How Kai Lohmann rediscovered his best form. Will Chris Fagan’s future dictate his and Logan Morris’?
The weather-defying moment of brilliance symbolized the best purple patch of Kai Lohmann’s career: the Brisbane Lions’ showman-in-chief quickly transformed into a match-changing player who could attract lucrative offers from rival clubs.
The defending champions were in for a major shock in the first quarter of Saturday’s come-from-behind win against West Coast before Lohmann rose to clinch what could be a bid for the mark of the year.
His ensuing goal erased the Eagles’ 22-point lead and Brisbane eventually found their way back to secure their sixth straight win.
However, Lohmann had to briefly tackle a red-faced Logan Morris after he was thrown off his shoulders.
“He actually sprayed me because I didn’t say anything and he didn’t know if it was me or a West Coast player,” Lohmann said.
“But he’s okay with it, we had a good laugh about it after the game.”
The goal was one of Lohmann’s four goals of the afternoon and he continued his form which has seen him win 15 majors in his last five matches.
Such has been his consistency – his 36 goals for the year is an equally good milestone – that the Victoria product is likely to attract interest from rivals before his contract expires in 2027.
After an injury-plagued 2025 (the main setbacks were ankle, shoulder and calf, and a breakout 2024 in which he scored four big goals in the final), a heartfelt conversation proved to be the catalyst for Lohmann’s resurgence.
“I think there’s a bit of confidence attacking the game with how I want to play and who I am in 2024. Hugh McCluggage has been helping me out a bit with those things and it’s been working over the last few weeks,” Lohmann said ahead of Sunday’s Gabba clash with Port Adelaide.
“I was struggling before the bye and I had a few matches and it reminded me of 2024 and some of the things I did in the finals.
“He actually told me to watch the grand final again and it reminded me of how good I can be.
“I kept moving and my pressing ability was really good, so I’m getting back to that.”
Lohmann and Morris, seen as the long-term leaders of Brisbane’s forward line, are out of contract at the same time, but Lions co-captain Josh Dunkley was confident the club would retain the bulk of their title-winning talent.
“You’re selling him the success element. When it comes to decision time or signing a contract, if you ask a lot of kids, they’ll probably choose success over money,” Dunkley said.
“You may lose a few along the way, but keeping those important pieces of the puzzle is really important to our group.”
Lohmann faces a contract impasse in 2023; He has managed just eight games since his debut in 2022 and has struggled with homesickness.
The people at the club, led by coach Chris Fagan and football manager Danny Daly, ensured he remained committed to a cause that raised two flags.
“I broke my collarbone in the final here against Williamstown and the support I got afterwards made me realize what a good place this is,” Lohmann said.
Fagan’s future is also uncertain; He has yet to confirm whether he will coach.
Fagan, a member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, told Channel Seven last year he would be open to an advisory role with the Devils starting in 2028 if offered a consultancy role that would allow him to live near his daughters and grandchildren in Melbourne.
Devils coach Ken Hinkley has since been announced as the first coach.
Dunkley admitted the players were unsure whether their own futures would be affected by what Fagan decided to do.
“He chooses me, I hope he stays a little longer,” Dunkley said.
“I haven’t had a conversation with Fages about what he wants to do in the future.
“We just want to try to keep the group together.
“Football is not just about the players, it is the squad, it is the management staff upstairs, it is about everyone staying together because we are on this journey together.”
