'll get them straight back into a top four contender.

But who knows?

Obviously, they like what he's seen.

And everyone's liked what they've seen from Lockie this year.